Making Soap

Who knew that making soap was so sciency?! The author clearly knows what she's talking about and for those who really want to get into soap-making I am sure it would be most helpful. It's a well-written book with beautiful photographs so worth the price. 

-- Kim Monins * Customer review *

I was so excited to get this book through I have always wanted to try this and this is the perfect book to start making soap. There is so many different ones you can make and clear instructions with photos. Perfect details of what you will need and calculations detailed to make it even easier. There is even a list of different oils and what they are good to use for. I also love the fact there is a troubleshooting part so if you do get stuck everything is covered. So glad I got this book and can't wait to get started making soaps.

-- Anatasia Snook * Customer review *

The book begins with the principles of soapmaking – which were a little mindblowing for this first timer, but obviously necessary and, no doubt, not an issue once you’ve got your ingredients organised and your instructions in front of you. There is a very helpful sample calculation for ingredients (and, we are assured, there are easier calculators to be found online) and a table showing the saponification values of different fats and oils, which makes everything seem a lot less daunting because it means less maths! There are beautiful photographs throughout the book (some look practically edible) and the balance of pictures to text is good.

The author makes a point of reminding the reader about how to actually protect themselves when using Sodium Hydroxide, rather than just saying “be careful”. This gave me confidence in her advice. I was also comforted and emboldened by the phrase, “it will always turn into soap”. It seems that soapmaking allows a lot of room for experimentation and, even if things didn’t come out quite like you’d envisaged, the end product will still be usable.

I appreciated that the soaps were eco-friendly, made from natural ingredients, and focused on being non-irritant. There are 18 recipes, beginning with a ‘basic’ soap-on-a-rope, the photo of which was far more glamorous than the miniature imitation boxing glove I lathered up with in the 1980s! I was particularly inspired by a recipe that utilises coffee grounds, another which repurposes mini bundt cases, and yet another which uses annatto powder as a colouring. With a comprehensive list of optional additions, including suggestions for ingredients that create a ‘scrub’ effect, the different projects are very varied. From Laundry Soap to Guinness Soap to a Floating Soap, there’s a bit of everything.

The instructions to make the basic soap, and subsequent variations, are clear and thorough. Some of the ingredient lists were a little overwhelming, but I am aware that there are suppliers who will stock them all in one place. My guess is that the trick is to view the process in the same way as baking a cake: have all your stuff to hand, one thing at a time, carefully weighed. I get the feeling that preparation is everything in this hobby.

At 64 pages long, this book is quite a slim volume, but I get the sense that everything you need is there. The price is fair, as you’re buying a wealth of knowledge and a reassuring voice.

Though I’ve not tried any soapmaking yet, the tone of the writing makes me confident that all the recipes have been tested and should turn out well… and, if they don’t, there is always the handy Troubleshooting section at the back of the book! I expect I will have to psych myself up before trying out the techniques, but I really loved this book and it did make me want to have a go. I now need to invest in a pair of digital scales…

-- Sophie Hudson * Customer review *

The book is very informative. Pictures were great. Shows some lovely shapes and fragrance/ingredient combinations. 

-- Claire Holmes * Customer review *

A well-detailed book on how to make soap. I never realised so many ingredients were required to make soap but am determined to give it a go.

-- Evette Gabriella Holmes * Customer review *

A beautifully present book, the pictures are divine, not sure my soap will look this good anytime soon but something to aspire to. The descriptions/ instructions are clear and easy to follow! Christmas here we come.

Tracy Brown
Customer Review

Soap making is a wonderful hobby – and in current times a good skill to have. Making Soap is a good introduction to soap making which clearly explains the basics, equipment and the important safety measures before you embark on your first project. Each stage of the soap making process is clearly described and accompanied by a colour photo and each recipe is set out in easy-to-follow steps. Should your soap not turn out as expected the trouble shooting section will explain what went wrong. The 18 recipes give a good choice of decorative soaps to try out. Once the basics of soap making has been mastered you can invent your own unique recipes using a combination of oils with properties which work for you.

Sarah Dennis
Customer Review

This is a beautifully illustrated book. A quick scan through the photos of the lovely natural soaps is enough to inspire you to have a go at soap making. However, the initial reading of the first pages on the principles of soap making and the technical calculations are quite daunting. The book is clearly written by someone with a great passion for making soap. As a hobby I’m not sure that you need to know the in depth chemistry of saponification. On the positive side there are lots of hints and tips how to initially economise by using plastic cartons, shoe boxes and other throw away packaging that you may have instead of purchasing lots of silicon moulds. The step-by-step illustrations and text clearly guide you through the basic safety aspects and mixing of soap. The recipes are varied, give a good range of ideas and results that can be expected. There is a good troubleshooting guide at the end of the book to help you resolve and be aware of the problems you might encounter. The book would probably be more suited to someone who has already made soap rather than a novice.

Lynne Dobson
Customer Review

Offering a lovely introduction to this addictive hobby, Making Soap has everything crafters need to produce 18 different blends. Each recipe uses natural ingredients such as olive oil, juniper, cucumber and honey, which are kind to both skin and the environment. The book also includes information on utensils, safety issues and step-by-step guides, together with a useful section on fragrances, natural colourings and other additives. 

Making soap is riding high in the popularity stakes, and this visual guide shows readers everything they need to get started. 

* Craft Focus *

Beginner-friendly guide to making 18 lovely soaps using only natural ingredients that are kind to the environment. From olive oil to juniper and cucumber to honey, there are lots of gorgeous fragrances and colours to satisfy everyone.

* Crafts Beautiful - Christmas Special 20