Let’s Get SASSY: Exploring Chemistry Through Soap-Making with UTSA Sassy Soaps

On April 11th, The Lemonade Circle teamed up with UTSA Sassy Soaps for an afternoon filled with chemistry, creativity, and hands-on learning at VelocityTX in downtown San Antonio. Girls from across the city came together to explore the science behind soap-making while learning how sustainability and STEM can work hand in hand.

Tables were lined with oils, fragrances, natural ingredients, molds, and supplies as participants prepared to create soaps completely from scratch. But before the mixing began, the girls learned the “why” behind the process.

Sassy Soaps introduced attendees to the science of saponification, the chemical reaction that turns oils into soap. Girls learned how reused oils and carefully selected ingredients can be transformed into something both useful and environmentally conscious. What may have looked like a fun DIY activity quickly became a real-life chemistry lesson.

Then came the hands-on part.

Participants measured ingredients, mixed materials, selected scents and colors, and designed soaps that reflected their own personalities and creativity.

Some girls kept their designs simple and clean, while others experimented with bold colors, layered shapes, and unique combinations.

Throughout the afternoon, girls asked questions, compared creations, and encouraged each other as they worked. Moments like these are exactly why experiences like Let’s Get SASSY matter. STEM education becomes more meaningful when girls can touch, create, and see themselves in it.

The event was also a reminder that science does not always have to happen in a classroom or textbook. Sometimes it looks like laughter over spilled soap mixture, experimenting with ingredients, or realizing you actually understand a chemistry concept because you got to experience it firsthand.

We are incredibly grateful to Sassy Soaps for partnering with us and creating such an engaging and educational experience for our girls. Thank you as well to VelocityTX for hosting us and providing a space where creativity and learning could come together.

At The Lemonade Circle, we will always believe in creating opportunities where girls can explore, experiment, and discover new passions, especially in spaces where they may not always see themselves represented. Because sometimes all it takes is one afternoon, one experiment, or one experience to spark confidence in something bigger.