Beautiful Handmade Natural Soaps: Practical Ways to Make Hand-Milled Soap and Bath Essentials, Included--Charming Ways to Wrap, Label, & Present Your

Even though this book is entitled "Natural Soapmaking" it really refers using items such as herbs, etc in your soaps and not to the cold process you would doing when making soaps with lye (which can take a month to cure). These are easy receipes for someone just starting out and want to learn creative ways make soaps which gives you immediate results. It gives good instructions and information about aromatherapy, what different colors mean and what certain herbs to enhance your soaps. Although, she recommends putting Vaseline in the molds to assist with the releasing of the mold - you really do not need to do that! As long as you wait for the soap to harden completely that step is unnecessary! And for the cold process/lye makers you may want to pass on this one because you may be disappointed! It is a great addition to your Melt and Pour Soapmaking by the same author!

I absolutely loved this book. I've looked at many soapmaking books and this was the easiest to understand. I made soaps for my friends for Christmas last year. I didn't have to have a degree in chemistry to make my own soap!!!

I am a professional soap maker and found this book to be most informative on making other bath products, such as bath oils, facial scrubs, massage oils, massage bars, etc. Marie Browning is extremely creative in her packaging. Her ideas are great for both personal and professional use. You won't be dissapointed.

I have read and used Marie's "Natural Soapmaking" book in it's paperback version. As a nutritionist I would rather focus on the enhancements rather than the actual soap. If lye/fat homemade is what you want; but, you don't want to fuss with the danger - then order some. The internet is bursting with websites of soapmakers willing to sell you their unscented soap. Ms.Browing clearly states this on page 9. Not once did she recommend any brand. Under the title of "What is Soap?" (page 8) she warns against commercial detergent soap and beauty bars. My advice to all interested in soapmaking is to give this book a try. I don't need to extract essence oils to make fragrance! The only thing I'd like to request from Ms. Browning is that she please give a list of suppliers in her next book. I'll be looking foward to it!

I'm rather disturbed by a few negative and sometimes vitriolic reviews of this book. To be sure, this book does not teach soapmaking from scratch. However, several reviewers displayed their snobbery about "true" soapmaking in such a way that might cause others to avoid buying this book.For those of us who work 8+ hours each weekday, then dash around taking care of family, errands, appointments, chores, and all other activities associated with a hectic life, this book is a dream.It is well written, does NOT promote any particular brand of soap (contrary to some review comments), provides excellent step-by-step instructions, and presents many ideas and encouraging suggestions beyond making just bars of soap.I ordered four other books at the same time I purchased this one. I've read them all, cover to cover. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Three discuss making soap from scratch -- and one of those also discusses hand-milling the resultant batches -- while the other two (this one included) discuss hand-milling. Some contain technical information in depth, some talk about other more aesthetic aspects of soapmaking. Taken as a whole, the several books give a more complete picture of what can be done in the world of soap than any one book can possibly accomplish.Just as it is no less my handwork when I use a pattern for cross-stitch that someone else designed, so too hand-milling pre-made batches of soap enables me to fit this enticing activity into my life.I will someday find the time to create soap from scratch. Until then, I certainly will not deny myself the pleasure of making lovely soaps I've created in my own home using the ideas in this book.