Soap Making Melt and Pour Swirl Design - Fresh Linen

Another beautiful set of lovely smelling soap made from melt and pour (MP) double butter and glycerin soap.  I decided to make this loaf of soap with fresh linen fragrance since after you use it you smell like fresh laundry (a great scent for men who just want to feel clean with no floral or musky notes).

For this swirl design I used:

1) MP double butter soap in white and brown.
2) MP glycerin soap in green and blue-green.
3) silicone mold with dividers that split the mold into 3 cavities length wise.

I poured the green and blue-green glycerin on each side and the white double butter in the middle.  The temperature was roughly 140 degrees Fahrenheit before I removed the dividers (note to thy self: wait until it cools to 120-125 degrees F if you want more of a chunky swirl effect).  I then poured the brown over the entire loaf and took a stick and swirled the loaf in a zig zag width wise.

You can see the wonderful color variations of white mixing with the brown and hints of blue-green transitioning to green.  So satisfying!

Melt and Pour Soap Swirling Technique - Pineapple Mango

I tried this next swirl technique by using 2 different colored glycerin soaps (yellow and green) and 3 different double butter soaps (orange, yellow, and white).

Dividing my loaf mold lengthwise to make 2 cavities:

1) Pour yellow glycerin on left side, and orange butter on right side.

2) Next pour green glycerin on left side, and yellow butter on right side.

3) Remove divider and randomly pour white butter on top.

4) Taking a chop stick, I pulled it through the entire loaf in a zig zag pattern width wise from one side to the other side.

Tada, what a great result I got!  The swirls turned out wonderfully, and the pineapple mango is the yummiest scent! 

Swirl Melt and Pour Soap - Freesia

My next batch of Double Butter Soap (Freesia), using 3 divided layers in Lilac Double Butter, White Double Butter, and Peach Glycerin.

The one thing I learned about this swirl technique is that the moment I released the dividers the Glycerin in the middle naturally sank into the bottom!  It's still a pretty effect and the actually allows you to cut the loaf lengthwise too.

How to Swirl Melt and Pour Soap Making Hot Process - Rain Forest

Hello Soap Makers!

Melt and Pour Soap Making (aka MP or "Hot Processing") is simple, addictive, and instantly gratifying.  Unlike "Cold Processing" that involves lye water and fats that can be caustic and dangerous, MP can be done without too much fuss.

But how can MP lovers get that wonderful swirl effect like cold process soaps?  The truth is that it can't replicated exactly, but I've found some successful techniques that I'll be trying out more and sharing with you all.

Please Note: I did not include the exact recipe measurement since I've been told everyone has their own preference of smells and colors.

Attempt #1 - Using 3 different MP soap batters into 1 loaf mold divided into 2 length-wise

- Goat's Milk MP soap base (1.5 lbs) - Color = Brilliant Blue, Fragrance = Rain Forest
- Goat's Milk MP soap base (0.5 lbs)  - Color = White, Fragrance = Rain Forest
- Glycerin MP soap base (1.5 lbs) - Color = Aqua+Neon Green, Fragrance = Orange+Eucalyptus

1) I used a plexiglass loaf mold (4 lbs) and bought some plexiglass dividers that are sold separately.
2) I taped the dividers together scotch tape to be the same length as the loaf mold, and inserted it into the centre so that the mold was partitioned (or divided) lengthwise into 2 cavities.
3) I then poured the Goat's Milk in Brilliant Blue on one-side, then poured the Glycerin in Aqua Neon Green on the other side.  IMPORTANT: Make sure the temperature of all batters are approx. 110-125 degrees F.
4) After this, I waited for about 2 minutes and then poured the Goat's milk in White on top.  IMPORTANT: There is a technique in the higher you pour the deeper the batter will land into the mold.  If you just want a surface layer, carefully pour the batter gently close to the surface.
5) Let sit for 24 hours, then remove from mold and cut into bars.  Let bars sit for another 24-48 hours to allow for hardening and drying before use.

So, this is my first attempt and swirling MP soap!  Overall, I'm pretty happy with the effect and would do it again.  Hope this inspires you all to try swirling melt and pour soap!