Pifito Olive Oil Melt and Pour Soap Base (5 lb) Premium 100% Natural Glycerin Soap Base Review (2026)

What's in this base

Pifito's olive oil melt and pour base is a glycerin soap base built around Grade A extra virgin olive oil, blended with coconut oil, safflower oil, kosher vegetable glycerin, purified water, sodium hydroxide, sorbitol, stearic acid, and propylene glycol, according to the manufacturer's ingredient list. Pifito sells the same recipe in 2, 5, and 40 pound sizes, with the 5 pound block sitting as the mid range option for makers who want more than a trial size but do not need the largest bulk block. The company markets it as a natural base free of synthetic detergents and lathering agents, and states the base is not tested on animals. Olive oil is included for its moisturizing qualities, giving the finished bars a mild, gentle character rather than a big bubbly lather.

Melting and using the block

Because this base ships as a solid 5 pound block, it needs to be cut into smaller pieces before melting. Melt and pour bases like this one are typically melted in short microwave bursts or in a double boiler until the mixture turns smooth and liquid, at which point colorants, fragrance or essential oils, and other additives can be stirred in before pouring into molds. The olive oil in the formula gives the base a natural pale green to amber tint, which is worth planning around if you want very bright or pastel colored bars, since strong dyes will look more muted than they would in a clear base. Once set, bars cut from this base tend to have a softer, creamier feel than bases built mainly around coconut oil or castor oil.

Consistency across batches

One practical advantage of buying from an established base maker like Pifito is that the formula stays consistent from one 5 pound block to the next, which matters for anyone making multiple batches over time and wanting the bars to match in texture, scent uptake, and hardness. Because Pifito sells this same olive oil base in more than one size, someone who likes the 5 pound block can scale up to a larger size later without changing recipes or relearning how the base behaves. This predictability is generally more valuable to a small soap business selling repeat products than to a one off crafter making a single batch, where the exact texture of the base matters less to the outcome.

Trade-offs to expect

The two main trade-offs with this base are the cutting required before melting and the natural olive tint. A solid 5 pound block takes real effort to break down with a knife or soap cutter compared with a pre-cut cubed base, which adds a step for anyone hoping to melt and pour on short notice. The olive oil tint, while mild, means this is not the base to reach for if you want stark white or very bright, saturated colors, since the underlying color will shift the final shade of any dye added. Neither issue affects how well the finished bars clean or moisturize, but both are worth knowing before buying a 5 pound block rather than a smaller trial size first.

Who should buy this size

The 5 pound size fits soap makers who already know they like working with olive oil bases and want enough on hand for several batches without committing to Pifito's largest 40 pound option. It suits people selling bars at markets, making gifts on a regular schedule, or running workshops where several batches are made close together. Someone making a single trial batch, or who has not worked with olive oil bases before, may be better served starting with the 2 pound size to confirm they like how it melts, colors, and sets before buying more. For anyone already sold on olive oil soap, though, 5 pounds is a practical middle ground between a small trial block and a large bulk buy.

Frequently asked questions