Gift Sets and Inserts for Soap Makers

Gift sets and inserts: when one bar is not enough

A single bar in a sleeve sells well on a market stall. A trio of bars, or a bar paired with a small bath bomb, needs more structure than a band can give. That is where a lidded box or a card insert earns its place.

This range has two products. Lidded boxes for sets and presents give you a closed pack that looks like a present the moment it is picked up. Card inserts keep every bar in its own place so nothing rattles. Use either one alone, or fit an insert inside a lid box.

How do the two products compare?

Here is the whole range side by side, so you can see which one matches your bars and how you sell them.

The third row is not a separate product. It is simply the two used together, which is common for mixed sets.

When does a lidded gift box make sense?

Reach for a lid box when the pack itself is part of the gift. It suits a shelf where the box front has to do the selling, and a hand-over where someone opens it in front of you.

• A set of three bars cut from one loaf, say lavender, oatmeal and plain.
• A single large bar you want presented like a present.
• A hotel or B and B welcome pack with a guest bar and a small extra.
• A wedding favour that guests pick up and take home.
• A gift shop shelf where customers compare boxes at arm's length.

Print inside the lid if you want a thank-you note, a scent name or care advice waiting when it opens.

What do card inserts actually do?

An insert is cut and folded card that cradles each bar. It stops a bar sliding about, protects bevelled edges and leaves a gap between bars so scents do not rub off on one another.

Card inserts that hold each bar are useful for odd mixtures, such as a round 65 mm shampoo bar beside a rectangular one. Tell us the sizes and we cut slots to suit.

How do you choose the right size?

Soap shrinks a little as it cures, so measure the bar you will actually sell, not the one that left the mould. Our soap box sizes by bar weight page lists the common UK bars.

1. Measure a finished, cured bar: length, width and height in millimetres.
2. Decide how many bars go in one pack and whether they lie side by side or stack.
3. Allow about 2 mm each way inside the box, which is 1 mm a side.
4. Say whether any bars are round, such as a shampoo bar, or rectangular, such as 90 x 60 x 25 mm.
5. Send the figures with your quote request and we confirm the layout on the free proof.

A 90 x 60 x 25 mm bar of about 100 g is the usual starting point, and a 75 x 50 x 25 mm guest bar suits hotels.

Should bars be cured before they are boxed?

Yes. A bar that is still sweating can mark card, and fragrance oils can bleed into it. Cold process soap needs its full cure on the rack first, and a little ash on a top is easier to tidy before the bar goes in a box.

Window film keeps fingers off the bar, but it does not make a sweating bar safe to seal. Read window patches and moisture before you order a windowed pack.

How do sets travel in the post?

Sets get knocked about more than single bars, because there is more weight sliding inside. An insert is the first fix, since each bar sits snug and corners stay clear of the box wall.

A closed lid box inside a sturdy outer carton does the rest. Our guide on packing soap for posting covers filling gaps and avoiding scuffed corners.

What follows once you send your set details?

Send your bar sizes and quantities by email or WhatsApp and every order is quoted by email within one working day. Pricing starts from £0.25 a box.

Before any ink goes on, the free proof shows how the lid and the insert slots sit around each bar, so you can still change the layout. Production takes 4 to 6 working days after proof approval, and delivery is free, tracked and 2 to 3 working days across the UK mainland.

Should a set turn up scuffed or misprinted, tell us within 10 days and we will reprint it or refund you. Soap sold in the UK usually carries the product name, weight, ingredients and the maker's details, so check the current UK cosmetics rules for your labels.