Buy It Now

Title: Making Natural Liquid Soaps (Storey Books, 2000)

Author: Catherine Failor. Ms. Failor has also authored other books on the topic of soapmaking, including Transparent Soapmaking, also published by Storey Books.

Book Details: 133 pages, including indices (dictionary, index, bibliography and sources). Soft cover.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction To Soap
2. Getting Started
3. A Guide To Basic Techniques
4. Formulating Blends
5. Premium Natural Shampoos
6. Sumptuous Bath & Shower Gels
7. Luxurious Bubble Baths
8. Dyeing & Fragrances
9. Troubleshooting

Book Excerpt:

"'A rose is a rose is a rose.'" Or so said Gertrude Stein. Many people have puzzled over the meaning of this phrase, but who knows - perhaps she was referring to hot-process soapmaking, in which the fragrance rose and the color rose both remain rose after being added to soap. Not so with cold-process soapmaking, where there is much trial and error. Colors and scents are added before the soap is neutral, so the additives must past through a brutal rite of passage in which they're subjected to extremely high levels of alkali. Some make it out alive, but many don't. All cold-process soapmakers have experienced the amazing vanishing scent, or the blue color turned dishwater gray. Hot-process soapmaking will come as a welcome relief. There's no second-guessing the soap and how it will affect colors and scents, because the soap is neutral and has lots its 'teeth.' You get to be selfish, thinking only about your own wants and needs." (From "Dyeing & Fragrancing", page 89.)

Book Review & Recipe Test by Joan LaFever:

(Joan is one of our recipe testers and an apprentice of Donna Maria's. (You can read more about Joan at this link.) Joan has made cold process soap before, but her venture into liquid soapmaking was a new one for her. As a complete novice, her insights are especially helpful for anyone considering this book who has yet to experience hot-process and/or liquid soapmaking.) Take it away Joan!

Since I have very sensitive skin, I chose to test Castor Oil-Jojoba Moisturizing Soap (found on page 54). The main reason is because of all the recipes in the book, this was one of the ones that contained the least amount of coconut oil, and coconut oil tends to irritate my skin in high amounts.

The most significant thing to pass along to those considering making liquid soap is that it takes a tremendous amount of time. While I'm sure I will be able to whittle it down, my first adventure took a total of 7 hours, including 4 hours of cooking time. Even though I did not have to stir constantly, the process did require me to stay pretty close to the stove for the entire day. So be prepared to set aside the whole day for your first few liquid soapmaking adventures. I'm glad I already know how to make cold process soap because I think it made understanding the liquid soapmaking process a lot easier.

I recommend this book with 2 cautions. In addition to being aware of the time commitment, the book is a bit difficult to follow. While all of the instructions are there, I found myself having to go back and forth to several different pages to get the information needed on a particular ingredient pr process. For example, sequestering (the process used to make the soap more transparent), is discussed in detail in one section, but then I had to go to another section to read even more details. Additionally, while the ingredients and proportions for each soap recipe are listed together, the instructions are on different pages. This required me to move back and forth a lot between pages to make sure I had everything I needed for my chosen recipe. Don't get me wrong. Everything is there, it's just sometimes hard to find.

Ms. Failor describes two methods of liquid soapmaking: (1) the paste method; and (2) the alcohol method. I tried the paste method because the alcohol method required use of a bungee cord during cooking and also, soap made using the alcohol method has a tendency to "bubble over" the pot. Even though I've worked with sodium hydroxide (lye) before making cold process soap, I did not want to chance anything caustic, such as the potassium hydroxide used to make liquid soap) bubbling over onto my stove. Also, even though cooking would likely burn off all of the alcohol, for me personally, with my over-sensitive skin, I did not want to use a product made with alcohol. The paste method required fewer ingredients and did not require any alcohol. And no bungee cord!!

One of the very best things about the book is the colorful pictures of liquid and transparent bar soaps featured on nearly every page. As soon as I became tired or discouraged with the process, another picture would catch my attention and I was once again inspired to make soap that would look as lovely as the soaps displayed in the book. Other good things about the book include great tips on the liquid soapmaking process and *tons of information* that is very useful and interesting.

I made my chosen recipe twice. The first time, I tried to get the soap as transparent a soap as possible. This involved a process called sequestering the soap, and it added a bit of time and stress to the process. Since transparency is not so important to me, on my second attempt, I was not as concerned with obtaining a perfectly clear soap and I was much more pleased with the process and the end result. The jojoba oil in my recipe turned the soap a lovely shade of golden yellow.

I much prefer liquid soap to bar soap, so even with the time commitment required, I will definitely continue making liquid soap. I'm glad the book contains saponification charts. Once I master the basic process using Ms. Failor's recipes, I will make up my own recipes using the charts so my soap can truly be my "original" recipe.

Donna Maria's Note:

The first time I showered with Joan's soap made using the above recipe, I was hooked. While I don't think I have 7 hours to put into the process of making my own liquid soaps at this time in my life, I will return to Joan for her soap once she starts selling it under her soon to be formed company, Laughing Tree Soaps. The feel is silky soft, the lather is great, but not too frothy (which is fine for me). It just feels very gentle and as I used it, my first thought was that it would be gentle enough even for a baby. I have used liquid soaps before made by other soapmakers and have not been pleased. This is the first one I have fallen in love with. You go Joan! I hope you launch Laughing Tree Soaps sooner rather than later so I can buy some of your wonderful liquid soap!!