by Rustic Escentuals

This is a tutorial showing how to make loaf soaps with a layering technique that will give you geometric shapes. This tutorial is more advanced, however it’s perfect to help build your skills. Because you’ve already learned to layer in our Learning to Layer Melt & Pour Soap Tutorial, you already have some experience. Lets go!

Skills: advanced layering

 
Supplies and Equipment Needed
Microwave safe glass containers (3)
Sharp knife to cut soap into cubes
Butter knives
Rubber gloves
2 small hand towels
Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol
Miter box and soap cutter (not shown in supplies)
Square Loaf Soap Mold
Disposable pipette
.15 cc scoop
Thermometer to monitor soap base temperature
35 ounces Ultra Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
16 ounces White Melt and Pour Soap Base
Blackstar Gold Mica
Bordeaux Mica
Body Safe Fragrance Oil

 

 
The ounces used in this tutorial are approximations. You can decide to use more or less of each color, it’s all up to you. You can also play around with the geometric shapes by varying how much or how little you tilt the soap mold. For this tutorial I wanted my shapes to be different sizes. I poured all the way to the top of this soap mold so it will be a hefty 53 ounces!

1st layer: 6 ounces of red for first pour
2nd layer: 5 ounces of white for first white pour
3rd layer: 6 ounces of red for the 2nd red pour
4th layer: 5 ounces of white
5th layer: 6 ounces of brown
6th layer: 3 ounces of white
7th Layer: 6 ounces of brown
8th Layer: 3 ounces of white
9th Layer: 11 ounces of red

First Layer (Bordeaux Mica)

For tips on how to incorporated Micas into your melt & pour soap base, see our Mica Colorants In Soap Tutorial.

Step 1: Cut the Ultra Clear and White Melt and Pour soap bases into small cubes and set aside. Since this soap takes a long time to make, we’ll be melting our soap base in smaller batches as needed.

Step 2: Add about three .15 cc scoops of Bordeaux Mica into a microwave safe glass container.

 
Step 3: Using a disposable pipette, add about 5 -6 drops of alcohol to the mica. Depending on how much mica you have in the container, you may need to add a bit more. Be conservative with the alcohol. You can also substitute Glycerin for the alcohol if you like.

 
Step 4: Taking a butter knife, mix both items together.

 
Step 5: Add 12 ounces of Ultra Clear Melt and Pour soap base into this container and melt the soap base in a microwave for 30 seconds. Repeat if necessary but don’t boil or burn the soap.

Step 6: Stir slowly until well mixed.

Step 7: Add 3.5 ml of body safe Fragrance Oil and stir until everything is blended well.

Tip: Always stir slowly when adding colorants, fragrances or any type of additions to the soap base to avoid creating any more bubbles than you have to.

 
Step 8: Use a thermometer to monitor the soap base temperature – it should be about 135° to 140° to avoid warping the soap mold. If the soap is too hot, keep stirring slowly until it reaches the correct temperature. Also, make sure the soap is cool before pouring each layer!

 
Step 9: Roll the small towels so that you can tilt and rest the mold on its side. This will allow you to create your first angled layer. Make sure the mold is secure and won’t move.

 
Step 10: Slowly pour about 6 ounces into the tilted mold. Spritz the soap with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any bubbles that formed while you were pouring and set aside your container for later.

 
Step 11: It is important not to touch the mold – let soap sit for 25 to 30 minutes to form a hardened layer. If the layer is not firm, then you risk having a wavy line in your finished product. Press gently with your finger to test. If your finger is able to form a dent, wait another minute or two because you want the layer to be able to support the second layer without bowing inward.

 
Step 12: While the 1st layer is hardening, add 10 ounces of the White Melt and Pour soap base into another microwave safe container and melt the soap base in a microwave for 30 seconds. Repeat if necessary.

Step 13: Add about 3 ml of your fragrance oil and stir carefully.

Step 14: Make sure the first layer is cooled and hardened sufficiently to take the 2nd pour. Liberally spritz the first layer with alcohol (don’t forget the edges). This will help the layers adhere to each other. Make sure the mold doesn’t move and slowly pour 5 ounces of the white soap. Spritz with alcohol to remove any bubbles that may have formed.

 

 
Step 15: Let soap sit for 15 to 20 minutes to form a hardened layer. This layer will take less time to set up because it’s a bit thinner.

 
Step 16: Press gently with your finger to test. You want the layer to be able to support the second layer without bowing inward. You should do this for every layer.

 
Step 17: Now is the time to tilt the soap mold in the opposite direction. Using your towels to help support it, make sure the mold is secure. I found that because of the already hardened soap in the mold, it tended to slide forward so I used one of my soap containers as a stop.

 
Step 18: Make sure the layer is hardened sufficiently to take the 3rd pour. Spritz the layer and repeat Steps 10 -11 using the remainder of the red soap, spritz again and let harden.

 

 

 
Step 19: Make sure the layer is hardened sufficiently to take the 4th pour. Spritz the layer and repeat Steps 14 -15, using the remainder of the white soap, spritz again and let harden.

 

 

 
Now that you have the idea, using the remainder of your cut up soap keep repeating the layers until you reach the top of the mold. Feel free to change the size of the shapes and the colors. To change it up some I used Blackstar Gold Mica for some of the layers.

 
This is a hefty 53 ounces of soap, therefore it will take much longer to completely cool and harden. I suggest waiting overnight and the next morning, slowly pull the sides of the mold away from the soap, turn over, and slowly press on the underside of mold to release the soap.

Tip: If the soap won’t come out – don’t fight it. You can even pop the soap in the freezer for 5 minutes then try again.

Cutting the Soap
Cutting the loaf into 1-inch bars will yield approximately 9 bars of soap. I use a miter box for easier and safer cutting. Without the miter box, the soap loaf tends to shift when you cut.

 
Have fun coming up with shapes and colors and share your creations with us on our Facebook page!