Have you used jelly soap before? It cleanses just like regular soap, except it’s wiggly, jiggly and guaranteed to entertain. The fun texture is perfect for kids. They’ll love the way it bounces all over the table. Although I have to admit, all the adults in our office had a lot of fun with it too. =)
These Shimmery Summer Soap Jellies use water soluble LabColors to create warm yellow, orange and red colors. They have a bit of sparkle from Fine Iridescent Glitter, and Summer Fling Fragrance Oil is added to complete the summery theme.
Once melted, the texture of the Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour Base is much thicker than regular melt and pour soap. The texture is rather gloppy, and bubbles do not rise to the surface. To help avoid excess bubbles, stir the base as little as possible. The base also requires a little bit more time to melt. To use the soap, break off a small piece and lather it on a washcloth or loofah. We have heard of some soapers freezing the soap to make it harder and easier to handle. In our tests, the soap stayed soft and jiggly even after being frozen.
See the jellies in action in the video below!
What You’ll Need:
9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold
32 oz. Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour
10 mL Summer Fling Fragrance Oil
1/2 tsp. Fine Iridescent Glitter
Fuchsia Lab Color
Canary LabColor
Orange LabColor
Optional: Droppers
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DILUTING LABCOLOR: You’ll need to dilute your LabColors in order to use them in this project. We like diluting the small bottle of LabColor in 4 oz. of distilled water. For more on diluting LabColors, check out this blog post.
ONE: Cut the Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour into small pieces. Place in a large heat safe container and melt using 1 minute bursts. This melt and pour base takes a little longer to melt than regular melt and pour soap, so longer bursts are needed. Keep stirring between each burst but only a few times; jelly soap has a tendency to create bubbles. Because the soap base is so thick, the bubbles do not rise to the top like regular melt and pour bases. Once melted, remove from the microwave. The base will be thick.
TWO: Add the Summer Fling Fragrance Oil and glitter. Gently stir to thoroughly incorporate. Stirring gently and slowly will help prevent air bubbles.
THREE: Split the large batch into three separate containers, each weighing about 10.6 oz. The base will start to cool and thicken, this is fine. If necessary, place the containers back into the microwave and heat using 20 second bursts until the melt and pour base is thinner and more workable. Remember, it will always be a little bit thicker than normal melt and pour bases. =) To one container, add 1 mL of diluted Fuchsia Labcolor and gently stir to combine the color. Pour the pink soap into 3 cavities of the mold, filling each about 3/4 full. Oxides are more challenging to use in this soap base.
FOUR: To another container of soap, mix in 2 mL of diluted Canary LabColor and pour into three cavities of the mold. In another container, mix in 2 mL of the diluted Orange LabColor and pour into three cavities of the mold. Because the soap is so thick, spraying the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol is not needed. The alcohol does not work very well to disperse bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Gently remove from the mold.
During our tests, we found this base was fairly resistant to glycerin dew. Our soap was left in the open for a week and did not form glycerin dew. But to be on the safe side, I recommend wrapping the soap in plastic wrap to keep them in tip-top shape. Learn more about storing your soap here. To use, tear off a small piece of the soap and work it into a lather with a loofah, washcloth or sponge. Some like to freeze soap jellies to harden the product. In our tests, we found that placing the Stephenson Jelly Soap Base did not produce a completely hard soap; it was still quite wiggly and soft.
What’s your favorite craft to make with children?
- 9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold
- 32 oz. Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour
- 10 mL Summer Fling Fragrance Oil
- ½ tsp. Fine Iridescent Glitter
- Fuchsia Lab Color
- Canary LabColor
- Orange LabColor
- Optional: Droppers
- DILUTING LABCOLOR: You’ll need to dilute your LabColors in order to use them in this project. We like diluting the small bottle of LabColor in 4 oz. of distilled water. For more on diluting LabColors, check out this blog post.
- Cut the Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour into small pieces. Place in a large heat safe container and melt using 1 minute bursts. This melt and pour base takes a little longer to melt than regular melt and pour soap, so longer bursts are needed. Keep stirring between each burst but only a few times; jelly soap has a tendency to create bubbles. Because the soap base is so thick, the bubbles do not rise to the top like regular melt and pour bases. Once melted, remove from the microwave. The base will be thick.
- Add the Summer Fling Fragrance Oil and glitter. Gently stir to thoroughly incorporate. Stirring gently and slowly will help prevent air bubbles.
- Split the large batch into three separate containers, each weighing about 10.6 oz. The base will start to cool and thicken, this is fine. If necessary, place the containers back into the microwave and heat using 20 second bursts until the melt and pour base is thinner and more workable. Remember, it will always be a little bit thicker than normal melt and pour bases. =) To one container, add 1 mL of diluted Fuchsia Labcolor and gently stir to combine the color. Pour the pink soap into 3 cavities of the mold, filling each about ¾ full.
