This candy cane soap smells as nice as it looks! Layers of pink and white glycerin soap come together with crushed candy canes for a cute and easy gift idea this holiday season.
The kids and I made homemade glycerin soap over the summer and it was a lot of fun. I used some of our extra white glycerin blocks to create this soap to go with what I am putting together for Christmas gifts to the boys' teachers this year.
I guess I can't really say that I "made" soap. What I did was buy a bag of glycerin chunks at the craft store, melt them down, add color and a scent, then re-shape them into molds. But it still transformed them into something different and heavenly scented.
I'm no expert when it comes to soap. As you can see the lines aren't perfect. If I knew what I was doing, the lines would be solid. But I'm not sure how to do that and have the layers stay together when it is done. I was afraid if I let each layer dry before adding another that the layers would separate when I went to slice the soap into bars. So I didn't let each layer set up before adding the next one. I just waited until it just started to set up then poured the next color. So there is a mixture of stripes and swirls, but the soap is nice and solid. Perfect for a novice like me.
Right after I poured the last layer I sprinkled the top with a layer of crushed candy canes. I let it sit for an hour, then ran a knife along the edges of my mold (a small loaf pan) and the soap popped right out. I then sliced it into bars with a kitchen knife.
For those wondering about the candy canes: It is merely for decorative purposes and washed off the soap after the first couple of uses. You don't need it, but it looks pretty. It doesn't make your hands sticky either since you are already washing them. Kind of cancels it all out.
Each parchment package has 2 small bars of soap. It really does make your hands smell like candy canes!
If you would like to see how to melt, add scents and colors, and mold glycerin, see our post here. I used red soap coloring (food coloring would work too) and peppermint extract. About ⅛ tsp. for each white layer.
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Oh how I love my readers! Here is a tip from Michelle on how to create perfect layers when making soap like this:
"Don't worry about your layers they are great! These look good enough to eat.I have played with melt and pour soap before, for distinctive layer just spray some alcohol on the first layer, let it harden, spray again then add your next layer.But again these look divine, so pretty and a great handmade gift."
Thanks Michelle!
If you enjoy making your own beauty products, you may enjoy this collection of homemade beauty gifts that I put together below!
AmandaB_ak says
Thank you, Brandy! I just noticed that Terina asked the same question right around the same time as me ... odd that it hadn't come up and then it did twice at once! haha! Everyone is making their Christmas presents now 🙂 I'm really excited to make it, and thanks for the info, Brandy!
Brandy says
Terina and AmandaB_ak,
The candy cane is kind of a wash when it comes to the soap. It gets sticky, but you are washing your hands anyways so it comes right off. I didn't notice any stickiness AT ALL from it afterwards. So it is pretty, smells nice, and comes right off. Doesn't really have a functional purpose.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Brandy
Gluesticks
AmandaB_ak says
I am very excited to make these as Christmas presents - thanks for sharing! Does the candycane make your hands sticky when you use the soap? I was wondering if the soap is functional or just for looks/smells .... Thanks!
Terina Gillette says
I bought the items to make your craft. I love the crushed candy idea but when used diss it make you sticky? Or what does the candy do? Thanks
Terina Gillette says
I bought the items to make your craft. I love the crushed candy idea but when used diss it make you sticky? Or what does the candy do? Thanks
Hope Yoder says
Love this! My sister in-laws & I are making this for a girly craft day. Question: the parchment paper doesn't look like kitchen paper. What did you use & where did you?
Hope Yoder says
Just curious what and where you bought the parchment paper from? It looks Velum instead of kitchen parchment paper. Awesome project. We are making some at our family gathering.
Ashley says
These look fantastic! If you're looking for even more fun and easy recipes, look up the Soap Queen,
Grandma Shell says
When you do layers with regular soap-from-scratch and want layers you let it set up a bit them spritz with alcohol before pouring the next layer. I've never tried m&p so I'm not sure if it would work or not. Actually, I LIKE the uneven layers and can almost smell the peppermint LOL
Michelle says
I can't wait to try this! What a great Christmas idea! And I also love that your lines aren't 'perfect'. It shows that the soap was homemade and done with love - not store-bought. Thanks for sharing this! I'm going to use this with my goat's milk soap base!
Cheryl @ Sew Can Do says
I made these as gifts & linked to your post: http://sewcando.blogspot.com/2011/12/last-minute-gifts-101-candy-cane-soaps.html
I give some tips on how to get the stripes nice and smooth too. Thanks for the great idea!!
Jen @ My Own Road says
This is such an awesome idea! I'm pinning it for next year!
The Southern Product Queen says
Love this idea! Super cute, and love your blog! I'm having a linky party on my blog too! I would love it if you would link up to it! Here is the link http://www.thesouthernproductqueen.com/2011/12/20/linky-party-2/
Amanda says
Just stopping by to let you know that I have featured your project on Fun Family Crafts! You can see it here
http://funfamilycrafts.com/candy-cane-soap-bars/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, I'd love it if you would submit them 🙂 If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.
Paula says
I made herbal soap this summer and think I have some soap leftover and definitely would love to try this. I'm a teacher and would be thrilled with a gift like this!