{"id":33,"date":"2026-03-16T18:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.7virides.com\/cs\/recepty\/melt-pour\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T10:19:47","slug":"melt-pour","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/recepty\/melt-pour\/","title":{"rendered":"Melt &amp; pour soap: a guide for beginners and advanced"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<p><strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Melt &amp; pour m\u00fddlo nevy\u017eaduje pr\u00e1ci s louhem \u2014 koup\u00edte hotov\u00fd z\u00e1klad, roztav\u00edte ho a p\u0159id\u00e1te barvy a v\u016fn\u011b. Hotov\u00e9 za 1\u20132 hodiny. Nev\u00fdhoda: m\u00e9n\u011b kontroly nad slo\u017een\u00edm a dra\u017e\u0161\u00ed suroviny.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Melt &amp; pour (M&amp;P, \u201eroztav a nalij&#8220;) je metoda v\u00fdroby m\u00fddla bez hydroxidu sodn\u00e9ho. Koup\u00edte hotov\u00fd m\u00fddlov\u00fd z\u00e1klad, roztav\u00edte ho, p\u0159id\u00e1te barvy, v\u016fn\u011b a dekorace, nalijete do forem. M\u00fddlo je hotov\u00e9 za 1\u20132 hodiny.<\/p>\n<p>Is it \"real&#8220; soap? In terms of chemistry: the base has been saponified in industrial production - you are just modifying the finished product. In terms of the result: a fully-fledged soap product, with only limited control over the composition.<\/p>\n<p>M&amp;P m\u00e1 sv\u00e1 m\u00edsta \u2014 jako vstupn\u00ed bod pro d\u011bti, jako v\u00fdroba dekorativn\u00edch d\u00e1rk\u016f nebo pro mydl\u00e1\u0159e, kte\u0159\u00ed cht\u011bj\u00ed rychl\u00e9 projekty bez pr\u00e1ce s louhem.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jake-typy-mp-zakladen-si-mohu-koupit-a-kterou-zvolit\">Jak\u00e9 typy M&amp;P z\u00e1kladen si mohu koupit \u2014 a kterou zvolit?<\/h2>\n<p>There are several variants of bases, each with different characteristics and suitable applications. Clear bases are ideal for decorative projects, while specialty bases (with goat's milk or shea butter) are more suitable for conditioning soaps.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"clear-pruhledna-nejlepe-pro-embed-techniky-a-dekorace\">Clear (transparent) \u2014 best for embed techniques and decorations<\/h3>\n<p>The transparent base allows for visually appealing projects - layering of transparent colors, \"embedded\" objects inside the transparent soap, lettering and images visible through the soap. The base is usually made of surfactants (SLS, SLSA) or soap base with glycerol.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Suitable for:<\/strong> decorative soaps, gifts, children's projects, embed techniques.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"white-bila-nepruhledna-nejlepe-pro-pastelove-a-teple-tony\">White (opaque) \u2014 best for pastel and warm tones<\/h3>\n<p>White opaque titanium dioxide base. Dyes give a richer, opaque color. Less visually dramatic than transparent, but better at capturing warm and pastel tones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Suitable for:<\/strong> pastel colors, romantic and pure aesthetics, soaps with botanical ingredients on the surface.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"goat-milk-base-kozi-mleko\">Goat Milk Base<\/h3>\n<p>Base with added goat's milk powder. Creamy, slightly opaque. Softer on the skin thanks to lactose and milk fat.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Suitable for:<\/strong> conditioning soaps, sensitive skin, gifts with \"premium&#8220; value.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"shea-butter-base\">Shea Butter Base<\/h3>\n<p>Base with added shea butter - conditioning, creamy. Slightly cloudy.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"sls-free-zakladny\">SLS-free bases<\/h3>\n<p>For those who avoid sodium lauryl sulfate. Available in e-shops - look for \"SLS free melt and pour base&#8220;. Lathers less dramatically, but gentler.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jak-vyrobit-melt-pour-mydlo-krok-za-krokem\">Jak vyrobit melt &amp; pour m\u00fddlo \u2014 krok za krokem<\/h2>\n<p>Z\u00e1kladn\u00ed M&amp;P postup je jednoduch\u00fd: roztavte z\u00e1klad, p\u0159idejte barvu a v\u016fni, nalijte do forem a nechte ztuhnout. Cel\u00fd proces trv\u00e1 1\u20132 hodiny od za\u010d\u00e1tku do hotov\u00e9ho m\u00fddla.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"co-budete-potrebovat\">What you will need<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>M&amp;P z\u00e1klad (blok nebo kostky)<\/li>\n<li>Glass or plastic pitcher for melting (ideally with a spout for precise pouring)<\/li>\n<li>Microwave or water bath<\/li>\n<li>Silicone moulds<\/li>\n<li>Barvy pro M&amp;P (speci\u00e1ln\u00ed \u2014 pigmenty nebo mica powder)<\/li>\n<li>Essential or perfume oils<\/li>\n<li>Isopropyl alcohol (IPA, 70-99 %) spray<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"postup\">Procedure<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1. Cut the base into small cubes<\/strong> (2-3 cm) for even melting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Melt<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Microwave: 30 seconds, stir, another 30 seconds - repeat. Never boil - this leads to loss of some transparency and the formation of air bubbles.