Zen & Peace: Butterfly Kisses Melt and Pour Soap

Makes 4 bars

Recommended Equipment

Formula:

*Fragrance percentage is calculated against the total soap base. Always verify the current IFRA certificate for the specific fragrance and intended product category before production.

Note: Colourants and alcohol are listed as needed and are not included in the percentage calculation.

Featured Ingredients:

Stephenson Natural Transparent Melt & Pour Soap Base
A premium, 99.9% natural melt and pour soap base with excellent clarity and a high-foaming lather. Its transparent appearance makes it especially well suited to colourful embeds, allowing vibrant colourants and swirling effects to remain clearly visible in the finished soap. In this project, the Natural Transparent Base is used to create the two-tone butterfly embed. Its clarity allows the Magenta and Blue Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrates to produce bright, distinct colours while showcasing the swirled design inside the butterfly.

Stephenson Natural White Melt & Pour Soap Base
A high-foaming, 99.9% natural melt and pour soap base that creates beautifully opaque white bars without the addition of titanium dioxide. It provides a clean, creamy backdrop for colour and leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. The Natural White Base creates the main body of the Butterfly Kisses soap as well as the decorative flower and leaf embeds. Its opaque white appearance provides a crisp contrast against the colourful butterfly and creates softer, pastel shades when combined with the micas used for the floral details.

Inner Peace Fragrance Oil
A peaceful floral fragrance inspired by an endless field of wildflowers beneath a calm blue sky. Bright notes of winter lemon, pink pepper, wildflowers and peony lead into a floral heart of geranium, orange blossom, Rose Maroc and narcissus, settling into soft tuberose, amber and vetiver. Inner Peace beautifully complements the early-summer garden theme of this project. With a vanillin content of 0%, it is also an excellent choice for the predominantly white design, where maintaining the clean, light appearance of the soap is important.

Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrates
Highly concentrated, water-soluble colourants designed to create vibrant colour using only a very small amount of liquid. Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrates work particularly well in Melt & Pour Soap and can be added drop by drop, making it easy to gradually build the desired shade. Magenta and Blue Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrates are used in this project to colour the transparent soap for the butterfly embed. Pouring the two colours together creates the colourful two-tone effect that becomes the focal point within each finished bar. Because these colourants are highly concentrated, begin with a very small amount and add more only as needed.

Cosmetic Micas
Majestic Violet, Sunset Orange, Mint Chip and Buttercup Yellow Micas bring the garden-inspired details of this project to life. When added to the Natural White Melt & Pour Soap Base, Majestic Violet and Sunset Orange create softer pastel shades for the flower embeds, while Mint Chip provides the fresh green colour used for the leaves. Buttercup Yellow is mixed with Isopropyl Alcohol and hand-painted onto the flower centres, adding a small contrasting detail to the finished embeds. These cosmetic-grade micas are suitable for Melt & Pour Soap and can be dispersed in Isopropyl Alcohol before use to help achieve smooth, even colour.

Isopropyl Alcohol 99%
A versatile soap-making tool that plays several roles throughout this project. A light spray over freshly poured Melt & Pour Soap helps eliminate surface bubbles, while spraying between soap layers and around embeds helps promote adhesion. Isopropyl Alcohol is also used to disperse the Buttercup Yellow Mica into a paintable consistency, allowing the centres of the handmade flower embeds to be carefully detailed with a fine paintbrush.

Instructions:

• Step 1: Begin by preparing the butterfly embed. Carefully cut and weigh 2 × 135 g portions of Stephenson Natural Transparent Melt & Pour Soap Base. Place each portion into a separate heat-safe measuring cup.
  
  
• Step 2: Gently melt both portions in the microwave using short 10-second intervals, stirring between each interval to avoid overheating. Once completely melted, add 4 g of Inner Peace Fragrance Oil to each cup and stir thoroughly.
  
  
• Step 3: To create the two-tone butterfly, add a small amount of Magenta Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrate to one cup and Blue Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrate to the other. Give each cup a brief stir to create some movement in the colour without completely blending it throughout the soap.
  
  
• Step 4: Pour both colours into the Butterfly Column Silicone Soap Mold at the same time. Lightly spritz the surface with Isopropyl Alcohol to eliminate any surface bubbles, then allow the butterfly embed to harden completely for approximately 1 to 2 hours.
  
  
• Step 5: While the butterfly hardens, begin preparing the flower and leaf embeds for the top of the soap. Cut the Stephenson Natural White Melt & Pour Soap Base into small pieces. Measure out 3 × 20 g portions and place each into a separate heat-safe measuring cup. Set the remaining white soap base aside for the main loaf.
  
  
• Step 6: Gently melt each of the three 20 g portions using short 10-second microwave intervals. In three separate small mixing cups, disperse Majestic Violet Mica, Sunset Orange Mica and Mint Chip Mica individually in a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol.
  
  
• Step 7: Add one prepared mica colour to each portion of melted white soap and stir until evenly incorporated. If you would like to include some white flowers, pour a small amount of the uncoloured soap into the flower mold first, then colour the remaining soap.
  
  
• Step 8: Carefully pour the coloured soap into the appropriate flower and leaf cavities. Lightly spritz the surface with Isopropyl Alcohol to eliminate any surface bubbles. Allow the embeds to harden for approximately 20 minutes.
  
  
• Step 9: Once completely hardened, gently remove the flowers and leaves from the mold. Trim away any excess soap around the edges as needed for a clean finish.
  
  
• Step 10: To finish the flower embeds, mix a small amount of Buttercup Yellow Mica with Isopropyl Alcohol until it reaches a smooth, paintable consistency. Using a fine paintbrush, carefully paint the centres of the flowers and set the finished embeds aside.
  
