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A bar of handmade soap is a great gift on its own. Wrapped well, with a little note tied on, it's the kind of gift people remember. The good news is that soap is about the easiest thing in the world to wrap. It's small, flat and sturdy, and it already smells nice.
Here are our favorite ways to package soap as a gift, ideas for putting together a soap gift basket, and a set of free printable gift tags you can download below.
The short answer
To package soap as a gift, wrap each bar in kraft paper, fabric or a little tissue, tie it with twine or ribbon, and add a tag. Group a few bars in a small box, basket or mug for a set. Keep handmade soap in something breathable rather than sealed plastic, and add a soap dish or a note about keeping the bar dry so it lasts.
Free printable soap gift tags
We made two pages of tags to go with your soap gifts. One is for the holidays ("Have a sudsy holiday," "Season's cleanings"), and one is for thank-yous and teachers ("You're so-ap-preciated," "Thanks a lather for everything"). Each tag has a spot for to and from.
Download the free printable soap gift tags (PDF)
Print them on cardstock, cut along the dashed lines, punch the circle and tie them on with twine. They're free for personal use, so print as many as you like.
Seven easy ways to wrap a bar of soap
- Kraft paper and twine. The classic. Wrap the bar like a tiny present, tie it with baker's twine and tuck a sprig of rosemary or pine under the string.
- A paper band. Wrap a strip of patterned paper around the middle of the bar and tape it at the back. The bar's colors show on both sides, and it takes about ten seconds.
- Fabric, furoshiki style. Set the bar in the middle of a square of fabric or a cotton napkin, fold the corners in and knot them on top. The wrap becomes part of the gift.
- A washcloth bundle. Roll the bar inside a new washcloth and tie it with ribbon. Practical, pretty and easy to stack in a basket.
- Tissue in a small box. Nest the bar in tissue inside a small kraft or window box. Great for shipping and for gifts that need to look polished.
- A mason jar. Drop a bar into a wide-mouth jar with a little shredded paper. Leave the lid off or punch holes in it so the soap can breathe.
- A mug. Set a bar inside a nice mug with a tea bag or a packet of cocoa. Two gifts for the price of one wrap.
What not to do
- Skip sealed plastic for long storage. Handmade soap likes a little air. Cellophane is fine for a few days, but don't seal a bar up airtight for months.
- Keep it out of the sun and heat. A sunny windowsill or a hot car can fade the colors and soften the bar.
- Don't pair it with anything wet. A soap sitting next to a leaky bottle or damp bath bombs turns soft fast.
- Watch the scent mixing. Strongly scented bars packed tightly together can borrow each other's scent. Wrap each one separately if you're mixing very different scents.
Soap gift basket ideas
A soap gift basket can be as simple or as fancy as you like. Start with a base, add two or three bars, and fill in around them with one or two extras.
| Basket theme | What to put in it |
|---|---|
| Spa night | Two or three soaps, a washcloth, a candle, a face mask and a bar of chocolate |
| New homeowner | A soap for the kitchen sink, one for the bathroom, a dish towel and a soap dish |
| For him | A woodsy bar, a bourbon or whiskey glass, coffee beans and a pair of good socks |
| Teacher thank-you | A gentle bar, a nice pen, a mug and a handwritten card |
| Made in New England | Local soap, maple syrup, a bag of local coffee and a little jar of jam |
| Hostess | A champagne-scented bar or two and a bottle of something bubbly |
A basket, wooden crate, tote bag or even a big mug all work as a base. Fill the gaps with shredded paper, and finish with a tag and a bow.
Want it done for you?
Our soap gift sets bundle our favorite bars together at a little less than buying them one at a time. The Champagne Toast Gift Pack is our go-to hostess gift, the Locker Room Gift Pack is made for the guys, and the Sweet, Fresh & Simple Gift Pack is a safe bet when you don't know their taste. Tick "This is a gift" in your cart to add a personal message, and US shipping is free on orders of $75 or more.
Include a care tip
The best soap gift comes with a little advice. Handmade soap lasts much longer when it dries out between uses, so tuck in a note, or a soap dish, that says to keep it out of the shower spray. Here's how long a bar of soap lasts with good care. And tell them to actually use it. We're firm believers in the lavender soap theory.
Looking for the perfect bar? Our holiday gift guide matches bars to the people on your list, and if you're headed to a holiday party, here's how a Yankee swap works.