Yogyakarta: Incense and Lerak Soap Making Workshop

Immerse yourself in Javanese culture with a hands-on workshop in Yogyakarta. Learn the art of incense making and discover the process of making lerak soap from soapberry fruit.
Step into a quiet village in Yogyakarta and experience two traditional practices that have long been part of everyday Javanese life: incense making and lerak soap preparation.

Guided by a local facilitator, this hands-on workshop offers a slow, grounded introduction to materials commonly used in Javanese households—for ritual, for care, and for daily living. The experience focuses on process rather than speed, allowing you to work with your hands and understand how these items are traditionally prepared.

Begin with an introduction to five natural ingredients traditionally used in incense making. Learn about their scents, roles, and how they are combined to create balance and aroma.

Grind the ingredients by hand, allowing the fragrances to slowly release. Once ground, the mixture is gently kneaded and shaped, following traditional methods used in household incense preparation. This process encourages slowness and attention, creating space to connect with the materials through touch and scent.

Continue with the preparation of lerak soap, a traditional Indonesian natural cleanser made from soapberry fruit and commonly used in Javanese homes. Start with an introduction to four simple ingredients, followed by the first boiling of the lerak.

Squeeze the softened fruit by hand to extract its natural cleansing properties before returning it to the pot for a second boiling. Finish with gentle stirring as the soap cools, completing a process that reflects how lerak soap has been made in village households for generations.

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Deze excursie kunt u kosteloos annuleren tot: annuleringstijd voor aanvang van de reis. Bij annulering na: annulering na: annuleringstijd of niet aanwezig zijn op de excursie wordt de volledige prijs van de activiteit alsnog in rekening gebracht. Te laat komen bij het ophalen of vertrekken wordt beschouwd als niet komen opdagen.