Project

Pressed-Flower Bar Soap

Spring is in full bloom—and so are these lovely handmade soaps. Pick your favorite flower—crushed rose petals, lavender buds, or bluebonnets—and try our easy melt-and-pour technique.

Photography: Anusha Rajeswaran

Source: Martha Stewart

Introduction

This idea comes from our contributor Anusha Rajeswaran. To create these bars of soap, you'll need a variety of dried flowers—we recommend trying wax flowers, spray roses, calendula, lavender buds and other greenery. Small flowers fit best in the soap mold, and unscented or lightly scented flowers are good for sensitive skin. If you prefer a strong potpourri-like scent in your soap, simply add a few drops of essential oil (like rose or lavender) to the mixture. To determine how much glycerin soap base you need, follow a 1-to-1 ratio of clear soap base to white soap base with a light spritz of rubbing alcohol between the layers. (Here, we used a 1/2 pound or 1 cup of each.)

For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of Soap-Making Projects and Ideas.

materials

Soap mold

Glycerin soap, white and clear

Rubbing alcohol

Dried flowers

2 heatproof bowls

steps

Sprinkle dried flowers into each cavity of the soap mold.
Place clear soap in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds; stir. Repeat at intervals of 10 seconds until completely melted.
Pour 1/2 inch of clear soap over the flowers in the soap mold; let dry for 5 minutes.
Spray rubbing alcohol on top of the soap.
Place white soap in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds; stir. Repeat at intervals of 10 seconds until completely melted.
Pour the melted white soap to fill the rest of the soap mold.
Allow bar soap to dry for a minimum of 40 minutes before gently popping out of the mold.