Soapmaking Books

[PinkinPA]

Has anyone done soapmaking as a art? I need some recommendations for books for a beginner. Thanks!

[moss]

the handmade soap book is my alltime favourite~~especially the "scrub-a-dub" recipe (i made a couple of substitutions, omitting the chromium oxide, clay and eo's in the recipe and instead using 2tb bentonite clay, 4tsp powdered kelp, 2tsp pine eo and 2tsp orange eo)

i also have this walkthrough printed out and refer to it when i'm making soap because i only make it about once a year--it's really straightforward, and has safety recommendations
http://www.soapcrafters.com/node/67

[zjande]

It depends on what you mean by "art"? If you'd just like to melt glycerin into molds & add glittery things or other pretty stuff, you can get books on that. And I'm sure you could order glycerin soap in bulk online. You can make some totally cool & pretty looking soaps that way, although glycerin bars don't hold up in the shower half as long as cold pressed soaps do. I haven't done those types of soaps myself but I know the Dummies guide to Candlemaking & Soapmaking book spells it all out.

As for cold pressed soap making, my favorite book for learning that is The Natural Soap Book. This is the kind of soap that requires working with lye & you wouldn't want your young kids helping with that step.

And for fun cold pressed soaps, I agree with moss! The Handmade Soap book is great!

[ktgrok]

not a book, but soapmaking forum.com has tons of info.

[PinkinPA]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. This would be for my highschooler. I really am trying to homeschool in a CM meets self reliance method as far as handi-crafts go.

I think soapmaking would also be a great science, math and chemistry class!