Simple & Natural Soapmaking: Create 100% Pure and Beautiful Soaps with The Nerdy Farm Wife’s Easy Recipes and Techniques

by Jan Berry

Create Fabulous Modern Soaps The Truly Natural, Eco-Friendly WayWith this new comprehensive guide, herbalist Jan Berry offers everything the modern-day enthusiast needs to make incredible botanical soaps. Beginners can join in the sudsy fun with detailed tutorials and step-by-step photographs for making traditional cold-process soap and the more modern hot-process method with a slow cooker. Jan presents 50 easy, unique soap recipes with ingredients and scents inspired by the herb garden, veggie garden, farm, forest and more. Sample soap recipes you won’t want to miss are Lavender Milk Bath Bars, Sweet Honey & Shea Layers Soap, Creamy Avocado Soap, Citrus Breeze Brine Bars, Mountain Man Beard & Body Bars and Classic Cedarwood & Coconut Milk Shave Soap. Featured resources are Jan’s handy guides to common soapmaking essential oils and their properties, oil and milk infusions with healing herbs and easy decoration techniques. The book also contains Jan’s highly anticipated natural colorants gallery showcasing more than 50 soaps that span the rainbow. Soap crafters of all levels will enjoy referencing this book for years to come.*All recipes are sustainably palm-free!*Expand your herbal product collection with these other books in Jan Berry's bestselling - Easy Homemade Melt & Pour Soaps- The Big Book of Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2017

Reviews

[Lara (luellabella) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 grateful stars. After replacing most of our family’s toiletries and cleaning products with homemade, the next thing on my list was soap! I don’t know why, but the amount of information on the internet scared me away from even trying, as I sifted through hundreds of overly complicated recipes, and lots of soaps containing colours and fragrances which I was trying to avoid. I stumbled upon this book at the library and it was the answer to my prayers. Simple, natural soap recipes perfect for the beginner, covering everything from natural colours, shampoos and shaving soap. I love it so much I’ve purchased a copy.

[Kitten Kisser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Natural Soap Making Book That Doesn't Self Promote Or Make False Claims About Being Natural

I never heard of Jan Berry until I read her book '101 Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health & Home: A Nerdy Farm Wife's All-Natural DIY Projects Using Commonly Found Herbs, Flowers & Other Plants'. While I liked that book, there were a few things I wasn't thrilled with. One of them was the very short & sweet soap making chapter. There is a lot involved in making soap & I felt that the author should have provided a lot more info. for the reader. Low & behold Jan comes out with this book. Naturally, I grabbed it up & dug right in. I love it.

For beginner soap makers the process of making soap is scary & overwhelming. I don't think it will matter which book you choose. "Wear goggles, gloves, full sleeves, don't breathe the fumes!" It's enough to scare anyone. My first attempts at soap making were with milk from my own Nigerian Dwarf goats. I didn't learn from Jan. I learned from 'Milk Soapmaking: The Smart Guide to Making Milk Soap From Cow Milk, Goat Milk, Buttermilk, Cream, Coconut Milk, or Any Other Animal or Plant Milk'. I found a recipe that I love & to this day, make adjustments to that one recipe as my base.

The thing I really love about Jan's book is that she doesn't use fragrance oils, or man made colorants. Every single recipe uses anything from essential oils, infused herbs, spices, clays, flowers, etc. Not only that but she doesn't promote other brands or try to get you to buy something. I cannot even tell you how many soap making books I've come across with beautiful enticing 'soap porn' photos only to find that the book has ridiculously complicated recipes requiring you shop at that authors website. Another thing I come across all of the time is books saying 'natural' soap making. Yet they will recommend things that most certainly are not natural. Jan has written a book that is hands down perfect for a person like myself who runs an organic farm & doesn't want potentially toxic unnatural ingredients in their soap. If you are looking for this too, then this book without a doubt is for you.

While I am already experienced in making milk soap, there are things I never attempted. Lovely things like swirls, pencil marks, layers (I did this a little, they came out okay), impressions & colorants (other than what I grew myself which were always hit or miss). I have tried a few of Jan's techniques & have been more than pleased with the results. She also provides full color images of what different natural ingredients can do for the color of the soap. I love seeing how adding a certain amount of an ingredient can change the color of the soap in so many different ways depending on when it is added & how much is added. For example what different shades of pink you can get out of one natural colorant like rose clay.

