Whether you're a beginner soap maker or you want to take your skills to the next level and start a soap making business. Here you will find the perfect soap mold for your needs along with helpful tips, tricks, pros and cons.
I always get excited when I buy a new soap mold. It opens up so many new possibilities to make your own soap be it with melt and pour and cold process.
I've taken a deep dive into the absolute best soap molds on the market right now. Whether you're a beginning soap maker or a seasoned veteran - here you'll find the perfect mold.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure here.
Best Soap Molds for Beginners
If you're just starting out and don't want to invest in a mold right away, I've got great news: you don't have to. Chances are you already have tons of "soap molds" sitting in your house. You can upcycle anything from empty milk cartons, oatmeal containers, food containers, empty yogurt cups, Pringles cans, you name it.
Things to look out for when using recycled soap molds:
- material has to be heat resistant (NO glass) and not made out of or coated with aluminum
- lye soap and aluminum shouldn't get in contact
- you can line a container that's made out of aluminum or cardboard with freezer paper, wax paper, or plastic bags. For detailed instructions on how to turn a Pringles can into an awesome soap mold see my how to make soap at home tutorial.
Pros: free, material gets repurposed, easy to source
Cons: shapes are not consistent, sometimes tough to unmold, melt and pour soap could leak through something like a cardboard box lined with freezer paper
Silicone Soap Molds
By far the biggest and (to me) most exciting category. Silicone molds come in so many different fun shapes and sizes, that you just got to have them all 😉 They're great for melt and pour ,cold and hot process soap.
Pros: unique designs, affordable, gives soap glossy smooth finish, easy to clean, lightweight, easy to store
Cons: some molds will slightly bow outward when filled, cold process soap can display bubbles when too hot, insulates cold process soap poorly in order to gel
When shopping for a new silicone mold, look for high-quality, food-grade silicone that is cold and heat-resistant. They're suitable for melt and pour and cold process soap.
Tips for Using Cold Process Soap in Silicone Molds
- Use sodium lactate or salt in your soap recipe to help harden the soap for easier release
- Pour at thin to medium trace for details to shine and achieve a flat bottom surface
- Use a higher water discount
- Wait 1-3 days longer to unmold (especially with loaf molds)
- Silicone soap molds create an airlock around the soap, so make sure to always pull on all of the sides of the mold first to release them from the soap and then gently press on the bottom
- Put soap in the freezer for a couple of hours before unmolding if soap doesn't budge
- If you don't like the look of bubbles avoid gelling your soap
Top 5 Silicone Molds
I have more silicone molds than I care to admit, but these are the one's I keep coming back to. They're versatile, pretty and durable.
- mixed pattern rectangular or oval mold (Amazon)
- chunky 4 oz bars rectangular mold (Amazon)
- sunflower mold (Amazon)
- 1 lb small loaf mold (Crafters Choice)
- 44 oz loaf mold (Crafters Choice)
Wooden Soap Molds
Wood molds are probably the most traditional kind of soap molds. Typically, they come in loaf mold or slab mold (low rim, broad pouring surface) size. They are especially useful for cold process soap making. The material insulates the soap well for it to heat up and go through gel phase.
If the mold has a silicone liner, wooden molds can be used for melt and pour soap as well.
Pros: very sturdy and durable, thick material insulates cold process soap well, perfect for very large batches and production soap making, great for traditional bar soaps, you can make your own DIY wooden soap mold
Cons: need to be lined with freezer paper (if mold doesn't come with liner), pricier, heavy and needs storage room, wood isn't easy to clean
Top Wood Soap Mold Suppliers
- Nurture Soap - If you're looking for high quality soap molds that get raving reviews, you have to go with Nurture Soap's Wood Molds. The wood is very thick and the silicone liners strong and durable. The molds have two holes on the bottom to easily push the soap out when done. They come is many different sizes and dimensions. Their molds are suitable for hobbyists and professionals.
- Brambleberry - is a reputable supplier that focuses more on hobby soapmakers. I particularly like their small slab mold which allows for interesting designs. Best of all it comes with this handy dandy divider to give you 9 perfect bars. It comes with a lid for insulation and has a sliding bottom for easy unmolding. You will have to line it with freezer paper though.
- WorkshopHeritage - this company makes amazing handcrafted molds in the US. They sell smaller mold for hobbyist, but also big production slab molds with matching liners and cutters!
Plastic Molds
Plastic soap molds used to be a popular option especially for melt and pour soap. They came in all shapes and sizes, were very affordable, but a little on the flimsy side.
The drawback was that they weren't very durable and prone to cracking when unmolding the soap. Cold process soap was almost impossible to get out of the mold.
If you're making melt and pour soap or soap high in salt, like "Sole seife", they might still be a good option for you.
Until next time. Happy Tinkering!
Ethan Hansen says
It's great to know that silicone molds are great for making soap because they are cheap and the soap doesn't stick to the liner. My wife and I are looking for new hobbies to pursue and we have explored making soap for quite some time now. After reading your article, I feel as if we're ready to take the first step in what can be our new favorite hobby! We'll be sure to find some silicone molds that are made for soaps!
Celine says
Hi Ethan, glad you found this post helpful. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Barbara Pasch says
I have been using silicone molds for over 6 years and have over 60 molds for all occasions and holidays. Now I am adding
different characters in the glycerin clear soaps to make them more interesting.
Most donated for Pet Rescues to raise money for animals
Sarah says
nice
Doreen says
Thank you so much for this article but please how can I order for this mold from where I am in Nigeria?
Celine says
I'm not sure. Is there a way you could order on the internet?