Making Scented Soap: 60 fragrant soaps and bath bombes to make at home

by Linda Hamblen

A simple and sensuous pleasure, scented soap is easy to make, a delight to use, and an always welcome gift. Here are more than 60 recipes for handmade soaps, arranged by scent, that carry the heavenly fragrances of sunflower and calendula petals, lemon sherbet, rosemary and thyme, cucumber and peppermint, frankincense and myrrh. All the recipes call for natural bases derived from olive oil, jojoba, cocoa butter, and sweet almond extract. Citrus, floral, woodland, and herb accents can come from your own backyard. Instructions show how to use a variety of shapes and textures to create bath bars, bombes, scrubs, shaving soaps, shower gels, and fizzes. Because a handmade gift is so special, there is a section devoted to the finishing touches of packaging and presenting your soap treasures.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2003

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda did a prodigious job with this book. It's accessibly laid out, user-friendly, chock full of easy recipes combined with a thorough resources list, which includes tools and equipment, Essential Oils, Base Oils and Botanicals all illustrated with beautiful pictures to whet your desire to start creating fragrant soaps, bath bombs, salts, liquid soaps, massage bars and even an effortless way to recycle soap ends! And throughout the book, there's an enthusiastic encouragement for the reader to explore their inventiveness in making these practical & natural products for personal use and as charming gifts. An excellent guide and reference for the neophyte and those with acumen who may be looking for new recipes and or techniques.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I'm considering buying once I get to the stage where I can make soap on a more regular basis. If you're looking for ways to make your soap more interesting, this is a good one. It gives good information on the actual process of making soap, but also takes it to the more creative ends by teaching you how to use that soap to make bath bombs and other wonderful products. Arranging this book by type of scent makes it easy to find something for every mood and need. Highly recommended.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book for soap making. Explains how to make soap from scratch. Has great information on the materials one needs, a variety of essential oils for scenting soaps, etc. A nice resource for people interested in making their own soap (and not just scenting and coloring ready made soap base).

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's one of the first I have read on the topic, but I liked the really beautiful photos accompanying the soap recipes, the pages identifying potential problems associated with making your own soap. There are pages identifying suppliers and vendors. Just a lovely book--I don't buy a lot of books anymore but this is one I would buy.

[Anna George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazingly gorgeous and has great recipes. I love love love it and really wish it weren't out of print.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great list of botanicals and oils used in soaps and bath bombes. Interesting and different recipes. Definitely want to buy a copy.