Course Content
Week One
Module 1: The History and Basics of Soap (May 30th, 2025, 8:30, Public) Explore the origins of soap-making, its cultural significance, and fundamental principles, including soap’s chemical composition and basic techniques. Module 2: Safety and Equipment Learn essential safety practices for handling soap-making materials and the key equipment needed to start crafting soap effectively.
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The History and Basics of Soap
03:42
Module 1: The History and Basics of Soap Quiz
00:15:00
Safety and Equipment
Safety and Equipment
00:20:00
Week Two
Learning Objectives: 1. Calculate lye-to-water ratios using a soap calculator. 2. Analyze the properties of common soap-making oils. 3. Design a balanced soap recipe based on oil properties. 4. Execute the cold process method step-by-step. 5. Identify and achieve "trace" consistency. 6. Safely mold and cure soap. Week 2 Key Takeaways • Lye Math: Precision is critical—always use a soap calculator. • Oil Synergy: Balance cleansing, hardness, and lather. • Cold Process Mastery: Trace consistency and curing define success.
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Understanding Lye and Oils
Understanding Lye and Oils Quiz
00:10:00
Your First Cold Process Batch
Your First Cold Process Batch Quiz
00:10:00
Week Three
Week 3 Key Takeaways • Hot Process: Faster curing, rustic appeal, ideal for additives. • Melt-and-Pour: Instant creativity, no lye, perfect for gifts.
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Hot Process Soap
Hot Process Soap Quiz
00:10:00
Melt-and-Pour Basics
Melt-and-Pour Basics Quiz
00:10:00
Create a Hot Process Soap Loaf Assignment
Week Four
Module 7: Natural Colorants and Additives Explore natural ingredients like herbs, clays, and botanicals to add color and texture to your soaps, enhancing their aesthetic and functionality. Module 8: Fragrance and Essential Oils Understand how to incorporate fragrances and essential oils to add scent and therapeutic properties to your soap creations.
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Natural Colorants and Additives
Natural Colorants and Additives Quiz
Natural Colorants and Additives Assignment
Fragrance and Essential Oils
Fragrance and Essential Oils Quiz
00:15:00
Fragrance and Essential Oils Assignment
Week Five
Module 9: Common Soap Making Mistakes Identify and troubleshoot frequent soap-making errors, such as improper lye measurements or curing issues, to improve your craft. Module 10: Advanced Designs Master creative techniques like swirls, layers, and embeds to elevate the visual appeal and complexity of your soap designs.
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Common Soap Making Mistakes
Common Soap Making Mistakes Quiz
00:05:00
Common Soap Making Mistakes Assignment
Advanced Designs
Advanced Designs Quiz
00:05:00
Advanced Designs Assignment
Week Six
Module 11: Selling Your Soap Learn the basics of branding, packaging, and marketing your handmade soaps, including legal considerations for selling products. Module 12: Final Project and Certification Complete a capstone project to showcase your soap-making skills and earn a certification upon successful completion. Module 13: Bonus Content Access additional resources, tips, or advanced techniques to further enhance your soap-making expertise.
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Selling Your Soap
Selling Your Soap Quiz
Final Project & Certification
The Art and Science of Soap Making
  1. Lye Calculation Fundamentals
    • Saponification (SAP) Values:
      • Definition: The amount of lye required to saponify 1g of oil.
      • Example: Coconut oil SAP = 0.183 (NaOH), Shea butter SAP = 0.128 (NaOH).
    • Using a Soap Calculator:
      • Input oils/weights → calculator outputs lye and water amounts.
      • Importance of superfatting (5–8% for moisturizing).
    • Safety Margin: Always double-check calculations to avoid lye-heavy soap.
  2. Properties of Oils
    • Coconut Oil: High cleansing, bubbly lather; can be drying in excess.
    • Olive Oil: Mild, moisturizing; produces a soft bar with stable lather.
    • Shea Butter: Adds hardness and creamy lather; high in vitamins.
    • Palm Oil: Firm bar, stable lather (use sustainable sources!).
    • Castor Oil: Boosts lather; use sparingly (5–10% of total oils).
  3. Balancing a Recipe
    • Hardness vs. Moisturizing: Coconut (hardness) + Olive (moisture).
    • Lather: Coconut + Castor for bubbles.
    • Example Recipe:
      • 40% Olive Oil, 30% Coconut Oil, 20% Palm Oil, 10% Castor Oil.
  4. Activity: Practice Calculating a Basic Recipe
    • Task: Use a soap calculator to determine lye/water for 500g of oils.
      • Input: 50% Olive Oil (250g), 30% Coconut Oil (150g), 20% Palm Oil (100g).
      • Output: Lye (NaOH) = (250×0.134) + (150×0.183) + (100×0.141) = 72.05g.
    • Submission: Learners submit a screenshot of their soap calculator results.
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