Discover the Best Soap Making Classes Online
Soap making is an alchemy of fats or oils with an alkali such as lye, yielding the lathering bars that have cleaned skin and clothing for over 2300 years. This chemical reaction is called saponification, and it renders a soap that lifts soils from a surface and carries them away.
You can choose from several processes when you make your own soap. Cold process soap is processed at room temperature and retains its gentle, moisturizing oils. However, it has to cure for four to six weeks before you use it.
Hot process soap “cooks” at a low temperature, like a low-heat crock pot. This speeds up saponification so it is ready to use immediately after you make it.
Melt and pour soap skips the chemistry and caustic ingredients. It’s a pre-saponified soap base that you simply melt in the microwave, add desired fragrance or color, and pour into a mold.
Why You Should Learn Soap Making Online
Hobbyists and boutique soap makers embrace these centuries-old methods to craft soap in their homes and workshops. When you make soap from scratch, you can choose fats and oils, scents, and organic ingredients to create a gentle, customized bar for your skin. Ingredients can even boost your mood and improve your skin – lavender essential oil is known for its calming effect, oatmeal soothes itchy skin, and honey can moisturize and help heal acne.
Soap making is fun and simple, and it brings sustainable living to your bathroom. You may even find yourself immersed in a new community of passionate soap makers.
Soap making is also a thriving cottage industry. Makers sell their 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.
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.
Virtual Soap Making Classes
If you don’t live near a class, your schedule doesn’t fit, or you want to learn from home, it won’t stop you from becoming a soapmaker. You can learn all the ins and outs of creating handmade soap online.
With a virtual soap making class, you can choose from class options taught anywhere in the country (or maybe even the world). When you save time on commuting, you have that much more time for soap making.
You’ll often provide your own supplies when you take an online class, but your instructor will provide a detailed supply list for your shopping at a local store or online seller. Order your supplies in time to have them for your class, since soap making is a hands-on project. Get started with online soap making classes at CourseHorse.
Virtual Melt & Pour Soap-Making Workshop from Love & Make 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 Online Group Soap Making Classes
Private online group classes bring soapmaking to your group or event, wherever you are. Are you planning a team-building event for your business or organization? Or maybe you’re on the hook for a fun activity at a birthday party or bridal shower. CourseHorse offers live online soap making and crafts classes for private groups, personalized for you at any location.
Dive into melt and pour soapmaking with Virtual Soap Making Workshop. This class covers materials, basic techniques, the benefits of making your own soap, and several recipes. Learn how to make your soap even more special and personalized by adding botanicals and other additives.
For your convenience, you don’t even need to do any shopping beforehand. CourseHorse ships the supplies you need 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 only $150 more, customize your course with an extra game – customized for your group if you wish – or add a second event with all materials included. The minimum group size for this two-hour course is ten people.
Booking a private course with CourseHorse is simple. You don’t need to know your exact group size when you book. As long as you meet the minimum number, 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.
Online vs. In-Person Soap Making Classes
Both online and in-person soap making classes have their advantages. When you have access to an in-person class in your community, it’s a great way to get to know other soap makers. You’ll learn faster with a hands-on instructor who can demonstrate each step and answer your questions along the way.
Many people don’t have access to in-person classes near their homes. You could learn from a book or tutorials, but then you are on your own when you have questions. Online classes fill this gap with live, expert teachers who support your learning journey every step of the way. Plus, you’ll get to know budding soap makers near and far.
When you choose a soap making class, consider the experience level of the instructor, whether they provide materials or you need to shop for them yourself, and if the time fits your schedule. Assess whether you have a workspace at home for a messy project, where you won’t be interrupted by children or pets. And make sure you have a web-connected device to join a class online.
Can I Learn Soap Making for Free Online?
Getting started with your soapmaking journey is easy with online instruction. You’ll find free resources like tutorials and videos that will help you get started. If you want some help along the way, someone to answer your questions, or a chance to be part of a soap making class, a class with an expert soapmaker is a faster and more thorough way to learn.
