Book Review – Pure Soapmaking: How to Create Nourishing, Natural Skin Care Soaps

I recently took a long hiatus from making my own soaps , I felt like I had done it all and was kinda feeling burnt out. I got rid of all my supplies to a local teenager who was starting out and even parted with my books. Wow, what a huge mistake it was as a few years later here I am buying soap books and new supplies. But as financially draining it is to re-start a hobby it has in face inspired me again. New books, new ideas, and fresh modern supplies.

The pure luxury of soaps made with coconut butter, almond oil, aloe vera, oatmeal, and green tea is one of life’s little pleasures. And with the help of Anne-Marie Faiola, author of Soap Crafting and Milk Soaps, it’s easy to make luscious, all-natural soaps right in your own kitchen.

This collection of 32 recipes ranges from simple castile bars to intricate swirls, embeds, and marbled and layered looks. Begin with a combination of skin-nourishing oils and then add blueberry puree, dandelion-infused water, almond milk, coffee grounds, mango and avocado butters, black tea, or other delicious ingredients — and then scent your soap with pure essential oils. Step-by-step photography guides you through every stage of cold-process soapmaking.

This Apple Tart Soap is such a sweet little soap-making project, and I love how it turns a simple melt and pour soap base into something that looks almost good enough to eat. The idea of using clear glycerin soap with apple pie fragrance oil, cinnamon, and a whipped white soap topping gives this project a warm, cozy dessert-inspired feel without making it overly complicated.

What makes this project especially appealing is how beginner-friendly it is. Melt and pour soap is one of the easiest ways to get started with handmade soap, and this recipe keeps the ingredient list short while still creating a finished soap that feels fun and gift-worthy. The whipped topping detail is a clever touch because it instantly makes the soap look more like a tiny apple tart or bakery-style treat.

I also really like the packaging potential for this project. These soaps would look beautiful wrapped in clear cello, brown kraft paper, or a small handmade gift box. Adding dried apple rounds, a cinnamon stick, twine, or a rustic gift tag would make them perfect for fall gifts, teacher presents, craft stalls, Christmas hampers, or homemade bath and body gift baskets.

Because the soap uses cinnamon and fragrance oil, I would treat this as more of a novelty hand soap or decorative gift soap rather than something for very sensitive skin. As with all handmade bath and body projects, it is a good idea to use skin-safe fragrance oils and soap-safe colorants where possible.

Overall, this is a charming little melt and pour soap project with lots of handmade gift appeal. It is simple enough for beginners, pretty enough for gifting, and has that cozy apple pie scent that makes it especially lovely for autumn, holiday markets, and homemade Christmas gifts.

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