These single use hand soaps with dissolving paper embeds are one of the most fun melt and pour projects you can make. The soap contains a printed image inside and the paper dissolves when introduced to water.

Because the image dissolves quickly, the soap still lathers and washes normally without leaving paper behind.

This project is simple, beginner friendly, and a great way to make custom soaps for gifts, parties, or guest bathrooms.

If you enjoy melt and pour projects like this, you may also like my
👉 Coffee Melt and Pour Soap or my Succulent Melt and Pour Soap with Embeds

Table of Contents

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Why You Need Special Dissolving Paper

The most important part of this project is the paper used for the embed.

You must use water soluble paper designed to dissolve quickly. Regular paper will not dissolve properly and can leave paper fibers behind when the soap is used.

This dissolving paper is specifically designed to:

• dissolve rapidly in water
• be thin enough to embed in soap
• disappear while washing hands

Inkjet Printers Only

Most dissolving papers are designed for inkjet printers only.

Laser printers use heat to fuse toner to paper. Because dissolving paper is very thin, it can melt or damage the printer rollers. Always check the instructions for your paper, but in general:

✔ Use an inkjet printer
✘ Avoid laser printers

Designing the Soap Images

I designed my images using Canva on a standard 8.5 × 11 sheet.

This allows you to print many small images at once, then cut them out individually for the soap embeds.

Small designs work best because they:

• fit easily in small soap molds
• dissolve faster
• are easier to embed in the soap

Why Clear Melt and Pour Soap Works Best

For this project you want to use clear melt and pour soap.

Clear soap allows the image to be visible inside the soap.

Opaque bases such as goat milk or white soap will hide the image.

If you enjoy working with melt and pour soap bases, you might also like this recipe for Lavender Melt and Pour Luffa Soap

Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Clear Melt and Pour Soap	50 g
Fragrance Oil	2 g
Dissolving Paper	as needed

Equipment

Equipment
Scale
Microwave Safe Container
Tweezers
Spatula
Inkjet Printer

Step 1: Print the Dissolving Paper

Create your designs and print them on the dissolving paper using an inkjet printer.

I designed my sheet in Canva using an 8.5 × 11 template and filled it with multiple small designs.

printed dissolvable soap embed paper designs for melt and pour soap

Step 2: Cut Out the Designs

Carefully cut out each image that you want to place inside your soap.

Smaller designs work best because they dissolve faster and are easier to embed.

small printed soap embed designs cut out from dissolving paper

Step 3: Melt the Soap

Cut your melt and pour soap into small cubes.

Place the soap into a microwave safe container and heat in 10–15 second intervals until completely melted.

Stir between each interval to prevent overheating.

Step 4: Add Fragrance

Once the soap is melted, add your fragrance oil and mix thoroughly.

For this recipe I used:

Ingredient	Amount
Melt and Pour Soap	50 g
Fragrance Oil	2 g

Step 5: Coat the Paper Embed

This is the trick that makes the embed work inside the soap.

Using tweezers, hold the corner of the dissolving paper and dip it into the hot melted soap.

Move the paper back and forth slightly to coat it, then pull it out and shake off any excess soap.

The soap coating dries in just a few seconds.

Repeat this process for each paper design.

If the soap begins to harden while you are working, simply reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds.

coating dissolving paper soap embed with melted soap

Finished Soap

Once the soap has hardened, it is done!

You will now have a clear single use soap with the image inside.

When the soap is used, the paper quickly dissolves and disappears while washing.

clear melt and pour soap with dissolving paper embed

Tips for Success

Use clear soap

Opaque soap bases will hide the image.

Keep embeds small

Small images dissolve faster and are easier to embed.

Coat the paper first

Dipping the paper one at a time in soap prevents it from curling.

Reheat the soap as needed

Melt and pour soap thickens quickly, but can be reheated easily.

Single Use Hand Soap with Dissolving Paper Embeds (Melt and Pour Tutorial)

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