Looking for a unique and beautiful DIY project? This handmade grape soap is not only practical but also makes a charming gift or bathroom decoration. With a few simple materials, you can create your own realistic-looking grape soap balls, scented with natural essential oils and colored to your liking.
🧼 What You’ll Need:
-
500g transparent soap base
-
Round ball molds (silicone molds are highly recommended for easy release)
-
30cm lengths of jute string (as many as the number of mold cavities)
-
Edible color powder (we used pink and purple)
-
Plant-based essential oils
-
Heat-safe container
-
Digital scale
🪄 Step-by-Step Instructions:
-
Prepare the String
Cut several pieces of jute string into 30cm lengths. Thread each one through the hole of a mold half, and tie a knot to secure. The number of string pieces should match the number of cavities in your mold. -
Melt the Soap Base
Weigh out approximately 500g of transparent soap base. Place it into a heat-safe container and melt it using a double boiler or microwave. -
Add Color and Fragrance
Once fully melted, stir in a small amount of edible color powder based on your color preference. We used a combination of pink and purple for a grape-like appearance. Stir evenly. -
Customize with Botanicals and Essential Oils
Add a few drops of your favorite plant-based essential oil. You can also add dried flower petals like rose—just let the soap cool slightly first to preserve their color. -
Pour and Set
Pour the mixture into your mold, then gently press the other half of the mold (with the knotted string) onto the filled side, aligning it firmly. Let it sit undisturbed for about 5 hours until fully set. -
Demold and Assemble
Carefully remove the soap balls from the molds. To create a grape cluster, tie three balls together as one unit, then group several units into a bunch. Done!
✨ Tips & Notes:
-
Using a microwave to melt the soap base is quick and convenient. It also helps reduce air bubbles that may form during stirring.
-
Silicone molds make demolding easier and prevent breakage.
-
Cut the jute string before starting, based on the number of cavities in your mold.
-
Make sure to use enough soap base—in one of our tests, using too little resulted in soap balls that weren’t fully rounded and had air bubbles.
-
Adjust the amount of soap base depending on the size and number of molds you’re using.
-
Add dried petals after slight cooling to avoid discoloration from high heat.
-
Feel free to play around with colors and essential oil blends to make each batch unique!