Make Easy to Make and Beautiful Melt and Pour SoapsMaterials Needed for Melt and Pour Soap: *Clear or White Soap Base *Soap Dye Chips *Soap Safe Fragrance Oil *Soap Mold *Pot or Pan, or Microwave Safe Dish *Stirring Spoon
Stove Top Melt and Pour Method: In a sauce pan, melt the soap base over medium heat. Once melted (130-140 degrees), add your soap dye (amount depends on depth of color desired). Stir well. Add your soap safe essential oil, amount depending on personal preference (average use is approx.1/2oz per pound). Stir well. Pour slowly into your molds. Wait until fully hardened to remove. If soaps are difficult to remove, set in your freezer for an hour, then try again. *Note: Dyes and Fragrances must be formulated specially for soap making. Not all candle dyes or fragrances can be used in this application. Microwave Melt and Pour Method: In a microwave safe dish (a large glass measuring cups work nicely, because it’seasy to pour from) melt the soap base in your microwave for several minutes. Depending on amount of base you are melting. Proceed as with stove top method Chunk Soap: Melt your soap base and color, and then pour into a square plastic or metal pan or tray of some sort (Rubbermaid tubs, drawer organizer trays, or loaf pans work well). Wait until soap is hard enough to remove from mold, then cut into small square chunks using a knife or chopping blade. Place chunks into your soap molds, single or multi colors. Pour in clear, uncolored soap base scented with fragrance of choice at about 120-130 degrees. Wait until hard and remove from mold. *Tip: If you chunks tend to run into the clear outside soap, try putting them in the freezer for awhile before pouring over them. *Option: Instead of chunks, try using a slicing plane and make curly shavings! Exfoliating Soap: Try adding coffee grounds, cornmeal, crushed oatmeal or loofah, to make exfoliating soap that scrubs the skin! (You can grind your own oatmeal, loofah, etc in your blender). *Note: Be sure not to pour soap too hot or embedded items may sink to bottom and not distribute evenly throughout the soap. Swirl Melt and Pour Soap: Using the white soap base, make a small batch of soap with concentrated coloring (no scent necessary). Also make a larger batch of plain white soap in the scent of your choice. Pour the white soap into a mold. Wait until it begins to thicken slightly, then slowly dribble in some of the colored soap, gently swirling it around with a toothpick. Be careful not to swirl too much so it doesn't fully blend the two together. Do not move mold around, let it sit until fully hardened, then remove. Botanical Melt and Pour Soap: Try adding some small dried bits of flowers and/or herbs for a potpourri kind of look! Chamomile, lavender, peppermint leaf, etc. *Note: Be sure not to pour soap too hot or embedded items may sink to bottom and not distribute evenly throughout the soap.
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