Soap on a rope with a shower sponge is one of the quickest melt and pour gifts you can make. You set a basic shower sponge on a rope into colored shea butter soap, let it harden, and pop it out. Kids love them, and they’re great as a stand-alone gift or an accent for your other soaps.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base
- About 6 oz shea butter melt and pour soap base per sponge (enough to fill one large cavity, with a little extra)
Color & Scent
- Tail Green from this Stardust mica set or individual Stardust micas, or any mica that matches your sponge
- Fragrance oil (I used Energy from Crafter’s Choice; Barnhouse fragrance oils are another good choice)
Tools
- Shower sponges on a rope (they come in packs of four, and some have little animals on them)
- Multi shape silicone mold with large cavities (mine holds 6.2 oz)
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
- Pipettes and a small cup for the mica
Fragrance Amount
I used about 1½ ml of fragrance for this single 6 oz bar. The most you should use is 5 ml of fragrance oil per 16 oz (1 lb) of soap base, which works out to about 2 ml for 6 oz. You can always use less, but don’t go over 5 ml per 16 oz.
How to Make Soap on a Rope with a Shower Sponge
1. Pick a Large Mold and Melt the Base
Choose a large mold cavity so the sponge can go all the way in. A standard 6 cavity bar mold is a little small for these sponges, even the small ones. I measured my cavity at 6.2 oz and melted 6 oz of shea butter base, knowing the sponge would take up a lot of the space.
2. Color the Soap
Mix Tail Green mica with a little alcohol and stir it into the melted soap to match the sponge. You can add the mica while the soap is still hot, around 150°F.
3. Add Fragrance
Let the soap cool to about 140°F, then stir in your fragrance.
4. Pour a Little Soap First
Pour a small amount of soap into the cavity and spray it with alcohol.
5. Push in the Sponge
Hold the sponge by the top and squish it down into the soap as far as it will go. Keep the rope out of the soap and pull it off to the side.
6. Fill the Mold
Hold the rope out of the way and pour the rest of the soap evenly around the sponge until the cavity is full. Make sure the rope doesn’t get stuck in the soap. Let it set.
7. Unmold
Once the soap is hard, pop it out of the mold. That’s it: a quick, fun shower gift.
Tips & What I Learned
- Use a large mold. The sponge needs room to sink all the way in.
- Match the soap to the sponge. It looks polished and takes no extra effort.
- Melt a little extra. It’s easier to save leftover soap than to melt more mid-pour.
- Keep the rope dry. Hold it out of the way while you pour.
Troubleshooting
The sponge keeps floating up.
Pour a little soap first, push the sponge in, then hold it down while you add the rest.
The rope got stuck in the soap.
Hold it off to the side the whole time you pour.
I don’t have enough soap.
Melt a little more base and top it off before the first layer sets completely.
FAQ
How much fragrance oil should I use?
Up to 5 ml per 16 oz of soap base, or about 2 ml for a 6 oz bar. You can always use less, but don’t use more than 5 ml per 16 oz.
Where can I find shower sponges on a rope?
Dollar stores, Target, Walmart and Amazon all carry them.
Is this a good gift for kids?
Yes. It’s quick, colorful and easy to use in the shower.
More Easy Soap Gift Ideas
- How to Package Melt and Pour Soap
- Jolly Dots Melt and Pour Soap
- Floral Embed Melt and Pour Soap
- Oatmeal and Kaolin Clay 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.
