Discover the Best Soap Making Classes in Los Angeles
People have been making soap for thousands of years, from concoctions of goat’s tallow and wood ashes to balming solutions of coconut oil and lye. Soap making requires only a few steps but the transformation of raw materials into soap is a complex bit of chemistry.
To make soap, you simply mix water and lye, add melted fat, and allow it to harden and cure. The ingredients combine with a chemical reaction called saponification, which renders a soap that lifts soils from a surface and carries them away.
Soap is made by one of several processes. The cold process creates soap at room temperature, which yields a bar with gentle, moisturizing oils. In the hot process, soap “cooks” at a low temperature, like a low-heat crock pot, which puts a finished bar of soap in your hands faster. A third option, melt and pour soap, skips the chemistry and caustic ingredients and starts with a pre-saponified soap base that you simply melt in the microwave, customize with your favorite fragrance or color, and pour into molds.
Why You Should Learn Soap Making in Los Angeles
Many Los Angeles hobbyists and boutique soap makers use these centuries-old methods to craft soap in their homes and workshops. Making soap from scratch allows you to formulate a soap that is customized to suit your skin type and gentle for your skin. Handmade soap incorporates the fats and oils, scents, and organic ingredients you choose. Some ingredients boost your mood and improve your skin, like calming lavender essential oil, skin-soothing oatmeal, and healing and moisturizing honey.
Soapmaking brings sustainable living to your Los Angeles bathroom with organic, natural ingredients and zero packaging waste. Plus making handmade soap is fun and relaxing, and you may find yourself immersed in a new community of passionate soap makers.
Soap making is a thriving cottage industry, with over 300,000 businesses selling handmade soap in the United States. Makers sell their unique soaps in boutiques, craft and farmer’s markets, and online forums at an average price of six to eight dollars per bar. Etsy alone features over 140,000 listings for handmade soap.
Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild is a national organization that provides a resource center, an annual conference, and online classes for soap makers and other body product artisans.
In-Person Soap Making Classes in Los Angeles
Dive into soap making with an in-person class in Los Angeles. Learning is faster and easier with someone to answer your questions as you go, and it’s fun to share your soap making journey with new and old friends. In-person courses will get you started and ramp up your skills quickly.
In Soap Making—Cold Process Method at El Camino College—Torrance in Torrance, CA, you’ll learn to create soap completely from scratch using the cold process method. This soup-to-nuts cold process soap making class will teach you to create beautiful handmade soaps at home, with just a few ingredients and supplies. This class is for all experience levels, from beginner to advanced.
This course is also offered by Community Services at Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, CA under the name 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.
Pamper yourself with luxurious, handmade bath products in Soap Making at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. You’ll learn to create specialty items like bar soaps, cleansing gels, and bubble baths. Create soaps for the ultimate home spa experience or for gift-giving using various techniques and recipes. You’ll also learn to formulate specialized products that nourish sensitive skin.
Virtual Soap Making Classes
You don’t live near a soap making class? No problem. Virtual soap making classes bring everything you need to know about making handmade soap right to you – regardless of your location.
Choose from virtual soap making classes taught anywhere in the country. With all the time you save on commuting, you’ll have more time for soap making.
You often need to provide your own supplies for online classes, but your instructor will include a detailed supply list that’s available at an online site or local store. Make sure your supplies arrive in time for your class, since soap making is a hands-on project. Get started now with online soap making classes at CourseHorse.
Virtual Melt & Pour Soap-Making Workshop from Love & Make teaches you the simple method of melt and pour soap making, along with general techniques and even some history. This class covers how to use readily-available ingredients and even provides several recipes for you to continue soap making at home.
The easy five-item supply list for this course includes 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 lead you through the sometimes-tricky process of making your very own bath bombs in Virtual Bath Bomb Making. The workshop is based on the Love & Make Bath Bomb DIY kit, available for order in their online shop.
Private Group Soap Making Classes in Los Angeles
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 in Los Angeles.
You’ll master the art of handmade melt-and-pour soap making in Virtual Soap Making Workshop. Learn about materials, techniques, the benefits of handmade soap, and various recipes. You’ll have a chance to explore botanicals and other additives to make your soaps special and personalized. By the end of this class, you’ll have your own finished soaps made by hand.
Preparing for the course is simple. CourseHorse ships supplies directly to each member of your course. Your kit will include shea butter soap base, fragrances, dyes, molds, a pouring pitcher, stirring sticks, a mixing bowl, and soap boxes.
The minimum group size for this two-hour course is ten people. For an extra $150 fee, create a full day of group fun by adding a customized game or a second event with all materials included.
It’s simple to book a private course with CourseHorse. Don’t worry about knowing your exact group size when you book. As long as you meet the minimum number, you can add or subtract class members 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.
