NEW IN STORE: Meet Plant-Based Melt and Pour

by Sue Adair

What Is Plant-Based Melt and Pour Soap

 

Gentle, customisable, eco-minded. Simple soap making without lye handling.

Plant-based glycerine melt and pour is a pre-made soap base, usually from vegetable oils (often coconut). You melt it, add colour or scent, then pour into moulds. It is known for a soft, moisturising feel and is a good fit for sensitive skin and eco-minded makers.

Key features

  • Plant-based glycerine, a natural humectant that draws moisture to the skin.
  • Already saponified base, ready to melt, customise, and mould.
  • Moisturising feel from high glycerine content.
  • Customisable with cosmetic colours, fragrances, exfoliants, and botanicals.
  • Suitable for sensitive skin, especially when left fragrance-free.
  • Eco-friendly choice thanks to a plant-derived formula.
Earth & Thyme update: we love this new base. Available in Clear and White, both unfragranced, very versatile for your creations.

How to use, step by step

  1. Chop the base into even cubes for gentle, even melting.
  2. Melt in short bursts (microwave) or over a bain-marie. Keep below ~70 °C to preserve clarity and prevent sweating.
  3. Add colour (cosmetic micas, liquid colourants) and fragrance or essential oil, then stir slowly to minimise bubbles.
  4. Optional extras, light exfoliants or botanicals. Disperse clays in a little alcohol or glycerine first for smooth mixing.
  5. Pour into clean moulds. Mist the surface with isopropyl alcohol to pop bubbles.
  6. Unmould once firm. Wrap promptly to reduce glycerine dew and shrinkage.

Typical usage guidelines

  • Fragrance oils: check IFRA category, usually up to ~3 % in soap. Start at 1–2 % and adjust.
  • Essential oils: often 0.5–2 % depending on oil and safety notes.
  • Colourants: very small amounts. Add a little, evaluate, then build.
  • Exfoliants: 1–5 % (e.g., fine pumice, oatmeal). Keep textures gentle for face bars.
  • Botanicals: use sparingly to limit bleed and browning over time.

Troubleshooting

  • Glycerine dew on the surface, wrap bars soon after unmoulding, store cool and dry.
  • Soft bars, too much additive or overheating. Reduce liquids, re-batch gently.
  • Fragrance separation, choose skin-safe, soap-stable scents and stir thoroughly.
  • Colour bleeding, switch to non-bleeding micas and use light additions.
  • Loss of clarity in clear base, watch temperature, avoid heavy powders, mix well.
For sensitive skin: keep bars fragrance-free or use gentle, IFRA-compliant fragrance at low levels. Patch test if unsure.
Clear vs White base, which should I choose

Clear is best for bright colours, embeds, and translucency. White gives pastel tones and creamy, opaque bars. Both are unfragranced and easy to use.


Need advice on rates or pairings, message us on WhatsApp, we’re happy to help.

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