Natural Soap: Techniques and Recipes for Beautiful Handcrafted Soaps, Lotions, and Balms (IMM Lifestyle Books)

In addition to the beautifully laid-out photos and the clarity and logical sequencing of content, Melinda Coss goes the extra mile in describing the importance of selecting ingredients. For example, she included a discussion on the importance of considering ecological & sustainability concerns when purchasing carrier oils and other natural ingredient from reputable suppliers. For me, this issue and fair trade practices are very important. Beyond the usual discussions of the qualities and constituencies of commonly used carrier oils & waxes, Ms. Coss also included important information related to endocrine, hormonal and cellular health impacts of psuedo-natural, and synthetic ingredients frequently used by both commercial and home soap makers to enhance specific qualities such lathering, foaming, creaminess, conditioning, and hardness. Specifically discussed are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLeS), Parabens, DEA and Borax among others. This book offers good practical suggestions as well as scientific advice on soap crafting. For example, when explaining the process of saponification and its effect on skin-nutrient ingredients in carrier oils the author suggests investing wisely in lower-grade carrier oils like olive pomace instead of extra-virgin, first processed olive oil because pomace produces a better lather and perhaps even a harder bar. On the other hand, as most soap-makers are probably aware, certain oils like Jojoba (a wax), Borage Seed,oil and Emu are very expensive and should be used in small amounts or reserved for use in lotions & creams for which there are also wonderful recipes in the book. Of course, the author includes wonderful cold-process soap recipes and an excellent listing of reputable suppliers, some of which are U.K. based while others are located in the U.S. Unfortunately, some like Snowdriftfarms.com are no longer in business. I can personally attest to the quality of service and professional reputations of many resources included on the U.S. based portion of the list. Lastly, the author also provides helpful information on selling, marketing, advertising, promoting and packaging your soaps. I highly recommend "Natural Soap: Techniques and Recipes for Beautiful Handcrafted Soaps" to anyone interested in the craft whether for personal use or for professional development.

Fantastic book! It's very informative in terms of the soap making process, and natural ingredients alike. Great for beginner and intermediate soap makers. A plus, the illustrations in this book are beautiful and vibrant. I will be buying another one shortly for my cousin, this book is a must have. Don't let the lack of feedback stop you from buying this book!

Lots of good info and lovely photos. Interesting recipes not found elsewhere (looking forward to trying the Fig & Honey one someday). Word of caution - double check the math on figuring out how much lye is needed when creating your own recipes. She says that 20oz of oil equals 500g, which works out to 25g/oz. Last I knew, the conversion was closer to 28.35g/oz.

Basic, direct to the point with a touch of the author's personality. It's like doing the soap with Melinda beside me.

I love this book and constantly go back to it when needed. Very informative and is a must have. Has sections on lotions balms an also liquid soap making as well as cold process soap making. Thanks!

I have not made any of the recipes yet, but they look interesting.

I am a beginner skin care maker and this is a great beginner book. I used this as a guide. I wish there was a recipe for the African soap though.

Beautiful pictures. Nice recipes, I have tried a few. There are a few recipes with ingredients that I don't think you can get in the United States. But I enjoy learning about the different soap recipes anyway.

ついでに購入したつもりの本でしたが、とても面白かった。外国人ならでの石けんレシピ本の表現もとても興味深く参考になった。

I have really enjoyed reading this book. It's very educational and I think I might try making some of these recipes as it looks like a lot of fun. Also gives information about what to look out for when buying ready-made soaps and makes a bit more sense of the contents of what is out there on the market. I was exceptionally pleased to see that this book teaches more than making bars of soaps - it includes recipes for liquid soap and shampoo, as well as lotions, balms and scrubs. Could keep me busy for quite some time... The author also gives advice about selling the goodies once they are made or giving as gifts. I was also surprised to learn about alternative uses for batches of soap if they go wrong - or for left-over bits like trimmings or the ends from large blocks. I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking of starting to make soap as it will guide and inspire in everyday language that is easily understood by someone who might not know the techincal jargon.

海外のせっけん本、日本語で読みたい！ 見てる分にも楽しいですが…

I purchased this book several months ago, and have been trying many of the soap recipes. The book offers a considerable variety of soaps to make from basic ingredients, using the cold process method, including hard and soft soaps. The book is easy to follow with comprehensive instructions, and descriptions of all ingredients. All but one of the soap recipes worked well, the sea salt soap did not work for me. The recipes are varied and offer an insight into possibilities for making your own soaps. The book also includes sections on creams and balms. I am about to make some of these, and given the success of the soaps, I am fully confident the recipes for these will work well. Some of the ingredients e.g. watermelon oil, have proved impossible to source in the UK, at least I haven't found a source. However, I think this book deserves a 5 star rating. If you are looking for a book to instruct you in how to make soaps I can recommend this one.

This book is very clear, the information is easy to read and the illustrations are helpful and productive. I love the passion of the author.