Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Get free access to this course here: lowimpact.org/categories/natural-soaps
(under 'what can I do?').
From course tutor Maxine:
Soap making is an addictive and satisfying process. It is a rewarding
experience to be able to craft something – an everyday item – that is
useful, wholesome and beautiful. Handmade soap is practical, alluring
and romantic.
I started hand crafting soaps when I was 14 years old at my granny
Annie’s bungalow in the little seaside resort village of Runaway Bay in
Jamaica where I grew up. My grandmother was a village midwife and
herbal doctor, present at nearly all births and always on hand with various
herbal remedies for every type of ailment the villagers might have. I never
visited a doctor as I was always purged, scrubbed and soothed with her
unique concoctions. She grew all her herbs in our gardens or sourced
them herself from the forest where they grew wild. I learned to identify,
harvest, dry and prepare the plants for use in the soaps, balms, creams,
tinctures, poultices, baths, syrups and teas that were crafted in our
kitchen. Just writing about it now, I can still smell the fragrant mix of
herbs, roots and spices all over the bungalow – the bygone days of my
childhood! Under the watchful eyes of my grandmother I learned to make
my own products, especially soaps as there was a shortage at that time
in Jamaica. I learned to make virgin coconut and castor oils and made
caustic potash from the ashes of woods used in our wood burning stove
when we were unable to get caustic soda at the shops.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
Natural Soaps Course - 1 The fundamentals
Natural Soaps Course - 2 Equipment
Natural Soaps Course - 3 Ingredients
Natural Soaps Course - 4 Fragrances and colour
Natural Soaps Course - 5 Cold process soap making
Natural Soaps Course - 6 Hot process soap making
Natural Soaps Course - 7 Rebatching
Natural Soaps Course - 8 Making liquid soap
Natural Soaps Course - 9 Making cream soap
Natural Soaps Course - 10 Finishing & packaging
Get free access to this course here: lowimpact.org/categories/natural-soaps
(under 'what can I do?').
From course tutor Maxine:
Soap making is an addictive and satisfying process. It is a rewarding
experience to be able to craft something – an everyday item – that is
useful, wholesome and beautiful. Handmade soap is practical, alluring
and romantic.
I started hand crafting soaps when I was 14 years old at my granny
Annie’s bungalow in the little seaside resort village of Runaway Bay in
Jamaica where I grew up. My grandmother was a village midwife and
herbal doctor, present at nearly all births and always on hand with various
herbal remedies for every type of ailment the villagers might have. I never
visited a doctor as I was always purged, scrubbed and soothed with her
unique concoctions. She grew all her herbs in our gardens or sourced
them herself from the forest where they grew wild. I learned to identify,
harvest, dry and prepare the plants for use in the soaps, balms, creams,
tinctures, poultices, baths, syrups and teas that were crafted in our
kitchen. Just writing about it now, I can still smell the fragrant mix of
herbs, roots and spices all over the bungalow – the bygone days of my
childhood! Under the watchful eyes of my grandmother I learned to make
my own products, especially soaps as there was a shortage at that time
in Jamaica. I learned to make virgin coconut and castor oils and made
caustic potash from the ashes of woods used in our wood burning stove
when we were unable to get caustic soda at the shops.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
Natural Soaps Course - 1 The fundamentals
Natural Soaps Course - 2 Equipment
Natural Soaps Course - 3 Ingredients
Natural Soaps Course - 4 Fragrances and colour
Natural Soaps Course - 5 Cold process soap making
Natural Soaps Course - 6 Hot process soap making
Natural Soaps Course - 7 Rebatching
Natural Soaps Course - 8 Making liquid soap
Natural Soaps Course - 9 Making cream soap
Natural Soaps Course - 10 Finishing & packaging
