Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making
Take your first step into making cold process soap with our comprehensive beginners’ certification course.
Perfect for those new to soaping
Go from making simple, nourishing soaps to using advanced ingredients and decorative techniques with our soap making certification course.
Would you love to try making cold process soap but feel a bit daunted and unsure about the process?
Are you passionate about caring for the earth and keen to use gentler, more natural, and zero waste products?
Would you like to expand your existing skincare range with a product that you (and others) would use every single day?
Introducing our accredited Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making
An online, on-demand course helping you to make a wide range of gentle, natural and organic soap bars.
In this comprehensive course, you'll:
- Access both beginner and advanced tried-and-tested soap recipes created by our cosmetic scientists.
- Make soap safely at home following our comprehensive safety guidelines.
- Understand the chemistry of soap making so you can formulate your own unique soaps.
- Work with a wide range of natural and organic ingredients including gorgeous butters and oils, plus extras like milk, honey, natural colorants, fragrances and exfoliants.
- Feel confident and empowered with your new knowledge and skills. Have the foundation to take your studies further if you wish.
- Plus, receive expert guidance and support from experienced cosmetic scientists and soap makers.
Are you ready to create gorgeous soap bars? Join us today!
Find out more
It’s usual to feel a little intimidated or apprehensive when you start out making soap; you are creating a chemical reaction (saponification), after all!
That’s why it’s important to take a course from a trusted school that includes best practices and all the relevant safety information is so important. Join us to make cold process soap with confidence and empower yourself with new skills that will last a lifetime.
You’ll never feel stuck or unsure with our clear, step-by-step video tutorials to follow, detailed course textbooks filled with photos to illustrate the key processes, and tutor support from expert soap makers.
Just imagine how good it would feel if you could:
Cleanse and nourish your skin without it costing the earth
Make affordable, packaging free, zero waste soaps using inexpensive ingredients. Just one batch makes lots of soap bars that last up to two years. They’re the perfect gift for friends and family or an ideal addition to your beauty brand range.
Be confident that you’re making gorgeous soaps the right way
Release your inner scientist as you learn the safe, step-by-step way to create the reactions needed to make soap (saponification). No need to feel apprehensive or intimated, we’ll help you master it all as you experiment with advanced ingredients.
Empower yourself with new skills that’ll last a lifetime
Discover a whole new area of cosmetic science. Enjoy the process and have fun experimenting with interesting ingredients you have at home, including milk, honey, charcoal and beer, and even make cupcake soaps, all to a professional standard. Who knows where it might lead you!
Learn to make a variety of cold process soap bars:
Simple soap bars
- Balanced beginner’s soap
- Pure coconut soap
- Simple castile soap
- Palm oil-free soap
Advanced soap bars
- Exfoliating soap
- African Black Soap-inspired soap
- Milk soap
- Honey soap
- Charcoal soap
- Beer soap
Decorative soaps
- Colored soap
- Cupcake soaps
- Lace soap
Your journey on the Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making
Theory
Discover the science and art of soap making
Saponification
Beginner recipes
Advanced recipes
Modifying soap recipes with exfoliants, clay and colorants
Formulate
Create your own soap recipes using a soap calculator
Beautiful designs
Decorate your soap with lacing and piping
Coloring soap
Use botanical colorants to enhance your soap
Special ingredients
Add milk, sugar, honey, salt and beer to your soaps
Theory
Discover the science and art of soap making
Saponification
Learn about the chemical reaction of soap making
Beginner recipes
Create successful soap with tried-and-tested recipes
Advanced recipes
Modifying soap recipes with exfoliants, clay and colorants
Special ingredients
Add milk, sugar, honey, salt and beer to your soaps
Coloring soap
Use botanical colorants to enhance your soap
Beautiful designs
Decorate your soap with lacing and piping
Formulate
Create your own soap recipes using a soap calculator
Meet your instructors and tutors
Learn from and be supported by cosmetic scientists and professional formulators.
Tina Svetek
Tina is a cosmetic formulator, formulation consultant and safety assessor, who leads new product development for natural skincare and wellness brands.
Dr Nicole Voster
Nicole is a cosmetic formulation consultant and senior lecturer with extensive experience teaching chemistry and cosmetic formulation at South African universities and aiding brands in new product development.
Gail Després
Gail is an award-winning entrepreneur and author of the A-Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation. After creating her natural skincare brand, Gail moved into education, founding the School of Natural Skincare in 2010.
Gareth Després
Gareth qualified as a certified aromatherapist in 2010 and enriches the content of our online courses with his specialist knowledge of essential oils.
Is the Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making right for me?
This course is perfect for…
Beginners
Excited beginners
We’ve simplified the complex, giving you an easier route into creating professional-standard soaps you can feel proud of, with no scientific background required.
Read more
If you love the idea of making products for yourself or your friends and family that are free from harmful chemicals and don’t cost the earth, and want to learn the right way to make a range of gorgeous natural and organic soap using tried and tested recipes, this is the course for you.
some experience
Soapers keen on improving their skills
Create your own soap recipes and add advanced ingredients and decorative touches to your cold process soap bars.
Read more
If you’ve made a few simple cold process soap bars and are ready to make cutomized and advanced cold process soap bars, this course will show you how and give you a clear route to progress your learning, for example, onto our Diploma in Soap Making.
Student testimonials
This training has boosted my confidence and helped me understand past mistakes.
- Ami Patterson,
- USA
After years of inconsistent DIY results that left me frustrated, I appreciate the attention to detail and focus on student safety. Now, I feel empowered to move forward with better techniques. I’m loving the freedom to experiment again, even in my kitchen, and create products that I can use to care for myself and my family.