- To another container of soap, mix in 2 mL of diluted Canary LabColor and pour into three cavities of the mold. In another container, mix in 2 mL of the diluted Orange LabColor and pour into three cavities of the mold. Because the soap is so thick, spraying the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol is not needed. The alcohol does not work very well to disperse bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Gently remove from the mold. To use, tear off a small piece of the soap and work it into a lather with a loofah, washcloth or sponge.
Thank You Kelsey I purchased the LabColors but didn’t realize I needed Optiphen ND , my fault should have checked the site on LabColors waiting for it to come into stock the
No worries! Optiphen ND is back in stock on the website: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-ND-P5714.aspx
Do you have to use the Labcolor with the jellies m&p or can you use other soap colors??
Because this base is so thick, the LabColors are the best option. They mix in easily and a little goes a long way.
Just discovered these and loving working with this base.
Besides color (inc. glitter) and fragrance, what other additives may be added? For example, if this is too drying for our skin, then adding fractionated coconut oil or some other oil that is easily absorbed. I’m also thinking something like calendula flowers. Would it work like other M&P bases where some additives may be included being mindful of how much of each is added?
Oh glad to hear that – this base is definitely fun to work with. Like our other bases, adding extra oil to this one can change the consistency, so we don’t recommend it. Additives like jojoba beads, shredded loofah, etc. will work well though. The jelly base is thick enough to suspend them throughout the bar, and they help exfoliate the skin. You can start with about 1/4 tsp. per pound of soap and add more from there.
Learn more about exfoliants here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-exfoliants/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
need to keep in freezer after every use or not
We recommend keeping this soap at room temperature in a cool, dry place like a basement, garage, or cabinet. Wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap will help prevent sweating. Learn more about storing your products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
My jelly soap looks great but it has a wet greasy film to it. Is it because of too much FO? I used liquid neon colorant, 1/2 oz per 1lb of jelly soap. It fell apart right away and it was very drying to my hands. What am I doing wrong? I have a order of 18 3oz. containers of this stuff and I really cant sell it at this point.
The jelly soap does feel slightly wet to the touch, so that’s normal. I’m not sure why it’s falling apart. How much fragrance and color did you use, and how long did you stir it? I can help you troubleshoot.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made the jelly soap and was curious as to the best way to store and wrap them?
We recommend wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and storing them in a cool, dry place. That will keep them fresh and prevent any possible glycerin dew: http://www.soapqueen.com/personal-ramblings/augh-whats-that-all-over-my-soap-2/
Learn more about how to store soap here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I was wondering if I can simply switch the fragrance to the electric lemonade cocktail.
You sure can! That fragrance fits perfectly with this bright color palette. The fragrance amount can vary slightly based on which one you use, so you’ll want to double check that with our Fragrance Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
Also, Electric Lemonade discolors to an off white. I don’t think that will affect the colors too much, but you may want to add equal amounts of Vanilla Color Stabilizer just in case. 🙂
Vanilla Color Stabilizer: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vanilla-Color-Stabilizer-P4156.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Whenever I make jelly soap it’s like watery. I tried cutting the water In half, but they are still turning into liquid, even in the frig, what am I doing wrong?
Hmm, I’m not sure why that’s happening! The jelly base is slippery, but will never get to a fully liquid state. How old is the base? How long are you heating it for? Let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi there, love the site!
Approximately how many small cubes of soap does this recipe make?
Hi Chloe!
We got 9 small cubes out of this recipe! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
BarbaraHello: I purchased some of your jelly soap.. but it was yellowish in color….and not clear not clear like in your jelly cube soap tutorial.
Just wanted to know if the yellowish color normal…or was it suppose to be clear…thanks in advance.
Hi Barbara!
I just checked the soap we have in stock and it does have a slightly yellow tint to it. That is normal! You can see in steps 2 and 3 that yellowish tint. The good news is we’ve found it doesn’t affect the colors too much! We were able to get really nice green and purple colors in the Creepy Crawly Spider Soap Jellies tutorial: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/creepy-crawly-spider-soap-jellies/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stephenson-Jelly-Melt-and-Pour-P6271.aspx
Mine was not a yellow tint, it was full blown gold. But that was the least of my worries. I was worried about the bubbles which were no trouble at all when I should have been worried about the melting part. It took forever. I hope they are really awesome because it was horrible to work with.
I’m sorry about that Lynda. The jelly base does take awhile to melt, and will never get as liquid as regular melt and pour soap. They are really fun to use, so I hope you enjoy the finished bars!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
How many bars does 2 lbs make?
Hi Jodi!
We got 9 bars out of this recipe! You can pour more or less soap in the cavities if you like. That will change the number of bars you get. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi! I came to this tut, remembering reading it from before and now I am going to try this out! I dont usually mess with anything soap wise, however I do have a question. Once this is made, am I able to put two or three of these into a container without fearing that they will ‘melt’ together in heat?
