If you're new to soapmaking, the holiday season is the perfect time to start. Not only do homemade soap bars make excellent stocking stuffers, but they smell like an actual dream, too! This is especially true if you use scents inspired by festive drinks, as we did with our trio of Christmas soaps.
Besides, who can say no to holiday soaps that smell like peppermint latte (complete with an iconic candy cane swirl), mulled wine and orange hot chocolate? With this handmade soap project in your arsenal, you'll be ready to make a batch of Christmas gifts that's almost good enough to eat.
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This soap project also makes a great gift idea for guests. Simply set them out in your guest bathroom or, if you're hosting a party, hand them out as party favor soap gifts. Your loved ones are sure to adore the scents and handmade nature of these bath products.
Ahead, learn how to make Christmas soaps inspired by festive drinks, plus tips for customizing each one. Happy holidays!
Video: Soaps Inspired by Holiday Drinks
Soap #1: Peppermint Latte
Things You'll Need
Shea butter or goat's milk soap (cut into pieces)
Red mica powder or soap dye
Stirring sticks (like wooden skewers or popsicle sticks)
Peppermint essential oil
Coffee fragrance oil
Silicone soap bar mold
2 heat-safe glass measuring cups
Small pot
Tip
Any melt-and-pour soap base works, as long as it’s white or off-white. Shea butter soap is an ideal option if you want to make a moisturizing vegan-friendly option.
1. Melt soap
Divide the soap between two glass measuring cups. Melt both batches according to the instructions on your soap packaging.
2. Add color and fragrance
To one cup, add the red mica powder or soap dye. Stir well.
Tip
If using mica powder, bubbles might form in the soap. If you want to remove them, spray the mixture with alcohol and keep mixing. Alternatively, you can mix one tsp. mica powder with one Tbsp. alcohol before adding to the melted soap. This will make it easier to incorporate.
To the white soap, add 5 to 10 drops peppermint essential oil and mix. To the red soap, add 5 to 10 drops coffee fragrance oil and mix well. You can add more or less drops, depending on your desired strength of fragrance.
Tip
You can purchase skin-safe coffee fragrance oil on Etsy.
3. Pour soap
Pour both soaps into the silicone mold at the same time. Using a skewer, quickly swirl the colors together. Don't worry if the top of the soap sets slightly and becomes wrinkled; you can run a wet finger across the surface later on to smooth it out.
Tip
For extra-festive soap bars, use molds in festive shapes, such as Christmas trees or candy canes.
4. Remove from mold
Let the soap sit for four to six hours, or as indicated by the soap base's packaging. Once the soap has hardened, carefully remove it from the mold.
Tie the soap with hemp or twine for a rustic homemade touch.
Soap #2: Mulled Wine
Things You'll Need
Shea butter or goat's milk soap (cut into pieces)
Burgundy mica powder or soap dye
Dried orange slice
Stirring sticks (like wooden skewers or popsicle sticks)
Orange essential oil
Skin-safe merlot fragrance oil
Silicone soap bar mold
Heat-safe measuring cup
Small pot
Tip
Only use merlot fragrance oil that’s safe for the skin. You can find it on Etsy.
1. Melt soap
Melt the soap in a glass measuring cup according to the soap's packaging.
Tip
To make a translucent version of this project, use glycerin soap instead. This way, you’ll be able to see dried orange slices through the soap.
2. Add color and fragrance
Add mica powder or soap dye to the soap. Mix well.
Add five to 10 drops each of orange essential oil and merlot fragrance oil. Again, you're welcome to add more or less drops, depending on how strong you'd like the scent to be.
Tip
For a different take on this project, replace the merlot scent with cranberry fragrance oil for a festive cranberry-orange soap.
3. Pour soap
Pour the melted soap into the mold, then top with a dried orange.
4. Remove from mold
Let sit for four to six hours, or as listed on the soap's packaging. Carefully remove the soap from the mold once it has hardened.
Wrap the soap with a strand of hemp, twine or festive ribbon.
Soap #3: Orange Hot Chocolate
Things You'll Need
Shea butter or goat's milk soap (cut into pieces)
Brown mica powder or spa dye
Stirring sticks (like wooden skewers or popsicle sticks)
Orange essential oil
Skin-safe hot cocoa fragrance oil
Silicone soap bar mold
Heat-safe measuring cup
Small pot
Tip
Be sure to use skin-safe fragrance oil, which you can find on Etsy. Another option is chocolate fragrance oil.
1. Melt soap
Prepare the soap by melting it according to the soap's packaging.
2. Add color and fragrance
To the melted soap, add brown mica powder or soap dye. Stir well.
Add five to 10 drops each of orange essential oil and hot cocoa fragrance oil. Use more or less to adjust the final scent.
Tip
Love the combination of peppermint and hot chocolate? Replace the orange essential oil with peppermint oil.
3. Pour soap
Pour the melted soap into the silicone mold.
Tip
Use a Christmas tree, snowflake or gingerbread man mold for festive spins on this project.
4. Remove from mold
Let the soap sit for four to six hours, or as suggested by the soap's packaging. Once the soap has set, remove it from the mold.
Tie a strand of hemp, twine or ribbon around the soap.
When styled together, these festive soaps work beautifully in a gift box or basket. So fun!