- Ami Patterson,
- USA
I’m excited that I can now create my very own cold process soaps!
- Nicole Ragland,
- USA
I was eager to make my own products for personal use and to start a business. After some delays, I’m thrilled to have completed the course. It fit my schedule and budget perfectly. I now feel confident in soap making, thanks to the clear information, great graphics, and detailed videos.
- Nicole Ragland,
- USA
Why learn to make your own cold process soaps?
Make zero-waste products. Soap bars don’t require packaging, so they’re good for the environment.
Cost effective and preservative-free. Natural soap bars are inexpensive to make, don’t require any preservatives and last up to two years. This is an easy and affordable route to pursuing something you love or even fulfilling your dream of creating beautiful soaps to sell.
Expand your product range. If you are already formulating natural skincare products, making your own soaps is the perfect way to take your formulation skills up a level and expand your product range. After all, we all use soap multiple times every day!
Prioritize your health and hygiene. Soap is the cornerstone of good hygiene that helps to boost health and wellness. Learn to create your own cold process soaps to a professional-standard that are perfect for your skin.
Create soaps that are kind and gentle on your skin, safe and effective, and in harmony with your natural and organic values.
Want to try before you buy?
Sample a selection of our course material inside our online classroom.
How does the Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making work?
Our proven system for teaching formulation skills, developed over more than a decade of training provision, means when you study with us, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and support to succeed at formulating.
Knowledge
You don’t need a scientific background; our courses cover everything you need to know.
Skills
We start with more straightforward products and progress to the more complex or challenging ones so you can build your skills and confidence.
Support
You can rest assured that you are learning from qualified and experienced professionals and are not misled by inaccurate, poor-quality and unsafe information often found online.
All our training is completed through our easy-to-use online classroom. You can enroll anytime and study from anywhere in the world at your own pace.
You’ll receive:
Detailed guidance on formulating your own soap recipes.
Practical demonstration videos showing how to make soap safely.
Tried-and-tested cold process soap recipes to follow.
Join our supportive, vibrant community of like-minded students and graduates across the world.
Easy-to-use online classroom, quizzes, and activities.
Expert support from cosmetic scientists and experienced soap makers in our dedicated Tutor Q&A.
End-of-course certificate.
Beautiful textbooks to download with step-by-step instructions and gorgeous photographs.
Be supported by cosmetic scientists
Get your questions answered
each week in our dedicated Tutor Q&A
Expand your understanding
with our monthly Formulators Forum, a LIVE learning and discussion session on Zoom
Plus
Receive an invitation to join our private student and graduate online community.
Connect with like-minded formulators around the world inside our friendly student community. It’s the perfect place to discuss, support and inspire each other.
Student testimonials
I loved learning the scientific reasons behind the process.
- Janice McQueen,
- USA
Due to sensitivities, I needed to make soap avoiding nut allergens and synthetic fragrances. I had no prior knowledge of supplies, equipment, or soap-making. The course provided invaluable guidance on both the science and practical aspects, enabling me to create custom soap bars for my family. I am excited to continue learning!
- Janice McQueen,
- USA
I was already making soap but wanted better quality soap and consistent results.
- August Wan,
- USA
This course deepened my understanding of saponification and soaping temperatures. Now, I’m confident in creating various types of soap with precise results. The detailed information on saponification was incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for this excellent education!
- August Wan,
- USA
Enjoy learning anywhere, anytime
All our training is completed through our easy-to-use online classroom.
Study from anywhere in the world at your own pace.
Why study with the
School of Natural Skincare?
Be part of our accredited, globally acclaimed, award-winning online formulation school that’s seen over 25,000 students from 150 countries enjoy mastering the art, science, and creativity of making natural and organic skincare.
Learn from and be supported by professional cosmetic scientists.
Tried-and-tested formulations.
Formulate your way – natural, organic, vegan, sustainable – and customized to your skin type, tone and concerns.
Multi-award winning and accredited school, established in 2010.
Study with us for our own enjoyment and learning or to create a beauty brand.
Study at a pace that fits your lifestyle.
96% of our students would recommend the course to others.
Expand your product range, develop your formulation skills and learn to create gorgeous natural and organic soap bars.
Featured in
Where are our graduates now?
For many of our students, their ultimate goal when studying with us is to start their own beauty brand.
Here are some of our graduates who have gone on to become beauty entrepreneurs across the world. If this is what you aspire to, we can’t wait to see your story here one day soon.
From Cancer Survivor to Skincare Entrepreneur: Julie Sheridan’s Tale
Turning Passion into a Brand: How Busy Mom, Sanjanna Raju, Launched ‘Phases’ Skincare for Teens and Tweens
Lifelong Learning: Tatiana’s Path From Aromatherapy to Beauty Mastery and Launching her Brand
Lubna Melhem’s Journey: A Quest for Natural Skincare and Entrepreneurship
Denisse B García – the Naturally Nourishing Mama
Dare to be Natural; Going One Step Further in Natural Haircare Inspiration
Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making in detail
By the end of the course, you will:
Understand the theory behind making cold process soap.
Confidently create cold process soap using our four best beginner recipes.
Work on advanced recipes, adding exfoliating and detoxifying ingredients and natural colorants to your cold process soap.
Try new creative and decorative techniques like making lace soap and cupcake soaps.
Be confident and empowered with your new knowledge and skills, having laid the foundations to further your studies if you wish.
Learn about the chemical reaction of soap making