Cold Process Soap Making Workshop

This class will be held on Saturday 25th May 2024, starting 1.30pm

Location: A training room at CBD College, 10 Quay St, Haymarket (Sydney). We would advise you take public transport to Central station as parking is metered and not easy to find.

If you have a silicone box loaf mould please bring it. Otherwise you can use clean cardboard drink/juice containers, preferably 1L size.

If you’ve been curious about how to make natural soap completely from scratch, but perhaps a little daunted by how to start, then this is the workshop for you! Not only is it a wonderful skill to have, but once you can make your own nourishing, moisturising soaps, you won’t need to go back to mass-produced “soap” again, with its artificial ingredients and drying detergents.

Much like cooking, soap making uses some ingredients and equipment you might already have in your kitchen. However, since the authentic process of soap making involves the use of lye or caustic soda, extra care must be taken.

During this workshop you will be taught the essentials of cold process soap making using natural vegetable oils and pure plant essential oils. You will then make your own batch of soap and you will receive instructions on how to cut and cure the soap by yourself at home. No prior knowledge is required.

Some of the topics covered include:

-          Safe handling of ingredients

-          Equipment needed

-          Different types of moulds

-          What oils are commonly used in soap making and why

-          Options for fragrance, exfoliants and colourings

-          Some basic design techniques

-          How to use a lye calculator in forming your own recipes

Upon completion of this workshop you should have the confidence to make more soap at home, experimenting with different ingredients, fragrances, exfoliants and colours. Soap making can be very addictive, with endless possibilities for creativity!

Other details

Class runs for approximately 3 hours. 

Included in the cost of the class: all materials and use of equipment, class notes & recipes, and about 1.5 kilograms of soap. The box mould in the photos is an optional extra for $25, in the event you already own one or want to buy one online before attending class.

Class size is limited to 6. Participants must be aged 16 or over.

Feel free to email before booking if you have any questions.

What to bring

-          a long sleeved shirt and wear closed shoes

-          a bag such as grocery enviro bag, and old towel or newspaper to wrap around your soap for safe transport home

-          Optional: Safety goggles and disposable gloves will be provided in class, but you may bring your own if you prefer.

-          Optional: If you have your own oils or moulds that you would like to bring to use in class, please check with us in advance regarding their suitability.

See what people have said after attending our Cold Process Soap Making Workshop

"Vanessa is a person with much knowledge, passion and enthusiasm in candle and soap making. Through these workshops I could connect with some lovely people, learn while being creative and now I feel I have got what I need to start my own soap and candle making journey. I would definitely recommend her to anyone who is curious about giving a go on this area. Be prepared for valuable information, genuine honest and transparency from Vanessa, which in my personal opinion, is the best you can get from someone you are learning from." - Renata via Google reviews

"Thanks for the lesson today. I had a great time and learned a lot. I now have the confidence to make cold process soap at home on my own." - Amanda via Facebook

"Had a great time making soap with Vanessa Leong and the girls today. Can't wait to play around with the new soap. My house smells lovely." - Daniela via Facebook

"[We] just wanted to thank you for today's class, it was a lot of fun and a great learning experience, we're looking forward to giving it a real crack ourselves now at home!" - young couple who flew in from Melbourne for the day

"Your classes are always fun and delightful." - Corina via email

Bookings and payment

Our website accepts PayPal, credit card and bank deposit options.

Payment in full will confirm your place in the workshop. We regret that we are unable to give refunds, however you are welcome to send someone else in your place or reschedule (subject to availability) with at least 7 days’ notice. This allows us to offer the place to someone else, since our classes are often booked out in advance. Subject to availability, if you give less than 7 days’ notice, we may be able to put you on standby to attend a class that has a vacancy until the day before.

If you simply do not attend the class you booked for, you will forfeit the opportunity to reschedule, or receive any refund, as we would have prepared your materials and held your place with the expectation that you would attend.