Pure Soapmaking: How to Create Nourishing, Natural Skin Care Soaps

Great

I am a lifelong electrician who needed a winter hobby. I started making soap 3 months ago give or take. I have found that I love making soap - but I have also found that making beautiful soap is not easy. Some reviews I read before I bought this book seem disheartening. This is a well laid out guide. Just because this book is well laid out with good recipes and good pictures does not mean my creations will turn out the first time! It takes a lot of practice and a Lot of learning! I take good notes during each recipe and write down things I learned each time. Also I have found that soap has a bit of a mind of it's own and it will turn out the way it wants to - to some extent. I have to let it be what it wants to become, with my persuasion. this is a good book and I recommend it. The soap is Healthy! There are many things that have to be purchased to become a soap maker, it is a process and it is worth it. Take the time and dont be discouraged. If it didn't turn out the way you wanted, still it is Healthy soap. Use it up and try again! I have made a batch (marbling technique) 3 or 4 times over and over trying to get it right. Each time I learn and get better. I recommend this book and soapmaking as a whole. It has been a good way for my non artistic person to do something artistic! :)

I didn't want to like this book--I really thought it would be just a gimmick for selling soap-making tools and equipment through the author's web business. But I ended up enjoying it in spite of myself! The recipes mostly stick to wholesome ingredients, and the author suggests and demonstrates some VERY creative ideas and techniques that I can't wait to try! Although the projects would definitely be easier with the specific Brambleberry equipment, colorants, etc. called for with the recipes, I think most of them could be adjusted to be done without all the special stuff--at least for an experienced soap maker. And that's what I'm planning to do! She offers insights into which recipes should be insulated and pushed through the gel stage, and which should not--that was something new and interesting to me. She's tried several ingredients that I was hesitant to try, for fear of having to throw out an entire batch of failed soap ($$$$). So, I now feel comfortable using bananas, for example, or cucumber pulp and peel, lemons, etc. I'm really eager to dig in and try some new things, thanks to Anne-Marie's creative ideas and demonstrations. The pictures in this book are what make it so appealing--they are not only beautiful, but very helpful as well. I also really enjoy the spiral, lay-flat binding--super helpful for using at the soap table. Just a note...she isn't overly concerned about temperatures with most of the recipes, so if you're a by-the-rule kind of soap maker (like I am), that might take a bit of getting used to. This is a good book for the experienced cold-process soaper, but for someone just starting out, I'd start with a more basic one. (She does go over the basic cold-process procedure at the beginning of the book, and then reviews it with each recipe.)

The photographs in this book are absolutely gorgeous! I've been making soap for some time now and purchased this book for some inspiration. I love the fact that each soap recipe has it's own photo tutorial, as some of the designs are very complex, but wonderful! I like her soap recipes and combinations, but have done some slight substituting. The reason I took one star away is because I absolutely hate the fact that she ruins many of these beautiful, natural soaps with artificial coloring and dyes! I have taken it upon myself to find natural color options for all the artifical ones, in recipes I've made.. I have made 7 of these soaps so far, and each one I was able to find a natural option for the dyes and colors! I wish she would have at least given natural alternatives to some of the dyes and colorants. I had to do some trial and error, and research, I purchased this book so I wouldn't have to, and would have an easy reference. I make soap specifically to avoid artificial and synthetic ingredients. I do love the soap recipes and as I said the photos are amazing. Over all this book gets 4 stars and a definite recommendation to any soap maker looking for recipes and inspiration! UPDATE: I wanted to update my review after I reread it, just to clarify on what I said about her use of artificial colorants and dyes. She does have a few pages in the beginning of the book that lists natural dyes. She also took the liberty to photograph the soap after coloring with each natural dye and then another photo 5 months later (some of the soaps with natural dyes change to a deeper color). So this is a nice part of the book. However, I wish she had incorporated these natural dyes into the actual recipes. Even so, the recipes are awesome and all the choices of unique designs are great. I also enjoy that she uses recycled mateial for many of the molds, although you would have to purchase molds for some of her soaps (conveniently from her website).

What a great book to start with and make healthy soap. I have been looking forward to this book and watching Bramble Berry videos. Off I go!