Making Soap with Sharon Johnson

Tee shirt logo

When I started making soap, there was a handful of quality books on soap making and limited information on the internet. YouTube had only been around for a few years. Since that time the ages old craft of soap making has exploded in popularity, and thousands of soap makers have entered the fascinating world of Saponification. Videos, online tutorials, classes, books, and blog posts about making soap are now readily available. More and more men and women are carving out a niche in the market for making, buying, and selling handmade soap. Other soap makers have created their own signature style and their handcrafted soap is admired and recognized by many. Handmade soap making has skyrocketed, and I've been enjoying the ride!

Handmade soap from The Lathered Lamb

Like many, I have a love of learning. History, art, science, photography, knitting, and soap making are just a few of my interests. There is an old adage which states, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know!" I can identify with that, and so I continue to enjoy learning about many things. The craft of soap making has changed over these past years, as soap makers have experimented with different ingredients and techniques. Many have shared what they learn with the soap making community. One such soap maker is Sharon Johnson, the owner of Rose of Sharon Essential Skin Care, whom I first met at a Florida soap gathering two years ago.

Sharon Johnson, Hot Process Queen

Sharon has explored hot process soap making and has perfected a technique called, Stick Blender Hot Process. Although variations of this technique have been used by other soap makers, Sharon put her own spin on it and after countless test batches developed an effective method of making hot process soap in 10 minutes, by utilizing controlled high temperatures and a stainless steel shaft stick blender. She first demonstrated her method at that soap gathering two summers ago, and shortly thereafter published an ebook with detailed instructions and recipes. She has a group Facebook page, Hot Process Soap Making with Sharon Johnson, and teaches her soap making process at various "boot camps" around the country.

Although I primarily make cold process soap, I love learning about the many ways to make handmade soap, so I took the opportunity to attend her HP Extreme University boot camp when it was held in Orlando. And what a fascinating time it was! 

Set up for a day of soap making

Goodie bags for all

Some of Sharon's boot camps are hosted by individuals in their home. This one was set up in a hotel conference room, which gave us plenty of room. Goodie bags filled with product samples made by Sharon, custom tee shirts, notebooks with tips and recipes, snacks, lunch, and drinks were included. As introductions were made, Sharon gave us tips and encouragement about growing our soap making businesses. The 16 participants came from many places, including Atlanta, Georgia, Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando, Florida. Several raised goats and specialized in goat milk soap. There was a mother/daughter soap maker business and an engaged couple who hadn't made soap at all yet. By the end of the day, everyone had made soap using the Sharon Johnson Hot Process method.

SJHP soap making demo

Sharon Johnson soap making demo

Sharon discussed Masterbatching and demonstrated her 10 minute hot process technique with a large batch. It was fascinating to see the soap batter rapidly go through the various stages as it turned into saponified soap which was fluid and pourable after only 10 minutes. After the soap was poured into molds and frozen in a cooler for several hours, it was ready to cut! We all took a bar or two home with us.

Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey soap

Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey soap bars

Sharon is currently working on a quick and easy method of making liquid soap and introduced the method to our group. It was a very similar process, and we each got a small bottle of "liquid gold" to take home. It is suitable to be used as a body wash or shampoo.

Liquid soap made by Sharon Johnson

Liquid Gold shampoo and body wash

Piping a wonderful topping onto soap is another, newer popular technique. Similar to decorating a cake, the soap has to be thick enough to hold its shape yet liquid enough to pipe through a decorative cake tip. Typically cold process soap that has thickened is used to decorate soap loaves and cupcakes, but hot process soap can also be used if it is fluid enough. Sharon demonstrated how to thicken up a fluid hot process soap enough to pipe. Pre-mixed colorants made it easy to quickly color the soap batter for these soap cupcakes.

Making soap cupcakes

Sparkly Soap Cupcakes

By late afternoon, it was time for us to make soap! Working in pairs, each team had a work station and worked together to make a small batch of soap utilizing the technique that Sharon had demonstrated earlier in the day. For many of us it was our first time using this method. For others, it was the first successful time. For this technique to be successful, there are certain conditions that must be met and followed, including a proper mix of hard oils, correct temperatures, covering and resting the soap, and knowing what the stages look like as the soap cooks. After pouring the lye water into the oils, stick blending the batter, watching the soap stages progress, resting, coloring, and pouring the soap -  we were finished in about 10 minutes. That is crazy fast soap making, and I admit that I had a bit of an adrenaline rush!

Ready, Set, Soap!

Soap station set up

Making soap the SJHP way

Ten minute hot process soap

In all, it was a fabulous day of learning another way to make soap. As a soap maker, I appreciate the men and women who experiment, work hard, and add what they have learned to the craft of making handmade soap. I applaud those who are developing different styles and techniques, writing books, or making videos to expand the growing library of soap making information. Thank you, Sharon Johnson, for your contribution!

Most of the students in the HP Extreme University January 28, 2017

If you have attended a boot camp with Sharon Johnson or made soap using her method, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by! ​

Update: Sharon has opened a soap shop in Brandon, Florida. Read about it here:
http://www.thelatheredlamb.com/blog/archives/06-2017
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~Debbie