Hands-on workshops teaching traditional cold-process methods using natural Irish ingredients.
Creating your own soap gives you complete control over what touches your skin. You'll know exactly which ingredients go into every bar, and you'll gain skills that allow you to craft personalized skincare products for yourself and your family.
Our workshops welcome complete beginners. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to learn. By the end of the session, you'll understand the entire soap making process and take home your own handcrafted batch.
Understand how different oils, butters, and additives affect soap properties. Learn why certain ingredients create hard bars while others produce creamy lather, and how to balance formulations for desired results.
Master proper handling of lye and other materials. We cover all safety equipment, ventilation requirements, and emergency procedures so you can work confidently at home.
Learn to recognize trace stages, achieve proper emulsion, and incorporate additives at the right moment. These skills ensure your soaps turn out consistently well.
Discover proper pouring techniques, cutting methods, and curing conditions. Understanding this stage prevents common problems like cracking, warping, or insufficient hardness.
Work with seaweed, goat milk, and bog extracts. Learn how to prepare these ingredients for soap making and understand their specific benefits and handling requirements.
Understand soap calculators and how to develop your own recipes. Learn about superfat percentages, water ratios, and how to adjust formulations for different soap qualities.
We begin with soap chemistry basics, ingredient properties, and safety protocols. This foundation helps you understand why we follow specific procedures during the practical session.
30 minutesLearn to measure and prepare ingredients accurately. We cover proper lye handling, oil warming, and how to prepare natural additives like seaweed and goat milk.
30 minutesEach participant creates their own batch under guidance. You'll mix, blend to trace, add your chosen ingredients, and pour into molds. This is where theory becomes practical skill.
90 minutesWhile your soap sets, we discuss curing procedures, troubleshooting common issues, and recipe variations. There's time for questions and planning your soap making practice at home.
30 minutesWe keep groups small with a maximum of 8 participants per workshop. This ensures everyone receives individual attention and has space to work comfortably.
Workshops run approximately 3 hours including breaks. This gives adequate time for learning without feeling rushed, and allows for questions throughout.
All ingredients, equipment, safety gear, and molds are provided. You'll take home your soap batch along with detailed instructions for curing and future soap making.
Workshops take place in our Wexford workshop at 61 N Main St. The space is designed specifically for soap making with proper ventilation and work areas.
Each participant receives a comprehensive guide covering everything learned in the workshop, plus recipes, troubleshooting tips, and supplier recommendations.
Workshop graduates can contact us with questions as they continue soap making at home. We're here to help troubleshoot issues and celebrate your successes.
No experience is necessary. Our workshops are designed for complete beginners. We start with basics and build skills progressively throughout the session. If you can follow recipes and measure ingredients, you can make soap.
Soap making involves lye, which requires careful handling. We teach proper safety procedures and provide all necessary protective equipment. When handled correctly, soap making is no more dangerous than other kitchen activities. Many participants go on to make soap regularly at home with confidence.
Each participant creates a batch that yields approximately 8-10 bars of soap, depending on how you cut them. Your soap will need to cure for 4-6 weeks before use, and we provide detailed curing instructions.
Just bring yourself and enthusiasm to learn. We provide all materials, equipment, and safety gear. Wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting a bit messy, though we provide aprons. Closed-toe shoes are required for safety.
Absolutely. The workshop teaches you everything needed to continue soap making at home. We provide equipment lists, supplier recommendations, and recipes to get you started. Many participants set up small soap making spaces in their own kitchens.
Contact us through our contact page or call us directly. We'll discuss available dates and answer any questions you have. Workshops fill quickly, so early booking is recommended, especially for weekend sessions.