Projects with lots of layers, swirls, embeds and more are awesome. But sometimes you just want to make something easy and straightforward, you know what I mean? This no-fuss melt and pour project is just that. But, that doesn’t make it boring! The soap base is colored with a blend of Queen’s Purple Color Block and Black Oxide Color Block for a rich, dark violet hue. Then, lots of glitter and sparkle is added. It reminds me of deep space.
The soap is scented with Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil, which was inspired by the Thierry Mugler perfume of the same name. It smells absolutely amazing with notes of jasmine, amber, ylang ylang and a touch of patchouli. It’s the perfect scent for the mysterious purple color of this soap. Don’t forget to add the Vanilla Color Stabilizer, because the fragrance does discolor. I used the Stephenson Ultra Clear Soap Base for this project so the sparkle really pops, but any clear melt and pour soap base would work as well.
What You’ll Need:
12 Bar Round Silicone Mold
32 oz. Stephenson Ultra Clear Soap Base
Queen’s Purple Color Block
Black Oxide Color Block
1/2 Tbsp. Iridescent Glitter
1 tsp. Snowflake Sparkle Mica
0.6 oz. Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil
0.6 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
99% Isopropyl Alcohol in Spray Bottle
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Find the supplies you need for this project below
ONE: Cut and melt 32 ounces of Stephenson Ultra Clear Soap Base in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Once melted, add large chunks of the Queen’s Purple Color Block until you have a highly saturated purple color.
TWO: Add chunks of the Black Oxide until you have a darker purple color. If necessary, place the soap back in the microwave using 15-20 second bursts to help fully melt the Color Block. Add the black slowly so you don’t totally cover the purple color.
THREE: Once you’re happy with the color, add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Iridescent Glitter. Mix in thoroughly until there are no chunks of mica. To help it mix in a little better, you can disperse the Snowflake Sparkle in 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. I skipped this step this time, and the color mixes in fine. Just takes a little more stirring. =)
FOUR: Add the Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Mix in completely.
FIVE: Pour the soap into the mold cavities, spritzing with alcohol after each pour to get rid of bubbles. Allow the bars to fully cool and harden for several hours, up to overnight. Remove from the mold. Wrap the soap in plastic wrap after unmolding to help avoid glycerin dew. Enjoy!
- 12 Bar Round Silicone Mold
- 32 oz. Stephenson Ultra Clear Soap Base
- Queen’s Purple Color Block
- Black Oxide Color Block
- ½ Tbsp. Iridescent Glitter
- 1 tsp. Snowflake Sparkle Mica
- 0.6 oz. Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil
- 0.6 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol in Spray Bottle
- Cut and melt 32 ounces of Stephenson Ultra Clear Soap Base in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Once melted, add large chunks of the Queen’s Purple Color Block until you have a highly saturated, deep purple color.
- Add chunks of the Black Oxide until you have a darker purple color. If necessary, place the soap back in the microwave using 15-20 second bursts to help fully melt the Color Block. Add the black slowly, you don’t want to totally cover the purple color.
- Once you’re happy with the color, add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Iridescent Glitter. Mix in thoroughly until there are no chunks of mica. To help it mix in a little better, you can disperse the Snowflake Sparkle in 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. I skipped this step this time, and the color mixes in fine. Just takes a little more stirring. =)
- Add the Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Mix in completely.
- Pour the soap into the mold cavities, spritzing with alcohol after each pour to get rid of bubbles. Allow the bars to fully cool and harden for several hours, up to overnight. Remove from the mold. Wrap the soap in plastic wrap after unmolding to help avoid glycerin dew. Enjoy!
Hi! Will activated charcoal work in place of black oxide? Also, would it still look nice even without the snowflake mica? Thanks! 🙂
Yes, you can use charcoal in place of Black Oxide. You will need more to get the same shade, so mix 1 teaspoon of the charcoal with 1 tablespoon of 99% isopropyl alcohol and keep extra nearby just in case.
Activated charcoal: https://www.brambleberry.com/Activated-Charcoal-P4956.aspx
This recipe will look nice without Snowflake Mica, it just won’t be as shimmery.
Thank you so much! I’m so excited to do this 🙂
Could I use a different base for this soap?
Yes, you can use any base you like: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-Soap-C647.aspx
If you use a white base, the color will be more pastel than the bars pictured above.
