How to make sphere soap bars
Want to add a little fun to your next soap making project? Get ready to have a ball with our sphere soap tutorial! Playful, lighthearted, and whimsical, our sphere soap bars are an artsy way to turn an everyday task like washing hands into a sensory-awakening experience.
These multi-dimensional soaps feature blue translucent soap spheres scattered throughout a backdrop of white higher-opacity soap. Using two different soap bases not only provides textural interest, but their varying opacities add an interesting depth effect. Our sphere soap bars allow us to work with many elements that can awaken us from a creative slumber. Plus, they get more mesmerizing with each use!
This DIY soap project is an endlessly customizable blueprint for letting your creativity shine. Play with different color combinations, scent combinations, or melt and pour bases. Try geometric shapes instead of spheres, or experiment with different sizes. Experiment with an exfoliating recipe for part of the soap for even more tactile interest.
To get the creativity flowing, let spherical objects from your everyday life inspire your concept. From foods like citrus fruits, melons, and boba pearls to celestial bodies and drops of dew; from spheres for play like sports balls, marbles, bubbles, and balloons to decorative spheres like pom-poms and ornaments.
Feeling inspired? Learn how to make your own sphere soap below. We'll walk you through the process, techniques, and materials needed in this step-by-step sphere soap tutorial. We can't wait to see what you create. Let's get started!
Additional items needed:
- Sphere Molds (we got ours on Amazon)
- Latex gloves
- Cutting board
- Small glass containers (for measuring oil)
- Microwave
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Paper towel
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Directions:
Prepare supplies and work space
Wash your equipment, soap molds, and utensils in warm soapy water and dry thoroughly. Don’t forget your workspace! Avoid any cross-contamination by spraying the area with rubbing alcohol or a 5% bleach solution, then wipe dry with a clean paper towel.
Part 1: Create the spheres
Note: In total we used 20 oz (567 g) of soap for the spheres. This was divided into three batches of three colors. The amounts may vary depending on the size spheres you use for each color.
Step 1: Cut and weigh soap base
Remove the HCVS Clear Soap Base from the container and cut the soap block just a little more than half. Place the rest back into the container and cut the larger piece into 1 in (2.5 cm) cubes.
This is where we will split the soap into three batches. Place your funnel pouring pitcher on the scale and tare the weight. Add soap cubes and weigh out about 6.6 oz (187 g). Set aside the rest of the soap cubes to use later.
Step 2: Melt and dye the soap base
Using the Funnel Pouring Pitcher or another microwave-safe container, melt the first batch soap cubes in the microwave for 30 seconds intervals, stirring in between, until the soap is fully melted. Stir in between, and melt for an additional 10 seconds if necessary.
Melted soap will be extremely hot, so use caution when handling it. The soap should not exceed 160ºF (71.1°C) to avoid a rubber feel to the finished bars.
Add 1 drop of Ocean Blue Liquid Soap Dye (we used an eye dropper) and stir gently but thoroughly, being careful not to create too many bubbles.
Pour soap into the sphere molds and allow to cool completely, around 45 minutes. Unmold.
- Second batch: Weigh 6.6 oz (187 g) of soap. Repeat Step 2, but add 2 drops of Ocean Blue liquid dye.
- Third batch: 6.6 oz (187 g) of soap. Repeat Step 2, but use 1 drop of Teal Vibrant Liquid Soap Dye.
Note: Because we used colors that blend well together, we didn’t clean out the pitcher in between batches. If you’re using colors that don’t blend well, be sure to clean between batches.
Step 3: Arrange the soap spheres
Arrange the spheres in the loaf mold in a single layer on the bottom. The number of spheres used will depend on the pattern you want. We used roughly half of the spheres.
Part 2: Create the soap
Step 1: Cut and weigh soap base
Remove the Goat’s Milk soap base from the container and cut the soap block just a little less than half. Place the rest back into the container and cut the smaller piece into 1 in (2.5 cm) cubes.
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Place your funnel pouring pitcher on the scale and tare the weight. Add the soap cubes and weigh out 12 oz (340 g).
Step 2: Weigh fragrance oil
Place small glass container on scale and tare the weight. Weigh .7 oz ( 19.8 g) of the Ocean Breeze fragrance oil (or the skin-safe EO of your choice), a 6% fragrance oil load. Set aside.
You want to have your oil prepared ahead of time so the base does not start to cool and harden as you work.
Step 3 : Melt the soap base and add fragrance
Using the Funnel Pouring Pitcher or another microwave-safe container, melt the first batch of soap cubes in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the soap is fully melted. Stir in between, and melt for an additional 10 seconds if necessary.
Step 4: Pour soap into mold
Pour the melted soap into the rectangle loaf mold slowly over the first layer of sphere. Spray the surface with alcohol to remove any bubbles. Allow to cool.
Step 5: Arrange the second layer of spheres
The first layer does not need to be fully cooled to start the second layer, but be sure it has set enough to support the spheres on top. Place the spheres in your desired pattern—if some are sticking out above the mold, it will add some dimension to the design.
Repeat steps 3 and 4. Allow to fully cool.
Step 6: Unmold and cut the soap
Allow soap to cool completely, at least 3 hours before unmolding. Tip the mold and apply light pressure to the center of the cavity. If the bar does not come out easily, allow it to cool longer, or stick the mold in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes and try again.
Cut your soap bar into ¾ in pieces. Store your soap bars in an airtight container or in plastic wrap to reduce sweating.
Show off your take on the sphere soap bars and all your handmade creations, with the CandleScience community by tagging us @CandleScience and using the #CandleScientist hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We may feature you in our Stories or on our website!