Felted soap is a bar of soap wrapped in wool that’s been felted right onto it, so it works like a soap and washcloth in one. It’s a great way to use up soap scraps, the wool gives gentle exfoliation, and the bar shrinks down inside its felt jacket as you use it. Here’s how I make it with melt and pour soap and colorful wool roving.
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Materials & Tools
Soap
- About 12 oz melt and pour soap or soap scraps, like shea butter or clear melt and pour
- Fragrance oil (I used Cotton Candy), since scraps may have lost their scent
Felting Supplies
- Multicolor wool roving
- A wool felting kit with small colors for designs (optional)
- A mesh scrubber or pantyhose for friction
- Hot water and cold water in two bowls
- Gloves for the hot water
- A drying rack
Tools
- Multi shape silicone mold with large, rounded cavities (mine were 5 oz and 6.2 oz)
- Digital scale
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
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.
How to Make Felted Soap
1. Make Large, Rounded Bars
Melt your soap scraps, weighing out just a little more than your mold holds. Add fragrance and pour into large cavities. Big, thick bars work best, since the soap shrinks during felting. Rounded corners make wrapping easier. If you’re using square bars, trim the corners first. Spray with alcohol and let the soap set.
2. Let the Soap Dry
Let melt and pour soap dry for 24–48 hours before felting.
3. Pull Apart the Wool
Gently pull the wool roving apart into thin pieces about the size you need. Don’t cut it. Pulling keeps the fibers loose so they felt together. You don’t need much.
4. Wrap the Soap
Wrap the wool around the soap like a little gift, tucking the ends underneath. If you see gaps, lay another thin piece across in the other direction.
5. Felt with Hot Water and Friction
Put on gloves, since the water is hot. Wet the mesh scrubber in hot water, squeeze it out, and wrap it around the soap like a little purse. Dip it and start rubbing, starting with the bottom of the bar. The friction and heat felt the wool together. This takes about 10 minutes. If it gets too soapy, dip it again.
6. Check and Rinse in Cold Water
When you can’t pick up loose fibers anymore, dip the soap in cold water and squeeze out the suds. Rub a little more. If some wool sticks to the mesh, just pull it off and keep going.
7. Dry on a Rack
Dab off the suds with a paper towel and set the soap on a rack to dry, not on a flat mat. It dries faster outside on a warm day.
8. Try a Design (Optional)
With a felting kit, you can layer different colored wool on top and felt a simple design into the bar.
Tips & What I Learned
- Use big, thick bars. The soap shrinks as it’s felted.
- Round the corners. The wool wraps more smoothly.
- Pull, don’t cut, the wool. Pulled fibers felt together better.
- Use a mesh scrubber. It adds friction, and you don’t need pantyhose.
- Let the soap dry first. Melt and pour does best after 24–48 hours.
Troubleshooting
The wool won’t felt.
Use hotter water and more friction, and keep working until no loose fibers lift.
Fibers are sticking to the mesh.
That’s normal at the start. Pull them off and keep going.
The soap got too sudsy.
Dip it in water and squeeze out the suds.
FAQ
How much fragrance oil should I use?
Up to 5 ml per 16 oz of soap base. You can always use less, but don’t use more than 5 ml per 16 oz.
What are the benefits of felted soap?
The felt acts like a built-in washcloth, gives gentle exfoliation, and helps the bar last longer.
What do I do when the soap is used up?
Some people add a few drops of oil to the leftover felt and use it as a sachet in a drawer.
More Ways to Use Soap Scraps
- Tie Dye Soap from Leftover Shavings
- Christmas Embed Soap from Leftover Soap
- Soap on a Rope with a Shower Sponge
- Sea Sponge 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.
