Discover the Best Soap Making Classes Near You
People have been making soap for at least 2300 years since the Phoenicians began preparing it from goat’s tallow and wood ashes around 600 BCE. The ancient Greeks and Romans followed suit, using olive oil and other plant-based oils to create soap for personal hygiene as well as medicinal purposes. It wasn’t until the 1800s that soap making became industrialized and was made on a larger scale using tallow, palm oil, and other ingredients.
The primary raw materials in soap are fat and alkali. These elements combine in a chemical reaction called saponification, which renders a soap that lifts soils from a surface like skin or fabric and leaves it suspended in water. At its most basic, soap making mixes water and lye, adds a melted fat, and allows it to harden and cure.
Making soap by hand has seen a resurgence, and the process has migrated out of the factory and back into the hands of makers and artisans. You don’t have to settle for a generic cleansing bar when you can craft one that is just for you.
Why You Should Learn Soap Making
Today, many hobbyists and boutique soap makers use centuries-old methods to craft soap in homes and workshops. Making soap from scratch allows you to choose a custom blend of fats and oils, scents, and organic ingredients.
Soap customized to suit your skin type and preferences can be gentler for your skin than store-bought alternatives. Some oils and additives used in soap make them even more beneficial for your skin or your mood. Lavender essential oil is known for its calming properties and can be used in soap to promote relaxation at bath time. Oatmeal can soothe itchy skin, and honey can moisturize and help heal acne.
If you want to bring sustainable living to your bathroom, making your own soap is an impactful step in that direction. You can use organic, ethically sourced ingredients and reduce packaging waste.
Soap making is simple once you understand the process, and many people enjoy it as a creative and fun hobby. It fits into your free time on your schedule, and you may even find yourself immersed in a new community of passionate soap makers.
Soap making is also a thriving cottage industry, and your new skill could be the beginning of a business venture. It has a low barrier to entry, sells at a firm retail price, and is often a recession-proof industry. Makers sell unique soap bars in boutiques, craft and farmers markets, and online forums. There are over 300,000 businesses selling handmade soap in the United States, at an average price of six to eight dollars per bar. Etsy alone features over 140,000 listings for handmade soap.
5 Ways to Learn Soap Making
Learning soap making isn’t complicated, but having an experienced instructor makes the process easier. Try one of these methods to learn soap making:
- Take an in-person class with an expert instructor, where you can share your new soapmaking journey with other students. Your instructor will probably provide all the materials you need, and a classroom already set up for soapmaking.
- Enroll in a live online class that provides real-time feedback from an instructor, and the company of remote classmates. Some classes ship course materials directly to you, but often you’ll source your own materials from local and online suppliers.
- Follow along with a self-paced, on-demand class using online videos or tutorials. These are free and widely available, but you won’t have anyone to answer your questions in real-time or demonstrate steps that are unclear.
- Pick up a book at a library or bookstore, and follow along with printed instructions. A book is a great resource no matter where you learn to make soap. With so many variables, there is always more to learn.
- Ask a local soapmaker to share their skills. Check local boutiques or craft and farmers markets to connect with an experienced soapmaker. You may even be able to apprentice in their workshop, for lots of hands-on practice.
In-Person Soap Making Classes
In-person soap making courses are offered in communities across the country. It’s nice to have someone to answer your questions as you learn or friends who share your soap making journey. In-person courses are a great way to get started and ramp up your skills quickly.
Does nature inspire you? Share your passion through a beautifully designed botanical soap to inspire others. Whether it’s locally grown produce or honey from the farmer's market, wildcrafted elements from a nature hike, or water from a river or stream – you can incorporate the elements that inspire you into your soap.
Cold Process Soap Making Class at Back Porch Soap Company on the Upper West Side in NYC teaches you how to use plants and other organic, natural ingredients to make soap from scratch using the cold process method. In this class, you’ll receive hands-on instruction to create a batch of soap with selected botanicals, colorants, and your own essential oil blend. Your instructor will work side-by-side with you, and you'll meet other interesting and like-minded people. In this small, intimate class, you’ll learn how to work with lye safely, how to formulate a great soap recipe, and where to buy supplies.
