DIY Soap On A Rope Made With Essential Oils
Make DIY soap on a rope scented with an essential oil blend. How do you attach rope to soap? I’ve found the easiest way to put soap on a rope.
I love finding ways to use my favorite essential oils outside my diffusers. Don’t you? Homemade soap is something I started making a few years ago. I’ve made cute confetti soap using a birthday cake essential oil blend with my daughter and gorgeous blue tansy soap bars.
Then I made clear soap bars encompassing whole dried sage leaves inside the soap with sage essential oil. My most recent soap making project led me to make soap on a rope.
Is soap on a rope still a thing? Well, I’ve spotted it in a few eclectic stores, primarily made for men, intended for camping or sports. I wondered why no one seemed to make it for women.
It turns out it used to be made for both. When was soap on a rope popular? It first appeared in the 1940s but became incredibly popular in the 1970s. You can find it in old print advertisements boasting their ability to hang up and dry so your camping or beauty tote doesn’t get soggy.
While I haven’t used it for either of those reasons, I think it looks adorable and saves space in the shower since you can hang it up with your bath sponge.
And this DIY soap on a rope smells fantastic, thanks to the 100% natural essential oils! Want to know how I make soap on a rope? Keep reading for what you’ll need, like how much essential oil to put in soap, and the easiest way to make soap on a rope! (No expensive equipment or active lye needed)
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What do I need to make soap on a rope at home?
As promised, you don’t need to put on safety goggles or rubber gloves to mix up active lye to make soap at home. That’s thanks to melt and pour soap bases. It’s a lot like using a cake mix for baking a cake instead of starting from scratch.
Melt and pour soap bases have everything in them to make soap at home. You truly, just melt and pour – hence the name. And they’ve already gone through the saponification process of combining lye with other soap ingredients, so we don’t need any safety gear.
I chose a goat milk melt and pour soap base to make DIY soap on a rope. Goat milk makes a hard and long-lasting soap bar with a creamy lather that is gentle on the skin. I picked it because it has a bright white, solid appearance that you can’t see the rope through.
Related To: Cleansing Sage and Aloe Soap Bars
How do you attach rope to soap?
I’ve found that the easiest way to attach rope to soap is to put it inside the soap itself. By pouring the soap into two layers, I was able to suspend the rope inside each soap bar.
If you pour the soap all at once, the rope will float to the top of the soap bars.
What rope do you use for soap on a rope?
I looked closely at the soap on a rope I saw in boutiques and did a little online research. A waxed cotton cord is the best rope to use to make soap on a rope because it’s more water-resistant than other types of rope, like those made with jute. And it’s a strong, thick rope that can hold the weight of the soap when you hang it up.
Which Essential Oils Are Best for Soap Making?
One of the best parts about making DIY soap is that you can choose the scent! Start with a single essential oil such as eucalyptus, sandalwood, or lavender. Each is one of the best essential oils for soap.
Or create your very own custom soap scent by blending multiple essential oils. Check out our full-proof method for blending essential oils, and grab a free printable blending wheel from our essential oil library while you’re at it.
If you are looking for a scent you’ll love all year round, you’ll adore these essential oils blends for soap! Print out this chart of essential oil soap blends from the Oily Chic Library or pin it for later to use as a quick reference.
Related To: How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
How To Make Soap On A Rope
Are you ready for the easiest way to put soap on a rope? Start with an easy melt and pour soap base, then add essential oils and rope. It’s as simple as that!
Soap Supplies:
3 yards of waxed cotton rope
18 ounces goat milk soap base
15 ml total of essential oils
DIY Soap On A Rope Instructions:
Preparation:
Prepare the round silicone soap mold by cleaning, drying, and spritzing it with rubbing alcohol. Then cut six pieces of rope 8 to 10 inches in length and set them aside.
Slice and chop 18 ounces goat milk soap base into ½ inch to 1-inch cubes. Using a soap knife makes this step super quick.
Make Soap:
Next, scoop the chopped soap base into a large glass measuring cup with a spout. Then place it in the microwave and melt the soap base at 50% power for 30-second intervals, stirring intermittently for a total of 3 to 3.5 minutes. (Do not heat the soap base above 150 degrees).
Promptly remove the melted soap base from the microwave and add 15 ml of total essential oil. I used the renewal essential oil blend and adapted it for this soap recipe by adding 10 ml of lavender, 2.5 ml of lemongrass, and 2.5 ml of eucalyptus. It smells so refreshing!! Whisk or stir the essential oil thoroughly into the soap.
Then, carefully pour the essential oil soap mixture ¼ of the way up the inside of each soap section in the silicone mold. Let the soap begin to harden for two minutes. Keep stirring your soap mixture to keep it melted.
Then place your rope inside slightly hardened soap, creating a curve or U shape. (Don’t worry if the soap is wrinkly or puckered. We’ll cover it!)
Give the soap another two minutes to harden around the rope. Then pour the remaining soap base over the first layer of each soap. (If you must, warm the soap mixture in the microwave again for 30 seconds at 50% power.)
Watch the soap harden and spritz the soap tops with rubbing alcohol to remove bubbles in the soap.
Then allow the soap to cool in the mold for one to two hours or until solid before removing.
I’m so excited for you to make this DIY soap on a rope too! Hang these fun soap bars from the shower or sink, and everyone will ask where you got them.
MORE ESSENTIAL OIL DIYS:
- How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
- Essential Oil Roller Bottle Recipes
- Eucalyptus Diffuser Blends
- DIY Crystal Candle Bowl
- Lemon Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
Pin these steps to make DIY soap on a rope to your Pinterest DIY board, and while there, follow Oily Chic for more inspired ideas. And don’t forget to print the soap blend charts!
P.S. Did you know you can tag #oilychic on Instagram to share your essential oil DIYs with us?