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The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners: Do-It-Yourself Soaps Using All-Natural Herbs, Spices, and Essential Oils
Unleash your creativity by making your own all-natural soap
Making soap with all-natural ingredients lets you express your creative side while reducing chemicals in your cleansing routine, but where do you begin? This helpful resource for entry-level soap makers will demystify the process and show you how to bring nature and your own unique style into your everyday soaps.
What sets The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners apart from other soap making
Soap making basics—Learn all you need to know before making your first batch of soap, like the science behind what happens when you combine ingredients, helpful soap making terminology, and lists of all the supplies you’ll need (including lye). This section also provides instructions for using natural colors and scents to make your soaps look and smell beautiful.Step-by-step tutorials—Dive into cold-process soap making and unlock your artistic abilities using simple guides for mixing, melting, and pouring, as well as instructions for creating silky smooth, layered, and embossed soaps.55+ all-natural soap recipes—This book will teach you to make a variety of soaps infused with natural herbs, oils, and milks, including a creamy Gentle Baby Soap, an antioxidant-rich Avocado and Shea Face Bar with Aloe, and a nourishing Goat Milk and Honey Shampoo Bar.
Master the basic techniques you need to create luxurious soap and body care products with The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners.
Making soap with all-natural ingredients lets you express your creative side while reducing chemicals in your cleansing routine, but where do you begin? This helpful resource for entry-level soap makers will demystify the process and show you how to bring nature and your own unique style into your everyday soaps.
What sets The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners apart from other soap making
Soap making basics—Learn all you need to know before making your first batch of soap, like the science behind what happens when you combine ingredients, helpful soap making terminology, and lists of all the supplies you’ll need (including lye). This section also provides instructions for using natural colors and scents to make your soaps look and smell beautiful.Step-by-step tutorials—Dive into cold-process soap making and unlock your artistic abilities using simple guides for mixing, melting, and pouring, as well as instructions for creating silky smooth, layered, and embossed soaps.55+ all-natural soap recipes—This book will teach you to make a variety of soaps infused with natural herbs, oils, and milks, including a creamy Gentle Baby Soap, an antioxidant-rich Avocado and Shea Face Bar with Aloe, and a nourishing Goat Milk and Honey Shampoo Bar.
Master the basic techniques you need to create luxurious soap and body care products with The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2017
1671 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 28, 2020
Definitive guide!!
This is the book to read if you want to make soap but feel intimidated by the process. Cable explains everything so clearly, and has complete honesty about difficulty, explains realistic time expectations, and it felt like having a teacher with you. I'm so excited to make my first batch this week!
This is the book to read if you want to make soap but feel intimidated by the process. Cable explains everything so clearly, and has complete honesty about difficulty, explains realistic time expectations, and it felt like having a teacher with you. I'm so excited to make my first batch this week!
January 22, 2023
Definitely recommended this one if you are wanting to learn all the things about making soap!
Packed with GOOD info and resources.
Packed with GOOD info and resources.
January 5, 2025
In searching for a great book to recommend to students beginning soapmaking, this book checks nearly all the boxes. I would really give it 4.5 stars since many of the recipes sadly have no photos, but the structure of the book is fantastic, and it breaks steps down so easily. I have perused tons of soap books at this point, and this is truly the best for beginners. The author has a strong commitment to natural ingredients, which resonated with me.
The only mistake I noticed was the cure time for castille soap is listed as 4-6 weeks rather than 6+ months.
There are also not many vegan recipes since many use tallow or lard, but none use palm oil, so that's a win for sustainability.
The only mistake I noticed was the cure time for castille soap is listed as 4-6 weeks rather than 6+ months.
There are also not many vegan recipes since many use tallow or lard, but none use palm oil, so that's a win for sustainability.
September 3, 2020
It is an excellent book for beginners of soap making.
July 17, 2019
I have read probably 15+ books at this point, and know my way around a few of the most popular soap making websites. This is THE BEST book I've found for beginner soap makers.
