New This Month


Melt-and-Pour Striped Soap

Packaged like candy, these brightly-colored handmade soaps involve an easy melt-and-pour technique.

candy striped soap

Photography: Kara Whitten

Source: Martha Stewart


This idea comes from our friend Kara Whitten. "You can keep the soap as is or cut in half lengthwise and wrap in cellophane to give as gifts," she says.


For more soap-making ideas, scroll through our entire collection of Bath Bombs and Soaps.


  • Glycerin soap, white and clear

  • No-bleed soap colorant blocks

  • Rectangle silicone soap mold

  • Heatproof glass measuring cup

  • Spoon

  • Knife

  • Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol

  • Fragrance or essential oils (optional)

  • Microwave


  1. Cut a 2-by-2-inch piece of clear soap into cubes, each measuring up to 1 inch. Place in measuring cup and microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds until the soap just starts to bubble. Add in a small sliver of colorant to the melted soap and stir until well combined. Pour into soap mold about 1/2 inch up the sides. Spritz with the rubbing alcohol to remove any air bubbles on the surface of the soap.

    candy striped soap
  2. Repeat with other colors until you have at least 4 different colors. Let soap sit for 15 to 30 minutes until hardened. 

  3. Separate colored soap rectangles from mold and cut into diagonal slices. Arrange your slices into new striped bars to make sure you have all the pieces cut correctly. 

    candy striped soap
  4. Melt more clear soap in a clean glass measuring cup as above, but this time leave it clear. Pour a small amount of the clear soap into your rectangle mold until just the bottom is covered. Spritz with alcohol and then lay in your colored strips of soap. Be sure to press them down to the bottom of the mold letting the clear soap come up to the top.

    candy striped soap
  5. Repeat for all the striped bars. Once the clear soap is cool, melt 2 cups of 1-inch cubed white soap in the microwave until the soap just starts to bubble. If adding a fragrance oil, add a few drops of the oil to the melted white soap. 

    candy striped soap
  6. Spritz the striped soap in the mold with the rubbing alcohol and then pour in the melted white soap to the top. Let harden for 1 hour then separate from mold.

    candy striped soap

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