I love making soap with vibrant color, sparkle and embeds. For instance, the Honey Bee Funnel Pour Cold Process Soap or the Rainbow Hearts Melt & Pour. However, it’s nice to switch it up every now and then and make a rustic, simple-looking soap. These Rustic Desert Melt and Pour Bars are striking, simple and have exfoliants in them to help with rough summer skin.
The soap is decorated with crushed grape seeds, strawberry seeds and shredded loofah, which are part of the Exfoliant Sampler Pack. The layer with crushed grape seeds also has a little bit of Desert Red Mica to create a dark and slightly shimmery red hue. The exfoliants in the bars make them very scrubby. They are ideal for scrubbing off dirt and grime from summer activities like gardening. For a fresh and clean smell to go with the rustic theme, Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil is added.
Because the bars are so scrubby, they are perfect for use on the body and rough areas, like the bottom of feet. They may be a bit too harsh for use on the face. If you’d like to use these bars on your face, you can decrease the amount of exfoliants used, or use finer-grained exfoliants like pumice. Learn about which exfoliants to use in the All About Exfoliants post.
What You’ll Need:
45 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
1.5 tsp. Crushed Grape Seeds
.5 tsp. Strawberry Seeds
.75 tsp. Shredded Loofah
Desert Red Mica
Liquid Blue Colorant
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
1.2 oz. Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil (0.3 oz. in each layer)
Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold
Crinkle Cutter
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Desert Red Mica into 1 tablespoon 99% isopropyl alcohol. Use a mini mixer to get the clumps of color worked out smoothly. This is an optional step. You can add the mica directly to the melted soap. We dispersed it so it would mix in easily and prevent any clumping.
ONE: Cut 22.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts prevents the soap from scorching. Read more about burnt melt and pour and how to prevent it here.
TWO: Add 0.6 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir well.
THREE: Add 1.5 tsp. crushed grape seeds and 1 tsp. of dispersed Desert Red Mica. Mix until the exfoliant and color are incorporated, and there are no large clumps of crushed grape seeds.
FOUR: Check the temperature. You want the soap to be around 125-130 °F so it is thick enough to suspend the grape seeds. When it’s the correct temperature, pour half (11.3 oz.) of the soap into the mold. You can use a scale, or just eyeball it. Spritz with alcohol to disperse any bubbles, and let the soap fully cool and harden.
FIVE: Cut 11.3 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts keeps the soap from scorching. Add 0.3 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir to fully incorporate.
SIX: Apply a very tiny drop of Liquid Blue Colorant on the back of a spoon and mix it into the soap. This is called the “bluing” technique. It will not color the soap blue. Instead, helps make the soap more clear. Learn more about the technique in the Embedding Toys in Soap video on Soap Queen TV.
SEVEN: Add .5 tsp. of strawberry seeds and mix well. Mix until the soap is around 125-130 °F so it suspends the strawberry seeds and won’t melt the layer below. Spritz the grape seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere, and carefully pour the soap on top. Spritz with alcohol again to disperse any bubbles and let the layer fully cool and harden.
EIGHT: Reheat the crushed grape seed soap on 15 second bursts until it’s fully melted, stirring between each burst. Be careful not to burn the soap! When the soap is around 125-130 °F, spritz the strawberry seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere and gently pour the rest of the soap in the mold. Spritz with alcohol again and let the layer fully cool and harden.
NINE: Cut 11.3 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts prevents the soap from scorching. Add 0.3 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir well. Apply a very tiny drop of Liquid Blue Colorant on the back of a spoon and mix it into the soap.
TEN: Mix in .75 tsp. of shredded loofah. Stir until the soap is around 125-130 °F so it suspends the loofah and doesn’t melt the layer below. Spritz the grape seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere and gently pour the soap in the mold. Spritz with alcohol again to disperse any bubbles.
ELEVEN: Allow the soap to fully cool and harden and then cut it into bars. We used a crinkle cutter to get a fun shape and lessen the appearance of drag marks. Enjoy!
What additives do you like to use in soap?
- 45 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
- 1.5 tsp. Crushed Grape Seeds
- ½ tsp. Strawberry Seeds
- ¾ tsp. Shredded Loofah
- Desert Red Mica
- Liquid Blue Colorant
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- 1.2 oz. Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil (0.3 oz. in each layer)
- Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Crinkle Cutter
- Cut 22.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts prevents the soap from scorching.
- Add 0.6 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir well.
- Add 1.5 tsp. crushed grape seeds and 1 tsp. of dispersed Desert Red Mica. Mix until the exfoliant and color are incorporated, and there are no large clumps of crushed grape seeds.
- Check the temperature. You want the soap to be around 125-130 °F so it is thick enough to suspend the grape seeds. When it’s the correct temperature, pour half (11.3 oz.) of the soap into the mold. You can use a scale, or just eyeball it. Spritz with alcohol to disperse any bubbles, and let the soap fully cool and harden.
- Cut 11.3 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts keeps the soap from scorching. Add 0.3 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir to fully incorporate.
