Bring festive cheer to your soap collection with this Holiday Gum Drop Melt and Pour Soap! This delightful project combines vibrant glycerin embeds with creamy shea butter soap base to create a stunning layered design perfect for gifting or displaying during the holidays. The technique is beginner-friendly yet produces professional results, featuring clear layers, colorful embeds, and a sparkling glitter finish that captures the joy of the season. Whether you’re making gifts for friends or stocking your craft fair booth, this melt and pour soap recipe will quickly become a holiday favorite.
Materials List
Here’s everything you’ll need to make your own Holiday Gum Drop Melt and Pour Soap:
Soap Bases
- Shea Butter Melt and Pour Base – 9 oz
- Clear Melt and Pour Base – 11 oz
Colorants and Additives
- Soap-safe colorants of your choice (holiday colors like red, green, gold, or silver recommended)
- Bio Glitter (eco-friendly and cosmetic grade) for a festive sparkle
- Peppermint Fragrance Oil – 3 mL (Crafter’s Choice or equivalent)
Molds
- Mini Square Mold for embeds (each holds 6–7 oz)
- Square Mold
Tools
- Silicone spatula
- Funnel cups
- Pipettes
- Scale (for accurate measuring)
- Cheese grater
- Silicone mat (for easy unmolding)
- Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol (for layer adhesion and bubble removal)
- Knife or soap cutter
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Soap Embeds
- Melt the clear glycerin melt and pour base in a microwave-safe cup in 30-second bursts until fully liquefied.
- Add desired colorants and pour into small silicone molds.
- Allow the soap to cool completely and harden — glycerin sets faster than shea butter, usually within 20–30 minutes.
- Once set, place the molds on a silicone mat and gently pull upward to release the embeds without breaking them.
Step 2: Prepare the Main Shea Butter Base
- Melt 9 oz of shea butter melt and pour base (not raw shea butter) in a clean container. Heat in short bursts until the base reaches 140–150°F.
- Stir in 3 mL of peppermint fragrance oil and mix thoroughly.
- Set aside to cool slightly to 130–135°F before pouring to avoid melting embeds.
Step 3: Assemble the Soap Layers
- Arrange your colorful embeds in the loaf mold.
- Slowly pour a thin layer of clear melt and pour base (around 135°F) to hold the embeds in place.
- Once that layer sets slightly, pour the shea butter base over the embeds, filling the mold almost to the top.
- Tap the mold gently on your work surface to release any trapped air bubbles.
Step 4: Add Textured Soap Curls on Top
- Grate leftover soap using a cheese grater to create curls.
- Twist and shape the curls into fun “gum-drop” style decorations.
- Place them on top of the loaf before the surface fully sets to ensure they adhere.
- Lightly sprinkle bio glitter over the top for a festive touch.
Step 5: Let It Set and Unmold
- Allow the soap to cool and harden completely (4–6 hours or overnight).
- Once solid, carefully unmold your soap loaf.
- Cut the loaf into bars, ensuring each piece measures evenly (about 4 inches wide).
Pro Tips & Temperature Guidelines
- Melting Temperature: Always melt melt-and-pour bases between 140°F and 150°F for best consistency.
- Pouring Temperature: Pour around 130°F to 135°F to prevent embeds from melting or layer separation.
- Fragrance Load: Add 0.3–0.5 oz of fragrance per pound of soap (or about 3 mL per 9 oz base).
- Unmolding Tip: Use a silicone mat to gently flex molds and release embeds easily without breaking them.
- Smooth Tops: Spritz each layer with rubbing alcohol to pop bubbles and improve adhesion.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Embeds floating or sinking | Poured too hot or too cold | Let base cool slightly before adding embeds |
| Layers separating | Not spritzed with alcohol between pours | Lightly spray rubbing alcohol before adding new layers |
| Air bubbles on surface | Over-stirring or pouring too quickly | Pour slowly and spritz alcohol immediately |
| Dull finish | Overheating or old base | Melt gently and store bases in a cool, dry place |
Variations
- Color Combinations: Use red and green for Christmas, blue and silver for winter themes, or pastel shades for a candy-inspired look.
- Scent Options: Swap peppermint for vanilla sugar, winterberry, or frosted pine for a new seasonal scent.
- Design Twist: Add a clear layer on top with suspended glitter for a crystal-like finish.
- Gift Idea: Wrap individual bars in cellophane, tie with ribbon, and attach handmade tags for thoughtful holiday gifts.
Final Results
Once unmolded and sliced, the Holiday Gum Drop Melt and Pour Soap reveals colorful embedded “gum-drop” shapes suspended in a creamy white base. The combination of peppermint scent and shimmering glitter captures the essence of the holidays — fresh, clean, and festive. The bars lather beautifully and make perfect gifts or market products that stand out on any soap table display.
Conclusion
This Holiday Gum Drop Melt and Pour Soap Tutorial is an excellent way to elevate your soap-making skills while celebrating the festive season. With simple materials, creative color play, and professional results, this project is ideal for both beginners and seasoned soap crafters. Experiment with your favorite scents and colors to make it uniquely yours — and don’t forget to share your creations!
For more tutorials, melt and pour soap ideas, and supplies, visit KoalaSoap.com for inspiration and step-by-step guides.
