I have had an interest in making special and gift soaps for some time now. I would check out the books, look over the necessary supplies of molds, dyes, scents, and even looked in to various types of "packaging." Finally, not too long ago I just "went for it" and bought enough supplies to make about 10 bars of soap as well as a small guide to show me how to make some basic soaps.

I thought I would give it a whirl and see if this was something I would like to continue with. Well, it was so easy and the results were nice that I decided to buy a book, Melt & Pour Soapmaking, that dealt with more advanced techniques in melt and pour soapmaking. There was nothing scary about soapmaking. There is no special talent needed.

Things have really changed from the "dark ages" when caustic lye was used and you labored away over bubbling cauldrons of liquid soap that could curl your toes or singe your eyebrows off! lol You can make beautiful bars of soft luxurient soap in an amazing variety of looks, colors, scents, as well as a variety of purposes ~ and not only lye free, but actually work free!! Yeah!!!

This soap-making adventure turned out to be so easy that my boys, Michael who is 8, and Daniel, 5 1/2, picked out which mold each wanted to use, then helped me pick out the blended colors and selected the scents we would use. They also wanted to add some sparkles to "their" bars of soap which we did. Their very first bars of soap went to Grandma ~ they were so proud! I handled the hot soap liquid, but let them add the colors and scents as well as take the finished soaps out of the molds. They thought it was just the "funnest thing" and couldn't wait to make some more soap!

If you have ever wanted to make soap, for yourself, for friends, to give as a gift, I want you to know it is E A S Y and I N E X P E N S I V E. All told, all the materials I bought for my first "batch" of soap came to under $20 ~ Now that $20 included 6 different tubes of dye and 2 different vials of scent/extract as well as "sparkle dust" and 4 molds ~ in addition to the soap base. I now have enough dye and scent/extract and my "fairy" dust to carry forward for approximately a couple hundred more bars of soap. Not only is this hobby fun, it is easy and cheap to boot! So, if you have the desire, just go for it!! :o)

Melt & Pour Soapmaking is thorough and complete. You should be able to not only use this book as your beginner base, but for stepping out and beyond to more creative endeavors. The author Marie Browning is a craft designer who has made a career out of her talent to write, teach and demonstrate. She has designed hundreds of products for national art and craft companies and has authored numerous books on a variety of crafting topics. If you only want to spend the money on one book, buy Melt & Pour Soapmaking.

Melt & Pour Soapmaking starts you off with an introduction to soap and it's history, dating back to 2800 B.C. Babylonians. Egyptians were quite masterful at soap making and some blends found during digs in the 20th Century were still fragrant. Of course, going even further back in history to the "caveman" days, it is thought that they "discovered" soap when fat and ash combined over cooking fires making slippery bubbles as the mixture combined.

Next up in the book, the Materials for Soapmaking are covered. You will find what ingredients and equipment you will need for both melt & pour and for hand-milled soaps. Items needed are easily found in your kitchen or at a hobby or craft store. An explanation of the difference between the different soap bases are given. When speaking of melt & pour soaps, you will be using a soap base which is melted in the microwave or double-boiler, poured into a mold and left to harden within a couple hours. With hand-milled soaps, you get a harder soap bar ~ this type of soap has water added to it and is a more complicated soap to make. This book does give you the instruction on how to make hand-milled soap, but the main emphasis in the book is on melt & pour soaps.

This section also goes into great detail on the use of Fragrance in soap making. You will learn about essential oils, fragrance oils, fragrance blending, and the elements of fragrancing, as well as aromatherapy. A nice concise "chart" of the fragrance groups is very helpful in finding what to use say for a spicy scent, a fruity scent, or earthy scents for example.

Continuing under the materials section, is use of Natural Additives in your soaps. A variety of additives are discussed along with their properties and how they affect the soaps purpose. For example, adding cinnamon powder, not only gives a soap a lovely scent and brown speckled quality, but serves as an astringent and stimulant and is believed to reduce stress. Adding cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil to your soap is useful for soothing and healing qualities. The list of additives is quite extensive, and each one is discussed as to it's qualities in the soap, the different forms with which it can be added, and even if that additive is irritating to those with sensitive skin.

The next topic discussed under materials, is Colorants. Use of color is a very important feature and ingredient in soap-making, making that bar of soap more appealing or attractive to you. Yes, the color of a bar of soap can trigger certain moods or emotions, and the many "moods of colors" are gone in to with 27 different color moods discussed. Also discussed in this section is the use of natural powders, cosmetic grade colorants, and color mixing basics.

The last two topics discussed in the Materials section are Molds and Equipment. These are related in that both are items that you will be using to melt the soap base with, store it in, pour it into to harden, and measure and cut the soap base. A variety of ideas for making molds or even finding molds from common items in your home are given. For those just starting out and trying their hand at soap-making, you will be able to "make do" with what you have on hand instead of buying any molds or equipment. Once you decide for yourself that, "hey, this is pretty neat," then take your materials list to the store and buy some basics.

