Swirling Using Melt and Pour Soap

Here are the tips and tricks that you need to know before we proceed on the step by step procedure.

Tip #1: Make sure to use the same brand of melt and pour base soap if you want to create a swirl soap. If you use different brands of soap base, it will contain different ingredients that can evaporate at different rates which can cause the layers to separate; your end product will be a mess.

Tip #2: It’s also best to use non – bleeding colorants because this will prevent the colors to fade away and combine in another swirl layer. Non – bleeding liquid colorants containing oxide ingredients are suspended in glycerin designed for soap – makers that they can easily and conveniently use for melt and pour soap base projects.    

Tip #3: When you’re making a swirl loaf, it’s best that you use a loaf mold and not just any flat silicon baking sheet. This is because you need depth for your melt and pour soap base.

Tip #4: We highly recommend that you use a spoon, fork or even chopstick because these materials will aid you during the swirling phase.

Tip #5: Don’t rush. Creating layers of swirls in your soap will take time especially if you’re planning in doing various colors and layers in your soap.

Tip #6: It’s also best to use contrasting colorants (though it’s not required) but it creates an appeal and makes each swirled layer stand out once it hardens.

Let’s Get Started!

Here’s the materials you’ll need if you want to create a swirled kind of soap:

• 2 pounds of soap base (must be clear)
• ½ pound of soap base (white)
• Non – bleeding liquid colorant (pink, blue and purple)
• Gold Mica
• 1 ounce of Yuzu fragrance
• 2 ½ pounds of loaf mold
• Small cups or containers for mixing the colorants
• Spoon
• Dropper
• Heat safe container (large)
• Spray bottle (filled with rubbing alcohol)

Step by Step Procedure:

Step #1: Make sure to melt your (2 pounds) of clear soap base using your heat safe container in the microwave or double boiler. Just like the basic steps in previous exercises. The layers for the soap base are often just 2 ounces at maximum, making it not convenient to re – melt the soap base every single time.

Step #2: Once the clear soap base has already melted, you can now use your dropper to add the Yuzu fragrance or any fragrance you desire.

Step #3: On the very first layer using the loaf mold, you just need to create a very thin layer (around 2 ounces or less of the melted clear soap). Don’t forget that every layer is scented so that the soap would smell nice from top to bottom.

Step #4: The next step is to take a pinch of the gold mica and drop it into the first layer of your soap base. You will notice that once you’re already cutting your hardened soap base, the gold mica will appear like a fairy dust, adding aesthetic to your finished product.

Step #5: After doing the first layer, you need to wait for it to harden. You can determine if your soap is fully hardened by slightly blowing. If you happen to see that it creates ripples on the surface that only means your soap is not yet fully hardened.

Step #6: While you’re waiting, the next thing you can do is to put your non – bleeding colorant (whichever color you want on the first layer) in the small dish with water and stir it up using a spoon.

Step #7: Once the first layer of your soap base finally hardens, you can now spray it with a bit of rubbing alcohol and pour in just a thin layer of colorant over the first layer of your soap base. Keep in mind that you are going to do around 12 layers so make sure you get the first one right.

Step #8: After doing that, you can now pour in the melted white soap base on top of the first layer with colorant as it will provide contrast and make the first layer of colorant stand out. When you’re pouring the melted white soap base, you just need to drizzle it and do an “S – pattern.” Take your spoon, and just run it through once. Don’t mix it up! Spray a bit of rubbing alcohol and wait for it to develop a thin layer of skin on top.

Step #9: After doing that, you can now create succeeding layers by following the same steps but using different colorants or fragrances. Make sure to pour in white melted soap base per layer if you want your colorants to pop out.

Step #10: Repeat the same steps per layer and once you reach the top of the loaf mold, wait for your soap base to harden completely before using it.