If you love fine art and dried flowers, you're in for a soap-prise! These DIY soaps feature mini works of classic art—Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, Claude Monet's Water Lilies series and Jackson Pollock's abstract work. And they're made entirely of dried flowers.
Video: Dried Flower Soaps Inspired by Famous Modern Art
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Of course, given the organic nature of flowers, the finished "art pieces" are very abstract. But that's what makes them so special. They're meant to be a loose interpretation of the original inspirations, rather than an exact copy. The result is a lovely abstract design with a hidden meaning.
What's more, as with all handmade beauty products, you can customize this body soap DIY to your own preferences. For example, you're welcome to use any type of melt-and-pour soap base you like. This includes coconut oil, goat milk, olive oil and shea butter soaps, which are super moisturizing and sold at most craft stores. On that note, melt-and-pour soap is an excellent choice if you're new to soapmaking, as it's extremely easy to use.
You can also personalize the scent of each flower soap by using different essential oils or skin-safe fragrances. Alternatively, if you have sensitive skin, simply skip the scents completely and opt for a gentle bar soap. Your soap, your rules.
Whether you're exploring handmade beauty products or looking for the perfect gift, you'll want to add this DIY to your to-do list. Not only can it be used as body and hand soap, but it will look beautiful in a soap dish too. Now let's get crafting.
Tip
The instructions on the melt-and-pour soap you choose will list the exact supplies needed to prepare the soap. In general, you’ll need a soap cutter, microwave-safe container and access to a microwave. One package of melt-and-pour soap is typically enough to make several batches of handmade soap.
Flower Soap #1: The Starry Night
Things You'll Need
Melt-and-pour soap base
Rectangular soap mold
Blue skin-safe mica powder or soap dye (optional)
Skin-safe essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Stirring utensil, such as a wooden ice pop stick
Craft tweezers
Pressed or dried flowers and herbs (lavender, cornflower, calendula, lemongrass, black tea)
Tip
Black poppy seeds also work well in place of black tea. Also, if you decide to use different types of pressed or dried flowers, make sure they're safe for the skin.
1. Prepare the soap
Melt the soap according to the package's instructions. Add colorants and fragrances, if using. Stir well.
Tip
Check your specific soap’s instructions before adding colorants or essential oils. There might be special steps or requirements.
Pour the soap into the mold. Let sit for about one hour.
2. Create the flower design
Spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. Gently slide your finger across the soap to help soften it.
Sprinkle the flowers on top of the soap, referring to the The Starry Night for inspiration. Use lemongrass for the white swirls, black tea for the big cypress tree, lavender for the city along the bottom and cornflower to fill in the sky. Use a calendula bud for the moon.
You can use your fingers, but craft tweezers are useful for creating small details and tidying up the design.
Tip
Every now and then, gently press the flowers into the soap. You can also re-spray the soap to ensure the flowers are consistently saturated. This will help them stick to the soap.
3. Remove soap from the mold
Let the soap sit until completely hardened, about four to six hours, or as listed by the product's packaging. Once set, carefully remove the soap from the mold.
Tip
Before taking the soap out of the mold, give the bar a light shake. If some of the flowers fall off, spritz the soap with more alcohol or witch hazel, then press the flowers. This will ensure the design is intact before you remove the soap.
Flower Soap #2: Water Lilies
Things You'll Need
Melt-and-pour soap base
Rectangular soap mold
Light blue or purple skin-safe mica powder or soap dye (optional)
Skin-safe essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Stirring utensil, like a wooden ice pop stick
Craft tweezers
Pressed or dried flowers and herbs (peppermint, lavender, cornflower, jasmine, rose)
1. Prepare the soap
Melt the soap according to the product's directions. Mix in any colorants and fragrances you're using.
Pour the soap into the mold. Let sit for about one hour.
2. Make the flower design
Spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. Slide your finger across the soap, taking care to avoid pressing down.
To recreate one of Monet's Water Lilies paintings, sprinkle lavender and/or cornflower to create the darker areas of water. Next, add green for the lilies. Add rose and jasmine along the bottom corner. Use craft tweezers to tidy up the design.
Gently press the flowers into the soap, re-spraying them as needed.
Tip
Feel free to use a different painting in the Water Lilies series as inspiration for your soap.
3. Remove the soap from the mold
Let the soap sit for about four to six hours, or until it's completely set. Carefully remove the soap from the mold.
Flower Soap #3: Jackson Pollock–Inspired
Things You'll Need
Melt-and-pour soap base
Rectangular soap mold
Pink skin-safe mica powder or soap dye (optional)
Skin-safe essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel
Stirring utensil (such as a wooden ice pop stick)
Craft tweezers
Pressed or dried flowers and herbs (cornflower, calendula, lemongrass)
Tip
Since this piece is inspired by Jackson Pollock’s signature style (rather than a specific piece), color is not as important. Feel free to use any colorant or flowers you’d like. However, try to use flowers that are long and thin to emulate Pollock's distinctive brush strokes.
1. Prepare the soap
Melt the soap, making sure to follow the product's instructions. Add any colorants and fragrances you're using, then stir well.
Pour the soap into the mold. Let sit for about one hour.
2. Add the flower design
After the surface of the soap has hardened, spray it with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. Gently slide your finger across the soap without pressing down.
To create a Pollock-inspired design, randomly sprinkle the flowers across the soap. Try not to overthink it!
Press the flowers into the soap. If some flowers are too dry, re-spray them as needed.
3. Remove the soap from the mold
Let the soap sit until completely set, at least four to six hours. Remove the soap from the mold.
Together, this trio of floral soaps make for a beautiful gift set. Consider giving them to friends and family for a birthday, Grandparents' Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day...or just because! Or if you're up to the challenge, try making several batches for baby shower favors or bridal shower favors.
For extra flair, pack this soap set in a gift box with shredded recyclable brown paper. Pair the bars with coordinating items like soap petals or fresh flowers, such as a lavender or rose bouquet. You could even use any leftover pressed flowers to craft other gift ideas, such as potpourri or greeting cards.
In either case, you can be sure that these flower soaps will make your loved ones melt. Happy soapmaking!