From here on out (from page 28 on) you are right in the thick of things making soap! Your first experience with melt & pour soap-making is completed in 6 steps. Yup! Just 6 steps from start to finish. With each step fully detailed and shown with full color photographs, you will have no trouble making your first batch of soap. There is no precision here. No fine eye-hand skills needed. No complicated crafting directions. It's just basically cut your base soap into chunks, microwave or double-boiler, add color and/or scents, pour into mold, wait til it hardens in a couple hours and remove. That's it. And, yes, it really is that simple.

After you have the basics down, you can forge right on ahead into a variety of melt & pour techniques. You will be able to make Chunk Style Soaps, Defined Color Areas, Marbled Soaps, Layered Soaps, Soaps with additives on top, and soaps with additives suspended within the soap. This is all so simple that you'll be an expert in no time!

Melt & Pour Soapmaking then gives you a very nice variety of soap recipes. Just like a cook book, you will get recipes to make specific soaps like a Butter Bar, an Air Bar, Water Bar, Fire Bar, Earth Bar, Green Tea Soap, Luffa Sponge Soap, Cardamon & Cinnamon Soap, Strawberry Soaps, and the list goes on and on with 23 different such soap recipes to delight you! Each recipe comes with a full color photograph, and detailed instructions as to the mold, exactly what to use, how to let set up, and even how to wrap and display ~ these are absolutely complete recipes.

Not enough for you? Then move on to learn how to make Rock Crystal Soaps ~ soaps that look like semi-precious gemstones in color and shape. What beauties these are ~ and they won't kill your pocketbook either~ lol

For those who really want to try their hand at making Hand Milled Soaps, a nice section is included that details the preparation, equipment, procedure, and how-to's involved. Here too, you will find some lovely hand-milled soap recipes in the Zen Bar, Savon de Comte, Tuscany Soap and Bath Balls. Each bar is shown displayed unwrapped as well as shown wrapped for a complete presentation.

Now believe it or not, there is more to Melt & Pour Soapmaking than just soap!!! Yes, this book goes into some detail on teaching you how to make Bath Salts, including Seashore Salt Rub, Shimmering Body Soak Crystals, and 4 other recipes.

Let's take the bath salts even further and learn how to make Solid Fizzing Bath Salts! Yes, here you can learn how to make Fizzy Bath Hearts made with rosy scent and spicy cloves ~ mmm. Want something more utilitarian, then go for the Effervescent Bath Tablets. No? Want something more unusual? Then try the Chocolate Tub Truffles, or Spiced Chai Bath Bombs!!!

You head isn't spinning yet is it??? lol Well, there is more. Much more. So much you can stay busy for a long long time. Melt & Pour Soapmaking covers Botanical Blends for Bath Herbs, Sachets and Potpourri like in the Scented Sea Glass Potpourri and the Spicy Pear Potpourri. Move on to make some Bubble Bath or Foaming Bath Oils, or even Baby Massage Oil. Are you into powders? Then try the Queen Bee Dusting Powder! I'm telling you, this book is packed full of everything so wonderful!!!!

Now, lets say you've made it through and have made a bit of everything divine in this book. Well, even the expert is not left out here ~ the end of this book showcases a variety of Fragrance Collections. Here you can combine in elegant gift packaging and style groups that go together ~ For example, a gift package of soaps, oils, powders, and potpourri all surrounding a common thread. In the Picnic Basket Collection, you combine soaps and bath products in a cheery basket with blue check material. This Picnic Basket Collection includes a Bread Loaf Soap, a Butter Bar, Strawberry Soap, Buttermilk Bath Salts, and Chocolate Tub Truffles. mmmm

The other collections showcased are Zen Harmony, Renaissance Collection, Provence Collection, Honeybee Collection, Oceans Collection, Gentle Baby Collection, Elements Collection, and Spa Collection. All directions include how to present or wrap each collection as well as any finishing touch you can add to each collection.

This is a wonderful book that I can recommend without any reservation. No expense was spared in the making of this book from the thick art book quality papers, full color photographs, to even abundance of space ~ there is no fighting for space here ~ each soap and each recipe receives a full page if not 2-page spread. The entire book looks and feels like it was lavishly designed. Melt & Pour Soapmaking would make a wonderful gift to yourself ~ put it on your wish list!! :o)

At $24.95 in the U.S., and $36.95 in Canada, it is pricey, but see if you can find it for a reduced price on-line or through a book club. However, at that price, do know that you will not have to buy another book ~ this one has it all for you. Yes, it have everything and more! I cannot praise this book enough.

Melt & Pour Soapmaking by Marie Browning, is published by Sterling Publishing Co, Inc., out of New York. Copyright was made in 2000. The ISBN # is 0-8069-2998-7

If you decide to make some soap of your own, let me know ~ I'd love to hear about how you like it and what kind of soap if your favorite! :o) Thanks for reading ~ Judy








Recommended: Yes