Are you interested in learning how to make natural products for you and your family?
Want to learn about all the wonderful oil, butters, and additives that you can use to nourish your skin?
Want to turn your hobby into a business?
You have come to right place!
Classes are held in Astoria, NY.
What do you have to look forward to?
- Small class size – medium class size (depending on location)
- Personalized attention
- Hands on learning
- Products to take home
- A complete resource manual with information and recipes
- A list of suppliers
- Ongoing support
*Important* Age requirement 18+ for all classes.
Interested in a one-on-one consultation? Please contact me for further information.
To learn about our Policies for taking a class, please click here.
What students are saying:
“A great beginner’s class: I had the opportunity to take this class and absolutely loved it. Melissa gives great step by step details on safety, equipment, recipes, procedures and concise instructions for anyone to follow. She is very patient and walks you through each step, providing the basic skeleton needed for this beautiful art. I am definitely going to continue my journey of soap making after taking this class, and encourages anyone interested in this field, whether it’s for hobby or profession to definitely start with Ms. Rivera’s basic soap making. You will not be disappointed. The sky is the limit after taking this class.” ~A.Thomas
“I took Melissa’s class on how to make soap. She’s friendly, informative, and supportive (if you have any questions, you can email her and she’ll reply promptly). Since the class is hands-on, you get to learn exactly what you need to buy, what to do and how to do it. And, she gives you a hand-out, so you are totally informed about how to go about making your own soap. I enjoyed the class and would love to learn more.” ~R. Singer
Class Descriptions:
BB101 Basic Cold Process Soap Making (3 hours) $135.00
Location: Astoria, NY
This course will introduce you to the wonderful world of cold process soap making. Have you been afraid to make soap because of your fear of sodium hydroxide (lye)? No need to be scared, sodium hydroxide is the caustic agent that unifies your oils and butters with the liquid lye solution to make soap. Here you will have hands on experience on how to make your first batch of soap. In this course you will learn:
- Brief history of soap
- Materials needed and what kind of prep work you need to do before you begin
- All about sodium hydroxide and the necessary precautions you need to take
- How to formulate a recipe
- Using natural ingredients to produce a natural log of soap
- After you make the soap, what next? Insulation, gel phase, cutting, curing and storing
- Proper labeling requirements will be discussed
- $25.00 materials fee already added to cost
You will take home a resource manual with recipes, list of suppliers and your own batch of soap (2). You will also be provided with goggles, gloves, & face mask.
Please just bring an apron to class.
BB102 Herbal Salves & Balms (2 hours) $55.00
Location: Astoria, NY
Come join me in learning how to make salves and balms using herbs and essential oils. These nourishing products make wonderful gifts and are super easy to make.
You will learn:
- How to infuse herbs into your carrier oil
- How to create a recipe
- Different oils and herbs for skin ailments
- What packaging options are available to you
- Proper labeling requirements will be discussed
- $15 materials fee already added to the cost
You will take home a resource manual with recipes, a list of suppliers, and your own herbal salves & balms.
BB103 Herbal & Aromatic Bath Treats (3 hours) $75.00
Location: Astoria, NY
Who doesn’t enjoy the luxury of bath products without having to pay high retail prices? Why not learn how to make them on your own for yourself or as gifts. In this class you will learn:
- How to make a sugar scrubs, bath salts and tea baths
- How to source your raw ingredients
- Different packaging options available to you
- Proper labeling requirements will be discussed
- $15 Materials fees already added to the cost
You will take home a resource manual with recipes, a list of suppliers and your own sugar scrubs, bath salts and tea baths.
BB104 Herbal & Aromatic Lotions & Creams (3 hours) $75.00
Location: Astoria, NY
The daily ritual of putting lotion & cream on your body is something we do without thinking. Learn how to make your own lotion & cream using quality ingredients to nourish your skin. In this class you will learn:
- Different formulations to create a lotion & cream
- Using preservatives and the importance as to why we need to use it
- Understanding different oil properties and skin type
- Different packaging options that are available to you
- Proper labeling requirements will be discussed
- $15 materials fee is already added to the cost
- How to create products for your skin type
- How to make herbal / aromatic infused oils & waters
- How to create and use an herbal steam
- How to use herbal clays in your facial routine
- How to create and use an herbal toner / aromatic spray
- Properties of different herbs and essential oils for your skin type
- A $20 materials fee is already added to the cost of the class.
You will take home a resource manual with recipes and information as well as a list of suppliers. You will also have 3-4 actual products to take home.
**Come prepared to come to class without makeup so you can create and use products in class.
Location: Astoria, NY
People have become aware of the dangers of chemicals that exist in our cleaning products. As people are changing their lifestyle to become more environmentally friendly, green cleaning is probably the most easiest way to begin. By definition green cleaning is the use of products and cleaning methods that are environmentally friendly. Cleaning products that contain ingredients that help preserve the environment as well as the human health. It is incredibly simple to make products to clean your bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms in the house that are affordable and personal to you. In this class you will:
- obtain a book of recipes
- learn what you can buy right in your local market to create green cleaning products
- make a scrub for the sink, bathtub and toilet with raw ingredients and essential oils
- make a furniture polish to keep your wood looking brilliant
- make an all purpose spray for kitchen counter tops.
- learn about different essential oils that are beneficial to your cleaning product.
- a $10 materials fee is already added to the cost
