A Workshop on Traditional Soap-Making Without Potash with Suna Kalaycı
Sunday 29 November 2026 | 11.00–17.00
Ash, water and olive oil… For centuries, the simplest ingredients provided by nature have been used for cleaning in Anatolia. These three ingredients have been transformed into natural soap through knowledge and craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation.
We are discovering Anatolia’s traditional lye-free soap-making with Suna Kalaycı, one of the last masters keeping this culture alive. Suna Kalaycı will be sharing the secrets of traditional lye-free soap-making at the Sevilma Academy.
This traditional method, which has largely been forgotten with the spread of industrial soap production, is one of the valuable examples of production in harmony with nature and local knowledge that have survived to the present day.
Sevilma Academy is hosting Suna Kalaycı at a special workshop with the aim of keeping this ancient craft alive and passing it on to future generations.
In this full-day workshop, to be held at the Sevilma Garden—Turkey’s first Slow Food Farm—in the village of Orhanlı, İzmir Seferihisar, we will experience together, from start to finish, the process of turning olive oil into soap using natural lye made from oak ash.
Are you ready to make your own olive oil soap using entirely natural methods?
In the Footsteps of an Ancient Craft with Suna Kalaycı
In this method, which uses natural alkaline lye obtained from oak ash instead of the ready-made caustic soda used in modern soap production, soap-making involves more than simply combining the ingredients. Every stage – from preparing the ash to achieving the correct concentration of lye, and from combining it with olive oil to the formation of the soap – requires attention, patience and skill.
Under the guidance of Suna Kalaycı, participants will learn the finer points of this traditional craft whilst discovering how materials sourced from nature are utilised and appreciating the value of a culture that has been passed down from the past to the present.
What will we be doing in the workshop?
1. The Story of the Ancient Production Basins
We will be discussing the past and future of ancient production basins and traditional production with Güven Eken, founder of Sevilma. We will then explore olives and oak trees—two products of the ancient Kızıldağ production basin in Izmir—and discuss their connection to oak ash soap.
2. Making Natural Ash Water from Oak Ash
Through a conversation with master craftswoman Suna Kalaycı, we will learn about the properties of oak wood ash, how ash water is obtained, and the methods for preparing the appropriate alkaline solution for soap-making.
3. Traditional Soap-Making with Olive Oil
Using Sevilma’s olive oils, we will gain hands-on experience of the saponification process of olive oil using lye. We will focus on preparing the mixture, monitoring the saponification process and the finer points of traditional production.
4. The Subtleties of Mastery
Drawing on Suna Kalaycı’s experience, we will learn about the consistency of soap, the key points to bear in mind during production, the problems that may arise, and their solutions.
5. Soap Curing and Use
We will discuss the curing process of the soap before it is used, the correct storage conditions, and the characteristics of soap made using traditional methods.
Let’s Experience Sustainable Production Together
Sevilma Academy aims to keep alive production methods that respect the cycles of nature, traditional crafts and ancient ecological knowledge through hands-on workshops.
The production of olive oil soap from oak ash is another specific example of this approach. Once a part of everyday life in many parts of Anatolia, this method of production is regaining importance today, both in terms of preserving cultural heritage and the circular use of resources.
Workshop Information
Date: Sunday 29 November 2026
Time: 11.00–17.00
Guide: Suna Kalaycı
Venue: Sevilma Orchard / Ercan Baba Olive Oil Mill
Orhanlı, Seferihisar, Izmir
Registration Fee: 1,800 TL + VAT
Type of training: Full-day, hands-on workshop
Registration and Booking: Sevilma Academy
For enquiries:
0555 394 7111
Türkçe 
English (UK)