The Handmade Spa: Natural Soaps - by Amélie Boué (Hardcover)

About the Book

Whether you're a seasoned soap maker or a complete beginner, learn to create stunning and sustainable soaps to keep or to gift. Delve into the science behind soap making and gain a deep understanding of the chemistry involved; learn about the properties of different oils and additives and discover how to formulate recipes that result in 16 luxurious, skin-friendly soaps.

Book Synopsis

Discover the secrets of creating beautiful, gentle, eco-friendly artisanal soaps at home.

BOOKLIST (American Library Association) Young Adult: "Skin care and earth-friendly products are a hot commodity for teens; these titles point them in the right direction".

Step into the world of soap making with this comprehensive guide, written by artisanal soap-maker, Amélie Boué, founder of the French soap company Savon en Bullant.

Whether you're a seasoned soap maker or a complete beginner, Amélie's expertise and passion will provide you with invaluable knowledge and inspiration to create stunning and sustainable soaps to keep or to gift.

• Delve into the science behind soap making and gain a deep understanding of the chemistry involved
• learn about the properties of different oils and additives and discover how to formulate recipes that result in 16 luxurious, skin-friendly soaps.

With Amélie's expert guidance, you'll gain confidence in experimenting with ingredients and creating blends that are explicitly tailored to your preferences. Ingredients include almond, peppermint, lavender, honey, beeswax - even coffee; ensuring that bath time becomes an olfactory treat!

Unleash your creativity and discover various techniques for swirling, layering and moulding soaps, allowing you to craft stunning designs that make each bar a work of art. With detailed step-by-step instructions, accompanied by beautiful photography, you'll be able to follow along easily and make soaps that are as visually captivating as they are nourishing.

Review Quotes

LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW
This book by artisanal soap maker Boué (founder of the French soap company Savon en Bullant) charmingly introduces readers to the art and science of making eco-friendly cold-processed soap, a craft she delved into as a beginner 10 years ago. The book is divided into two parts. In the first, readers learn about the history of soap and the types of soap out there, including the elemental basics behind them. Boué explains the logic behind the cold-processing technique that her book uses: there's no heat involved, so the properties of the ingredients are preserved to the extent possible. There's also guidance on equipment, ingredients, safety measures for working with caustic lye, and adapting existing soap recipes or developing unique ones. The second half offers 20 recipes to make a variety of soaps: a basic olive oil bar and one based on honey and beeswax, plus marbled shea butter soap and scent combos like Peppermint Cordial and Summer Garden. For each soap recipe, Boué explains whom the soap is best suited for and for what purpose. (For example, in addition to washing hands and body, some of the soaps can be used to cleanse hair and brush teeth.)
VERDICT An easily accessible guide to soap making, with color photographs that clearly show every step of the process. A must for DIYers.

BOOKLIST (American Library Association) for Handmade Spa: Natural Cosmetics, and Natural Soaps
These two titles from the Handmade Spa series, focusing on eco-friendly recipes to make at home, are beginner ready and divided into three, easy-to-work-through sections. With beautiful photography of both processes and finished products, each book begins with an introductory chapter on definitions, ingredients, needed equipment, and safety practices. Both books include recipes for face, body, hair care, hygiene, and general well-being items and accessibly explain the organic ingredients used on a chemical level. Reader-crafters will find fun, inspiring, and creative alternatives to harsh soaps and beauty products.

French skincare company founder Duménil guides readers in making their own cosmetics. First, she goes over skin types and basic cosmetic textures, including emulsion, gel, balm, lotion, and treatment oil. Then come the recipes, which contain notes on length of time needed to make, if they are good for all skin types and suitable for children, how long finished products will keep, how to use the finished product, intended benefits, such as cleansing or moisturizing, and tips for customizing with essential oils. Recipes for hydrating detox masks, nourishing lip balm, cleansing lotion, and roll-on deodorant are well explained and approachable.

In Natural Soaps, Soapmaker Boué educates readers on the process of making beautiful and environmentally safe soaps. She first explains how soaps are made and what equipment is required before delving into recipes for soaps using almond milk, honey, beeswax, spirulina, and marigolds (for baby). Recipes are straightforward, include information on each soap's best uses and the skin type it benefits and note product suitability for children and pregnant women. Step-by- step photos are vibrant, beautiful, and helpful. -- Nataya Culler

BOOKLIST Young Adult: Skin care and earth-friendly products are a hot commodity for teens; these titles pointthem in the right direction.

Midwest Book Review - June 2024
Beautifully illustrated throughout in full color, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, both "Natural Cosmetics" and "Natural Soaps" comprising The Handmade Spa series from Search Press are especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library naturopathic crafts collections.

About the Author

A naturopathic expert specializing in natural cosmetology, Sara Duménil launched the Formule beauté brand in France in 2016, with a mission to make homemade cosmetics accessible to everyone. Sara is dedicated to offering a solution for those who seek healthier alternatives to conventional skincare products and aspire to create their own natural skincare formulations.

Through this book, Sara aims to provide a diverse collection of straightforward and efficient recipes, using minimal ingredients. Her aim is to harmonize the practice of creating homemade cosmetics with the demands of our hectic lifestyles.

Sara lives in a small city outside Paris, France.