Hi! i only have normal M&P base (not the one that’s intended for suspending particles). Can I try this recipe anyway? Will the mica sink to the bottom of the soap?
That base will work well! We used a non-suspending base too. Just make sure to mix the soap until it’s around 130F before pouring. At that temperature it is thicker, to it will suspend the mica and glitter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
When making the soap from the kit, do you use all the vanilla stablizer, all the fragrance oil and all the glitter and mica? Or just till you get what you like?
Hi Tammy! We recommend 0.6 oz. fragrance, 0.6 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer and 1/2 Tbsp. glitter. Those are the recommended amounts in the recipe above! As for the color blocks, add shavings until you get a dark purple color. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
What is used for the color blocks? My family has allergic reactions to artificial dyes. I love the plum soap. Purple is my absolute favorite color!!
We have the ingredients of those color blocks on our website! You can find them in the descriptions. 🙂
Queen’s Purple Color Block: https://www.brambleberry.com/Color-Block-Shimmer-Queens-Purple-P6685.aspx
Black Oxide Color Block: https://www.brambleberry.com/Color-Block-Non-Bleeding-Black-Oxide-P5369.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made this tonight and it came out wonderful. Only problem is the glitter settled in the bottom of the mold and now the soap looks like eye balls. Any idea where I went wrong?
When the soap is hotter, it is too thin for the glitter to suspend. You’ll want to wait until the soap is around 125-130F to pour. At that temperature it is thick enough to suspend glitter. You can remelt the bars now if you like! Remelt them on 20 second bursts, then pour when the soap is 125-130F. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I would like to use a different fragrance (lavender and peppermint) that I already have on hand to make this soap, I’m assuming as long as my fragrance does not have vanilla in it I do not need the vanilla color stabilizer to maintain a similar look to this soap.
That is correct! If the fragrances don’t discolor, you can skip the Vanilla Color Stabilizer. 🙂
Find out how much scent to add with our Fragrance Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
And find out how to blend essential oils safely here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-blend-essential-oils-safely/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have the purple and black as mica and not color blocks. How much would I use to get the same effect? Trial and error?
The color blocks are what you see is what you get, so start off with just a few shavings in your melted soap. Stir until it’s fully incorporated and check the color. If you want it darker, keep adding more shavings until you get the nice deep plum color pictured here. 🙂
Learn more about working with color blocks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvS3_6PN6PA&t=1s
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Melt and Pour Color Blocks: https://www.brambleberry.com/Color-Blocks-for-Melt-Pour–C340.aspx
Oooh, pretty! I’m brand new to soaping and I’ve been looking at how to make a vivid color sparkly soap, so this is perfect!
I noticed in the pictures that it seems that it doesn’t set up even, or perfectly smooth? It’s there a reason for that? Or a way to smooth that out? I’m asking because I may end up using a stamp so I want a flat surface.
Also if I wanted to do this but with another color swirled in, could you recommend another one of your fine tutorials to teach me? I’m spanking brand new! Super thanks!
Many thanks for the beautiful idea! 🙂
The bars do set up nice and smooth! The swirl in the bars does make the surface look uneven, but that’s beneath the surface. A stamp will apply smoothly to this soap. Find out how to stamp soap here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YBdHHQURKk
For melt and pour, the key to swirls is temperature. You want the soap to be around 125-130F. That way it is thick enough to create the swirls, rather than mixing the colors together. 🙂
Learn all about melt and pour swirls here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/tips-for-swirling-melt-pour-soap/
This video is really helpful as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jcf9l5Wc44
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
THANK YOU! That’s SO helpful. I appreciate you and all the soapy goodness you bring to the world!
Hi! i only have normal M&P base (not the one that’s intended for suspending particles). Can I try this recipe anyway? Will the mica sink to the bottom of the soap? Thanks and greetings from Spain.
The suspending base should work just well! I would recommend mixing the mica with alcohol before adding it. Suspension bases typically form bubbles if they’re mixed a lot. The alcohol will ensure the micas mix in easily with less stirring. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
99% isopropyl alcohol: https://www.brambleberry.com/99-Isopropyl-Alcohol-16-oz-P5682.aspx
Thanks so much! I LOOOVE your blog
You’re welcome Eli! Glad you’re enjoying the Soap Queen blog. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry