Cold Process Soap And Shampoo Making

This one day workshop will introduce you to the traditional art of cold process soap and shampoo making. Spend time learning the age old method of this craft.

Unlike a simple ‘Heat and pour’ method, on this course you will learn the basics of how to make cold processed soap. This is proper soap!

The base ingredients are plant oils, sodium hydroxide with essential oils and botanicals.

Traditional soap is made from natural ingredients that may include both plant and animal products, including items as animal fat, such as tallow or from vegetable oil; castor, olive, or coconut oil. Soap may have derived its name from Mount Sapo in Rome. The word sapo, Latin for soap, first appeared in Pliny the Elder’s ‘Historia Naturalis’. The early references to soap making were for the use of soap in the textile industry and medicinally in about 2800 BC by the Egyptians and Babylonians.

Ancient Greeks and Romans made soap by mixing oils, fat and salts. Soap was not used for bathing or personal use but for cleaning cooking utensils and household goods.

Guided by professional soap maker Alex Dudal, you will produce a half kilo of soap and a half kilo of shampoo to take home, so that’s a lot of luxurious presents sorted although you may feel like keeping it all for yourself. You will also learn how to make a delicate vinegar hair rinse.

You will be using traditional ingredients which include some careful mixing of Lye, which is caustic. Please wear clothes with long sleeves and legs and shoes that cover your feet. You could buy a disposable paint overall/ boiler suit if you choose.

You will be taking  warm soap home to continue curing so please bring a bag with a small towel (or something similar) to wrap the soap in to keep it warm. All other use of tools and materials are provided.