There’s something so satisfying about giving handmade gifts during the holidays, and these DIY gift box soaps are my new favorites to make. They look like tiny wrapped presents, complete with a “bow” made from soap curls on top. Not to mention, they’re adorable, they smell amazing, and they’re super easy to whip up, even if you’re not the “crafty” type.

The best part? These soaps are basically just melt and pour base and mica, which makes them totally beginner-friendly and inexpensive (say it with me: we’re keeping the holidays simple this year).

You don’t need any fancy equipment or special skills, just a few supplies and a bit of patience. The soap curls on top are what really make them stand out, and once you get the hang of it (this post will help!), you can customize them with different colors and scents to match your holiday theme.

• Clear melt and pour soap base — I like using clear base because it gives you a translucent, glassy look that lets you see the colors and glitter inside.
• Mica — A non-toxic colorant, mica is safe for skin and blends really well into melt and pour soap base. It also creates a swirly, marble-like effect as the soap cools. I used purple-red and a dark turquoise for mine.
• Glitter — While not totally necessary, glitter adds extra shimmer to your soap curls so they look like fancy ribbons. I used mica-based glitter rather than traditional plastic glitter because I thought it would less scratchy and it wouldn’t pollute our waterways once it goes down the drain. 
• Essential oils — Cinnamon, clove, pine, cedarwood, sweet orange, peppermint or vanilla essential oils make for perfect holiday scents, but you can use any fragrance that makes you happy.
• Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol — Spritz this on freshly poured soap to get rid of air bubbles and between layers to help everything stick together.
• Vegetable peeler — It’s the easiest tool for getting those thin, ribbon-like curls. If you don’t have a vegetable peeler, check out this post [insert link for to How to Make Curls post] for different methods you can use to make your curls. 
• Square silicone mold — You’ll need square single-cavity soap molds to create the gift box shape.
• Heat-proof measuring cup — A glass measuring cup with a pour spout makes melting and pouring your soap a lot easier.
• Large microwave-safe bowl — This is handy if you’re melting a bigger batch of soap or if you need extra room to mix in your mica and fragrance.
• Kitchen thermometer — It’s important to know how hot your soap is when working in layers. I recommend keeping the soap aroun 140 F to prevent it from melting the ribbons or curls.

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Ribbons

Start by melting clear soap base and adding gold mica to create one thin square of soap for cutting into ribbon strips, plus one thicker block that you’ll use later when peeling the curls.

Step 1: Cut Soap

Cut 3 ounces of clear soap base into 1-inch cubes and place them in a microwave-safe measuring cup.

Step 2: Melt & Add Glitter

Melt the soap in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stir after each. When melted, add the glitter and stir again.

Step 3: Pour Soap

Pour about 0.5 ounce of soap into one of the mold compartments. This thin square will make the ribbon strips. Pour the rest of the soap into another mold compartment to make a thicker block for the curls you’ll make later.

Step 4: Remove Bubbles

Spritz everything with rubbing alcohol to get rid of surface bubbles, then let the soap harden completely.

Step 5: Cut Ribbon Strips

Once everything is set, cut the thin square into four strips.

Step 6: Add Ribbon to Soap Mold

Take 2 of the strips and place one on top of the other to make a plus sign. Trim off the part where they overlap in the middle so they’ll lay flat in the mold (don’t worry, the seam will get covered up by soap curls).

Step 2: Make the Boxes

The soap “boxes” require two separate pours, which helps keep the ribbons in place and prevents them from floating around.

Step 1: Melt + Color Soap

Melt 4 ounces of clear soap base in the microwave. Stir in your mica color and add essential oil.

Step 2: Cover Ribbons

Let the soap cool to about 140 degrees F. Press the ribbon strips firmly into the bottom of your mold so they stay put, then pour just enough soap to cover them.

Step 3: Remove Bubbles + Cool

Spritz with alcohol and let cool. Once that first layer has cooled, spray with alcohol again.

Step 4: Fill Soap Mold

Pour in the remaining soap to fill the rest of the mold. You might need to heat it again to remelt it. Spritz one more time, then let it cool completely.

Step 3: Attach the Soap Curls

Use a vegetable peeler to shave thin curls from the thick gold block you made earlier and stack them on top of your gift box to create a clustered ribbon effect.

Step 1: Shave Soap

Take the thick gold square you set aside earlier and use a vegetable peeler to shave off thin ribbons of soap.