Also from Back Porch Soap Company on the Upper West Side, Organic Liquid Soaps & Shower Gels Class covers how to make your own organic liquid soap and shower gels. You’ll make liquid soap from scratch using easily sourced ingredients that you can replicate at home. You’ll learn to incorporate specialty ingredients like herbs and botanicals, use colors, source ingredients, package your soaps and gels, and choose ingredients for healing soaps. Plus, you’ll go home with samples of the liquid soaps made in class.
Back Porch Soap Company offers fragrance blending, candle making, and soap making in the Upper West Side of New York City. They also host candle, soap, and perfume blending corporate and brand experiences and private events in Manhattan and throughout New York City.
In Soap Making—Cold Process Method at El Camino College—Torrance in Torrance, CA, you’ll learn how to use the cold process method to create soap completely from scratch. This A-to-Z cold process soap making class will have you creating beautiful handmade soaps right in your kitchen. Don't worry about your experience level – this class is suitable for students from beginner to advanced.
This course is also offered by Community Services at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, CA as Cold Process Soap Making. Community Services offers not-for-credit classes for anyone in the community—old or young, resident or not, training for a career or just looking to have a good time.
At El Camino College in Torrance, CA, Soap Making shows you how to create luxurious bath products like bar soaps, cleansing gels, and bubble bath. Create soaps for the ultimate home spa experience or for gift-giving using various techniques and recipes. The class also teaches you how to create specialized products for people with sensitive skin.
Houston-area residents can enjoy Melt & Pour Soap-Making Workshop at Love & Make in the Rice/Museum District. In this fun-filled workshop, you’ll learn the basics of melt-and-pour soap making, general techniques, and even a little history. The class will cover the use and benefits of the ingredients and learn about different design techniques.
Participants will be able to choose which type of soap they want to make from glycerin soap base, fragrance, molds, and colors. Infuse your soap with your favorite, luxurious skincare ingredients like oils, clays, and botanicals. Love & Make offers students a chance to step outside the box and make something unique and memorable with their friends and colleagues.
Virtual Soap Making Classes
In-person classes are a great way to learn new skills and meet people with the same interests, but soap making classes aren’t available in many areas.
You’re in luck, though, because you can learn the ins and outs of soap making in virtual classes. When you take a virtual soap making class, you can choose from class options taught anywhere in the country (or maybe even the world) without leaving your home. Think of all the time you’ll save on commuting – that’s more time for soap making.
You may need to source your own supplies when you enroll in an online class. Expect your instructor to provide a detailed supply list that you can fulfill at a local store or from an online seller. Plan ahead, since you may need to wait for supplies to arrive at your doorstep. Take a look at some of the online soap making classes you can choose from at CourseHorse.
Virtual Melt & Pour Soap-Making Workshop is a comprehensive course from Love & Make that covers the basics of melt and pour soap making, general techniques, and even a little history. You’ll learn the use and benefits of the ingredients and you’ll have several recipes to use at home or give as gifts. The easy five-item supply list calls for the instructor’s soap making kit, a funnel pitcher melting pot, stir sticks, soap molds of your choice, and an alcohol spray bottle.
Love & Make will help you master the sometimes-tricky process of making your very own bath bombs in Virtual Bath Bomb Making. This live, virtual workshop guides you in the sometimes-tricky process of making your very own bath bombs. The workshop is based on the Love & Make Bath Bomb DIY kit, available for order in their online shop.
Private Group Soap Making Classes
Do you want to schedule a soap making class as a team-building event for your business or organization? Maybe you need a fun activity for a bridal shower or birthday party. CourseHorse has live online soap making and crafts classes for private groups, straight to you at any location.
Learn the art of handmade melt-and-pour soap making in Virtual Soap Making Workshop. You’ll learn about materials, basic techniques, the benefits of making your own soap, and different recipes. You’ll also explore botanicals and other additives to make your soaps even more special and personalized. You’ll complete this class with our own soaps, made by hand.
