Cool Soapmaking: The Smart Guide to Low-Temp Tricks for Making Soap, or How to Handle Fussy Ingredients Like Milk, Citrus, Cucumber, Pine Tar, Beer, and Wine

Smart Soap Making #5

by Anne L. Watson

Soapmakers may love to add a variety of materials to soap, but they find that some cause more trouble than others. In the heat of the chemical reaction, an ingredient might discolor, or lose its scent, or develop a bad smell. Or it might cause problems during soapmaking, giving off noxious fumes, or making the soap harden so fast that there's no time to pour it in the mold.

Help has arrived.

Anne L. Watson extends the low-temp techniques from her book -Milk Soapmaking- to making soap from a variety of special ingredients, including cucumber, citrus, pine tar, beer, and wine. Soaps that have long challenged home soapmakers will now pose no problem at all.

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Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Friday Harbor, Washington.

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CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED
(From High-Temp Soapmaking to Low)

WHAT DO I PUT INTO IT?
(The Ingredients of Cool Soapmaking)

WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT?
(Gathering the Equipment You Need)

PROJECT #1: MILK SOAPS

Recipe: Anne's Cool Milk Soap

COOL SOAPMAKING STEP-BY-STEP
(From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond)

PROJECT #2: CUCUMBER SOAPS

Recipe: Basic Cucumber Soap
Recipe: Cucumber Yogurt Soap
Recipe: Cucumber Green Clay Soap
Recipe: Cucumber Apricot Soap
Recipe: Cucumber Avocado Soap

Sidebar: Designing Cucumber Soaps

PROJECT #3: CITRUS SOAPS

Recipe: Basic Citrus Soap
Recipe: Orange Yogurt Soap
Recipe: Citrus Honey Soap
Recipe: Ruby Red Grapefruit Soap

Sidebar: Designing Citrus Soaps

PROJECT #4: SOAPS WITH ACCELERANTS

Recipe: Sweet Bay Soap
Recipe: Pine Tar Soap

Sidebar: Designing Soaps with Accelerants

PROJECT #5: BEER and WINE SOAPS

Recipe: Basic Beer Soap
Recipe: Chocolate Ale Soap
Recipe: Red Wine Soap
Recipe: White Wine Soap
Recipe: Anne's Coconut Beer Soap

Sidebar: Designing Beer and Wine Soaps

WHY? WHY? WHY?
(Frequently Asked Questions)

WHERE TO FIND MORE

66 pages, Paperback

Published December 28, 2016

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool Soapmaking by Anne L Watson is a soapmaking book for the soapmaker that wants to up their game. If you are a soapmaker and have had problems and need solutions or want to add a variety of ingredients that seem challenging, well this is your book. This writer walks you through everything from the lye to use, molds and why, timing, cutting, when to add scents and how much, and recipes for low-temp soap recipes. No more burning soap or fingers! This is filled with so many tips and tricks that I can't wait to try them out! She makes it so simple, thanks so much Anne! The book is well organized with a list for all the things you will need to make your soaps, step by step guides, special tips/tricks on each, recipes, and she has a wide variety of ingredients she discusses. Wonderful details. I received this book for a honest review from NetGalley and it in no way effected my review or rating. Great Job!!!

[Books In Brogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for those that already have a basic knowledge of different soap making techniques the author has developed a "cool process" that creates a home variation for those looking to advance your l soap making options.

While it is not a long book there are a lot of different recipes and variations for the reader to try.This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan

[Margaret Sholders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always interested in the "Old Ways". I like to see how crafts came to be items we use now. Soapmaking is just one. There is a lady who is a Sutler at Civil War reenactments. I always get my soap from her. Anne is very careful to tell that soapmaking is dangerous. She is very specific on what works and don't ignore your work. I was surprised at what you can make into soap. I don't have room or the patience to make batches. I hope you will check out Anne's recipes and try them out. Enjoy your project! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.

[Myreda Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and informative.

I learned a lot about soap making from reading this concise guide. The Cool method seems to solve some common problems encountered with more traditional methods. Interesting read. The author obviously has a wealth of experience to draw from.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love do it yourself books, its making me remember that my maternal grandma used to make soap. Hers probably wasn't safe like this though.