When I first started ditching & switching our home to upgraded products with clean ingredients, not everyone in the house was 100% on board (ahem....my sweet husband ;-) ). Upgrading our soap was an easy way for me to switch out our products & ingredients with no complaints! He actually loves my homemade soaps.

Making soap with a melt and pour soap base is extremely easy. My kids love doing this with me and have been making soap since they were toddlers. Here's Morrison & Mabel making soap:

Melt & Pour Soap Supplies:

Melt & pour soap base (each pound makes about 5 bars of soap)
Essential oils -- you can use any scents you love! My favorite essential oils for soap making include:
- Purification (this is my favorite essential oil and I use it for everything!)
- Lavender
- Peace & Calming
- Citrus Fresh
- Peppermint
- Thieves
- Joy
- Learn how to get the best deals on essential oils here
Silicon soap molds (there are so many fun designs)
Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol (optional)
Optional add ins ideas:
- Dried herbs & flowers
- cosmetic mica
- sea salt
- ground coffee
- ground oats
- baking soda
- activated charcoal
- honey
- bentonite clay
- citrus peels (fresh or dried)
- You can get very creative with your soap creations
Double boiler or large pot

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap:

For a 1 pound block of base:

Cut your soap base into cubes
Melt your soap base in the double boiler or pot over medium low. You can mix your soap bases together if you want. My favorites are oatmeal and charcoal and I often buy a variety pack. You want to melt your soap slowly on low heat so it doesn't come to a boil or burn.
Spray your mold with rubbing alcohol. This helps keep bubbles from forming in your soap bars and results in a cleaner impression from your mold. Optional step.
Add your add ins:
- You can mix all your add ins to your entire batch of melted base:
  - up to about 5 tablespoons of dry ingredients from the list above (like dried herbs & flowers, ground coffee, bentonite clay, etc).
  - sprinkle in mica until you reach your desired color (usually about 1/2 - 1 teaspoon).
  - essential oils to your desired scent level, usually 20-40 drops.
- or you can customize each bar of soap:
  - I find it mixes best if I fill the mold half full with soap base, add the oils & extras, then top with more soap base.
  - You can add as much of each add in as you want! Have fun with it!
  - I use about 5-10 drops of essential oils per bar of soap.
  - Stir with a toothpick.
Spray with rubbing alcohol again to remove bubbles (optional).
Let cool to room temperature. You can put in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process if needed.
Remove from mold.


^^ My kids really like getting creative & extra with the mica!

How to Layer Melt & Pour Soap:

To make layered soap, follow the directions above with your first layer. Melt the base for the first layer, add your add ins, and pour into your mold. After the first layer is completely cool and hardened, repeat with your next layer. I like to layer a clear or white base with a charcoal base.

Gifting Your Melt & Pour Soap

My homemade soap is always a hit when I gift it! I give it as teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, etc. You can wrap in a organza bag, exfoliating soap bag, or tie with twine. Get creative and make it cute!

12 Melt & Pour Soap Recipes:

For all of these recipes, follow the steps above: melt the base, add the add ins, and pour in the mold. You can adjust the amount of each add in to fit your preferences.

Soothing Honey Soap

how to make soothing honey melt and pour soap with essential oils

1 pound honey soap base
3 tablespoons honey
20-40 drops essential oils of choice (I like lavender and/or Peace & Calming)
Honey soap is cute in this honeybee mold

Floral Bouquet Soap

how to make floral bouquet melt and pour soap with rose and floral essential oils

1 pound soap base of choice
4 tablespoons dried flowers of choice
30-40 drops floral essential oils like Rose, Joy, Lavender, or Jasmine
Here are some pretty flower molds

Manly Man Soap

melt and pour soap recipes for men with essential oils

1 pound charcoal soap base
10 drops each of Pine, Tea Tree, and Patchouli
- other masculine scents include: Valor, Shutran, Sandalwood, and Purification

Playful Soap for Kids

easy melt and pour soap for kids with essential oils

1 pound soap base of choice
30 drops of Gentle Baby or Seedlings Calm essential oil
1 teaspoon cosmetic mica (any color and you can mix the colors for a swirl effect)
When you pour your soap, put a small toy in the center like a lego block or small plastic animals. My kids love getting to the center of the soap and getting the prize!
These animal soap molds are fun for kids

Christmas Spirit Soap

how to make christmas scented melt and pour soap with essential oils

1 pound soap base of choice
40 drops of Thieves or Cinnamon & Orange
1 teaspoon red or green cosmetic mica
Put a small cinnamon stick or a few star of anise or whole cloves in the middle of the soap
Here are some Christmas themed soap molds

Vanilla Latte Soap

how to make vanilla latte melt and pour soap with coffee and essential oils

Melt & Pour Soap Making Parties

I've had soap making parties before and they are always a hit! Gather your supplies and invite some friends over. You can provide all the supplies or make it pot luck style and everyone bring one of the supplies. Soap making parties are fun for a wedding or baby shower, staff or team building, girls night out, young girl's birthday party, etc.

Melt & Pour Soap FAQ:

How long will my soap last?
- The shelf life of your soap can be up to about 2 years if you store it in a cool, dry place.
How should I store my soap?
- I store my soap in a container in my bathroom cabinet just like any other soap. If your house is overly humid or warm, you can store your soap in the fridge.