In this tutorial, we create a lavender-scented melt-and-pour soap using two clear soap bases and one opague base to achieve light and dark purples with a gold shimmer. You’ll learn temperature targets, fragrance guidelines, how to keep layers crisp (no muddling!), and simple cutting tips for clean, even bars.
Materials & Tools
Soap bases (melt & pour):
- Clear soap base — measured in small batches (about 5 oz per cup in the demo)
- Shea butter base — measured in small batches (about 5 oz in the demo), plus a larger batch for the final pour
- Square mold capacity discussed as roughly 24–26 oz (your exact yield will vary by mold and trimmings)
Color + sparkle:
- Micas: Violet/purple (light + dark), gold (kept in clear to stay metallic)
- Cosmetic glitter or bio-glitter (optional finishing touch)
Fragrance:
- Lavender Fragrance Oil
- Working rule of thumb used: ~5 mL per 16 oz of base; adjust to taste but avoid overpowering.
Tools:
- Funnel cups or pitchers
- Scale
- Isopropyl alcohol (for pre-dispersing mica + topping layers)
- Mini spatulas/spoons
- Thermometer
- 6 cavity mold
- Soap Cutter
All quantities follow what’s shown and discussed in the video; if your mold differs, scale accordingly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1) Prep color dispersions
- Add a splash of isopropyl alcohol to small cups and stir in mica: one light purple, one dark purple, and gold (keep gold for clear base so it reads metallic—opaque turns it muddy). The alcohol evaporates out in the soap.
2) Melt bases
- Melt small batches (about 5 oz each) of two clears (for purple + gold) and one shea butter (for light purple).
- Typical melt temps settled around ~150°F right after heating.
3) Color the bases
- Stir gold mica into a portion of clear base.
- Make dark purple in clear.
- Make light purple by tinting shea butter base with purple mica.
4) Add fragrance (mind flash point + fragrance strength)
- Lavender fragrance was added using the ~5 mL / 16 oz guideline, measured with 3 mL pipettes and split among batches.
- Flash point on label ~150°F was referenced; pours and fragrance additions were kept ~130–140°F and below to be safe. Adjust based on your supplier’s specs.
5) Create the “Swirl Design”
- Pour thin layers on a mat and let set slightly, then slowly combine pieces so colors float rather than muddle (clear cools faster than shea butter). Keep pours near ~115–130°F so layers sit on top instead of blending.
6) Load the loaf mold
- Distribute the set bits evenly (avoid clumping one color in one area) Shea Butter base over them. If needed, some makers poke a few holes with a skewer so fresh base seeps into gaps.
7) Finish + set
- Spritz tops with alcohol to pop bubbles and add bio-glitter if desired. Allow to fully firm at room temperature.
8) Unmold & cut
- Remove the loaf and cut along the longer dimension of the mold to get four even bars. Expect the occasional decorative top to chip—totally normal and fixable with a quick press or save as sample shreds.
Pro Tips & Temperature Guidelines
- Gold stays gold in clear: Mixing metallic gold into opaque/sheabutter can read tan or “flesh-colored.” Keep it in clear base for sparkle.
- Mind the flash point: Add fragrance below ~150°F (check your bottle) to preserve scent character. I usually do ~130s°F before scenting/pouring.
- Prevent muddling: Pour slowly and slightly cooler when layering over shea butter; the clear base cools faster, so give it a head start.
- Even distribution: Scatter embed pieces so one side isn’t all light or all dark; it gives prettier cross-sections after cutting.
Troubleshooting
- Colors blending together: Let the first layer cool a bit longer and pour the next layer closer to ~115–125°F. Spritz alcohol between layers sparingly.
- Fragrance too strong: Lavender can overwhelm—start with the 5 mL/16 oz rule and adjust down if sensitive.
- Gaps around embeds: Optional skewer holes help the fresh base flow into crevices before the final pour.
- Top decorations popping off: Press gently while still tacky or anchor with a thin “glue” pour; a little shed on tops is normal.
Color & Scent Variations
- Lavender Fields: Light lilac + deep violet with a whisper of silver micro-sparkle.
- Amethyst & Honey: Purple duo with gold micro-swirl; blend lavender with a tiny hint of vanilla or honey (watch discoloration if FO contains vanillin).
- Moonlit Lavender: Indigo-leaning purple + pearl white in shea; add a dusting of fine glitter.
- Lavender Citrus Twist: Lavender + soft peach (keep peach in clear) for a spring vibe.
- Royal Lavender: Deep royal purple veins with bold gold ribbons for a “regal” bar.
Safety & Cleanup
- Use heat-safe containers and handle hot soap with care.
- Keep alcohol away from open flame; spritz lightly.
- Wipe tools while warm; soak with warm water to remove mica residue.
Final Results & Uses
Expect glossy bars with shimmering gold and layered purple veining—perfect for gifts, dorms, or a calm spa vibe. The look is eye-catching in cross-section and still beginner-friendly to make repeatedly.
FAQ
Q1: Why didn’t you color the gold in shea butter?
Because gold stays metallic in clear; opaque bases mute it to beige.
Q2: When should I add fragrance?
Below the listed flash point (lavender FO here referenced ~150°F)—the pours were done in the ~130s°F to protect scent quality.
Q3: How do I keep layers from blending?
Pour slowly and a bit cooler over previous layers; clear cools faster than shea butter, so plan your sequence.
Q4: My mold size is different—how much base do I need?
My loaf mold was around 24–26 oz capacity. Check yours with water first, then scale the batches.
