Attend online classes or in person classes at the A+ Soapmaking Studio in Lemon Grove, San Diego County, California. Learn how to make soap, sell soap, and how to make cosmetics and sell cosmetics. A private vocational school, crafting and business school, where the public may purchase soapmaking supplies locally or online.
Our physical store location is open and classes are in session Sundays and select Saturdays. Check the Soapmaking Studio hours. View the schedule of classes.
The goal of Soapmaking 210 is for students to learn how to formulate a truly great bar of cold or hot process soap through their choice of soapmaking base oils. In this information-packed class, 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. Attend in person or online.
Soap from Ashes is complete lecture with detailed instructions and photographs for making soap from plant ashes. This presentation includes information on how to extract the naturally-caustic solution from any type of plant ashes (combusted hardwood, softwood, grasses, or leaves) and how to concentrate the solution for maximum effectiveness. Learn how to collect and filter rain water, how to render and prepare animal fats for soapmaking, how to test the soap for harshness, how to adjust the soap for gentleness, and how to cook the soap over a wood fire—all without using electricity, for a true pioneer experience. Attend in person or online. Register for Soap from Ashes.
Soapmaking 100 is a beginning-level melt and pour soapmaking class to teach students to make bars of soap embellished with personal photos. Detergent free melt and pour soap base allows crafters to make a truly natural soap with endless sales possibilities, when topped with a personal photograph. Learn to create stunning, personalized gift soaps with images of wedding parties, newborn babies, or company logos. Students must email a photograph in JPG or GIF format that is at least 4 inches square or 300 pixels square to info@soapmakingstudio.com no later than 4:00 pm the evening before the class. A student who fails to submit a personal photograph by the deadline may receive a generic printed image to embed in soap during the class. This class also includes how to make single-use soap leaves or shampoo sheets. Each student receives a pack of soap leaves and a bar of soap made during the class with the student's personal, submitted photo. Attend in person or online. Register for Soapmaking 100.
Soapmaking 101 is a beginning-level soapmaking class designed to teach students to make soap by hand at home. The main focus of this class is the "cold process" soapmaking method; although the class does briefly describe "melt & pour" soap crafting. After learning soapmaking safety, students learn to formulate soap recipes and calculate lye quantities without using a "lye calculator." The objective of Soapmaking 101 is to have students understand saponification values and be comfortable creating their own soap recipes at home. Students make cold process soap during the class session and take home a bar. Attend in person or online.
This class is also available online: Description of Online Soapmaking 101.
To have your company advertised on Soap Donation Center's prestigious Donated Soap list, bring a tax-deductible donation of homemade soap at 1:30 pm, before the soap meetup luncheon. View details on how to Donate Soap to Soap Donation Center.
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 Soapmakers' Luncheon is open to the public and attendance is free, just pay for anything you order from the menu. Our friendly soap meetup group is casual and provides a means of networking with local soapy artisans. Attend this creative handmade soaps and DIY bodycare meetup group luncheon at any level: Professional soapmaker, hobbyist soaper, or beginning crafter. The soap lunch venue is Marie Callender's restaurant on Alvarado Road in San Diego at 2:00 pm. Map & Directions. View the Soapmakers' Luncheon Agenda.
Marie Callender's Restaurant
6950 Alvarado Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
Soapmaking 101 Beginning Cold Process Soapmaking
has been a huge success and fills weeks in advance; the next class will be Sunday, September 27, 2026, which is National Soapmaking Day! The next Soapmaking 210
Advanced Cold/Hot Process Soapmaking will be Sunday, September 6, 2026. 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 in San Diego and cosmetic making classes in San Diego are available as online classes.
Our popular Soapmaking Supplies are available for Standard Shipping or free Store Pickup.
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.