All recipes use only natural (plant or clay based) scents and colorants. All recipes are PALM FREE. 40% of the recipes are VEGAN, while the others use lye or tallow. There are a couple of nut free recipes.
All the great things it includes, in book order:
1. Beginner section on basics like equipment and lye safety, and an AWESOME oil chart with oil properties, price rating, and saponification values.
2. A section on Natural Additives and Colors that are truly natural (plant based or clays). She covers things to add for texture and plants to use for natural coloring.
3. A section on Essential Oils for scent, with ideas for creating essential oil blends for soap. This is definitely more intermediate, for those looking to play around with their own scents, but she gives plenty of simple scent examples in her recipes.
4. A detailed step by step guide to making cold process soap. Just as good as any you can find on the internet, but an important thing to have in a beginner's book. Includes pictures of trace. There's also a troubleshooting section that I love!
5. Helpful tutorials for 3 basic design techniques: embossing, swirling, and layering.
6. A total of 56 recipes. 22 of them are vegan.
There were only a few CONS I didn't like about this book:
1. The Crafting Your Own Recipe section was done poorly. It was rather vague compared to the rest of the book, and ALL of the starting bases had either lard or tallow.
2. The last section on Packaging Soap was also not great. It had a few great ideas and tips if you are looking to gift your soaps, but for those looking to sell soaps this section is lacking a lot of important information.
3. Lastly, most of the companies she recommends purchasing from are ridiculously expensive. Please don't buy from these companies! Bramble berry has better prices than most of the places listed, and they aren't even close to the best prices.
Overall I would still HIGHLY recommend this book! There is so much good information packed into one place that I can't even knock it for the few cons. Even with those sections omitted this would be an excellent book.
All recipes use only natural (plant or clay based) scents and colorants. All recipes are PALM FREE. 40% of the recipes are VEGAN, while the others use lye or tallow. There are a couple of nut free recipes.
All the great things it includes, in book order:
1. Beginner section on basics like equipment and lye safety, and an AWESOME oil chart with oil properties, price rating, and saponification values.
2. A section on Natural Additives and Colors that are truly natural (plant based or clays). She covers things to add for texture and plants to use for natural coloring.
3. A section on Essential Oils for scent, with ideas for creating essential oil blends for soap. This is definitely more intermediate, for those looking to play around with their own scents, but she gives plenty of simple scent examples in her recipes.
4. A detailed step by step guide to making cold process soap. Just as good as any you can find on the internet, but an important thing to have in a beginner's book. Includes pictures of trace. There's also a troubleshooting section that I love!
5. Helpful tutorials for 3 basic design techniques: embossing, swirling, and layering.
6. A total of 56 recipes. 22 of them are vegan.
There were only a few CONS I didn't like about this book:
1. The Crafting Your Own Recipe section was done poorly. It was rather vague compared to the rest of the book, and ALL of the starting bases had either lard or tallow.
2. The last section on Packaging Soap was also not great. It had a few great ideas and tips if you are looking to gift your soaps, but for those looking to sell soaps this section is lacking a lot of important information.
3. Lastly, most of the companies she recommends purchasing from are ridiculously expensive. Please don't buy from these companies! Bramble berry has better prices than most of the places listed, and they aren't even close to the best prices.
Overall I would still HIGHLY recommend this book! There is so much good information packed into one place that I can't even knock it for the few cons. Even with those sections omitted this would be an excellent book.
December 22, 2021
My favorite soap making book!!!!
I return to this book over and over for ideas, inspiration, and instruction. I learned how to make soap from this book, and I now have a business selling my soaps- and I have yet to experience a failed batch of soap after almost 4 years! I got the confidence I needed and the instructions are clear and concise. I cannot recommend this book enough!!!