Preparing for the course is simple. CourseHorse will ship supplies directly to each course participant. You’ll receive shea butter soap base, fragrances, dyes, molds, a pouring pitcher, stirring sticks, a mixing bowl, and soap boxes.
For a $150 fee, you can customize your course by adding a game, using specific questions or a themed game, or adding a second event with all materials included. The minimum group size for this two-hour course is ten people.
When you book a private course with CourseHorse, the process is simple. If you don’t know your exact group size when you book, it’s not a problem. Book with your best guess and you can add or subtract people up until a week before the event. There are no booking fees, and you’ll receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your reservation.
CourseHorse recommends using the Zoom platform for your class, but they can accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx. Many courses can even come to your office or home space if you’d like.
What Will I Need to Learn Soap Making?
Before you start making soap you’ll need to gather a few supplies. Some of these items are available at your grocery store, while others are sold by specialty suppliers. Collect all of the supplies you need before you get started, so you are ready to learn. If you take a class, many of these supplies will be provided to you.
These are the basic ingredients and materials you need for soap making.
Oils or Fats
You can use a variety of oils or fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, or tallow. Each oil has its own properties and will affect the final outcome of your soap.
Butters and oils that are solid at room temperature will help harden your soap. Liquid oils soften your soap and make it dissolve more quickly, but they yield a soap that’s gentle on your skin. Aim for the right balance between solid and liquid fats. Solid oils and butters make up 40 to 60 percent of the total fat in your soap recipe.
Consider some of these readily available oils for soap making:
- Coconut oil gives your soap excellent cleansing properties, it’s effective in hardening soap and it provides a lovely lather. Too much of it, though, will dry out your skin. Use coconut oil as 20 to 30 percent of the total fats in your soap.
- Jojoba oil makes a soap that is very gentle on your skin but also very soft, so it shouldn’t make up more than 10 percent of the total fat in your recipe.
- Palm oil is widely used in soapmaking for its hardening properties and its creamy lather.
- Shea butter creates a very gentle soap that is hard and provides a creamy lather.
- Avocado oil makes soap gentler.
- Cocoa butter hardens your soap.
- Castor oil combined with coconut oil yields a good lather. It also makes very mild soaps, but in too large quantities it will make your soap too soft. Use it as five to ten percent of the total fats in your soap recipe.
- Hemp seed oil makes soap gentler, but it goes rancid easily so you’ll need to add an antioxidant. Its softening and comforting properties make it a good superfatting oil.
Lye (sodium Hydroxide)
Lye is a caustic substance that is required for saponification – the chemical process that turns oils or fats into soap. Always take these precautions when working with lye:
- Wear gloves and long sleeves to prevent skin contact.
- Wear goggles or a face shield to prevent eye contact.
- Wash your skin immediately if it comes in contact with lye.
- Remove clothing immediately if they are contaminated with lye.
- Have eyewash and a quick drench available.
- Always add the lye to water (not water to lye).
Water
You will use water to dissolve the lye. Tap water is fine.
Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils (optional)
Use essential or fragrance oils to add scent to your soap. Choose a fragrance to enhance your mood or provide a gentle all-day perfume, or make your soap fragrance-free.
Additives (optional)
You can add various ingredients – like herbs, clays, honey, or oatmeal – to your soap for texture, color, or other properties.
Equipment
You'll need some basic equipment such as a digital scale, a mixing bowl, a stick blender, a silicone spatula, a thermometer, and a soap mold.
Is It Difficult to Learn Soap Making?
Soap making can be finicky and unpredictable, but it really only requires a few basic steps and it’s a satisfying skill to learn. Don’t let the chemistry lessons or the unfamiliar materials scare you off. An expert instructor will help you navigate this new process and master it easily.
Whether you want a natural alternative to store-bought soap or you just enjoy learning a new craft, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of lathering up with a soap you created yourself.
