Soapmaking [Paperback]

Alicia Gross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2008

Using vegetable oils, herbs, essential oils, and common kitchen equipment, this book will give you and guide you through 25 all-natural recipes for luxurious, gentle, beautiful, and magickal soaps. It includes a recipe for each of the eight Pagan Sabbats, Moon Phases, Handfasting, Quest, Croning, and other major life events. Drawing on her long experience with soap, herbs, oils, and Earth-based spirituality, Alicia Grosso will also teach you how to infuse your handmade soaps with wishes, prayers, dreams, and magick. Non-magickal people will find good, basic instruction for natural small-batch soapmaking, along with herb lore and ways to fill soap with prayers, wishes, and dreams. Although written for the beginning soapmaker, even the most seasoned soaper will find inspiration in the rituals and procedures of making magickal soap.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Career Press (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564146480
• ISBN-13: 978-1564146489
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars so you wanna make soap, June 12, 2004

By 

India's Mom (buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soapmaking (Paperback)

after purchasing and trying some of the author's soap i was blown away by it's creamy texture, thick (but not too heavy) scent and beautiful appearance and packaging. when i found that she had written books about soap- i had to check them out. let me say that i like soap, but am not a soap enthusiast, or someone who knew anything about soap.
her first book (soapmaking, a magikal guide) is dedicated to the basics of soap making. it offers unbelievably clear, simple, and unpretentious directions. if you want to make soap tomorrow- or even today- this is the book to read. it also details the use and making of magikal soap- a variety of soaps used to bathe before pagan rituals. for those uninterested or unfamiliar with paganism, be not intimidated- if you want to make soap, this book is worth reading.
her second offering, a book from the everything series entitled the everything soap making book delves into a more detailed and explicit look at making soap. she offers suggestions for packaging, whether it be for gift giving or running your own business. she has suggestions for all kinds of soaps, recommends products, tells you what supplies are worth shelling out the big bucks for and what supplies you can pick up on the cheap. there are a lot of recipes and info on how to set up a successful work space, etc.
the very best thing about books written by alicia grosso is that they are very simple and easy to follow. her writing flows well and is enjoyable to read. best of all she is very funny- often down right hysterical. she is completely unpretentious and happy to share her secrets. and best of all- she'll teach you how to make damn good soap.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something a little different.., May 30, 2005

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soapmaking (Paperback)

Another book to add to my soapmaking library, Grosso's book is a little different from the rest.

Her recipes are for cold process soaps in small (one bar) recipes, a good starting place for a beginner. Working with lye can be a dangerous process, so having very small batches is a wise beginning.

She writes a lot about the magikal (which I like to translate to spiritual) aspect of soapmaking - different herbs have different magical properties according to Grosso, so soap can be a healing gift for a friend.

She has a lists for essential oils, flowers, herbs, seeds listing some special properties. (the herb Dandelion reduces fear, useful in manifesting intention...and you thought they were weeds)...Vetivert essential oil is deeply calming. Lavendar flowers are sleep-inducing, soothing, etc.) No use of animal fats, a plus for some of us.

Good black and white pictures of the actual soapmaking process and explanations of different procedures (saponification, etc.) Basic recipe is used with additions of other things. Yes, she is a bit heavy on the coconut oil.

For those who are interested, she has soap making rituals, Moon phases, soapmaking for women, soapmaking for men, for every day occasions, for holidays. There's a little chapter on "presentation" (gift wrapping or packaging).

This isn't a book for everyone, and even if it is for you, it shouldn't be the only book -- just something a little different.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas, January 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Soapmaking (Paperback)

I bought this book as an experienced soapmaker and have mixed emotions about it. I really like the recipes for magickal soaps with the herbal additives. However, the basic oil recipe the author uses (10 oz. olive oil, 7 oz. coconut oil) is more than 41% coconut oil. This amount could seriously dry out most people's skin. Coconut oil is best when used in amounts less than 25%. For anyone wanting to make soap for the first time, please do more research before starting. Soapmaking is a lot of fun, but can be dangerous if the crafter is not well informed. Also, please run every soap recipe through an online recipe calculator before soaping.

I do plan on using some of the ideas in this book. Overall, I am glad I bought it.