On May 7, the Thomson Reuters office turned into a genuine natural cosmetics studio. We organized two rounds of workshops with two international groups of 20 participants each, and together they crafted around 40 soaps by hand, composing scents, choosing colors, and selecting natural additives entirely according to their own ideas.
How the workshops unfolded
Each participant made one soap from scratch, with full freedom to choose ingredients and fragrance combinations, which meant that no two finished soaps looked alike. We worked with an international group, which gave the workshops a special character and allowed everyone to exchange experiences across different cultural backgrounds. The atmosphere was positive from the very first minutes, with participants eagerly asking questions and engaging with every stage of the process.
Engagement and atmosphere
Both groups turned out to be highly active and completely trouble-free, which made the sessions easy to lead and let us focus on sharing knowledge about natural cosmetic ingredients. Participants were friendly, open, and engaged throughout the entire workshop, and the feedback we received afterward was unanimously positive. It was clear that making soap brought them genuine joy, and the process of composing their own scents and colors sparked real curiosity.
Did you know scents can shape your emotions?
The sense of smell is directly linked to the brain’s limbic system, the region responsible for emotion and memory – which is why a single scent can instantly bring back a decade-old memory or shift your mood entirely. This is the principle behind aromatherapy: lavender and chamomile are known for their calming, relaxing effect, citrus scents boost energy and focus, while eucalyptus and mint sharpen the mind and aid breathing. The natural essential oils used in soap-making, like the ones featured in these workshops, have been used for centuries for exactly this purpose – a natural way to lift wellbeing without relying on chemicals.
Why natural soap matters
Natural soap-making workshops are more than a creative team activity, they’re also a practical lesson in ecological awareness. Making your own cosmetics helps reduce the use of plastic packaging and the chemical substances found in industrial products, while natural ingredients are far gentler on both skin and the environment. By learning how simple it is to create their own soap, participants take away not just a finished product, but inspiration for more conscious, eco-friendly choices in everyday life.
Wrap-up
The workshops at the Thomson Reuters office showed that combining creativity with ecology can build genuine engagement and positive energy within a team. Take a look at the photos and imagine: if the soaps looked this beautiful, they must have smelled even better!
