Book Review - "Soaps" by Elaine Stavert

The book I have decided to review for February 2013 is - Soaps, by Elaine Stavert.

I have thought about making soap for a while now, and when Hobbycraft got a new range of soap making products in, I just knew it was time to plunge in and have a go.

Also in Hobbycraft was this book....

But,  unfortunately, the very next day when I went to buy it, it had gone!  (You snooze, you lose.)

So, Amazon it had to be.

It's a great book, it starts with loads of interesting facts about soap - the history and the science.

It tells you what household things you can use for moulds and even offers a troubleshooting section. 

It goes on to give a basic recipe, and an easy to follow guide of how to make soap  (now, when I am saying "make soap", you don't actually make it, you melt a ready made soap base and add your chosen bits to it)

The soap bases are called "melt & pour" and are very easy to use, and also easy to source.

The book covers all the extras you can add in, like botanicals (poppy seeds, dried flowers) and the mixings of oils and colours to create the perfect scent/shade.

The second half of the book is full of lovely recipes, loads of which I want to try.

I had only purchased a block of olive soap, some poppy seeds and an orange blossom fragrance, so I followed he basic recipe and did my own thing.

It was very easy, and has made a beautiful soap which lathers up nicely and smells delicious.

I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone wanting to try making their own soaps, and I would give it a 10/10.

Disclaimer:  I was not required to or paid to review this book, the views are entirely my own.