I do love trying something new. There’s always that little spark of curiosity, isn’t there? Because you never really know what you’re going to enjoy (or what you might actually be good at!) until you give it a go. So I was absolutely delighted to win a place on a soap making workshop recently – something I’d never tried before.
I’m a big fan of Pot Marigold’s soaps and lip balms, so when I heard that Yerlin herself was running the class, I knew it would be something special.
The morning didn’t get off to the best start though, I woke up with the beginnings of a migraine. Not ideal when you’re heading somewhere new. Although, lucky for me, the workshop was in Coolaney Community Centre – just down the road from me. And somewhere between the mixing, the chatting, and the general calm of the workshop, my migraine completely disappeared. That alone tells you how relaxing the whole experience was.
Walking into something new can feel a bit daunting, especially when you don’t know anyone. But Yerlin is so warm and welcoming, she immediately puts you at ease. As it turned out, I know one of the other ladies, which made things feel all the more comfortable.
The setup was fantastic, it genuinely felt like stepping into a little creative studio. In fact, it reminded me a bit of The Great Pottery Throwdown, with all the colours, scents, and dried petals (from Yerlin’s garden) laid out in front of us. I couldn’t wait to get started.
Before we got hands-on, Yerlin explained the process behind soap making. It’s actually quite technical, much more so than I had imagined. Everything has to be measured precisely; it’s definitely not a case of bunging things together and hoping for the best. We were working with sodium hydroxide (lye), so goggles and gloves were essential, it felt a bit like being back in a chemistry class – minus the Bunsen burners.
There’s a whole process of heating and cooling the different elements before you even begin mixing. Then comes the blending, which is where it all starts to come together.
I chose a purple oxide powder for mine, but if I’m honest, when it first went into the mix it looked more like mud than anything glamorous! One lady used an indigo blue which looked absolutely stunning, while another used turmeric that gave a beautiful warm orange tone.
Some people got really creative, adding exfoliating ingredients like rock salt, oats, and poppy seeds. I kept mine fairly simple, but I did go a bit wild with petals on top. For the scent, I chose lemon, and I have to say, it smells amazing… even if it might not win any beauty contests – I didn’t even take a pic of mine! The ones below belong to some of the other participants.
Once everything was mixed, we poured our soap mix into old milk cartons (such a clever idea) and wrapped them up in a towel. I was amazed at how much heat they generated, it was like holding a hot water bottle.
Now comes the patience part. The soap needs to sit for 48 hours before it can be cut into slices, and then it has to cure for 4–6 weeks. Apparently, if you try to use it too soon, you’ll just end up with a mushy mess, so I’ll be waiting!
We finished the morning with tea, chats, and the most delicious homemade vanilla cake (courtesy of Yerlin). It was such a lovely way to round things off. It was also interesting to hear where everyone had travelled from, one lady had come all the way from County Clare, and others from Leitrim and Roscommon. It just shows how popular these workshops have become.
The classes are small, which makes them really personal and relaxed, but it also means they book up quickly. If you’re thinking about trying one, I’d definitely recommend booking sooner rather than later. There are beginner workshops like the one I did, more advanced sessions where you can experiment with swirls and designs, and even candle making workshops too. https://potmarigoldhandmade.ie/collections/make-soap-with-me
And if making your own isn’t your thing, you can always treat yourself to some of Pot Marigold’s gorgeous products instead, they really are lovely. https://potmarigoldhandmade.ie/
All in all, it was such a relaxing, enjoyable morning, and exactly the kind of experience that reminds me why I love trying new things. I’d highly recommend it.
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