If you’re looking for a fun and festive soap project this season, this holiday bulb melt and pour soap tutorial is perfect. This project combines simple melt and pour techniques with colorful embeds shaped like Christmas lights, creating a cheerful handmade gift or holiday décor item. It’s a beginner-friendly technique that produces stunning results using clear and opaque soap bases, mica colors, and a creative layered approach.
Whether you’re making gifts for friends or stocking up your holiday shop, this soap will brighten anyone’s day — and your craft table!
Materials List
Soap Bases
- Clear melt and pour soap base (e.g., Crafter’s Choice Crystal Clear)
- Shea butter melt and pour soap base (opaque)
Colorants and Fragrance
- Gold Rush mica
- Neon pink, blue, and orange mica (Stardust Micas recommended)
- Energy fragrance oil (or any citrus blend)
- Cosmetic-grade glitter (optional)
Molds
- Holiday bulb silicone mold (available at Michaels or Amazon)
- 4-cavity rectangular or decorative mold (for the final pour)
Tools and Equipment
- Funnel cups (for precise pouring)
- Pipettes (for fragrance and color measurement)
- Digital scale
- Thermometer
- Spatula or stir sticks
- Knife for trimming embeds
- Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Create the Gold Light Bulb Embeds
- Melt clear melt and pour soap base to about 162°F.
- Add Gold Rush mica for shimmer, then allow it to cool to 150–155°F before adding 1.5 mL of Energy fragrance oil.
- Pour carefully into the holiday bulb mold using a funnel cup for precision.
- Let set completely before unmolding.
Step 2: Trim and Reinsert the Bulbs
- Once firm, unmold the bulbs and trim one end flat with a knife so they fit neatly into the secondary mold.
- Replace them into the mold cavities and set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Colored Soap Layers
- Melt shea butter soap base to 160°F, then divide into three portions for your neon colors.
- Mix in mica powders: pink, blue, and orange. Adjust intensity as desired.
- Let each portion cool to around 150°F before adding 2 mL of fragrance oil to each.
- Stir thoroughly and spritz with alcohol to release bubbles.
Step 4: Pour the Colored Soap
- Check temperature—pour between 135°F and 125°F to avoid melting the embeds.
- Spritz molds and embeds with alcohol before each pour to ensure adhesion.
- Pour each color slowly into its designated cavity, taking care not to overlap colors.
- Allow each layer to set before adding another.
Step 5: Add the Clear Top Layer
- Melt clear soap base slowly, stirring until smooth. Avoid overheating to prevent cloudiness.
- Let cool to about 135°F.
- Spritz embeds and molds with alcohol again.
- Pour a thin clear layer over the embeds to seal them in place.
(Because the bulbs are round, watch closely to keep them from rolling out of position.)
Step 6: Unmold and Finish
- Once completely cool and firm, gently unmold each bar.
- Trim any uneven edges.
- If color overflow occurred, simply scrape off excess with a knife or re-melt and reuse the scraps for another project.
Pro Tips & Temperature Guidelines
- Fragrance oil should be added below 155°F to prevent scent flash-off.
- Pour at 135°F or lower when layering colors or embedding designs.
- Always spritz alcohol between layers to eliminate bubbles and improve adhesion.
- Reheat only in short bursts (10–15 seconds) to avoid scorching the soap base.
- Use funnel cups for accurate, bubble-free pours — perfect for detailed molds.
Troubleshooting
- Color bleeding: Use micas instead of liquid dyes for sharper definition.
- Embeds floating or moving: Allow the first clear layer to slightly thicken before positioning embeds.
- Foggy soap: Indicates the clear base was overheated — keep it below 150°F.
- Uneven fragrance distribution: Stir thoroughly before pouring; measure fragrance with a pipette for accuracy.
Variations
- Try metallic red and green micas for a classic Christmas palette.
- Swap Energy fragrance for Peppermint, Cinnamon, or Frosted Pine for a festive scent.
- Add biodegradable glitter or mica shimmer for extra sparkle.
- Use different shaped molds (stars, snowflakes, ornaments) to customize your collection.
Final Results
The finished soaps look like sparkling strings of holiday lights captured in crystal-clear glycerin. The neon bulbs pop beautifully against the translucent background, and each bar gives off a bright, energizing scent. These soaps make wonderful holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, or craft fair favorites — festive, functional, and full of cheer.
Conclusion
This holiday bulb melt and pour soap project is a delightful way to celebrate the season while learning more about layering and embedding techniques. Once you’ve mastered it, experiment with different shapes, scents, and colors for year-round soap creations.
Ready to try more creative melt and pour projects? Visit KoalaSoap.com for tutorials, recipes, and soap-making inspiration.
