Thai Soap Carving Thai traditional craftsmanship.

scented candles are standard gifts, then soap carvings can be the best replacement. They come in different shapes, sizes, and styles from a structured blooming lotus to a dainty blue flower with a ladybug on it. Their fragrance is even more exotic for a souvenir from Thailand.

The art of soap carving in Thailand

One of the most well-known forms of applied art in Thailand is known as “soap carving.” To this day, soap flower mementos are produced across Thailand; nevertheless, the town of Chiang Ray and the villages that surround it are the only places where such magnificent works of art are created. The only thing that sets these lovely flowers apart from wildflowers is the fact that they will never lose their color. These exotic flowers, such as roses, orchids, tulips, and daffodils, have been carved out of regular bar soap, and not only do they look and smell like a genuine thing, but they are also quite realistic. These unique mementos were being sold at a Thai market not far from Chiang Rai. Both tourists and locals could attempt to carve a flower out of soap.

While soap carving used to be an after-hours pastime for locals, tourists visiting the city’s night markets soon discovered their incredible craftsmanship. For many years, this form of art has been handed down from father to son. That which is done with a specific form of the blade is what determined whether a soap blossom is successful.