<\/li>\n<li>Water bath: a jug with a base in a pot of hot water (70-80 \u00b0C). Slower but gentler.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Target temperature: 60-70 \u00b0C. Above 75 \u00b0C the base loses its properties.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Add colour<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mica powder: 0.5-1% by weight of the base. Stir thoroughly - mica disperses poorly.<\/li>\n<li>Pigments (oxides): 0,1-0,3 %. Strong hiding power.<\/li>\n<li>Liquid colorants: easier dispersion, 2-5 drops per 100 g of base.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>4. Add fragrance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Essential oils: 1-2% by weight (max 2% - above this, cloudiness or sweating may occur)<\/li>\n<li>Perfume oils: 1-3% (depends on the oil - always test)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>5. Pour into the moulds<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pour slowly from a low height to minimise bubbles<\/li>\n<li>Immediately spray the surface with IPA alcohol - it will dissolve air bubbles on the surface<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>6. Hardening<\/strong> Let cool at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. Or speed up in the refrigerator (10-15 minutes). Do not put in the freezer - it causes condensation on the surface.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Remove from the moulds<\/strong> The silicone moulds separate themselves. Turn the rigid moulds (plastic) over and tap lightly.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jake-pokrocile-techniky-mohu-pouzit-embed-vrstveni-a-mramorovani\">What advanced techniques can I use - embed, layering and marbling?<\/h2>\n<p>For advanced soapmakers, there are several fancy techniques that maximize the visual potential of transparent and white bases.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"embed-vnoreni-objektu-jak-vnorite-dekorativni-prvky\">Embed - how do you embed decorative elements?<\/h3>\n<p>Into the transparent base you \"freeze&#8220; decorative objects: small solid soap pieces of a different color, dried flowers, small toys for baby soap, shells.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Procedure:<\/strong> Fill the mould 1\/3 of the way with the base, allow to set slightly (30 seconds - the base must be firm to the touch but still warm). Spray IPA on the surface, place the embedded object, spray again and pour the remaining base.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"vrstveni-barev\">Color layering<\/h3>\n<p>Fill the mould with one colour up to 1\/2 height, allow to set, spray with IPA (to make the layers adhere) and pour the second colour. The less the first layer cools, the better the layers stick together.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"mramorovy-efekt\">Marble effect<\/h3>\n<p>Pour two colours into the mould and use a skewer or stick to draw spirals. Works best with transparent bases with contrasting colours.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"botanicke-dekorace\">Botanical decorations<\/h3>\n<p>Add dried chamomile flower, lavender buds or herb leaves to the surface just after pouring. Press them in gently - the base is still liquid and holds the ingredients.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jake-jsou-nejcastejsi-problemy-v-mp-a-jak-je-resit\">Jak\u00e9 jsou nej\u010dast\u011bj\u0161\u00ed probl\u00e9my v M&amp;P a jak je \u0159e\u0161it?<\/h2>\n<p>Melt &amp; pour m\u00e1 sv\u00e9 specifick\u00e9 probl\u00e9my souvisej\u00edc\u00ed s teplotou, vlhkost\u00ed a disperz\u00ed barviv. Na\u0161t\u011bst\u00ed jsou v\u0161echny snadno \u0159e\u0161iteln\u00e9 se spr\u00e1vn\u00fdm postupem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Soap \"sweating&#8220; (sweating):<\/strong> Droplets of moisture form on the surface. Cause: too much essential oil or perfume, or the glycerin in the base has absorbed airborne moisture. Solution: reduce the fragrance dose (max 2%) and wrap the soap in shrink wrap immediately after curing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Turbidity in the transparent base:<\/strong> Too hot melting, too many ingredients, or an ingredient incompatible with the transparent base (coconut milk, herbal extracts). Solution: lower the melting temperature below 70 \u00b0C, test new ingredients in small batches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The layers are separating:<\/strong> The surface of the first layer cooled too much before pouring the second. Solution: spray IPA on the surface of the first layer just before pouring the second layer and pour at a base temperature of at least 60 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bubbles on the surface:<\/strong> Pouring too fast or hot base. Solution: spray IPA on the surface immediately after pouring - the bubbles will dissipate.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jak-se-melt-pour-lisi-od-cold-process\">Jak se melt &amp; pour li\u0161\u00ed od cold process?