Learn to make beautiful handmade ombré soap by layering batches of soap with more and more color. Once the soap is cooled, slice into color merge soaps!
This gorgeous batch of handmade soaps is all about the color-merge!
Soap Ingredients
32 ounces white glycerin soap base
Sweet bay essential oil
Turquoise soap dye
Tools
32-ounce juice carton
Pyrex cup
Microwave oven
Kitchen scale
Cooking thermometer
Rubbing alcohol in spray bottle
X-Acto knife
Chef’s knife
Scissors
Chopstick
Toothpick
Packing tape
Paper towels
Steps
1. To make a mold for the soap, empty the juice carton and rinse. Tape the opening closed with packing tape. Use the X-Acto knife to cut one side of the carton out. Dry the inside of the carton with a paper towel. Lay the carton on its side with the opening on top. (It will look like you’re making a toy boat.)
2. Use the chef’s knife to cut the soap base into chunks. Divide the soap chunks into 5 batches that weigh 6 ounces each.
3. Place one batch of soap chunks in the Pyrex cup and melt it in the microwave on high for 40 seconds. Stir with a chopstick. Continue heating in 10-second increments until the soap is completely melted. Stir in 30 drops of essential oil for scent. Pour the melted soap into the carton mold, and let it cool for about 20 minutes.
4. Heat and melt the second batch of soap base in the microwave as before. Add 3 drops of turquoise soap dye to the melted soap and stir. Check the temperature with the cooking thermometer, and do not pour over the first layer until it is 130-degrees or less. Meanwhile, spritz the cooled layer in the carton with alcohol. When the melted soap is 130-degrees or less, pour it on the first layer and let cool for 20 minutes.
5. Repeat step 4 to create three more layers, adding 3 extra drops of soap dye to each batch to get the ombré effect (the third batch will have 6 drops of dye, the fourth batch will have 9 drops of dye, and the fifth batch will have 12 drops of dye). Be sure to spritz each cooled layer with alcohol before pouring the next layer. (This is a MUST to get the layers to stick together!)
6. After the soap has cooled for 6 to 8 hours, carefully cut away the carton mold. Then slice the ombré soap into ½” pieces using the chef’s knife. Be sure to cut all slices at this time. If you let the soap dry for too long unsliced, the layers might separate.
Nifty Gifty: When we give handmade soap as a gift, we like to present it on an inexpensive (but pretty!) soap dish. This one is made from recycled chopsticks!
We love getting pinned!
When you add the dye…. is this when you also add the essential oil?
Great question, Lori! We forgot to mention when to add the essential oi! Thanks for spotting that! We added it to the first batch of soap. For this much soap we added 30 drops of essential oil. You can add more or less to your taste.
Jennifer & Kitty