Soap Making Books

My students are always asking for soap making book recommendations, so I thought it was about high time that I write a blog about some of my favourite soap making books. 

I Love to Read

Before I started making soap, I bought a healthy selection of soap making books. I love to read, and I am definitely 'old school' in that I prefer reading traditional books. You can’t beat holding a book, leafing through the pages and not to mention that special smell of books. It’s an intimate experience that just cannot be replicated with online reading. 

I recommend building up a small reference shelf of soap making books when you are starting out so you can refer to them as and when you need to. Even if you need a quick burst of inspiration books are an invaluable resource. 

My First Soap Making Book

I found my very first soap making book in a craft catalogue. I remember thinking to myself at the time that I didn’t even know you could make your own soap and I was very excited to see this book. I already had a huge interest in natural skincare so the thought of being able to make my own soap was very exciting. My order was quickly placed, and I was impatient waiting for my delivery. And when it arrived, I read it from cover to cover and placed it on my bookshelf for a few weeks before working up the courage to make my own soap. So, what’s the book I hear you ask? Well, it is still on my bookshelf, and it is called Soap Making Self-Sufficiency by Sarah Ade. 

What I like about Soap Making Self-Sufficiency is that it has a focus on natural ingredients, and it is described as ‘an essential guide for anyone interested in what they put onto their body as well as what goes inside.’ This aligned perfectly with my journey after my breast cancer treatment because I wanted to do exactly that – take control of what I am using on my skin as well as what I am putting into my body. 

A Great Book for Beginners

My next investment was in a book called Smart Soapmaking by Anne L. Watson. It is a simple and practical book and I like the fact that the author takes the fear out of soap making so it is great for beginners. Anne also acknowledges that she sought a chemist’s advice on soap making which is invaluable for the science aspect of making soap.   

A Book that is a bit more Advanced

My final book is a more recent purchase, and it is a beautiful book that you will want to display rather than hide away on a bookshelf. If you are looking for a book that is a bit more advanced and has stunning soap photography, then you will want to have this book on your wish list. The book in question is Pure Soap Making by Anne-Marie Faiola (also known as The Soap Queen). With plenty of useful information and many simple and creative recipes to try this book has a focus on nourishing and natural soaps.

I hope you enjoy my selection and one day I hope to write a book about my own soap making journey!

Update: I have just launched my first book. Yippee! Please click the button below for further details.

Happy Reading!