San Marcos Makes: Douglas-Smith Soap

There are some experiences that sneak up on you - the ones that sound fun on paper but turn out to be genuinely magical. The Visit San Marcos and Downtown San Marcos team recently had one of those moments, and let us tell you, it smelled absolutely divine!

The team headed to Douglas-Smith Soaps for a soap-making class, and if you haven't been to their brick-and-mortar shop in Downtown San Marcos yet, consider this your sign to go. Kevin and Michael are the kind of people who make you feel instantly at home: warm, welcoming, and genuinely funny. The kind of guys who make you think you’ve been friends with for years, even if you just met. It turns out, soap is just one of many things they're great at.

Learn more about Douglas-Smith Soap Classes here.

A Hobby Born from a Pandemic Pivot

The class kicked off with an introduction to the art (and science!) of soap making - the components, the process, and perhaps most delightfully, the origin story. During COVID, the duo headed to Michael's in search of a puzzle. What they found instead were soap-making and candle-making supplies. They went with soap, and the rest, as they say, is history. It's the kind of story that feels very San Marcos: a little spontaneous, a lot creative, and with serious staying power.

What Goes Into the Bar

Douglas-Smith Soaps are plant-based, and Michael and Kevin walked the group through exactly what that means - the ingredients, the sourcing, and the care that goes into every bar. One standout detail: the team talked at length about sustainable and ethical palm oil sourcing. It's clear these guys think deeply about what they put into their products and where it comes from, which is just one more reason to feel good about buying their soap.

The class also covered the wide world of scent options (the choices are truly wonderful), and, here's something most people don't think about, the curing process. Soap, it turns out, can actually be dangerous if it isn't handled correctly in its early stages. Who knew? Not us, that’s for sure.

Getting Our Hands Dirty (Or Is It Getting Our Hands Clean?)

After the demonstration, including watching Kevin pour soap into molds and craft Douglas-Smith's signature decorative tops, from ocean waves to bubble wrap textures, it was time to get to work. The team jumped in and made their own bars, and the experience went by in a blur of excitement. The coolest part? Being able to physically feel the ingredients reacting and the soap actually forming in real time. Chemistry class was never this cool…

Everyone got to choose their own scent, their preferred mold format (traditional block or shaped molds), and their top design. After making their bars, the group browsed the shop, picking up old favorites and a few new seasonal scents, and then left the bars to set overnight. The next morning, they returned to cut them. As a parting gift, Douglas-Smith also sent everyone home with a bar of the soap they'd demonstrated during class. Generous doesn't even begin to cover it!

A Local Staple with a Global Reach

Douglas-Smith Soaps isn't just a Downtown San Marcos favorite; they've shipped to all 50 states and quite a few countries, and they've even had out-of-state visitors travel to San Marcos specifically to take one of their classes. That's the kind of destination-worthy experience that puts a city on the map!

If you're looking for a hands-on, one-of-a-kind San Marcos experience, whether you're a local or just visiting, Douglas-Smith Soaps delivers something truly special. Book a class. Buy a bar. You won't regret either.