How to Make Pearl Soap
Step-by-step guide to handmade
paw-shaped soap using MP soap base
1Materials & Tools
🧼 Soap Ingredients
- MP soap base (Melt & Pour)
Reference: Glycerin MP Soap Base → - Coconut essential oil
Reference: Coconut Essential Oil → - Food-safe colorant (any color you like)
Reference: Food Coloring 8-Color Set →
🔧 Tools
- Silicone paw-shaped molds (multiple)
Reference: Cat Paw Silicone Mold → - Small pan dedicated to soap making
Reference: Wahei Freiz Mini Frying Pan → - Heat source (induction or gas stove)
Reference: Iwatani Cassette Gas Stove → - Mixing cup & stirring rod
Reference: Mixing Cups with Stir Sticks 50-pack →
🎁 Packaging
- Organza drawstring pouch
Reference: Organza Drawstring Pouch 50-pack → - OPP bag (clear plastic wrap bag)
Reference: OPP Bag with Seal → - P-touch Cube (label maker)
Reference: Brother P-touch Cube PT-P710BT →
Reference: Tape Cartridge TZe-155 Clear/White 24mm →
2Instructions
1Prepare the soap base
Obtain your MP soap base. We recommend purchasing pre-cut soap base for convenience.
Pre-cut base can be melted right away, saving you time and effort.
2Melt the soap base
Place the soap base in a small pan dedicated to soap making and melt it slowly over low heat. Stir gently with a stirring rod until the base is completely liquefied.
Overheating will cause air bubbles to form. Be careful not to let it boil.
3Add colorant
Add a small amount of food-safe pink colorant to the melted soap base. Transferring the mixture to a mixing cup makes it easier to adjust the color.
Add a little at a time and adjust to your preferred shade. Pearl Soap is characterized by its soft, pale pink hue.
4Add fragrance
Add a few drops of coconut essential oil and mix well. The scent fades slightly as the soap cools, so it should smell a bit stronger than your target fragrance level.
5Pour into molds
Slowly pour the melted soap base into the silicone paw-shaped molds. The key is to pour gently to avoid introducing air bubbles.
A few small bubbles add a handmade charm. Don't worry too much about them.
6Let it set
Leave at room temperature for about 10 minutes until the soap is firm enough to remove from the mold. Since silicone molds are flexible, you can easily pop out the soap by pushing from the back.
3Packaging
1Place in a drawstring pouch
Place the soap in an organza drawstring pouch. This pouch can also double as a lather net when using the soap.
Use a P-touch Cube to create a QR code linking to the ingredient list, or a message such as "Thank you for being here," and attach it to the pouch.
2Place in an OPP bag
Place the drawstring pouch with the soap into an OPP bag. The transparent bag allows the soap inside to be seen beautifully.
Seal it with a message tape that carries your heartfelt words.
3Complete
Your Pearl Soap is now complete. Share it with someone special, along with the message: "Thank you for being here."
On packaging materials — balancing ideals and reality
OPP bags are petroleum-based plastic. While not ideal from an SDGs perspective, we learned from experience on Maui Island that distributing soap without OPP bags caused the soap to melt in the daytime heat and stain recipients' pockets.
Rather than insisting on 100% natural materials, we arrived at a stance of "drawing a line and doing the best we can within it." We prioritize the practicality of a packaging that is transparent, shows the contents, prevents mess if the soap melts, and is easy to source.
Organza drawstring pouches can be reused even after the soap is finished:
- Continue using it as a lather net
- Repurpose as a small accessories holder, jewelry pouch, or potpourri sachet
- We accept repair requests if the drawstring frays or the fabric wears out
A second life for OPP bags: After the soap is used up, the OPP bag (15 cm x 9 cm) can be reused as a protective case for the quartz glass plate (7 cm x 7 cm). Since the material lasts for centuries, it is well-suited for safeguarding your proof of existence.
When giving the soap in person or in mild weather conditions, it is also possible to deliver it with just the drawstring pouch, without the OPP bag.
If we claim to be "sustainable," we show it through action. At the same time, we honestly acknowledge what we cannot yet achieve. That is our approach.
About Pearl Soap
Pearl Soap is not for sale. It is given as a personal gift from Takuya Sato, founder of TokiStorage, to those with whom he shares a special connection. Feel free to use these instructions as a reference to create your own original soap.
Workshop Information
"I read the instructions, but I won't really understand until I try it myself" — if that sounds like you, we host Pearl Soap making workshops. All materials and tools are provided. Just show up empty-handed and enjoy.
100 Scenes Where Pearl Soap Reaches Someone
View 100 Scenes →