- Apply a very tiny drop of Liquid Blue Colorant on the back of a spoon and mix it into the soap. This is called the “bluing” technique. It will not color the soap blue. Instead, helps make the soap more clear.
- Add .5 tsp. of strawberry seeds and mix well. Mix until the soap is around 125-130 °F so it suspends the strawberry seeds and won’t melt the layer below. Spritz the grape seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere, and carefully pour the soap on top. Spritz with alcohol again to disperse any bubbles and let the layer fully cool and harden.
- Reheat the crushed grape seed soap on 15 second bursts until it’s fully melted, stirring between each burst. Be careful not to burn the soap! When the soap is around 125-130 °F, spritz the strawberry seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere and gently pour the rest of the soap in the mold. Spritz with alcohol again and let the layer fully cool and harden.
- Cut 11.3 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base into small even pieces. Place the soap in a heat-safe container and melt in the microwave using 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Using short bursts prevents the soap from scorching. Add 0.3 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil and stir well. Apply a very tiny drop of Liquid Blue Colorant on the back of a spoon and mix it into the soap.
- Mix in .75 tsp. of shredded loofah. Stir until the soap is around 125-130 °F so it suspends the loofah and doesn’t melt the layer below. Spritz the grape seed layer with alcohol to help the layers adhere and gently pour the soap in the mold. Spritz with alcohol again to disperse any bubbles.
- Allow the soap to fully cool and harden and then cut it into bars. We used a crinkle cutter to get a fun shape and lessen the appearance of drag marks. Enjoy!
I am in love with this one. I used strawberry scent as I am not a fan of the Bamboo. It came out Exactly like the pictures! I did discover that I am impatient. Waiting between layers for proper temperature is something I really need to work on. Ill be making this one again and trying different colors too. Thanx!!
You’re welcome, so glad this soap came out well! Enjoy Kimberly. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I clicked the option to order all the items in this set but it didn’t include the crushed grape seed…is it ok to omit or should I order it separately? I’m new to soap making and this will be one of my first batches so I want it to be perfect!
Hi Amanda!
I checked the “Add to Cart” button and I see the crushed grape seed in the cart! Did it not show up on your end? Let me know and we can troubleshoot more!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I guess it didn’t show up in mine when I ordered (it wasn’t on the packing slip so it must not have gone through). I didn’t want to put a whole order through just for the crushed grape seed so I’m wondering if there’s anything else I can use that might be a bit easier to find in a store?
I’m sorry that was missing. I’m going to email you so we can get this fixed! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi I’m new to soap making and decided to take on the project of the rustic dessert bars, when measuring the soap is it 11.3 ounces in chunk form or once melted?? kinda confused on that if it does not melt to the required ounces I’m sure I can add a few more cubes a little at a time? but would love to know if that measurement if pre or after melt down??
Thanks Yvonne Mitchell
Hi Yvonne!
The soap will weigh the same in cube form and melted! As it heats, a tiny bit of moisture may evaporate, but the soap should weigh roughly the same both ways. Then once it’s melted, you can add color and fragrance and pour into the mold. It will fill the mold nicely with those measurements. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have tried making layers of soap but then began slicing layers separated from each other
Is it because i used 70 % Isopropyl Alcohol ??
Unfortunately there is no 99% Isopropyl Alcohol in my country and also i can’t buy from brambleberry.com
what should i do ???
thanks
Hi Mary!
Oh no, I’m sorry those layers separated on you! The good news is you can “glue” them back together with melt and pour soap. To do so, melt 1-2 ounces of melt and pour on 5 second bursts. Then, brush a thin layer in between the layers and press them together. Let that cool and harden for 2-4 hours. That should help the layers stick. 🙂
We have found that 99% isopropyl alcohol works the best for getting the layers to stick together. Any lower alcohol percentage and the layers tend to separate. There are lots of melt and pour designs you that don’t involve layers though! I’ll include some fun links below.
Sparkly Garnet Soap Gems: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/sparkly-garnet-soap-gems-tutorial/
Shimmery Summer Soap Jellies: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/shimmery-summer-soap-jellies-tutorial/
Lotion Melt and Pour Cubes: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/12-days-christmas-lotion-melt-pour-cubes/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
thanks dear i will try
You’re welcome! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I don’t have Desert Red Mica. Do you think it would look good with burgundy oxide and a little gold mica mixed in for shine?
That would be a beautiful combination! It would add a little warmth to your red. You can add it the same way as the Desert Red by mixing it with alcohol beforehand. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Burgundy Oxide: https://www.brambleberry.com/Burgundy-Pigment-P4051.aspx
Gold Sparkle Mica: https://www.brambleberry.com/Gold-Sparkle-Mica-P3063.aspx
These bars are striking – I love them! Fresh Bamboo is one of my favorite fragrances, too.
Thanks so much Vicki, glad you love them! I love how fresh and clean Fresh Bamboo is. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Fresh-Bamboo-Fragrance-Oil-P4651.aspx