Step 2: Curl Soap

If they don’t naturally curl on their own, roll them with your fingers to create the curled ribbon shape.

Step 3: Attach Curls

Melt about 1 ounce of clear soap in a shallow glass or bowl. Dip the corner of one curl into the melted soap and place it on top of the gift box. Keep stacking curls until you’ve built a little cluster that looks like a bow.

You can also pour clear melted soap base over the curl cluster or dip the curl cluster in melted soap to create a protective shell over it and help the curls hold their shape.

Substitutions

• Clear melt and pour base — You don’t have to use clear soap if you don’t want to. You can swap it for white, goat milk, shea butter, or aloe bases depending on the look you’re going for. Each one will give you a slightly different finish and feel.
• Soap curls — You don’t need to make fresh curls every time. Any leftover soap scraps can be shaved with a peeler and turned into curls. You can also use premade embeds if you want to save time.
• Vegetable peeler — Use a paring knife or a cheese planer instead. They’ll give you slightly different curl shapes, but they both work.
• Kitchen thermometer — Just rely on visual cues (or a finger, if you’re brave). If the soap is warm but not steaming, and it hasn’t formed a skin on top yet, you’re good to go.
• Rubbing alcohol spray — Gently tap the mold on the counter to release bubbles. It’s not as effective as alcohol, but it works in a pinch.

Top Tip

Prep all your curls and tools before you start making the boxes. Melt and pour soap cools fast and forms a thin film on top pretty quickly, so this project moves at warp speed once you get going.

Storage

Once your DIY gift box soaps are finished, wrap each one individually in plastic wrap to keep humidity out and prevent the colorant from smudging or bleeding. Store them in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct light. Light can fade the colors over time, especially if you used brighter micas.

For long-term storage, place the wrapped soaps in an airtight container (preferably with silica packets to keep sweating to a minimum). 

If you’re planning to gift them later and notice the soap has developed condensation, just unwrap it and polish the surface with a soft cloth before wrapping it back up.

FAQ

Can I use cold process soap instead?

Not for this specific project. Cold process soap behaves differently, and the curls won’t work the same way. Melt and pour is really the best option here.

How long do these soaps last?

They’ll last up to a year when wrapped and stored correctly. Just keep them away from heat and humidity.

Do I have to add fragrance?

No, fragrance is totally optional. If you’d rather keep your soaps unscented, that’s perfectly fine.

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DIY Melt and Pour Gift Box Soaps

These festive gift box soaps look like tiny wrapped presents, complete with overlapping gold ribbons and soap curl bows on top. And since they’re made with melt and pour soap, they make perfect last-minute holiday gifts.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cooling Time4 hours hrs

Total Time5 hours hrs

Course: Bath and Body Soap

Keyword: DIY, holiday gifts, soap

Yield: 2 soaps

Author: Stephanie Pollard

Cost: $10

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Ribbons

• Cut 3 ounces of clear soap base into 1-inch cubes and place them in a measuring cup.

• Melt the soap in the microwave, then stir in the glitter until it’s fully mixed.

• Pour about 0.5 ounces of soap into one of the mold compartments. Pour the rest of the soap into another mold compartment to make a thicker block.

• Spritz everything with rubbing alcohol to get rid of surface bubbles, then let the soap harden completely.

• Take the thin square and cut it into 4 strips.

• Take 2 of the strips and place one on top of the other to make a plus sign. Trim off the part where they overlap in the middle so they’ll lay flat in the mold (don’t worry, the seam will get covered up by soap curls).

Step 2: Make the Boxes

• Melt 4 ounces of clear soap base in the microwave. Stir in your mica color and add essential oil if you’re using it.

• Let the soap cool to about 140 degrees F. Press the ribbon strips firmly into the bottom of your mold so they stay put, then pour just enough soap over them to cover.

• Spritz with alcohol and let cool.

• Once that first layer has cooled, spray it with alcohol again and fill the rest of the cavity with soap. Spritz one more time, then let it cool completely.

Step 3: Make Soap Curls

• Take the thick gold square you set aside earlier and use a vegetable peeler to shave off thin ribbons of soap.

• Use your fingers to roll the soap into curls.

• Melt about 1 ounce of clear soap in a shallow glass or bowl. Dip the corner of one curl into the melted soap and place it on top of the gift box. Keep stacking curls until you’ve built a little cluster that looks like a bow.

Notes

Pour clear melted soap base over the curl cluster or dip the curl cluster in melted soap to create a protective shell over it and help the curls hold their shape.

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