Swirl

A swirl is a technique for combining two or more colors of soap batter so they blend into a pattern rather than mixing into a single flat color. Common styles include in-the-pot swirls, where colors are folded together before pouring, and in-the-mold techniques like funnel pours or hangers, where colors are layered as they go into the mold.

The trace of the batter has a big effect on how a swirl turns out. Thin batter blends into soft, fluid patterns, while thicker batter holds sharper, more distinct lines. Because of this, swirls are usually planned around a specific trace consistency, and colorants are mixed in ahead of time so the base colors are ready the moment trace is reached.

A common mistake is letting one colored portion reach a noticeably thicker trace than the rest before combining them, which makes the colors clump instead of swirl smoothly, or over-mixing after swirling, which blends the colors together and erases the pattern.