I return to this book over and over for ideas, inspiration, and instruction. I learned how to make soap from this book, and I now have a business selling my soaps- and I have yet to experience a failed batch of soap after almost 4 years! I got the confidence I needed and the instructions are clear and concise. I cannot recommend this book enough!!!
January 31, 2021
Really loved the book. Its very simple and down to earth. The author is actually convinced that the soap from scratch should be made of 100% natural ingredients, including colorants and aromas.
September 28, 2017
Title: The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners - Do-It-Yourself Soaps Using All-Natural Herbs, Spices, and Essential Oils
Author: Kelly Cable
Publisher: Callisto Publishing & Althea Press
Published: 8-1-2017
Pages: 348
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies
Sub-Genre: DIY, Soap Making, Handmade, Home & Garden, Health & Beauty
ISBN: 9781939754035
ASIN: B0742KPLGR
Reviewed For Callisto Publishing & Althea Press
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars
If there is one thing about growing up allergic to just about everything was the opportunity to learn. My parent from the time I was born had to be sure there were no dyes, additives, abrasive cleansers or such in my soap, shampoos, powders, laundry detergents etc. My mother began making soaps, shampoo and laundry detergent and taught all her children how to do at well. The fun part was we each had or own personal scent. By the time I was ten I could make lavender, rose, orange blossom, peach, gardenia and lilac, soaps, shampoos and body lotions and powder. Somewhere over the years of shots as my tolerance grew I got away from making these soaps and such. In Kelly Cable's The Natural Soap making Book for beginners I got a refresher course. I was surprised by how much I remembered and how similar Kelley's instructions were to what my mother and grandmother taught me,.
As I slowly made up a batch of the soap I was taken back decades with the smell of scented soaps slowly cooling in the molds. This truly is a primer for those just learning or those like myself trying to remember and get black into the flow of making these beautiful bars once more. Whether for your self or to give as gifts you will find the recipes easy to follow, the text is easy to understand. Ms. Gable goes over the basic equipment, ingredients, safety precautions and decorative techniques. So put your mind at ease. If you have been wanting to try, but been afraid it would be too time consuming or costly or just to difficult the fear no more. The Natural Soap Making Book breaks it down and guides you along step by step.
My rating of "The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners - Do-It-Yourself Soaps Using All-Natural Herbs, Spices, and Essential Oils" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1939754038/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Natura...
Google Play Link: Not Available
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Kelly Cable
Publisher: Callisto Publishing & Althea Press
Published: 8-1-2017
Pages: 348
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies
Sub-Genre: DIY, Soap Making, Handmade, Home & Garden, Health & Beauty
ISBN: 9781939754035
ASIN: B0742KPLGR
Reviewed For Callisto Publishing & Althea Press
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars
If there is one thing about growing up allergic to just about everything was the opportunity to learn. My parent from the time I was born had to be sure there were no dyes, additives, abrasive cleansers or such in my soap, shampoos, powders, laundry detergents etc. My mother began making soaps, shampoo and laundry detergent and taught all her children how to do at well. The fun part was we each had or own personal scent. By the time I was ten I could make lavender, rose, orange blossom, peach, gardenia and lilac, soaps, shampoos and body lotions and powder. Somewhere over the years of shots as my tolerance grew I got away from making these soaps and such. In Kelly Cable's The Natural Soap making Book for beginners I got a refresher course. I was surprised by how much I remembered and how similar Kelley's instructions were to what my mother and grandmother taught me,.
As I slowly made up a batch of the soap I was taken back decades with the smell of scented soaps slowly cooling in the molds. This truly is a primer for those just learning or those like myself trying to remember and get black into the flow of making these beautiful bars once more. Whether for your self or to give as gifts you will find the recipes easy to follow, the text is easy to understand. Ms. Gable goes over the basic equipment, ingredients, safety precautions and decorative techniques. So put your mind at ease. If you have been wanting to try, but been afraid it would be too time consuming or costly or just to difficult the fear no more. The Natural Soap Making Book breaks it down and guides you along step by step.