<\/h2>\n<p>Melt &amp; pour je bezpe\u010dn\u011bj\u0161\u00ed a rychlej\u0161\u00ed metoda, ale s men\u0161\u00ed kontrolou nad slo\u017een\u00edm. Cold process vy\u017eaduje pr\u00e1ci s louhem, ale d\u00e1v\u00e1 plnou kontrolu a ni\u017e\u0161\u00ed n\u00e1klady.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><\/th>\n<th>Melt &amp; Pour<\/th>\n<th>Cold Process<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Lye<\/td>\n<td>Not needed<\/td>\n<td>Required (NaOH\/KOH)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Preparation time<\/td>\n<td>1\u20132 hours<\/td>\n<td>2\u20133 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Curing<\/td>\n<td>None (ready for immediate use)<\/td>\n<td>4\u20136 weeks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ingredient control<\/td>\n<td>Limited (base is fixed)<\/td>\n<td>Full control<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Decorative possibilities<\/td>\n<td>Excellent (transparency, embeds)<\/td>\n<td>Good (swirls, layers)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Raw material cost<\/td>\n<td>Higher (base is more expensive)<\/td>\n<td>Lower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Suitable for children<\/td>\n<td>Ano<\/td>\n<td>Only with adult supervision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"caste-otazky\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Mohu koupit levn\u00fd M&amp;P z\u00e1klad v obchod\u011b nebo mus\u00edm speci\u00e1ln\u00ed e-shop?<\/strong> Special e-shops are recommended - they guarantee quality and storage. Cheap homemade &#8222;soap residues&amp;#8220 sold in regular stores may contain undesirable ingredients or may be poorly stored. Reliable sources in the Czech Republic are e-shops focused on soap making.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Z\u016fst\u00e1v\u00e1 M&amp;P m\u00fddlo stejn\u011b dobr\u00e9 pro ple\u0165 jako cold process?<\/strong> Kvalita z\u00e1vis\u00ed na z\u00e1kladu. Drah\u00e9 z\u00e1klady s koz\u00edm ml\u00e9kem nebo shea m\u00e1slem jsou kondicionuj\u00edc\u00ed. Levn\u00e9 z\u00e1klady na b\u00e1zi surfaktant\u016f (SLS) mohou b\u00fdt dr\u00e1\u017ediv\u011bj\u0161\u00ed. M&amp;P je m\u00e9n\u011b p\u0159ekon\u00e1no jako cold process, ale kvalitn\u00ed z\u00e1klady poskytuj\u00ed funk\u010dn\u00ed m\u00fddlo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What temperature should the base be - why should I not cook?<\/strong> Above 75 \u00b0C the base degrades - it loses transparency, bubbles form and the fragrance partially evaporates. The ideal temperature is 60-70 \u00b0C. Microwave: repeat short pulses (30 seconds) with stirring. Water bath: slower but more precise temperature control.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why does my soap have a \"sweating\" feeling - are they droplets?<\/strong> Yes. Glycerin basically absorbs moisture from the air - especially in summer or humid bathrooms. Solution: reduce the essential oil to below 2%, wrap the soap in shrink wrap as soon as it hardens, and store in a dry place.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jak dlouho bude M&amp;P m\u00fddlo vydr\u017eovat \u2014 m\u00e1 \u201ebest by&#8220; datum?<\/strong> Melt &amp; pour m\u00fddla jsou hotov\u00e1 ihned po vytvrdnut\u00ed (nejsou jako cold process vyzr\u00e1l\u00e1). Trvanlivost je 1\u20132 roky, n\u011bkdy d\u00e9le. Esenci\u00e1ln\u00ed oleje se \u010dasem vypa\u0159uj\u00ed \u2014 v\u016fn\u011b s\u00edl\u00ed zpo\u010d\u00e1tku (b\u011bhem 1\u20132 m\u011bs\u00edc\u016f), pak sl\u00e1bne.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mohu do M&amp;P p\u0159idat rostlinn\u00e9 oleje jako do cold process?<\/strong> Limited range - maximum 5% of the base weight. Too much oil spoils the structure. Better: buy a base with goat's milk or shea butter, which contains conditioning ingredients.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Je M&amp;P bezpe\u010dn\u00e9 pro d\u011bti \u2014 mohu to d\u011blat s nimi?<\/strong> Ano. Nen\u00ed pot\u0159eba louh, teploty jsou ni\u017e\u0161\u00ed. D\u011bti mohou p\u00e9ct z\u00e1kladn\u00ed M&amp;P m\u00fddla pod dohledem \u2014 je to bezpe\u010dn\u011bj\u0161\u00ed prvn\u00ed projekt ne\u017e cold process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>See also:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/soap\/what-is-cold-process-soap\/\">What is cold process soap<\/a> - main production method<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/soap\/soap-making-techniques\/mica-oxides-pigments-soap\/\">Dyeing and decoration techniques<\/a> - mica, pigments and oxides<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/soap\/soap-making-techniques\/natural-colorants-soap\/\">Natural colorants<\/a> - herbal and mineral dyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR: Melt &amp; pour m\u00fddlo nevy\u017eaduje pr\u00e1ci s louhem \u2014 koup\u00edte hotov\u00fd z\u00e1klad, roztav\u00edte ho a p\u0159id\u00e1te barvy a v\u016fn\u011b. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions\/209"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}