There are a lot of books out there on soapmaking. This one stood out to me because it includes plant-based milks in the recipes. The author even includes instructions for making your own milk from grains, seeds and nuts and examples are shown of.soaps made with various milks to show the impact on color. Many recipes call for a specific type of milk, but it is noted that any type of milk can be used for these recipes. The properties of various oils, milks, fragrances and colorants are discussed, giving the reader the information needed to choose ingredients to produce soap with the desired qualities. There is an FAQ section as well that addresses common problems and explaining what likely went wrong. The recipes themselves vary widely so there's a bit of everything, from a shampoo bar to exfoliation bars to beautiful general use bars and more. Recipes are categorized by difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced) so the maker can choose an appropriate project to suit their skill and experience level. Recipes are accompanied by photo tutorials showing the steps to creating the different bar shapes and designs. There are some really beautiful designs here and it was fun to see the process. While I'm not sure I'll ever jump into soapmaking myself, I definitely have a better appreciation for the work involved in producing those bars I see at farmers markets and my local co-op! I think this would be a valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn to make soap.

Thank you to the author, Anne-Marie Faiola, Story Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

I really liked this how-to book. Making soap with milk is a whole new thing to me and I love to try new crafts!
This book took me step by step through the process and was easy to follow. I loved that it was arranged by difficulty so I knew not to get in over my head. Thanks to this book, I know what everyone is getting for Christmas!

This is such a lovely book. I could tell how the author really cared about making soaps. You could feel her passion and her love pouring into this book as she describes the milks, PH balance, scents and colors. I love how she listed the ingredients and explain why we need the the items. She also lists the pros and cons of the ingredients . Explains safety precautions are to be heeded. This book is easy to follow and I found myself wanting to make some homemade soaps in the near future! I am looking forward to it. Only problem is I need to wait for this print to published first so I can purchase it. The photos are beautiful along with step by step instructions.

I received this beautiful copy of ARC from Stoney Publishing, LLC through Net Galley in an exchange for my honest review .

I was curious and I thank the publisher for approving the ARC, but one look at all the gadgets, the fact that sodium hydroxide (lye) can burn / blind you, isopropyl alcohol spray, the complicated / meticulous process, and a wait-period of 4-6 weeks before using a single soap, made me wonder what people did before in the simple by-gone days.

Good layout, well-done informative how-to step-by-step pictures, well-thought out, professional effort. I liked it.

As much as I was interested in reading this book, i am unable to open in the format provided. I will look for the book when it hits shelves as I am an avid soapmaker.