Instead of a regular, single-colored bar, you can have a multicolored, hand-decorated soap. Sounds good? Then let’s check specific tips on how to decorate soap – with flowers, herbs and even decoupage. It’s nothing complicated! All you need to do is gather the necessary supplies and set aside some extra time for decorating the soap.

Why decorate handmade soap?

Decorating handmade soap is not only a great, creative activity but also a way to additionally decorate the bathroom. A decorative touch of herbs or flowers will give the soap additional qualities – it will enhance the scent and even may provide nourishing properties. A beautifully decorated bar of soap will also be a lovely gift, suitable for giving to a loved one or during special occasions, such as Christmas or a birthday. Such soap would make anyone proud! Who knows, perhaps decorating might interest you enough to start a professional journey creating soap for sale?

Soap decorating ideas

Flower and herbs

Adding plants to soap is, despite appearances, a rather complicated matter. The reason – most of them turn brown in contact with lye and water and high temperatures. However, there are exceptions (like mint, rosemary, thyme, chamomile and marigold), and these are the ones we’ll focus on!

First of all, use dried flowers and herbs. These look the most beautiful and are convenient to use. Add flower petals towards the end of the soap-making process, ensuring they don’t have too much contact with lye or water. The most popular method involves sprinkling them on the top of the soap when the bar hardens. Simply spritz it with isopropyl alcohol or witch hazel, and the petals will adhere to the soap without losing their color.

Do the same with dried herbs. Apply them on the top of the soap bar and lightly dust them with soap. You can also use herbs when making a soap decoction – this will add fragrance to the mixture and enhance its nutritional properties. Keep in mind, however, that not everyone likes flowers or herbs stuck in the bar and coming out during soap use. Plants placed only in the outer layer can be easily removed once the soap has served its aesthetic purpose and it’s time to use it.

Decoupage

Decoupage is a way of decorating soap, in which you glue decorated paper or fabric to the bar using a special glue (such as Mod Podge). This way, the soap gains exactly the pattern you see on the napkin. It’s almost as if you painted a picture on the soap bar! Wondering how to decorate soap in an original and creative way? Try decoupage!

You’ll need a few decorative napkins, decoupage glue, a small brush, and optionally, sandpaper (to smooth the soap’s surface).

Decorating involves smoothing the soap, cutting out a decorative element from the napkin, sizing it to fit the soap, removing unnecessary layers of the napkin until only one remains, and then adhering it to the bar. First, apply the glue to the soap, then carefully place the napkin on it (be careful not to create air bubbles!), and finally cover the napkin with glue, preferably in 2-3 thin layers. Remember to let the decorated soap dry. Done!

Summary

Decorating soap with flowers, herbs, or using decoupage techniques offers a delightful chance to blend artistry with functionality in an everyday item. Whether it’s the visual allure of flowers, the aromatic infusion of herbs, or the personalized touch of decoupage, each method brings its own unique charm to soap decoration. So, why settle for ordinary soap when you can transform it into a piece of art? Have fun!

But before you start decorating, you need a bar of good, fragrant, and nourishing soap. At Soapmakingfriend.com you’ll find more than 30,000 recipes, ready to use right away. Go to the recipe database, find what you need and print the recipe directly from the site!