My rating of "The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners - Do-It-Yourself Soaps Using All-Natural Herbs, Spices, and Essential Oils" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1939754038/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Natura...
Google Play Link: Not Available
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
September 19, 2020
Where are the pictures? As someone who is fairly new to soap making I was after a book that would provide the science as well as lots of different recipes to try. I picked this book given the number of recipes and I liked the natural aspect of it. However I found the lack of photos frustrating, even the section on doing different techniques used illustrations. I found the recipes to be very similar, perhaps that was why it lacked photos. There was very little science, everything was glossed over with no depth. Frankly more can be learnt from a brief study via some wonderful soap makers on youtube. Finally for a non fiction book on soap making, I found Cable's writing to be very opinionated, judgey and with a healthy dose of self-righteousness. Ah, so disappointed.
December 4, 2024
I LOVED this one! My daughter and I were flipping through it today. She loved all the beautiful pictures (she's only 18 months old). In addition to all of the inspiring recipes, Cable goes over all the soap bases and what they are best for, what natural ingredients you can use to color and scent your soap. I was extra excited about the herbal infusions and dried flowers because while they do add color, texture, and scent, they also have medicinal qualities. She even mentions using fruit purees. I was curious to know how a fruit soap would store, though she didn't mention it. Five out of five stars!
February 25, 2025
Informative and easy to follow along. There's a ton of good information and I learned a few things. The recipes are great and well explained. The process is well presented, organized, and provides great step-by-step instructions. As a technical writer myself, this is something I look for in everything I read. What I liked best was that she explained in detail the WHY of things and broke the process down in stages, extremely helpful. I'm not sure I will take on this endeavor, as this particular cold-press soapmaking process is quite involved and time-consuming. But, if/when I do, I will definitely start with this book. A great way to start!!!!
March 22, 2025
When my husband first received the book I was excited. Although I have watched videos of soap making, this is what I needed. I am a reader. This starts out with the basics and safety. To me, understanding the basics is important. The added benefit is all the recipes included in the book. This excited me because, when I retire at the end of next school year, this is going to be my main role in my husband's business. I am entering my next phase of life with the confidence I have not had with all the videos I have watched. I have two students at school who have made soap through their Ag class. I will definitely tell them that this is a must have book if they wish to continue on their own making soap in the future.
November 14, 2019
Great place to start!
I am thankful for this book, as it's a wonderful jumping off point for soap making. The author is very concise and clear on the instructions. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because I would have liked if she didn't rely heavily on the lye calculator sites. It would have been a lot nicer if she taught the breakdown of ingredients more than just kind of pointing to the direction of the site.
I am thankful for this book, as it's a wonderful jumping off point for soap making. The author is very concise and clear on the instructions. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because I would have liked if she didn't rely heavily on the lye calculator sites. It would have been a lot nicer if she taught the breakdown of ingredients more than just kind of pointing to the direction of the site.
October 27, 2023
Great for those who want to hit the ground running
I'm one that jumps in head first with my impulsive projects. I need to get off store bought soaps for health reasons, and I need to do it quickly. This book helps me with that. No blah blah blah from some story of some event in the past. Clear information from the start. My only speed bump will be myself and the curing time, but I'll get over that.
I'm one that jumps in head first with my impulsive projects. I need to get off store bought soaps for health reasons, and I need to do it quickly. This book helps me with that. No blah blah blah from some story of some event in the past. Clear information from the start. My only speed bump will be myself and the curing time, but I'll get over that.
skimmed
November 26, 2023Nice summaries of oil characteristics, list of top 10 essential oils, troubleshooting tips, and recipe design step-by-steps. This is one of the first books I've looked through that suggests tallow & lard for the basic / beginner soaps. Seems like a nice book with several recipes I want to try. A little light on photos -- there were several times I thought there should have been photos to illustrate the designs being described.
April 30, 2018
Ehh...
