Soap Making

Skill Level:  3
Category: Arts, Crafts, and Hobbies
Original Honor:  2018

AdventSource Honors Handbook PDF 
Originating Institution:  North American Division


NOTE: Soap making has the potential to cause injury, therefore it must be taught by a competent, experienced instructor. Due to the hazards involved and the manual dexterity required, it is recommended that the honor be limited to teens, TLTs, and adult leaders with a ratio of no more than 4-6 students per instructor. This is a very hands-on intense honor. If you are unable to find a qualified instructor, contact the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild or visit them online to find an instructor in your area.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: All participants must wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed toe shoes, safety glasses, and rubber, latex or nitrile gloves. You may also wear an apron if you wish.

  1. Have the Soap Craft Advanced Honor.
  2. Review and list the basic safety equipment needed to make soap.
  3. What is saponification value?
  4. What is superfatting?
  5. Describe the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils.
  6. What can be used to color the soap?
  7. What can be used in place of distilled water when making soap?
  8. At what stage in the soap making process should fragrances, colors, or additives be added?
  9. Define “seize” in terms of soap and what might cause it.
  10. What is the most common temperature to “soap” at?
  11. Explain what 99% rubbing alcohol is used for?
  12. Describe the following techniques in soap making. Collect photos of at least five of them.
    1. Simple swirl
    2. Layering
    3. Funnel pour
    4. Faux funnel pour
    5. Slant pour
    6. In the pot swirl
    7. Embeds
    8. Zebra swirl
    9. Spin swirl
    10. Hanger swirl
  13. Make two batches of soap. Incorporate color, fragrance, or a design technique in each of these:
    1. Cold process (CP)
    2. Melt and pour with embeds (MP)
  14. Explain how long should your soap cure and why.
  15. Complete one of the following:
    1. Give a devotional talk about soap and cleanliness.
    2. Write a two-page paper on how soap relates to our spiritual life.
  16. Make a gift/display basket of some of your soaps that you have made and give it to someone that would really appreciate it. This can either be done by yourself or as a group project (additional items may be included).