Welcome Soapmakers!

The Soapmaking Studio homepage lists current southern California and San Diego soapmaking events open to the public. For a complete list of class dates, please view the schedule. Attend soapmaking, art, craft, and business classes and learn how to make soap at the Soapmaking Studio in San Diego County, CA. Attend classes through Skype starting in the end of May. We ship soapmaking supplies.

Modern Soapmaking

June 19 - July 31 at Cuyamaca College

This is a Preview course offered through the Continuing Education Department at Cuyamaca College. After learning soapmaking safety, learning to formulate soap recipes, and learning to calculate lye quantities, students will enjoy making soap from whole vegetable oils and herbs. There is a constant demand for quality handmade soap because almost everyone uses soap. Therefore, handmade soap is a well-received gift or may be sold for profit at craft fairs.

This class meets six Wednesday evenings during the summer from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Designed to be a proficiency course, students work through the textbook the first night and then make two pounds of soap during each of the remaining five class sessions. Registration is through the Cuyamaca College Preview website for Course Code 1000.

Register for Modern Soapmaking. View the PDF of Student Supplies for Modern Soapmaking. Purchase the Value Deal of Supplies and Textbook for Modern Soapmaking.

Melt and Pour Class

June 23 at the Soapmaking Studio

Learn how to artfully craft melt and pour glycerin soap base into intricate works of detailed beauty with artist/author Debbie Chialtas. During the Melt and Pour Class, Debbie first demonstrates and then supervises students making their own melt and pour projects. With pre-made melt and pour soap, no lye or chemicals are required. Register for Melt and Pour Class.

Kick off summer with a class full of summery melt and pour projects! In this fun workshop, perfect for both beginners and experts, you will learn about different types of molds, all about colorants, and get great packaging tips. I will be covering techniques such as layering and embedding, and teach you about different types of soap bases available – all with a colorful and fun summer theme! This is a hands-on class where you will make all projects, and the supplies are provided! Just show up and have fun!

We will be making:

• Adorable Soap Lollies, perfect for party favors
• Pastel Parfait Soapy Pops in beautiful layered fruity stripes
• Beachy Flip Flop Soaps
• Bright and colorful Floating Dots Soaps

A Beginner's Guide to Vegan Soapmaking

June 23 at the Open Center in New York, NY

In this vegan soap making class, students learn the traditional cold process soapmaking method, starting with how to calculate the volume of a soap mold. Students also learn how to replace traditional animal fats with vegetable oils and the importance of saponification values. This class includes the new technology of how to complete the soapmaking process in the mold so the soap won't have to cure on a shelf for six weeks. Learn how to color and scent soap with essential oils and herbs. Students will make soap in the class and take home soaps, a workbook, and soapmaking safety supplies. Class participants will later be able to safely and confidently make vegan soap on their own. More Information.

Open Center
22 E 30th St
New York, NY 10016

Field Trip to Lavender Farm

June 30 to Keys Creek Lavender Farm

Either meet at the Soapmaking Studio in Lemon Grove at 9:00 am and carpool to the venue in Valley Center or meet the group at the lavender farm at 10:00 am. Among other free indulgences, there will be essential oil distillation demonstrations and guided walking tours of the lavender farm at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. Map and Directions.

Keys Creek Lavender Farm
12460 Keys Creek Rd
Valley Center, CA 92082

Advanced Cold/Hot Process Soapmaking and Lotion Making Class

July 7 at the Soapmaking Studio

Advanced Cold/Hot Process Soapmaking

Two classes in one day! In the morning, learn which oils have similar fatty acid profiles and can be substituted for one another, what types of lather come from which soapmaking oils, how to correctly use antioxidants (such as ROE or vitamin E), how handmade soap differs from commercial soap chemically, and some basic soapmaking chemistry in the popular Soapmaking 210 class.

Lotion Making Class

In the afternoon, learn to make luxurious lotions with chemist Omar Jimenez. In this Lotion Making Class, learn the difference between making lotions and making creams, learn how to test for microbial growth contaminants, and learn how to test lotions for shelf stability. Then, make one lotion with a gentle preservative to prevent microbial growth and extend the product life and make one lotion without preservatives. Take home both lotions to enjoy and experience the difference between the two. Register for Lotion Making Class.

Soap Makers' Luncheon

July 21 at Marie Callender's Restaurant

This luncheon is open to all soapmakers and makers of personal care products, whether professional or novice, whether cold/hot process method or melt-and-pour. The Soap Makers' Luncheon is open to the public and attendance is free, just pay for anything you order from the menu. The venue is Marie Callender's restaurant in San Diego at 2:00 pm. Map & Directions. View the Soap Makers' Luncheon Agenda.

Soapmaking ♥ Heart Attack Weekend

August 9 - 11 at the Soapmaking Studio

One spectacular weekend crammed so full of soapmaking classes and business classes, it may give you a heart attack! ♥ Soapmaking 101 (Beginning Cold Process Soapmaking), ♥ Soap Business 320 (Forming a Legal Business Entity to Sell Soap), ♥ Soapmaking 220 (Coloring and Scenting Soap), ♥ Soapmaking 210 (Advanced Cold/Hot Process Soapmaking), and ♥ Soapmaking 225 (Water Substitution in Soapmaking). View the schedule for more details.

Beginning Cold Process Soapmaking

September 8 at the Soapmaking Studio

This Sunday afternoon class will meet the prerequisite requirement to attend most of the other amazing soapmaking classes. Students learn the importance of saponification values, create a soap recipe from scratch, and make their own cold process soap during the class. Register for Soapmaking 101.

Soapmaking Classes

Soapmaking Classes are Fun, Understandable, and Affordable!

Soapmaking 101 Beginning Cold Process Soapmaking has been a huge success and fills weeks in advance; the next class will be Friday, August 9! The next Soapmaking 210 Advanced Cold/Hot Process Soapmaking will be Sunday, July 7. Soap Garden 224 Cultivating, Drying, and Adding Herbs to Soap and Soapmaking 220 Coloring and Scenting Soap are both available and open for registration. Our soapmaking classes and business classes will be available for remote attendance through Skype video conferencing at the end of May. Our popular Soapmaking Supplies are now available for shipping.
Please check back because classes are added and website sections are updated on a regular basis. Email info@soapmakingstudio.com with any questions.

View soapmaking classes, the schedule, or store hours.

Classes are held at a private home occupied by a pet cat. If you are allergic to cats, please contact info@soapmakingstudio.com prior to enrolling in a class.