The book begins with a chapter titled 'Getting Started' this gives you the basics on safety, equipment & basic how to's. The middle of the book provides a wide variety of recipes using both hot & cold soap methods. It starts with simple recipes, progressed to herbs, veggies & flowers, continues on with milk, honey & even eggs. There are also recipes for soaps using salt, & pine tar. You'll find recipes for shampoo bars & shaving soaps as well. My favorite section that I already mentioned is the one on techniques & tips. Nearly to the very end she provides troubleshooting advice using full color photos. There is also a useful resources section.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to make natural soaps. If you are a beginner, don't be scared. Keep it simple. Make a batch of plain soap to get a feel for how it works. Like anything, you will learn as you go & get a feel for what is right. If you want to learn all about milk soap I recommend the book I previously mentioned, 'Milk Soapmaking' go ahead & get this book too. As you progress with your milk soap, you'll appreciate all the techniques & tips in this book.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous book, filled with dozens of intriguing possibilities for soapmaking. Whether you're going for a simple brick of soap or something with a bit more flair, this book is a great resource. Simple, easy to understand steps are suitable for the beginner, too.

The organization of Simple Natural Soapmaking is very helpful. The author gets us started, then progresses to recipes, soaps with an herbal, orchard or vegetable flair, soaps from the sea or from the fragrant green forest and soaps you might find in a gorgeous spa. Once the soapmaker has mastered the basics, one can take this hobby to the next level by blending essential oils, creating swirls or tiger stripes or even preparing tea infusions.

If you can't figure out what to get someone for her birthday, this would be a delightful choice!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas for making beautiful soap naturally

This isn't my first book on soap making. I bought it because I wanted ideas for turning my basic soap into beautiful but by using natural ingredients. This book doesn't disappoint. She has lots of recipes, ways to use herbs, things out of the garden or forest., ideas for using natural things to add color. The author gives good instructions on how to do a variety of designs. I really like that she gives a list of essential oils and ideas for mixing oils for lovely blends. I refer to this book regularly.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many wonderful recipes. Also, a very helpful guide to naturally coloring soaps with examples of color saturation depending on amount used. Recipes range from very basic and inexpensive to make, to pretty elaborate and expensive to source ingredients for. Definitely a soapmaking book worth owning.

[Jeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second book I've read that Jan Berry has written. It did not disappoint. I tested two of the recipes in this book and loved both. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the book to try any of the new recipes. What a treat to read this book and to make these lovely soaps.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The process seems a bit daunting, but this author explains everything really well, and the recipes look so easy! I particularly appreciated the repetition of the reminder to wear protective clothing and gear. I hope to try these methods one day.

[Jen Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I chose this book from the slew of options I had to expand my beginner knowledge of soap-making. Excellent instruction, beautiful recipes, great tips and resource lists for oils, botanicals, troubleshooting etc. I love this book.

[Lucas Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked out 5 soap making books from the library and this is by far the definitive book on the subject. 10/10!
The other books recycled the same recipes and information almost as if plagiarized. But this book is amazing and has very cool and unique recipes. Highly recommend

[February Four · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book written well. Tons of recipes and a few nice decorating tips.

[Carolan Lassiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great easy to follow recipes, with lots of info and correct safety precautions when making soap.

[Christie’s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I love that all of the recipes in this book are palm free. My favorite section is the troubleshooting section. Great to have.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

such great recipes and the best reference for colouring lye based soap with natural dyes

[Rachel Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Jan Berry books, she goes into a lot of detail and gives so many ideas to create your own beautiful recipes. This book has a good mixture of soap types and uses.

[Christinedstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

great info on all soap making

I have always enjoy the in-depth information even making soap for over 20 years. You can always learn a new technique!

[Leila Pitchford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of recipes and techniques

[Kandrea Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gained immense and valuable knowledge from reading this book. The soaps I have made so far from several different recipes all turned out beautifully. The pictures complement the content vividly.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great beginners guide and the recipes can be easily built upon to make more complex soaps.

[MegsChaosLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

so easy to read and understand! love the recipes and how they transition from beginner basic to more advanced.