How to Make Easy Melt-and-Pour Soap
Give the Easiest Homemade Gift this Holiday with Handmade Soaps
Nov 28, 2008
Melt-and-pour soaps come in a variety of bases to which you can add scents, colors, and even dried herbs to beautify and personalize these homemade Christmas gifts. The process is easy, requires little equipment, and the best part is that cleaning up after soap-making is extremely quick.
Glycerine soaps can be an excellent last-minute homemade Christmas gift and are easy to keep on hand for any extra holiday present giving. Here’s how to make your own colorful melt-and-pour soaps as well as some creative ways to make your homemade gifts extra special.
Soap-making Equipment and Melt-and-Pour Soap Bases
Limited equipment is required to create these homemade Christmas presents, but there are a few items particular to soap making.
- double-boiler pot/saucepan
- block of glycerine melt-and-pour soap base (available in clear, white, goat's milk, shea butter, or soy)
- soap molds
- any desired scents, color dyes, or whole spices (for more on adding a creative edge see next section)
Melting the Soap Base and Creating Unique Homemade Gifts
The process of creating beautiful handmade soaps from a melt-and-pour soap base is simple, but here it is step-by-step:
- Boil the water in the lower half of the double-boiler, then reduce to a simmer and place a piece of the melt-and-pour soap base into upper half of the pot.
- As the soap slowly melts, carefully add more pieces. When the desire amount of melted soap is reached, it’s time to add the color and scent.
- For colored dyes, add one or two drops and blend thoroughly. Old chopsticks work well to stir the melted soap. Add dye very sparingly as the color will darken as the soap hardens.
- For scent, add a half-teaspoon to the melted soap for a light scent. Essential oils can also be used instead of synthetic scents.
- Once the soap has melted and the color mixed thoroughly, carefully pour the soap into the molds and allow to harden for two about hours (exact time depends on the size of the mold).
- When the soap is hard, remove from the molds and wrap for a gift basket or as a stocking stuffer.
Another way to add creativity to your soaps is by adding ornamental dried herbs. Star anise or a bay leaf suspended between two layers of soaps will look pretty and add an extra essence to your homemade Christmas gifts.
Wrapping the Homemade Gift Soaps
Place the soap in a cloth pouch, or wrap in plastic before giving as a holiday gift. Handmade soap makes a nice addition to a Christmas gift basket, or is a good present for co-workers.
The best part about giving the gift of handmade soap is that it is something everyone can use.
More Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
For more suggestions on handmade presents to give over the holidays, see Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas.
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