In the summer of 2019, when the skies over Sydney turned orange and the smell of smoke was thick in the air, I found myself—as many of us did—wondering how I could do better. Like a lot of people, I was horrified by the scale of the bushfires and the reminder that our environment was in serious danger.
While others raised money (my own family included), I wasn’t in a position to make large donations. But I knew I could take meaningful steps at home to reduce my personal impact on the planet. That summer, my sister gave us a simple but thoughtful Christmas gift: a selection of low-waste household products. It was the nudge I needed. I’d always wanted to try soap making, and with sustainability top of mind, I finally gave it a go.
I was lucky—my first batch turned out well. It smelled beautiful, it felt great on my skin, and I loved that I’d made something I could actually use every day. The more I learned, the more I appreciated how powerful this small act could be: no plastic packaging, no synthetic fragrances, no mystery chemicals—just a beautiful bar of soap that was nourishing for me and kinder to the planet.
Becoming a Soap Maker – and a Teacher
If I’m honest, I didn’t set out to become an expert in soap making. But I’ve always had a curious mind, and I love asking “why?” or “what if?”—and figuring things out through research and hands-on experience. That curiosity has served me well. Over time, I’ve deepened my understanding of the soap-making process and what makes handmade soap so much better for our skin and our environment.
What started as a personal project soon became a part of the Made By Me Workshop calendar. I saw a need for a class that wasn’t just fun and creative, but that also offered something useful, beautiful, and environmentally thoughtful. Today, our Cold Process Soap Making Workshops in Sydney remain one of our most popular and proudly sustainable offerings.
Why Handmade Soap Is Better
Many commercial soaps and body washes contain synthetic detergents, artificial fragrances, foaming agents, and preservatives that can irritate the skin and pollute waterways. Even “natural” brands often come packaged in plastic or contain questionable ingredients.
When you make your own soap, you know exactly what’s in it. Our cold process soaps are made using simple ingredients: quality plant oils, lye, and essential oils. In our workshops, we also explore beautiful additions like coloured clays and botanicals, so every loaf feels like something special. You walk away with your own loaf of soap, poured in a reusable mould—perfect for curing at home, or bringing back to the workshop again to keep making more.
The best part? You feel good every time you use it—because you know it’s not just good for your skin, it’s better for the planet.
Our Commitment to Low-Waste Soap Making
Sustainability isn’t just a marketing claim—it’s something we embed in how we run our classes.
In our soap-making workshops:
• We use reusable mixing bowls, cups, and utensils—nothing disposable.
• Our oil containers are labelled and reused from session to session to minimise waste and prevent oil being washed down the sink.
• We wash only what needs to be washed and reuse everything we can.
• All our soaps are vegetarian-friendly, and most of our students are surprised to learn how many animal by-products go into mainstream soaps.
Personally, soap making came after I made another big change in my life—I became a vegetarian. It was part of a broader commitment to reduce my impact, and soap making felt like a natural next step.
Teaching with Purpose
The beauty of teaching creative skills like soap making is that they’re practical, empowering, and deeply satisfying. I love showing people how to do something they never thought they could. And while I may have started out knowing just a little more than my students, I’ve built my expertise through obsessive research, testing, and lots of hands-on practice.
We run a regular Luxury Soap Bar Workshop, perfect for beginners, and are now offering a rotating schedule of specialty soap-making classes—including goat’s milk & honey soap, naturally coloured botanical bars, salt spa bars, and more. These sessions aren’t about being more advanced—they’re about exploring new techniques, experimenting with different ingredients, and creating something truly unique.
Each time, our students personalise their soaps with their choice of essential oils, clays, and botanicals, giving them a beautiful and bespoke result they’re proud to use or gift.
If You’re Thinking About Making Soap…
It’s a wonderful entry point to a more sustainable lifestyle. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to make a difference. Sometimes, the most powerful change starts with a bar of soap.
If you’d like to learn how to make your own, I’d love to welcome you to one of our workshops at Made By Me. Whether you’re just beginning or ready to explore different styles and ingredients, you’ll leave with practical skills, a sense of accomplishment, and a product you’ll feel genuinely good about.
