Customer Reviews

Milk Soapmaking: The Smart and Simple Guide to Making Lovely Milk Soap From Cow Milk, Goat Milk, Buttermilk, Cream, Coconut Milk, or Any Other Animal or Plant Milk

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again, Anne Watson creates a wonderful, straight forward approach to what has long been considered a complicated method. This book is the MUST have for anyone wanting to make milk soaps and is light years beyond Casey Makela's book on the same subject. I recommend this book for two major reasons:

1) Watson discusses both liquid milk (what she calls the "cool technique") and powdered milk (the "warm technique") and offers excellent recipes and directions for both. Her method is very relaxed and while it is admittedly a hair more complex than regular CP soap, it's not nearly as complicated as some other books make it sound.

2) Watson dispels the myths of milk soapmaking. This is HUGE. She goes through all of the myths about using milk from what type of milk you need to who can do it.

Also, Watson is accessible through her website. I sent her a question not long ago and she responded to me within two days! How's that for asking the author? :)

Making unique, specialized, and personalized soaps is both a craft and an art. Written and compiled by Anne L. Watson, "Milk Soapmaking: The Smart and Simple Guide to Making Lovely Milk Soap From Cow Milk, Goat Milk, Buttermilk, Cream, Coconut Milk, or Any Other Animal or Plant Milk" is a collection of thoroughly 'user friendly' recipes and instructions for making 'milk soaps' and begins with an introduction to the subject, what it is, the equipment required to make it, and choosing between the two principle methods for making milk soaps, along with step-by-step instructions that cover everything from preparation to cleanup. The recipes for specialized milk soaps range from Yogurt Parfait Soap, to Cinnamon Oatmeal Soap, to Marge's Chocolate Silk Soap, to Ruth's Butter Soap, and more! "Milk Soapmaking" also covers such relevant issues as making soap with plant milks, shaping milk soaps, controlling color, and a roster of frequently asked questions about milk soaps. Enhanced with a list of internet resources and an index, "Milk Soapmaking" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone wanting to try their hand as making milk soaps for themselves either as a hobby or as a profession.

I've always used gentle milk soaps and now I know how to make them. This book is simple to follow, it has some fantastic recipes and overall a delight to own. I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in making wonderful milk soaps.

Anne Watson's first book made me brave enough to attempt regular cold process soapmaking. While I now feel fairly proficient with that, milk soapmaking was intimidating. Just like with her first book, she explains things in very understandable terms, troubleshoots possible problems before you encounter them and dispels all those mysterious myths about making soap with milk. I really like using the frozen milk with the lye as there are almost no fumes and not so much fuss with the temperatures like in regular soapmaking. My attempts have resulted in lovely bars of milk soap. If I can do this, you can do this.

I started making soap with Anne's Smart Soapmaking. After becoming comfortable with the basic process of soapmaking, I decided I wanted to expand my horizons and learn about milk soaps. This book does not disappoint. It's written in the same easy to follow manner as her first book...non-intimidating, very clear, very simple.

Since I've started soapmaking, I've purchased books from other authors and I must say that if I would have started with those books, I probably would not have made a batch of soap at all, as a few that I have just don't seem to have the easy to follow instructions like this book has.

Just a note, you don't have to start with Smart Soapmaking. This book is geared toward the beginner just as the other book is. So if you've never made soap before and you're more interested in milk soaps, then this book will have you making beautiful milk soaps in no time at all.

For years I've been interested in making soap but every book I read on the subject made it seem so complicated and dangerous, even the highly recommended books, that I gave up the idea before I even started. Then I read Anne L. Watson's first book, Smart Soapmaking. It is, without doubt, the best book on making cold process soap on the market. After reading the first page I knew I was going to make soap, and I did, and thanks to Anne's simple, logical and practical guidance I've never had a batch failure.
I just bought her second book, Milk Soapmaking, and once again, she has written the defintive book on that subject. I wasn't even interested in making soap with milk but I am now and can't wait to get started.
Anyone who is interested in making soap but found other books too complicated and daunting should definitely buy both of these books. They are, quite simply, the best, better than all the rest.

Anne's first book got me started right after I had bought many books that only confused me. Most on the subject made it seem so complicated and dangerous, even the highly recommended books. When I read Anne's first book, Smart Soapmaking it all made sense and it was so easy. It is, without a doubt, the best book on making cold process soap on the market. I feel that with Anne's two books you can make any soap you ever wanted with out fear or worry. With her books and her helpful emails, yes she is there anytime you need her and she helps you with any questions you have at any time. She has a very logical and practical approach to soap making.
Her Milk Soapmaking book gives all the right information on milk soap making no more worries about how it will turn out. Just follow her easy instructions and it will be the best soap you have ever made.
Anyone who is interested in making soap but found other books too complicated and frustrating needs to buy both of these books. They are, very simply, easy to understand by far the best soap making books on the market old or new.

Milk soaps used to be difficult to make until this book came out. It gives two methods for making the soaps and explains the why behind each. There is a large variety of recipes given in the book, using all the way from sour cream to chocolate milk! Once you have read the book and understand the principles, you can play around with adding milks to other favorite recipes with great success. It's definitely not a "for dummies" book, but anyone with a basic understanding of soapmaking can follow this guide easily. Well done!

This book is as well written as the first one (Smart Soapmaking), and a wonderful sequel to have. Anne explains very clearly how to make milk, cream, sour cream, and yoghurt soaps, a wonderful aide for any beginner soap maker or for anyone who has always wanted to try making milk soaps. She gives step-by-step instructions for two main ways to make milk soaps with descriptions of what to look out for and why! She explains how to convert your favourite water CP recipes and how to use liquid and powder milks. The recipes in the book are varied with lots of different ingredients to try. Best of all, you can email the author if you have any further queries! A fantastic book to have!

As I have just started getting into trying my hand at this and she makes it easy to follow and to understand. I have made it a couple times now and she takes the scary out of it and I made soap. If I can, you can.