Cold Process Soapmaking Basics

July 23, 2011

(Saturday, 9:00 – 4:00 pm, lunch included)

Years ago, people made their own soap from scratch, and this one-day workshop will teach you to do just that, using vegetable oils, lye and water, as you learn about the alchemy of saponification. We will discuss the chemistry, ingredients and basic safety precautions for the process. In the morning session, we will make an unscented and uncoloured batch of soap. You will learn the importance of ingredients, measurements, and the properties of different oils, as well as the basic techniques to master this common soapmaking method.

The afternoon session will involve adding colours, scents and natural additives, with discussion on the properties and advantages of various products, as well as the more advanced cold-process soapmaking techniques.

All materials and supplies will be provided. Please note – you must be over 18 for this class, as there are safety issues involved. We will be working with active lye and hot oils. Wear comfortable old clothing, long sleeves and good shoes (no open toes), and be aware that this can get messy! If you have rubber gloves and eye protection goggles – please bring them along.

You will be able to take home all of the soap that we make in class, once it is cured and ready to return to you at a later date.

About the Instructor

Tamara Kayfetz-Kingston has been making soap since 1997, when a move to the country and a serendipitous reading of a homesteading book inspired her to try a natural handmade soap recipe to soothe her sensitive skin. This turned into an obsessive hobby and then a business in 1998, when she started Latimer Soap Works. In its 13th year of operation, the last three of which have seen a retail store open in Westport as part of the operation, Latimer Soap Works manufactures and sells natural handmade soap and body care products wholesale, retail, and private label.

Tamara has taught soap making at St. Lawrence College, through Loblaws, at schools and organizations in the Kingston area, and has held classes at her home and her store, as well as private consulting. More recently, she has become the new owner of K&W Specialties, a soap making supply company, which provides ingredients for small soap makers and hobbyists alike. Tamara is one of the longest standing members of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild.

Tuition, lunch, facilities, and materials: $89. HST extra.

Please note that when you register for this workshop, the deposit covers all fees, and that no balance will be owing for the workshop.