This holiday swirl melt and pour soap has green, red and white layers that blend into a soft swirl, with a little glitter on top. It’s scented with a fresh, crisp pine fragrance and makes a great handmade Christmas gift. The trick is putting each color into the right base so the red stays red.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base
- Shea butter melt and pour soap base
- Clear melt and pour soap base
- About 21 oz of soap total for an 18–20 oz mold
Color & Scent
- Green and red mica (I used Stardust Tail Green and Red Strawberry from a Stardust mica set, also sold individually)
- Pine Needles fragrance oil
- Bio glitter for the top
Tools
- Rigid square soap mold (18–20 oz)
- Wavy soap cutter and a soap cutter
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
- Pour cups
- A chopstick or skewer
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 layers.
How to Make Holiday Swirl Soap
1. Melt the Bases
Melt the shea butter and clear bases separately. Warming each color on its own means you don’t have to keep reheating soap while you wait for the other layers.
2. Mix the Green Layer
Add fragrance to the first batch, then put a little alcohol in a cup with the green mica and stir it in well. Add more mica if you want a darker green.
3. Pour the Green Layer
Let the green soap thicken a little before pouring so the next layer doesn’t sink straight to the bottom. Pour it into the mold and spray with alcohol.
4. Color the Red in Clear Base
Make the red layer in clear base. If you put red mica in the white shea butter, it turns pink. Clear base keeps it a true red. Add fragrance once the soap is around 150°F, then let it cool.
5. Pour the Red Layer
At about 126°F, spray the green layer with alcohol and pour the red in. A gentle swirl in the mold blends the layers a little.
6. Pour the White Layer
Add the last of your fragrance to the white shea butter and let it cool to about 120–130°F. If it’s too hot, it will muddy everything. Spray with alcohol and pour.
7. Pull the Colors Up
If the bottom has set and the top is all white, gently pull some color up with a chopstick. You can also peel the thicker skin off the shea butter and tuck it into the top for extra texture.
8. Add Glitter
Spray with alcohol and lightly sprinkle bio glitter over the top. Let the loaf set completely.
9. Unmold
Rigid molds don’t have much give. Loosen all four sides, flip up the lip, then push down with your thumbs until the seal breaks and the loaf slides out.
10. Cut the Bars
A wavy cutter looks great with three colors. Push the loaf to one side of your cutter, set the blade in, and press straight down. Don’t twist it off, or you’ll smear the design. Cutting while the soap is still a little soft is easier. If you have an uneven end, shave off a thin sliver to keep the bars about the same weight.
Tips & What I Learned
- Red goes in clear base. Red mica in shea butter turns pink.
- Thicken the layers. Slightly cooled soap won’t sink into the layer below.
- Pour at 120–130°F. Hotter soap muddies the colors.
- Press, don’t twist. Twisting the cutter ruins layered designs.
- Find your mold size with water. Fill the mold with water and weigh it to see how much soap it holds.
Troubleshooting
My red turned pink. It was mixed into an opaque base. Use clear base for true reds.
The layers all blended together. The soap was too hot. Wait until each layer is around 120–130°F.
The bars smeared when I cut them. Push straight down with a steady hand instead of twisting the blade.
FAQ
How much soap does my mold hold?
Fill the mold with water, pour it into a pour cup and weigh it on a scale. That’s roughly how many ounces of soap you need.
Can I use a different holiday scent?
Yes. Peppermint or a spice blend works well. Just stay at or under 5 ml per 16 oz.
More Holiday Soap Ideas
- Holiday Geometric Melt and Pour Soap
- Candy Stripe Swirl Melt and Pour Soap
- Christmas Tree Melt and Pour Soap
- Holiday Shreds 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.
