Recently I had the opportunity to teach another class on soap-making to a new group of ladies in Virginia. Since it had been a number of years ago when I last gave a class, there was fun planning involved to distill what I've learned over the last 7 years of running a business into an afternoon beginner's lesson.
One of the ladies taking part in the class graciously hosted us all in her home, with plenty of room to spread out and get messy.
Everyone pitched in with each step in the process, from measuring lye and oils, to stirring the mixture and pouring raw soap batter.
We completed two batches of goat's milk soap, one fragranced with a Lavender-Citrus essential oil blend, and the other customized by each participant with the scent and additives of their choice.
Working with lye and mixing up the ingredients required safety precautions such as gloves and goggles, but thankfully, we didn't have too many mishaps!
Finishing our recipes and getting the soap divided among the molds took teamwork and quick thinking.
Below is one of the students' freshly-made soap logs, speckled with oats and swirled with lemony litsea cubeba essential oil.
Everyone enjoyed chatting together, holding babies, and coming up with some creative soap combinations.
By the end of the day, the room was filled with many lovely types of soap which the ladies could take home to use and give as gifts.
~Hannah
QUE RICO QUE DEBEN SER ESOS JABONES, TAN PERFUMADOS. ESPECIALMENTE ME GUSTAN LOS DE LAVANDA Y JAZMIN, QUE ES MI FLOR PREFERIDA. HACE TIEMPO QUE QUIERO FABRICAR MIS PROPIOS JABONES, PERO NO ME ANIMO A HACERLO, TENGO MIEDO DE HACER UN DESASTRE JAJAJA, TAL VEZ ALGUN DIA LO HAGO. GENERALMENTE COMPRO JABONES EN LAS PERFUMERIAS Y NO SON MUY BUENOS, DURAN POCO Y ALGUNOS SON MUY FUERTES, CON MUCHOS QUIMICOS, COMO SOMOS 9 INTEGRANTES EN LA FAMILIA, EL JABON DURA 3 DIAS MAS O MENOS, ME GUSTA MUCHO EL HENO DE PRAVIA, ES MUY RICO Y SUAVE PERO MAS CARO, LO USO SOLO YO CUANDO PUEDO COMPRARLO. ¿USTED HANNA QUE JABON ME RECOMIENDA PARA FAMILIAS NUMEROSAS Y QUE DURE MAS TIEMPO? SE PUEDEN HACER JABONES UN POCO MAS GRANDES? LE AGRADECERE SU RESPUESTA. DIOS LOS BENDIGA FAMILIA.
Posted by: ANA | Friday, November 10, 2017 at 07:17 AM
What a fun day Hannah and nice of you to share your talents. I love using your soaps. My Spearmint soap wakes me up in the morning and your coastal lily is so nice and creamy for my face. I am sure those ladies are going to really enjoy the soaps they made.
Posted by: victoria | Friday, November 10, 2017 at 01:18 PM
Great idea for disposable soap molds! Looks like they had a fun time!
Posted by: Sarah H | Friday, November 10, 2017 at 09:01 PM
It was a fun class. I’m so grateful to Hannah for sharing her knowledge with us. The soap will be ready to try December 1st!
Posted by: Kim C | Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 09:05 PM