  
• Step 11: Now that the decorative embeds are prepared, begin assembling the soap loaf. Gently remove the hardened butterfly from the column mold, then measure and cut it to approximately 11 cm long so that it fits inside the loaf mold.
  
  
• Step 12: Place the butterfly inside the empty loaf mold to make sure it fits comfortably. Position it at the angle where you would like the butterfly to appear in the finished bars.
  
  
• Step 13: Prepare the main body of the soap by gently melting the remaining Stephenson Natural White Melt & Pour Soap Base using short 10-second microwave intervals. Add the remaining 15 g of Inner Peace Fragrance Oil and stir thoroughly. Allow the soap to cool slightly before pouring so that it remains fluid without being hot enough to soften the butterfly embed.
  
  
• Step 14: Position the butterfly at your chosen angle inside the loaf mold. Generously spritz the entire butterfly embed with Isopropyl Alcohol to help the surrounding soap adhere to its surface. Slowly pour the melted white soap around the butterfly. Lightly spritz the surface with Isopropyl Alcohol to eliminate any bubbles, then reserve a small amount of the white soap for the decorative top.
  
  
• Step 15: To create the soft pink swirl, add a small amount of Magenta Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrate to the reserved white soap and stir lightly. Lightly spritz the surface of the white soap in the loaf with Isopropyl Alcohol before pouring the pink soap over the top to help the layers adhere. Gently swirl the surface to create a subtle marbled effect, then spritz again with Isopropyl Alcohol to eliminate surface bubbles. Allow the top to set for approximately 1 minute, or until a thin skin begins to form.
  
  
• Step 16: Finish the loaf by lightly spritzing the underside of the flower and leaf embeds and the surface of the soap with Isopropyl Alcohol. Arrange the embeds across the top and gently press them into the still-soft soap to help secure them in place. Allow the finished loaf to harden completely for at least 6 hours.
  
  
• Step 17: Once completely hardened, gently remove the soap loaf from the mold and cut it into 4 even bars using a sharp knife or soap cutter. Package the finished bars promptly in shrink wrap or plastic wrap to protect them from humidity and glycerin dew. Melt and Pour Soap requires no curing period and can be used once fully hardened.

Tips for Success

Keep the soap cool when pouring around the butterfly.
Allow the melted Natural White Soap Base to cool slightly before pouring it around the finished butterfly embed. If the soap is too hot, it may soften or partially melt the butterfly, causing the edges and two-tone design to lose definition.

Disperse the micas before use.
Mix the Majestic Violet, Sunset Orange and Mint Chip Micas with a small amount of Isopropyl Alcohol before adding them to the melted white soap. This helps the colour disperse evenly and reduces visible speckling in the small flower and leaf embeds.

Use Isopropyl Alcohol for adhesion and bubbles.
Spritz the butterfly embed with Isopropyl Alcohol before pouring the white soap around it to help the two soap surfaces adhere. Spritz between the white and pink top layers as well, and use a light spray after pouring to eliminate surface bubbles.

Test the butterfly placement before pouring.
Place the finished butterfly inside the empty loaf mold before assembling the soap. Check both its length and angle so you know exactly where you want it positioned before adding the surrounding white soap.

Work quickly when decorating the top.
Add the flower and leaf embeds while the pink surface is partially set but still soft enough for them to adhere. If the surface becomes completely hard, lightly score it and spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol before attaching the embeds.

Package the finished bars promptly.
Melt & Pour Soap naturally attracts moisture from the air. Once the bars are completely cool and dry, package them in shrink wrap or plastic wrap to help prevent glycerin dew and keep the white soap and colourful details looking their best.

Advanced Maker Notes

Creating a crisp butterfly embed: The temperature of the surrounding white soap is especially important in this project. It needs to remain fluid enough to pour easily around the butterfly without being hot enough to melt its surface. Pour slowly around the embed rather than directly over it to help preserve the clean butterfly shape.

Getting good adhesion around the butterfly: Because the butterfly is completely hardened before being embedded, thoroughly spritz its surface with Isopropyl Alcohol immediately before pouring the surrounding soap. This helps reduce the chance of the butterfly separating from the white soap when the loaf is cut or the finished bar is used.

Creating the soft pink top: Only a small amount of Magenta Jewel Tone Liquid Concentrate is needed to tint the reserved white soap. Add the colour gradually to maintain the soft pink appearance and avoid overpowering the predominantly white design.

Painting the flower centres: Disperse the Buttercup Yellow Mica in just enough Isopropyl Alcohol to create a smooth, paintable mixture. Too much alcohol can make the colour thin and difficult to control. Allow the painted details to dry before arranging the flowers on the loaf.

Choosing fragrances for white designs: Fragrance oils containing vanillin can gradually discolour white Melt & Pour Soap. Inner Peace Fragrance Oil contains 0% vanillin, making it particularly well suited to the clean white background used in this project. If substituting another fragrance, check its vanillin content and colour before use.

Avoiding ripples while the loaf sets: Once the butterfly has been positioned and the loaf poured, leave the mold on a flat, undisturbed surface until completely hardened. Moving the mold while the soap is still setting or exposing it to strong fans or drafts can create ripples or uneven surfaces.

Customizing the design: The techniques in this project can easily be adapted using different colour combinations for the butterfly, flowers and leaves. When working with the Natural White Soap Base, remember that micas will generally appear softer and more pastel than they do in a transparent base.

Note:

These formulations are provided as a guide and may be used for personal or commercial applications. Voyageur Soap & Candle Company Ltd. accepts no liability for the performance, effectiveness, or outcomes of products made using these formulations. Users are responsible for proper testing, safe formulation practices, and compliance with all applicable regulations.

If you have any questions regarding this recipe, please email us at customerservice@voyageursoapandcandle.com or call us at 1-800-758-7773