Making Soap From Scratch: How to Make Handmade Soap - A Beginners Guide and Beyond
Authors Note: Regarding the first edition of this book, I listened closely to all of the reviews I read here and also the feedback directly from readers. From their comments, I included all the things that readers/reviewers felt were missing from the first edition: more instructions on STANDARD soap making, more recipes for standard soap making, how to swirl colors in soap, how to sell soap, how to cut and cure soap, how to set up a booth at a craft fair or market.The original "Bubbles and Bull" section where I described past business relations that went south has been greatly edited to only two stories, leaving more room for soap talk and soap recipes. The second edition also includes a section for those who want a few recipes using animal fats. CONTENTS:-All about Soap(the history of soap of how it transformed through the years)-Types of Soap(cold process, hot process, liquid soap, soap balls)-Soap Making Terms and Equipment(all the necessary soap making lingo and the supplies you need to get started)-The Oils in Soap Making(the variety of soap making oils and their properties)-Saponification Chart(the math behind creating soap recipes)-Standard Soap Making Instructions(how to make cold processed soap)-Standard Soap Recipes(a variety of soap recipes for specialty, luxury, and everyday use)-Animal Fat Recipes(a few recipes for those who like lard or beef tallow soap)-Master Batch Soap Making Instructions(how to pre-melt large batches of oils to make large quantities of soap)-Master Batch Soap recipes(more soap making recipes that can be re-sized for single batches)-An Overview of Essential Oils(the basic properties of some of the most widely used essential oils)-Selling, Packaging, and Labeling(how to get your soap ready for sale)-Tales of Running a Soap business(funny stories and practical advice from an experienced soap maker)-Resources and Suppliers(where to find all the ingredients soap makers use) FROM THE PREFACE:My own interest in body care products came when I worked as the assistant manager for the well-known skin care company, Garden Botanika. Around the same time, I saw the Sandra Bullock movie, Practical Magic (based on the book by Alice Hoffman), and fell in love with the look and feel of her little bath and botanical shop. When Garden Botanika down-sized and closed their locations in the Southern states, the interest in skincare stayed with me. Research took me down a slightly different path as I learned more and more about natural skincare versus the mass-produced selections found in so many stores today. So the urge hit me again and I decided to reread the books I had purchased about soap making to figure out where I had gone wrong. That was back in 1999. Today, our soap company, aromagregory, produces thousands of pounds of soap each year, all made using original recipes that either my partner or I created. This is the journey I will take you on - the beginning process of making good soap that is great for your skin. Once you get started and get the hang of it, beware. With so many scents and ingredients to choose from, it can become an addiction. The guest room may become the soap factory. Your friends will wish you would just stop talking about soap! The ledge of our bath tub looks like a cemetery; where rows and rows of soap line up side by side, waiting to see which one will strike our fancy for a quick morning shower or a relaxing bath at night. In the first part of the book, I will explain how to make soap the regular way, by pulling out your ingredients, weighing and melting your oils, etc. This method is a good way of making small batches of soap just for friends and family. Also, the recipes include a wider variety of ingredients and let you experiment with different carrier oils. The second part of the book focuses of what is called master-batch soap making. This is when your premix all of your carrier oils (olive, coconut, canola, etc.) and let them sit at room temperature until it is time to make soap. This method is good for making a lot of soap in a short amount of time and will focus on recipes that include just a few good carrier oils. Are you ready to begin? There is no turning back once you get the feel for this creative and rewarding form of art. Thanks so much,AuthorGregory Lee White BOOK CORRECTIONS UPDATE - the below corrections are for copies purchased prior to 12-03-2013. Editions after this date have correct recipes amounts and all general book typos have been corrected.Hemp Soap Recipe - lye amount is missing from recipe. The correct amount is 6.1 ounces. Goats Milk Ylang-Ylang soap - the correct amount of essentials oils used in recipe should be: 2 ounces of ylang-ylang and 1 ounce of patchouli