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If you’ve ever been curious about making your own soap at home, melt & pour soap is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to get started. Whether you’re looking to make custom gifts, create a unique product line, or just enjoy a new hobby, melt and pour soap offers a simple, mess-free introduction to soap crafting. One of the best parts? You can easily personalise your bars with colour, design, and fragrance oil to suit your style.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what melt and pour soap is, how it works, what materials you’ll need, and how to get creative with scents and designs.
What Is Melt & Pour Soap?
Melt and pour soap is a pre-made soap base that has already gone through the saponification process - the chemical reaction that turns oils and lye into soap. Because this step is already complete, you don’t have to handle any harsh chemicals or wait for a curing period. Instead, you simply melt the soap base, add your custom ingredients like colourants and fragrance oil, and pour it into moulds. Once it cools and hardens, your soap is ready to use.
This makes melt and pour ideal for:
Beginners looking for an easy entry into soap making
Crafters who want fast results
Makers who want to experiment with design, scent, and additives
What Is a Soap Base?
A soap base is the core ingredient in melt and pour soap. It’s a blend of saponified oils and other ingredients that determine its texture, clarity, and skin feel. Most melt and pour soap bases are available in clear (transparent) or white (opaque) forms.
Common types of soap bases include:
Clear Glycerin – Transparent and great for embedding or layering designs
White (Opaque) – Made with added titanium dioxide for a creamy appearance
Shea Butter – Moisturising and luxurious for dry skin
Goat Milk – Gentle and nourishing
Aloe Vera – Soothing and suitable for sensitive skin
Olive Oil – Rich and conditioning
Choose your base depending on the skin feel you want and the look you’re going for.
What Do You Need to Make Melt & Pour Soap?
The beauty of melt and pour soap is that you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment. Here’s a simple checklist to get you started:
Basic Supplies:
Soap base of your choice
Microwave-safe jug or double boiler for melting
Silicone or plastic moulds
Fragrance oil (more on that shortly!)
Colourants (liquid or powder, soap-safe)
Stirring stick or spoon
Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle (to remove bubbles)
Optional but fun extras:
Dried flowers, botanicals, or glitter (ensure they’re safe for skin)
Additives like oats, clays, or activated charcoal
Embeds for visual effects
How to Make Melt & Pour Soap (Step-by-Step)
Here’s a quick guide to making your first batch:
Step 1: Cut Your Soap Base
Chop your soap base into small cubes to ensure even melting.
Step 2: Melt the Soap
Use a microwave or double boiler to gently melt the base. If microwaving, do so in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one.
Step 3: Add Colour and Fragrance
Once melted, stir in fragrance oil and colourants. Be sure to use skin-safe, soap-compatible fragrance oil, and follow the recommended usage rates (usually 1–3% depending on the type).
💡 Tip: Don’t add too much fragrance oil — overloading can affect how the soap sets and performs.
Step 4: Pour into Moulds
Carefully pour the mixture into your moulds. Use a spray of rubbing alcohol to pop any bubbles on the surface.
Step 5: Let It Set
Allow your soap to cool and harden at room temperature. This usually takes a couple of hours, but can vary depending on the base and room conditions.
Step 6: Un-mould and Enjoy!
Pop the soaps out and they’re ready to use - no cure time needed!
Using Fragrance Oil in Melt & Pour Soap
One of the best parts of making your own soap is choosing the scent. Fragrance oil is a key ingredient in personalising your soap and creating a memorable experience for users.
When choosing a fragrance oil for melt and pour soap:
Look for soap-safe, skin-safe options that are IFRA-compliant.
Avoid candle-only oils, as they may not be suitable or safe for skin.
Choose high-quality oils that don’t discolour or separate in soap.
Check the recommended usage rate — most bases can handle 1–3% fragrance by weight.
Some popular fragrance oil categories for soap include:
Fruity – think watermelon, mango, or raspberry
Fresh/Clean – like linen, ocean breeze, or cucumber
Floral – such as lavender, jasmine, or rose
Gourmand – vanilla, honey, or coconut milk
Spa-inspired – eucalyptus, lemongrass, or sandalwood
At House of Scent, we offer a wide range of premium, undiluted fragrance oils that are perfect for melt and pour soap crafting — whether you're into calming spa scents, sweet dessert vibes, or designer dupes.
Why Choose Melt & Pour Over Cold Process?
While both methods have their merits, melt and pour is the better choice for beginners and busy makers who want results fast. Here’s why:
| Melt & Pour | Cold Process |
|---|---|
| No lye handling | Requires lye (sodium hydroxide) |
| Ready to use instantly | Needs 4–6 weeks cure time |
| Easy to customise | More chemistry knowledge required |
| Great for kids or classes | Not ideal for young children |
That said, once you’ve mastered melt and pour, you may decide to explore cold process soap for a more “from-scratch” approach. Many makers love both!
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are a few common issues and how to solve them:
Soap sweating? This is normal with glycerin bases. Wrap soaps in plastic wrap or use a dehydrator.
Fragrance fading? Use high-quality fragrance oil and avoid overheating the base.
Soap cracking? Pour at a slightly cooler temperature and avoid moving moulds while setting.
Bubbles in soap? Use rubbing alcohol spray to remove surface bubbles.
Final Thoughts
So, what is melt and pour soap? It’s an accessible, creative, and beginner-friendly way to dive into soap making - with no need for special equipment or long wait times. With a variety of soap bases to choose from and endless ways to customise using fragrance oil, colour, and texture, the possibilities are endless.
Whether you're making soap for yourself, as a gift, or to sell in your business, melt and pour offers a fun and rewarding way to explore your creativity and enjoy the art of crafting.
Please note that if you intend to gift or sell your melt and pour soap, that you must hold the relevant CPSR assessment in order to be legally compliant in the UK.
Discover Premium Fragrance Oils For Melt & Pour Soap
Looking to create your own melt & pour soap? House of Scent offers premium, undiluted fragrance oils that closely match popular scents. Whether you're crafting for personal use or starting a business, we have the perfect fragrances to bring your melt & pour soap creations to life!
