Soap Making Tutorial

Author
<Arim Baek> Email: baeka3@unlv.nevada.edu
<Yehyun Lee> Email: leey93@unlv.nevada.edu

Date: Last modified on <03/27/25>

Keywords: Soap making, Clear soap, Soap with a toy inside

This tutorial's motivation is to demonstrate how to make clear soaps with toys inside.
This tutorial focuses on methods to make the soap transparent, such as controlling temperature and removing bubbles.

The steps are as follows:
1. Materials and Purchase Links
2. How to Make a Transparent Soap Layer
3. Two Soap Designs with a Toy Inside

- Clear Soap Base
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KKYP128

- White Soap Base
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7HMNYYD?th=1

- Colors
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CH9S1DS

- Scent
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4NPJ28W

- Charms
Robot: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QPTFBT7
Astronaut: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8SSG1HG

- Gas stove kits
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9M3BKQC

- Molds
Circle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4M1PNCP
Rectangle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDUO8WA

- Plastic Wrap
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WD9PF7T/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

- Plastic package bags
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NPMGZN6

To make soap transparent enough to see the toys inside, removing bubbles is the most important factor. In this section, we will introduce methods to minimize the bubbles that occur during the melting and pouring process of the soap base, allowing for the creation of even more transparent soap.

The materials needed to make transparent soap are as follows:
1. Clear soap base
2. Pot and stove
3. Aroma oil for fragrance
4. Spoon (for stirring)
5. Knife and cutting board

(1) Cut and melt the soap base

1-1. Cut the soap base
Cutting the soap base into smaller pieces helps it melt evenly, so stirring is not necessary. 
The less you stir the base, the fewer bubbles will form, which is important for making a more
transparent soap. Therefore, it is recommended to cut the soap base into smaller pieces before
melting.

1-2. Melt the cut base
Melt the cut soap base using a pot and stove. Be careful not to exceed a temperature of 60°C. If
the temperature is too high, the soap base will boil over, creating excess bubbles, which will
prevent you from making a transparent base.

(2) Cooling the soap base

2-1. Add aroma oil
Once the soap base has fully melted, add the appropriate amount of aroma oil. 
Gently stir to make it mixes well. To remove bubbles from the surface of the melted base, 
place the pot on the counter to cool it down.

2-2. Remove the surface layer
As the soap base cools slightly, the surface, where bubbles were present, 
will harden and form a film. Remove this film to prevent any bubbles 
from remaining in the soap base. Repeat the cooling and film-removal process 
until you have a perfectly clear base without any bubbles.

(i) Robot Soap
This is a soap with a space-themed background and a robot charm inside.
It requires a clear soap base (see Section01), color powder, and charms.
The steps are as follows:

(1) Planet Base

1-1. Spray alcohol
Spray alcohol onto the mold before pouring the soap.
Alcohol helps the soap spread evenly and ensures that each soap layer adheres well to one another.

1-2. Dotting with clear base
Using a stick or a similar tool, create small dots in the mold using the clear soap base.
This step adds a textured surface resembling the surface of a planet.

1-3. Creating the planet surface
Mix the desired color powder with the clear base to prepare a tinted soap mixture.
Tilt the mold to about a 45-degree angle and slowly pour the mixture without overflowing.
Hold the mold in that position until the soap begins to set and no longer flows.
To enhance the uneven texture of the surface, gently shape it with a stick while it’s still semi-soft.

(2) Robot & Earth Layer

2-1. Pour the clear base
Pour the clear soap base (see Section01) into the mold, filling approximately 1/4 of its height.

2-2. Add the charm
Before the base hardens, gently place the robot charm into the soap to prevent air bubbles from forming.
Since the front side of the finished soap will be the bottom of the mold, place the charm upside down, with its 
front side facing the bottom.

2-3. Spray alcohol
Spray alcohol on the surface to remove any bubbles.
Wait until the layer is fully set.

2-4. Pour another layer of clear base
Pour another thin layer of clear base over the charm to give a sense of distance between the robot and the Earth.
Repeat the same procedure as in steps 2-1 to 2-3(excluding the charm placement in 2-2).

2-5. Create Earth’s land
Mix green color powder with the clear base.
Using a stick, gently apply the mixture to a corner of the top layer inside the mold to represent Earth’s land.

2-6. Create Earth’s ocean
Mix blue color powder with the clear base.
Tilt the mold slightly so that the mixture pours into the opposite corner of the land section.
Pour slowly so the blue layer slightly overlaps the green land area, representing the sea surrounding the continent.
Hold the tilted position until the soap begins to set and stays in place. Then gently place the mold back down.

2-7. Pour the background layer
Prepare the final background layer by tinting the clear base with dark colors such as black or deep blue and adding a touch of silver for a cosmic effect.
If bubbles form during mixing, let the base cool slightly until a thin film appears, then remove the film to avoid trapping bubbles in the final soap.

2-8. Final pour
Slowly pour the colored base into the mold over the fully set layers.
Pouring too quickly can disturb the layers beneath.
Spray alcohol to eliminate surface bubbles.

2-9. Completion
Allow the soap to fully harden and cool.
Carefully remove it from the mold.
To preserve the clarity of the transparent layers, wrap the finished soap in plastic wrap immediately.

(ii) Astronaut Soap
This is a soap with a Marvel shape and an astronaut charm inside.
It requires a clear soap base(see Section01), color powder, and charms.
The steps are as follows:

(1) Clear Layer

1-1. Spray alcohol.
Spray alcohol onto the mold before pouring the soap.
Alcohol helps the soap spread evenly and ensures that each soap layer adheres well to one another.

1-2. Pour the clear base(see Section01) into the mold, filling half of its height.

1-3. Add the charm.
The charm must be placed before the clear base hardens to prevent air bubbles from forming between 
the soap and the charm. Place the charm into the base very carefully to minimize air bubbles.
Since the front side of the finished soap will be the bottom of the mold, place the charm upside 
down so that its front side faces the bottom.

1-4. Spray alcohol.
Before the clear base hardens, spray alcohol on the surface to remove any bubbles.
Wait until the layer is fully set.

(2) Marvel Layer

2-1. Dust the color powder.
Sprinkle a small amount of the desired color powder onto the surface.
Since a dark color will be used as the background, it is recommended to choose a bright color to
make it stand out.

2-2. Spray alcohol.
Spray alcohol onto the surface where the color powder was sprinkled to help it blend.
If sprayed too closely or too forcefully, the powder may be mixed excessively, 
so adjust the distance and pressure to achieve a good marble effect.
Wait until the alcohol dries to ensure the marbled powder adheres well to the soap surface.

(3) Background

3-1. Color the background layer
Use colors like black and silver to tint the soap base for the final layer.
During the mixing process, bubbles may form due to stirring.
Allow the soap base to cool slightly so that a thin film forms over the surface where the bubbles
have appeared. Remove this film before use to prevent bubbles from forming in the soap.

3-2. Pour the colored base into the mold.
Since the melted base is hot, it may mix with the marbled powder layer when poured.
To prevent this, pour the base very slowly.
Then, spray alcohol on the surface to remove bubbles.

3-3. Completion
Wait until the soap has completely hardened and cooled, then carefully remove it from the mold.
Immediately wrap the soap in plastic wrap.
The longer the transparent layer is exposed to air, the less clear it becomes, 
so wrap the surface as quickly as possible.

(iii) Other designs