Summertime Elegance melt and pour soap combines three fun techniques in one little loaf: an impression mat design on the sides, a soft blue and purple swirl inside, and a piped Melt Whip & Pipe (MWP) topping in two colors. I made it as an experiment in a mini sample loaf mold, and I was thrilled with how beautiful it turned out.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base & Frosting
- 3 cups goat’s milk melt and pour soap base (1½ cups in each of two spouted cups)
- A few ounces of Melt Whip & Pipe (MWP) from Rose of Sharon Soapery
Color & Scent
- A purple mica and Aqua Pearl mica, mixed with distilled water for the swirl
- Green and purple mica, mixed with alcohol for the frosting
- Fragrance oil (I used Energy, one of my favorites)
- Bio glitter for the top (optional)
Tools
- Mini silicone soap loaf mold
- Impression mat, cut down to fit the sides of the mold
- 3 ml pipettes
- Piping bag and tip with a clip
- Plastic container for heating the MWP and a whisk
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Thermometer
- Soap cutter
Fragrance Amount
Use up to 5 ml of fragrance oil per 16 oz (1 lb) of soap base. Three cups of soap is about 24 oz, so that’s up to roughly 7.5 ml in total. You can always use less if you like a lighter scent, but don’t go over 5 ml per 16 oz.
How to Make Summertime Elegance Melt and Pour Soap
1. Glue the Impression Mat Into the Mold
Cut a large impression mat down to fit the long sides of your mini loaf mold. Dab a little melted soap on the back of each piece and press it against the inside of the mold. It doesn’t have to be pretty. Just let it stick.
2. Melt the Base and Add Fragrance
Melt the goat’s milk base and split it between two spouted cups. Add the fragrance first. It drops the temperature 8–10 degrees, depending on how much you use.
3. Add the Color
Mix the purple and Aqua Pearl micas with distilled water. As a starting point, I used about half a 3 ml dropper per 4 oz of soap, though next time I’d use a little more. When the soap is around 128°F, give it a quick stir, then squirt in three half-dropper squirts of color without stirring. Give it just one quick whisk.
4. Pour
Pour the soap into the mold, alternating cups, and leave room at the top for the frosting. You should see a little swirl forming. Spray with alcohol.
5. Heat and Whip the MWP
Follow the maker’s directions and heat the MWP in a plastic container, without overheating it. Whisk until it thickens. I split it into two cups and added green to one and purple to the other, plus a little extra fragrance after whipping.
6. Pipe the Top
Scoop both colors side by side into one piping bag so they come out together. Spray the top of the loaf with alcohol and pipe your design. Finish with a little bio glitter if you like.
7. Unmold Carefully
Let it set for a few hours. To unmold, loosen the sides, then keep pushing the soap out from the bottom. Don’t pull on the impression mat, or you’ll ruin the design on the sides.
8. Cut
Cut the loaf into bars. Using water to mix the color makes the soap take a little longer to set, so give it time. Inside, you’ll see a soft swirl and a gentle gradient of blue and purple.
Tips & What I Learned
- Glue the mat with melted soap. It holds the mat in place while you pour.
- Use more color for a bolder swirl. My swirl was very faint, so next time I’d add more color.
- Push, don’t pull. Pushing the loaf out keeps the impression design intact.
- Water-mixed color sets slower. Plan extra time before cutting.
- Test in a mini mold. It’s an easy way to try a new design.
Troubleshooting
My swirl is too faint.
Add more concentrated color, or a few more squirts.
The soap is still soft when I cut it.
Water in the color slows setting. Wait longer.
The impression design got damaged.
Push the loaf out from the bottom instead of pulling on the mat.
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.
Can I pipe two colors at once?
Yes. Put both colors side by side in one piping bag.
Where can I learn more about MWP?
Watch the creator’s video, or see my Melt Whip and Pipe soap frosting post.
More Frosting and Impression Mat Ideas
- Piped Floral Melt and Pour Soap
- Lavender Love Melt and Pour Soap
- Blue Ice Melt and Pour Soap with an Impression Mat
- Lavender Confetti 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.
