The Handmade Soap Book

by Melinda Coss

This guide shows how to make luxury soaps using only natural ingredients and non-specialist equipment. The book features ingredients such as peach, peppermint, ylang ylang, cinnamon and chocolate, and includes recipes for shampoo bars, body splashes and bath creams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts

Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Sometimes I feel as if I have lived a hundred lives. You might recognise me as a craft author as I wrote a load of books about crafts back in the eighties and nineties. Or you may have heard my name associated with soap and skincare as, late in the nineties I created what became the largest handmade soap company in the UK. For the last fifteen years I have worked as a coach and business mentor to entrepreneurs wanting to build skincare business but at 72 I have decided to pivot yet again and my latest book "Your Age Is Your Business" (which you will find on Amazon and in good bookshops). really celebrates the gift of getting older and blows open the myth that we diminish rather than flourish when it comes to brain power and the ability to earn a serious living.
My purpose is to show those over 50 who are feeling unemployable or are bored with retirement that they can use the internet to sell what they have learned during their life journey.....and I'm nowhere near finished yet ! I'll let you know when I've decided what to do when I grow up.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference book, but it's a little short on some details for the totally green soapmaker and a lot of the recipes contain obscure ingredients. This book is better suited to the intermediate soapmaker. Interesting essay on the history of soap making. Plenty of recipes to try, categorized into floral, fruity, men, etc... Many batches are too large for someone who is making soap for their personal use - cut recipes in half to reduce risk of spoilage. Oh, and be prepared to source out some beeswax, as a good portion of the recipes call for it.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a bit of an eye opener for those of us that would like to make our own soaps to give as gifts. I didn't know that there were so many choices, options and equipment involved. A very good book nonetheless that is helpful in deciding what type of soap you will make and how to go about doing so.

[Daphne Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiene muy buenos datos, pero me causa un poco de desconfianza que sugiera usar jabón como shampoo

[T. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good reference book for newbies like me

[Carolyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part teaches you the basics of different types of soap and how to make them, and then a lot of recipes follow, very beautifully photographed (I almost want to eat the strawberry soap!) with an appendix at the end for soap packaging.

[Mamafeelgood]

If I ever decide to get my act together and make soap then I am definitely coming back to this book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos of soap, and straightforward "recipes" as well. Not quite sure I'm ready to dive into soapmaking but am well reassured that I could do it, if/when I wanted to.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great instructions and recipes. Also includes fizzies and shampoos. Definitely want to buy a copy.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and easy book with many recepies. I liked reading it and will try some of the soaps out I think.