This funnel swirl melt and pour soap starts with a white base, then pink and blue are poured through a silicone funnel pushed down into the soap. The colors twist into the white as you move the funnel. I also show what to do when your soap gets too thick to pour, because it happened to me!
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base
- About 22 oz of low sweat clear melt and pour soap base: 11 oz for the white and about 5½ oz for each color
Color & Scent
- White shimmer mica for the base
- Pink and blue mica (I used Stardust Sunset Pink and Blue Lagoon from a Stardust mica set, also sold individually)
- Fragrance oil (I used Black Cherry)
Tools
- Rigid square soap mold (20–22 oz)
- Silicone funnels
- A strip cut from an impression mat for a textured side (optional)
- Soap cutter
- Skewer or chopstick
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
- Pour cups
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. Split the fragrance between the three cups.
How to Make Funnel Swirl Soap
1. Add a Textured Side (Optional)
Cut a strip from a silicone impression mat to fit one side of the mold. Stick it on with a little melted soap. This gives one side of the bars a pretty pattern.
2. Pour the White Base
Melt 11 oz of base and mix in the white shimmer mica. Add fragrance once it cools to the low 140s, then pour slowly into the middle of the mold. Let it develop a skin while you work on the colors.
3. Mix the Colors
Melt two 5½ oz portions and mix pink into one and blue into the other. Stirring helps cool them down. Add fragrance to each.
4. Pour Through the Funnel
When the white is set on top but still soft inside (mine was around 117°F) and the color is around 127°F, poke a hole with a skewer and push the funnel all the way to the bottom. Pour the blue through the funnel, moving it around and tearing through the top as you go.
5. Fix Soap That’s Too Thick
By the time I got to the pink, the white had turned to thick jelly and the pink was too cool. It clogged the funnel and came out in clumps. I warmed the pink back up to about 133°F in short 10-second bursts, cleaned the funnel, and tried again. This time it flowed through nicely.
6. Let It Set
Spray the top with alcohol and leave it alone for a few hours.
7. Unmold and Cut
Unmold the loaf and line it up in your cutter. Every bar has a different swirl pattern.
Tips & What I Learned
- Timing matters. The base should be soft enough for the funnel but firm enough to hold the swirl.
- Hotter soap sinks. The blue was hotter, so it went to the bottom. The cooler pink swirled more nicely.
- Don’t let colors get too cool. Around 125–135°F flows well through a funnel.
- Reheat in short bursts. Ten seconds at a time keeps the soap from getting too hot.
- Use a wider funnel for thicker soap. A slightly larger funnel helps.
- Check temperature through a hole. Poke the skin on the side with a skewer to get a more accurate reading.
Troubleshooting
The soap clogged the funnel. It’s too cool. Warm it in 10-second bursts and try again.
One color sank to the bottom. It was poured too hot. Let it cool a bit more.
The top is lumpy. Spray with alcohol and smooth gently, or leave the texture. It looks great on a rustic bar.
FAQ
What does a funnel do in melt and pour soap?
It lets you pour color down inside the soap instead of on top, so the colors swirl through the middle of the bar.
Can I use shea butter base?
Yes, but low sweat clear base flows more easily through the funnel.
More Swirl Soap Ideas
- How to Swirl Melt and Pour Soap
- Activated Charcoal Swirl Melt and Pour Soap
- Blue Ice Melt and Pour Soap with an Impression Mat
- Evil Queen 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.
