Table of Contents
Introduction 6
Part 1 Getting Started Making Simple Natural Soaps 9
Why We Need Lye & How to Handle It Safely 10
How to Check a Soap Recipe with a Lye Calculator 11
Soapmaking Equipment 12
Soapmaking Oils & Fats & Their Properties 14
Shelf Life of Soap & Extending It 17
How to Read Recipes 17
Cold Process Soap Making Directions 19
How to Convert a Cold Process Recipe into a Hot Process Recipe 22
Tips for Safely Cleaning Up 24
Cutting, Curing & Storing Soaps 24
Part 2 Recipes 27
The Simplest Basics 27
Easiest Ever Castile Soap 29
Beginner's Bastille Soap 30
Creamy Shea Butter Bastille Soap 33
Pure Coconut Oil Bars 34
Old-Fashioned Lye Soap 37
Basic Palm-Free Soap Recipes (3 Customizable Versions) 38
Soaps from the Herb Garden 41
Lavender Chamomile Shampoo & Body Bars 43
Double Mint Tiger Stripe Soap 44
Grandma's Yellow Roses Soap 47
Soothing Comfrey & Aloe Soap 48
Purple Basil & Mint Layers Soap 51
Sunny Dandelion Oatmeal Soap 52
Weedy Greens Jewelweed & Plantain Soap 55
Chamomile Tallow Bars 56
Soaps from the Orchard & Veggie Garden 59
Pumpkin Oatmeal Soap 60
Warm Apple Spice & Ginger Soap 63
Simply Carrot Soap 64
Creamy Avocado Soap 67
Heirloom Tomato Soap 68
Fresh Aloe & Cucumber Soap 71
Sunny Corn Silk & Sunflower Soap 72
Soaps from the Farm 75
Goat Milk Shampoo Bars 76
Lavender Milk Bath Bars 79
Classic Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Soap 80
Vanilla Bean & Egg Yolk Soap 83
Milk Chocolate Mint Soap 84
Cottage Garden Soaps 86
Soaps from the Sea 89
Citrus Breeze Brine Bars 90
Cambrian Blue Cooling Salt Bars 93
Rejuvenating Dead Sea Clay Facial Bars 94
Beach Bum Layered Soap 97
Coconut Milk Shampoo Sticks 98
Sea Salt & Seaweed Soap 101
Soaps from the Apiary 103
Sweet Honey & Shea Layers Soap 105
Propolis & Dandelion Soap 106
Honey & Beeswax Soap 109
Orange Honey Shampoo Bars 110
Bee Pollen & Honey Soap 113
Wild Rosehips & Honey Soap 114
Soaps from the Forest 117
Fir Needle & Mint Shampoo & Body Bars 119
Zesty Juniper Berry & Orange Soap 120
Classic Cedarwood & Coconut Milk Shave Soap 123
Mountain Man Beard, Shampoo & Body Bars 126
Old Fashioned Pine Tar Soap 129
Lumberjack Soap 130
Soaps from the Spa 133
Regenerating French Clay & Yogurt Soap 135
Cucumber & Charcoal Swirl Soap 136
Soothing Red Rooibos & Rhassoul Clay Soap 139
Mocha Coffee Bean Scrub Bars 140
Triple Butter Silk & Agave Soap 143
Part 3 Techniques & Tips to Take Soapmaking to the Next Level 144
Tips for Working With Natural Soap Colorants 145
Photo Gallery of Natural Soap Colorants 146
Essential Oils & Usage Rates in Soap 155
How to Blend Essential Oils 158
Other Natural Soap Ingredients & Additives 161
Using Herbal Infusions to Enrich Soap Recipes 162
Suggested Herbs for Infusions 162
Preparing Herbal Oil Infusions 164
Preparing Herbal Tea Infusions 165
Preparing Herbal Milk Infusions 166
3 Ways to Add Milk to Soap 166
Natural Soap Tops 166
Simple Layers 170
Pencil Line 173
Tiger Stripe 174
In the Pot Swirl 177
Funnel Pour 178
Impression Mats 180
Soap Stamps 181
Part 4 Troubleshooting 182
Common Soapmaking Issues 182
How to Rebatch or Save a Soap 185
Confetti Soap 186
Resources 187
About the Author 188
Acknowledgments 188
Index 189