I mean it's a decent book for beginners I suppose but it also seems like another soaper shaming creators that use fragrance oils and FDA approved colorants. Also please actually read the ONE study she references about titanium dioxide. It does not state that the outcome determines titanium dioxide is causes DNA damage. You should also probably use more resources than one study to make a claim like that. Just don't believe everything that you read. Also if you were to actually make soap to sell using all essential oils and natural colorants, etc. You would have to charge A LOT for a bar of soap depending on what essential oils you use and herbs, etc. The stuff is not cheap. Just a lot of things to consider and don't take it all as the gospel.
I mean it's a decent book for beginners I suppose but it also seems like another soaper shaming creators that use fragrance oils and FDA approved colorants. Also please actually read the ONE study she references about titanium dioxide. It does not state that the outcome determines titanium dioxide is causes DNA damage. You should also probably use more resources than one study to make a claim like that. Just don't believe everything that you read. Also if you were to actually make soap to sell using all essential oils and natural colorants, etc. You would have to charge A LOT for a bar of soap depending on what essential oils you use and herbs, etc. The stuff is not cheap. Just a lot of things to consider and don't take it all as the gospel.
January 21, 2019
There is a lot to take on in the pages of this book for a beginning soap maker. However, the basics are well covered, and when those are mastered through practice, I think this will be a wonderful resource book with endless ideas for creative soap making in the future.
Read
July 17, 2020This book was okay. There were a lot of recipes that sound interesting but I was put off by the different oils used (not essential oils) because they are not readily available to me. I think I would have liked more melt and pour soap recipes so perhaps this was the wrong book for me.
December 10, 2020
Excellent recipes--which I've not tried yet, but am inspired to after reading--and clear techniques and safety protocols. I checked it out from the library to see if this newbie wanted to buy it, and I do.
May 23, 2022
I learned a lot about soap making from this book and made my first beach if soap this weekend! I can't wait for it to finish curing so I can use it!! I definitely want to try out the different methods in the book!
August 7, 2022
Great for beginners! I can't wait to make my first batch of soap using one the recipes in the book. There are fewer pictures than I would have thought, but I think the text did a pretty good job of explaining thing simply while throwing in the science of it all.
November 2, 2024
I found this book refreshing. Many "how to" books are dry and over-technical. This one is clear, concise and considerate of the beginner. Well written and full of recipes that build on the lessons.
May 7, 2025
Just what I was hoping for: all the basic information to get started in one place (instead of having to hunt down various internet personalities and try to synthesize all of it), plus an excellent collection of recipes to keep me busy pursuing both my practical and creative sides!
August 7, 2017
A good beginner's and recipe book.
The only thing missing for me is how to make liquid soap for shower gels, shampoos and hand wash. Otherwise a very good, clearly written book.
The only thing missing for me is how to make liquid soap for shower gels, shampoos and hand wash. Otherwise a very good, clearly written book.
December 14, 2017
Need to try some of the recipes before I give it a five star.
Very informative and lots of recipes. I need to try some before I give it five star rating. Loved it.
Very informative and lots of recipes. I need to try some before I give it five star rating. Loved it.
April 3, 2018
Great Book for Beginners
I would recommend this book to newbies and to all soap makers. I’ve learned so much from this book, the natural and right way to make soap.
I would recommend this book to newbies and to all soap makers. I’ve learned so much from this book, the natural and right way to make soap.
June 15, 2019
Very informational.
Read
October 1, 2019The recipes are awesome. The instructions were great. We made our first batch of cold process successfully. Going to try the hot process next.
January 21, 2020
There are some great soap recipe ideas that i’m excited to try from this book. There’s just not enough pictures!
April 10, 2020
Informative
Has great recipes and advice in here. Easy to follow and step by step directions, and troubleshooting as well. Fantastic.
Has great recipes and advice in here. Easy to follow and step by step directions, and troubleshooting as well. Fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews