Fish in a Dish - Melt & Pour Soap Kit Tutorial

If you prefer your Fish in a Dish, rather than in a bag, this kit is for you!  You can purchase the Fish in a Dish Kit HERE.

Each mould holds 80 - 90g of soap base. This means you will make 10 fishy soaps with some soap left over. 

The soap in this kit weighs one kilo; you require approximately 260g per pour.  If you are not using scales, divide the soap into 3 equal pieces and cut off a cm or so of soap from the three blocks and the weight will be just about right.

There are two ways to make these soaps – in one single pour, or by pouring a thin layer in the base of the mould and then laying the fish on the soap when it has set (this will take a few minutes).  Choose which ever method you prefer – this may be dependant on the age of the soaper.

Sometimes the fish are a little crooked due to transport.  If you want reshape the fish, place them in some warm-hot water (not boiling) for 30 seconds, and re-shape, then place a light weight on top, and allow him to “set” before use.

What you’ll Need

To make a batch of 3 soaps

• Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base (approximately 85g per soap) - either Crystal ST (Ultra Clear) or SFIC Clear
• 1 x Fragrance or Essential Oil as selected in your kit
• 1 x 10 pack Disc Moulds
• 1 x 10 pack Gold Fish
  

Equipment:

• Microwave safe jug to hold 500g – if using Pyrex take great care as it can get HOT
• Microwave or cook top - to melt the soap
  (if you prefer to use a cook top you’ll need a stainless steel pot or double boiler – it is easy to burn the soap using the cook top)
• If you have kitchen scales  you can use that’s great, if not just “eyeball” the soap quantity
• 1 toothpick or skewer

Method One – one single pour – making 3 soaps

• 260g Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 2 - 3g/ml Fragrance or Essential Oil (this is approximately 1% = 60 – 90 drops = ½ teaspoon)
• 3 Fish
  
  

1. Place a fish into each of the 3 moulds
2. Cut the soap into 1 - 2cm pieces and place 260g (ish) soap base into the jug
3. Place the jug into the microwave and melt the soap on medium, heating in short bursts, then checking every 30 seconds or so and repeat until just before to the last piece has melted. Gently stir to melt the remaining soap pieces. (If using a cook top, use a suitable vessel on a very low heat – cover the pan)
4. Remove from the microwave and add the fragrance and stir gently, but thoroughly, avoid creating bubbles
5. It’s time to pour the soap over the fish.
6. Use the toothpick to gently hold the fish in place as you pour the soap around and over him, until the soap is 1 – 2 mm below the mould rim.  Once the soap base is poured, remove the toothpick from the hot soap.
7. If there are any tiny bubbles around the fish, pop them with the tooth pick – you need to do this immediately or a skin will form over the surface of the soap
8. Leave until completely cold (and set hard) and pop the lid on to avoid any moisture forming on the surface of the soap
9. Repeat for the other fish

From this graphic you can see how the two methods differ:
Picture Mould A. is a single pour with the fish in the base first.
Picture B. uses method 2, a small amount of soap in the base and then filled up.
Picture C.  Details the small amount needed if using Method Two.

Method Two – two pours – making 3 soaps

• 260g Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 2 -3g/ml Fragrance or Essential Oil (this is approximately 1% = 60 – 90 drops = ½ teaspoon)
• 3 Fish

1. Cut the soap into 1 - 2cm pieces and place 260g (ish) soap base into the jug
2. Place the jug into the microwave and melt the soap on medium, heating in short bursts, then checking every 30 seconds or so and repeat until just before to the last piece has melted.  Gently stir to melt the remaining soap pieces (If using a cook top, use a suitable vessel on a very low heat – cover the pan)
3. Remove from the microwave and add the fragrance and stir gently, but thoroughly, avoid creating bubbles
4. Now pour a thin layer of soap into the base of the 3 moulds; from 3 – 8mm is fine
5. Allow this thin layer to set up, and once it is firm, place a fish into each of the moulds
6. Use the toothpick to gently hold the fish in place as you pour the soap around and over him, until the soap is 1 – 2 mm below the mould rim.  Once the soap base is poured, remove the toothpick from the hot soap
7. If there are any tiny bubbles around the fish, pop them with the tooth pick – you need to do this immediately or a skin will form over the surface of the soap
8. Leave until completely cold (and set hard) and pop the lid on to avoid any moisture forming on the surface of the soap
9. Repeat for the other fish
   

(the kit has fragrance options so you need to purchase via the regular shopping trolley)

If you prefer your Fish in a Dish, rather than in a bag, this kit is for you!  You can purchase the Fish in a Dish Kit HERE.