This circle embed melt and pour soap is filled with bright purple, green and yellow polka dots. I cut the little circles from thin sheets of leftover soap with fondant cutters, set them in clear soap and backed the bars with yellow. It’s a fun way to use up extra soap, and it’s a great test of a bold neon purple in an opaque base.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Bases
- Avocado butter melt and pour soap base for the circle embeds and the yellow back (leftover soap works too)
- Crystal clear melt and pour soap base to hold the embeds
Color & Scent
- Purple Orchid (neon), Tail Green and Yellow Sunset from this Stardust mica set or individual Stardust micas
- Fragrance oil (optional)
Tools
- Circle fondant cutters (any fondant cutters will do)
- Silicone cake pan for pouring thin sheets
- 6 cavity rectangle soap mold
- Skewers and a spatula
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
Fragrance Amount
If you add scent, 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 Circle Embed Melt and Pour Soap
1. Mix a Bright Purple
Melt some avocado butter base and mix in Purple Orchid. A tip from a viewer: if you want a vibrant color in an opaque base, use a neon mica. It stays bright instead of turning pastel.
2. Pour Thin Sheets
To save time, pour the purple, green and yellow into a silicone cake pan all at once, side by side, in thin layers. A little skin is fine, since these are just for embeds. This base skins over quickly. Let the sheets set.
3. Cut the Circles
Cut circles from the sheets with fondant cutters, then peel up the extra soap and collect the circles in a dish. Let them cool completely before using them.
4. Pour a Thin Clear Layer
Melt the clear base. Mine was about 159°F, which is fine since there are no embeds in it yet. Pour just enough to cover the bottom of each cavity and spray with alcohol.
5. Place the Circles
Once the clear layer cools a bit (mine was around 107–111°F), spray the circles with alcohol and place them randomly in the mold. Take your time with this part.
6. Lock Them In and Add More
Remelt the clear soap (about 140°F), score the layer, spray with alcohol and pour a little around the circles to cover any gaps. Once they’re locked in place, you can add more circles and pour clear soap on top. The purple ran a little when I poured in the low 140s, so if you can, pour over embeds under 135°F.
7. Pour a Yellow Back
Warm the leftover yellow soap and let it cool to about 136°F. Score the back, spray with alcohol and pour a yellow layer to cover it and make a smooth back. Use a spatula to tidy up any overpour. Let the bars set.
8. Unmold
Pop the bars out. The bright circles show through the clear soap like confetti.
Tips & What I Learned
- Use neon micas for bright opaque colors. They don’t turn pastel.
- Pour all the sheets at once. It saves waiting for each color to set.
- Lock embeds in place first. A small pour keeps them from floating to one side.
- Pour under 135°F over embeds. Hotter soap can make colors like purple run.
- Test new bases. This avocado butter base didn’t sweat, even after a week and a half out in warm weather.
Troubleshooting
The purple ran into the clear soap.
The clear soap was too hot. Let it cool under 135°F.
All the circles floated to one side.
Pour a small amount first to lock them in, then add the rest.
The back is uneven.
Pour a final layer to cover it and smooth it with a spatula.
FAQ
How much fragrance oil should I use?
Up to 5 ml per 16 oz of soap base. You can always use less, but don’t use more than 5 ml per 16 oz.
Can I use leftover soap?
Yes. This is a great way to use up extra soap from other projects.
Do I need avocado butter base?
No. Any opaque base works for the circles.
More Embed Soap Ideas
- Jolly Dots Melt and Pour Soap
- Mini Rose Embed Melt and Pour Soap
- Night Star Melt and Pour Soap
- Floral 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.
