This cloud wave swirl melt and pour soap uses goat’s milk base with a drop swirl of deep black cherry color, poured into a wave swirl silicone mold. It’s scented with a fresh minty fragrance and makes a lovely guest soap. The trick is waiting until the soap is thick, in the low 120s, before adding the color.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base
Color & Scent
- A black cherry lab color mixed with distilled water (I used Bramble Berry’s). Store water-mixed lab colors in the fridge.
- A mint fragrance oil (I used Moroccan Mint)
Tools
- Cloud wave swirl silicone mold
- A spare mold for extra soap, like a 6 cavity mold
- Pipette
- Flat coil whisk and a skewer
- A flat freezer pack (optional, to cool soap faster)
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
- Pour cup
Fragrance Amount
Use up to 5 ml of fragrance oil per 16 oz (1 lb) of soap base. You can always use less if you like a lighter scent, but don’t go over 5 ml per 16 oz.
How to Make Cloud Wave Swirl Soap
1. Check the Mold
This wave swirl mold makes a nice, good-sized guest bar.
2. Melt and Cool
Melt the goat’s milk base. Mine was about 146°F. You don’t need a thermometer. As you stir, it gets thicker, and a skin means it’s close. Add the fragrance, which drops the temperature a bit.
3. Cool It Faster (Optional)
Set the pour cup on a flat freezer pack and stir with a skewer. It brings the temperature down quickly. Wait until it’s thick and in the low 120s.
4. Drop in the Color
Using a pipette, squirt the lab color into the soap hard, then give it a single swirl with a coil whisk. Water-mixed color doesn’t spread as fast as alcohol-mixed, so it stays in streaks.
5. Pour
Pour the soap into the wave mold right away. Pour any extra into a spare mold. Let it cool a little, tap the mold, and spray the top with alcohol.
6. Unmold
Once it’s set, unmold. The swirl wraps around the waves.
Tips & What I Learned
- Wait for the low 120s. Thick soap keeps the color in streaks.
- Mix color with distilled water. It disperses more slowly than alcohol.
- Use a freezer pack. It cools soap fast.
- One swirl is enough. Over-stirring blends the color.
- Keep a spare mold handy. No wasted soap.
Troubleshooting
The color blended in. The soap was too warm, or it was stirred too much.
Bubbles on top. Let it cool slightly, tap the mold, then spray with alcohol.
The swirl disappeared. Use a darker color and pour right after swirling.
FAQ
Do I need a thermometer?
It helps, but you can watch for the soap thickening and a skin forming.
Can I use mica instead of lab color?
Yes. Mica mixed with alcohol spreads a bit faster, so pour quickly.
More Wave Soap Ideas
- Cloud Wave Swirl Melt and Pour Soap
- Cloud Wave Melt and Pour Soap
- Blue Waves Melt and Pour Soap
- Wave Embed Melt and Pour Soap
- All my melt and pour soap tutorials on YouTube
If you make this, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram or Pinterest, and subscribe on YouTube for new soap tutorials.