Just curious. Thanks!
Hi Tori!
These soaps have a fairly high melting point – around 130F – so they should be fine in a warm room! You can also wrap them individually with plastic wrap and pop them into the container. That will ensure they don’t stick together. Read more about storing handmade products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
Have fun giving this tutorial a try! Let us know how they turn out. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I use my Micas istead of lab colors to color the soap? If so how would I dispersed the mica?
Hi Lauren!
That’s a great question! We haven’t tried adding micas to this base. My worry is that because the base is quite thick when it’s melted, it may take quite a bit of stirring to incorporate the micas, which can cause bubbles. The LabColors work well because they’re water based, so they’re nice and thin.
I would recommend making a small test batch using micas! To ensure they mix in smoothly with no clumps, mix 1 tsp. of the colorant into 1 Tbsp. of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Then, add the mix 1/2 dispersed teaspoon at a time. 🙂
Micas: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx
99% isopropyl alcohol: https://www.brambleberry.com/99-Isopropyl-Alcohol-16-oz-P5682.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there a substitute for the Stephenson Jelly M&P which contains SLS? I have seen several recipes online that use gelatin but not really motivated to use gelatin and food color.
Hi Tanya!
We haven’t done any experimenting with gelatin in soap, so I’m not sure of any alternatives. We have found the ingredients in this jelly base work best for this specific texture, and haven’t found any without SLS that work for us. Sorry about that! Someone on our Teach Soap Forum may know though: teachsoap.com/forum
We do have bases that don’t contain SLS you may like! You can read more about our melt and pour bases here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/sunday-night-spotlight-melt-and-pour-bases/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you! I love this blog.
You’re welcome! So glad you love it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi! Could I potentially pour this into a container and leave it in there? I find when I make these soaps with a mold they are kind of difficult to use in the shower. Thanks!
Hi Delaney!
You can absolutely keep this soap in a container if you like! Then, you can tear off a piece from the container and use for your shower. I would recommend using an airtight container with a lid so that soap doesn’t get too wet. The soap actually comes in a plastic container with a lid, you could totally use that! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
How long does this product last? Do you have to keep it refrigerated before every use or can I keep it in the bathroom?
Hi Kim!
This soap should last about a year or so. You can keep it in your bathroom like a normal soap. We found the easiest way to use it is to tear off a piece and lather it up on a loofah or wash cloth. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I just got my first tub of the soap and I’m looking forward to making it! My question is, does this need a preservative? I’m thinking of pouring it into little tubs, but I’m worried if people are dipping in to the tubs and water is getting in there that mould will grow. Or is it similar to M&P in the area that it doesn’t need it? Thank you!
Hey Emma!
It’s so much fun, you’re going to have a great time! 🙂
This product is similar to melt and pour, meaning it doesn’t need a preservative. Soap has a pH level that doesn’t allow mold to grow! That makes it nice and easy. Read more about preservatives and when to use them in this post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This tutorial inspires me to work with this soap base again! I bought it from another supplier a while ago and got frustrated because I could never get a smooth consistency. Looks like I need to be more patient!
So glad we were able to inspire you! This soap does take longer to melt down, and stays quite thick throughout the process. That’s normal! I hope you give this recipe a try. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I love this, but I came to this hoping for an actual tutorial on how to make jelly soap… not how to color melt and pour.
Hi Austin!
So glad you love the tutorial! We will definitely consider a tutorial for handmade jelly soap in future. 🙂
You may also like the Making Transparent Soap book, as it talks about making clear soap from scratch: https://www.brambleberry.com/Making-Transparent-Soap-1-Book-P3732.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Love this!!! I was wondering how you would package it? Would it be suitable for normal shrink wrapping, or do we need to put it in a jar to sell?
So glad you love the jellies Cailin! We found the soap is fairly resistant to glycerin dew. However, we recommend wrapping them tightly with plastic or shrink wrap just in case. That way if the soap does get glycerin dew, it won’t transfer onto the jar. 🙂
Read more about storing products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This looks fun, but as far as molding it- do you need to stick to basic shaped, or would it work in a little more detailed mold, the the Animal ones you have?? It would be cut to make a yellow lion, etc??
Hi Dawnia!
It is really fun! The jellies do hold shape fairly well, but I don’t think they would pick up really fine details. Also, when they’re on a flat surface, they do tend to flatten out. I would recommend making a small test batch in one of the detailed molds and seeing how the base holds its shape. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
this is AWSOME!!!! love it 🙂
So glad you love it Jasmyn! It’s a blast to use. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
looks so fun and inexpensive compared to lush
They are so fun Carlie! I hope you get a chance to give the recipe a try. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry