Get into the holiday spirit with this fun and festive melt and pour soap project! In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a small loaf soap using vibrant red and green glycerin “ornament” balls embedded in a crystal-clear base. This technique is perfect for holiday gifts, craft fairs, or simply adding a seasonal touch to your bathroom decor. It’s beginner-friendly, fast-setting, and offers stunning results every time.
Materials List
To create your own Holiday Ornament Melt and Pour Soap, gather the following supplies:
Soap Bases
- Clear melt and pour soap base (Crafter’s Choice Premium Clear recommended)
- Avoid Stephenson’s brand for this project, as it forms a skin at higher temperatures.
Colorants and Fragrance
- Tail Green mica
- Red Strawberry mica
- Peppermint fragrance oil – about 1–1.5 ml per color batch
Molds
- Square soap mold
- Round ball mold (for the embeds)
Tools
- Funnel cups
- Pipettes
- Digital scale
- Spatula with removable head
- Heat-safe mixing cups
- Gloves
- Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle (for reducing bubbles)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare and Melt the Soap Base
Cut the clear glycerin base into cubes and melt one color batch at a time in the microwave using short bursts.
- Target temperature: around 190°F initially (too hot to add fragrance).
- Stir until fully melted.
Step 2: Mix the Color and Cool Before Fragrance
Add your mica colorant to the melted soap base and mix thoroughly. Allow the mixture to cool to around 155°F–160°F before adding fragrance oil to avoid scent evaporation.
Step 3: Pour the Soap into the Ball Mold
Once cooled, carefully pour the colored soap into the ball molds using your funnel cup or spatula for precision.
Let the embeds cool and harden completely before unmolding.
Step 4: Repeat with Second Color
Melt another batch of clear glycerin base, color it red, and repeat the same process.
You’ll likely need two sets of each color to fill the final loaf mold.
Step 5: Clean and Prepare the Loaf Mold
Remove any soap flakes or residue from the rigid loaf mold before assembly.
Make sure your embeds (soap balls) are smooth and free from shreds or rough edges.
Step 6: Prepare the Clear Base for Embedding
Melt additional clear glycerin base for the loaf mold.
- Pouring temperature: ideally 125°F–135°F to prevent melting the colored embeds.
- Note: The Crafter’s Choice base performs best here, as it doesn’t skin over quickly at lower temperatures.
Step 7: Combine and Pour
Place your red and green soap balls into a mixing bowl and toss gently to mix the colors evenly.
Spray them lightly with rubbing alcohol to help adhesion.
Pour the warm, clear base slowly over the embeds in the loaf mold until it reaches the top.
Allow to set completely before unmolding.
Pro Tips & Temperature Guidelines
- Fragrance Oil: Always add below 160°F to preserve scent strength.
- Embed Safety: Pouring base should be between 125°F–135°F to prevent color bleed or melting.
- Brand Matters: Crafter’s Choice clear base stays workable longer and gives crystal clarity.
- Reuse Leftovers: Save and remelt any scraps for future projects.
- Tool Tip: A spatula with a removable head makes pouring more precise and cleanup easier.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrance scent fades | Added at too high temperature | Wait until base cools to ≤160°F |
| Color bleed or embeds melt | Clear base poured too hot | Keep pour temperature ≤135°F |
| Air bubbles | Poured too quickly or not sprayed | Spritz rubbing alcohol before and after pouring |
| Uneven embeds | Not mixed evenly before pouring | Gently toss colors together prior to embedding |
Variations
- Color Themes: Try metallic gold and white for a snowy look, or icy blue and silver for a winter wonderland theme.
- Fragrances: Swap peppermint for vanilla sugar, cranberry, or pine for a different seasonal twist.
- Add Shimmer: Mix in fine cosmetic glitter or mica dust for extra sparkle.
- Mini Versions: Use silicone cupcake molds for single-serve soaps or gift sets.
Final Results
The finished loaf features vibrant red and green spheres suspended in a crystal-clear base—resembling festive holiday ornaments encased in glass. Once sliced, each bar reveals a unique and cheerful design perfect for gifting, decorating, or simply enjoying during the holiday season.
Conclusion
Making holiday ornament soap is a creative and rewarding way to celebrate the season. With simple materials and a bit of patience, you can produce professional-looking soaps that delight both the eyes and the senses.
For more melt and pour soap tutorials, fragrance tips, and DIY project ideas, visit KoalaSoap.com.
