Melt and Pour Soap Making

Making Melt and Pour soap is the easiest Form of Soap Making

Great for a beginner Soap Maker to start out with and very easy, plus so many recipes you can find to make

Melt and Pour soap is a soap base that is literally melted and poured to make soap. You simply melt the base mix and add extra ingredients to make luxurious home made soaps. This project shows you the basics of this method of soap making.

Basic Instructions for Melt and Pour Soap Making

 

Melt and Pour soap is a soap base that is literally melted and poured to make soap. You simply melt the base mix and add extra ingredients to make luxurious home made soaps. This project shows you the basics of this method of soap making.

Instructions

Melt and Pour Soap can be bought from all good craft supply stores in the form of “melt and pour” soap mix or base.

Alternatively you can use pure soap flakes available in the laundry section of your supermarket but I would recommend using a recipe that contains some moisturizing oils as pure soap flakes can be a little harsh on the skin.

But using soap flakes is a great inexpensive way to try your hand at soap making before embarking on a well blended soap mix.

You can melt the base soap in a double boiler or the microwave.

Microwave method:

Add your chunks of soap to a large microwave bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap to prevent moisture loss. Melt the base soap on high for one minute and then stir in any un-melted pieces.

Double Boiler method:

This is where a double boiler pan is used or a pan of water with a bowl over the top is used.

Double boiler method is the same method used for melting chocolate on the stove top.

Bring the water to the boil, place the top pan or bowl on top and add chunks of the base soap. It may take 10-15mins to melt the wax down. Do not leave it unattended.

Additives:

There are so many things that can be added to base soap from milk, oils, chocolate and even spices. Check out our soap making recipes for full instructions on how to add these extras.

Fragrant oils

Add any scents after the base is fully melted or it will evaporate.

Essential oils

Add any essential oils just before pouring to prevent evaporation.

Colorant/Dye

There are different types of colors and dyes. Choose one that is suitable for your project. Mica and soap making dyes well give the best result, but if you are just wanting to have a go at soap making than the candle dye and food color are great substitutes for a home batch of soap.

Mica

Add 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon mica with the melting base and stir it in really well. Spray any “mica bubbles” that form on the top with rubbing alcohol.

Candle Dye

Shave a few shards into the melted soap base until a desired color is reached. Only use a small amount of candle dye or it may temporarily dye your skin and is not recommended for sensitive skin types.

Food Color

Add a few drops of food coloring to the melted mix until a desired color is reached.

Molds:

You can use anything from ice cube trays to muffin tins.

Simply pour your melted soap into the mold. Allow it to cool before popping it out of the mold. Allow it to dry for 2-3 days to harden.

Here are some Recipes

Coffee soap 

looks great when presented in decorative coffee cups wrapped with cellophane.

What you need
4 oz of glycerin or other soap base/flakes
1 tsp of instant coffee
1 tsp powdered milk
10 drops coffee fragrance oil
Instructions:

Melt your soap down using a double boiler method. Once melted stir through your instant coffee or coffee grounds, powdered milk and coffee fragrance oil.

Pour the soap into a mold and allow to set as normal.

If you can not get coffee oil, use a little extra coffee to increase the scent.

Add coffee beans to the top of your soap for a decorative finish.
***
Coffee and Cream Soap Recipe

Summary:

Use to aid in the fight against cellulite

Ingredients:

8 oz. Coconut Opaque M&P Base
2 tsp. Lanolin
2 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel
3 tsp. Coffee Grounds
2 tsp. Heavy Whipping Cream
10 Drops Coffee Fragrance Oil
10 Drops Vanilla Fragrance Oil

Instructions:

Melt the soap base in a double boiler. Add all the other ingredients and stir well. Pour into molds and let it sit for 3 hours Put molds in freezer for 5 minutes and pop them out.
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Coffee & Cream Soap
4 oz. clear soap, grated
1 teaspoon ground espresso
1 teaspoon powdered milk
10 drops coffee fragrance oil

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the bar of glycerin soap until liquefied. Remove from heat and stir in ground espresso, powdered milk, and coffee fragance oil. Pour soap into a mold and let set for three hours or until hardened.
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Pumpkin Tart Soap

What you need

4oz. (115g) Clear Glycerin Soap base
1 Tbs Liquid Soap
1 Tsp Liquid Glycerin
1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Fragrance Oil
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
3 Drops Orange Food Color

Instructions

This recipe is for Melt and pour Soap - If you are not familiar with this process then read our step by step guide.

For a whipped cream topping melt white soap base and whip it up with a whisk for a fluffy topping.

Then dollop it onto the hardened soap for textured cream topping

*** 

Apple Tart Soap

This soap looks wonderful packaged up with dried apple rounds tied onto the top.

What you need

4oz. (115g) Clear Glycerin Soap base
1 Tbs Liquid Soap
1 Tsp Liquid Glycerin
1/2 tsp Apple Pie Fragrance Oil
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
3 Drops Red Food Color

Instructions

This recipe is for Melt and pour Soap. If you are not familiar with this process then read our step by step guide.

For a whipped cream topping melt white soap base and whip it up with a whisk for a fluffy topping.

Then dollop it onto the hardened soap for textured cream topping

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homemade vanilla latte soap


To make the soap I used goat’s milk soap base cut into 13 cubes. I used 13 cubes because I found that this makes exactly 3 soap bars with my soap mold.


Supplies:

13 cubes of Goat’s milk soap base

1/4 cup brewed coffee

coffee grounds

vanilla essential oil

soap mold

Homemade Vanilla Latte Soap Tutorial

1. Brew one cup of coffee; set aside coffee grounds.

2. Cut soap into cubes and place in a double boiler or microwave in 30 second intervals (I used a large pyrex measuring cup over a double boiler).

3. Melt soap over low-medium heat.

4. Once soap cubes turn liquid add a few drops of vanilla essential oil. Slowly add in 1/4 cup of coffee and coffee grounds; stir well.

5. Pour into soap molds and allow to harden for at least one hour. Press mold to release soap.

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Homemade Lemon Soap

Supplies:

Goat’s milk soap base

Lemon essential oil

Lemon zest of 3-4 lemons

Step one: Cut soap into cubes and microwave in 30 second intervals (I like to use a large Pyrex measuring cup to melt the soap in). This recipe makes 3 bars of soap and I used 13 cubes of goat’s milk soap base.

Step two: Melt soap for about a minute. Add another 15-30 seconds if it’s not completely melted.

Step three: Once soap cubes turn liquid add a few drops of the lemon essential oil and the lemon zest; stir well.

Step four: Pour into soap molds and allow to harden for at least one hour. Press mold to release soap.

***Update: If you decide to use the lemon zest I recommend adding a preservative. I’ve read vitamin e oil can be used but haven’t tried it. You could omit the lemon zest and the essential oil will provide enough lemon scent.