Lisa Maliga - The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting

http://www.LisaMaliga.com

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Disclaimer:

The information in this book was gatheredfrom various sources. It is in no way meant to prevent, cure, ordiagnose any medical condition. All recipes and products suggestedshould not be used for purposes other than that for which they wereintended. All products are for EXTERNAL USE ONLY. If you areallergic to latex then shea butter is not recommended as itcontains a small amount of natural latex. The author accepts noliability for the misuse of these products. Please do not rely onproducts or information as a substitute for medical advice. If youhave a medical problem, contact a health care practitioner. Productstatements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

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Dedication:

From the time I began soap crafting in 1998,my Mom was the best soap tester around. She helped me name soaps,told me what scents she liked and always let me know if the soapwas too big, too small, didn't lather enough and what color itshould be. When I moved back in with her in February 2009, Ibrought a basketful of soaps that I'd made just before my lastChristmas rush. Moringa soap, Spring Lilacs [her favorite], anotherfloral one I was testing, and many others. Before I moved back toher house, several states east of California, Mom sent me an emailtelling me not to quit making soap.

"And at the risk of repeating myself,whatever you do DON'T give up your business. I know you relegateeverything but your writing into the background, but what you'vedone is amazing. Just try to look at your web site dispassionately.It has the look and feel of a successful and long-time business.It's professional and artistic and modern. And, best of all, it'sbeen working. Surely you realize that." Mom, January2009

In October she went into the hospital andnever returned. In this book I'm honoring her memory by sharingwhat I've learned over the years, along with recipes for some ofher preferred soaps.

TABLE OFCONTENTS:

There are so many beautiful, edible lookingsoaps online and in stores created by talented soap crafters. Asoap crafter can change a plain slab into a creation that resemblesa slice of chocolate layer cake, a floral extravaganza, amulti-colored Popsicle, or a wedge of citrus colored and scentedsoap. We can gaze in wonder at the array of soap varieties that hasblossomed ever since I began my quest to make soap a dozen yearsago.

But even when experimenting with making mySoapCake and Mini SoapCake prototypes and those Soap Pops that Iended up giving away to a young neighbor, I was always moreconcerned about the ingredients that went into the soap than theresulting look of the finished product.

I did lots of testing, once adding an ounceof cocoa butter to about ten ounces of white soap base. Soap oozedcocoa butter and separated. Later, I remelted it by adding a lotmore soap base.

Purists will chide me for working withglycerin melt and pour soap base. Sure, it contained some longscientific sounding names. But I also used the stuff every singleday with no dire consequences. So was it really as bad as theyclaimed? Nope. I still use it.

Even though I began EverythingShea.com in2004, my business was kept small for a reason: I saw myself as awriter first and bath & body products designer second. But Ienjoyed it and I cared about what when into my soap and want toshare how I did it with you!

By handcrafting your own bath & bodyproducts you will be in charge of quality control! You can makeyour soap as natural as you like, if thats your concern. Maybeyouve always just loved being around soap and trying new kinds. Oryoure a do-it-yourself sort of person. Perhaps youve seen someonedemonstrate soap crafting and wanted to try it. Other reasonsinclude being able to make gifts for Christmas, birthdays,Chanukah, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day,Valentines Day, graduation, wedding and baby showers, and anyother occasion. You might even be able to sell your bubblycreations.

Teaching children how to craft melt and poursoap is a great way to keep them entertained and educate them inthe value of making something they use. Perhaps youre comfortablein the world of crafts and can already knit, sew, quilt, weavebaskets, craft polymer clay, etc.

Making your own soap will prove to besatisfying for your creative side and also for that residentscientist just waiting to mix things up. You'll discover that thevegetable oils in your kitchen cupboard can be used to create amoisturizing soap. Dried herbs make your soap smell wonderful andare beneficial for your skin. Natural colorants can be found inyour spice rack or at your local health food store. Scenting yoursoap is a joy to do and the combinations are limited only by yourimagination. And did you know that adding milk to soap wont spoil but you will become spoiled after using it and will always wantsome on hand.

The benefits of making your own soap will payoff financially as well. You'll save money by making soap and wonthave to pay retail prices anymore. If you choose to go into soapcrafting for you and your family, you can always buy your soap andother ingredients wholesale. Its easy to find a quality melt andpour base for around two to three dollars per pound. Most shopssell a 3 ounce bar of soap for more than that!

Also, there happens to be a large variety ofsoap bases available to the soap crafter. The standard types,transparent, ultra transparent, and opaque are the most common, butyou can also find goat milk, honey, coconut, olive oil, palm oil,aloe vera, rose hip extract, pansy extract, orange oil, coloredtransparent base [in several different colors], marbleized, hempseed oil, avocado and cucumber, shea butter, cocoa butter, andorganic melt and pour soap bases.

How much in the way of additives can beincluded depends upon the base. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer.Most will advise you add no more than one Tablespoon per pound.Thats the general consensus, or about one percent. The bases arewell-formulated as is; in fact, one reseller proudly declared thather oatmeal base was perfect the way it was. To package it, all oneneeded to do was slice it, use a soap stamp to put a nice logo onit, and wrap it. My personal experience has led me to try manybases.

Soap Making Versus Soap Crafting: What's theDifference?

Soap making is done from scratch using oils,liquids and lye. Melt and pour soap is already made and thereforeit's crafted into another shape, color, scent, etc. Someone elsemade the melt and pour soap base from scratch and you can alter it.Many people enjoy working with this type of soap because they don'thave to deal with lye. Crafting melt and pour soap is very creativeand can be exacting. But it's not made from scratch like I was oncetold by a soaper at a crafts fair. That's just my opinion on thematter as others will continue to promote it as soap making, eventhough it's already made...

You can craft your own soap in about an hour.The amount of money you invest in the soap base ranges in pricedepending upon the quality of the end product you desire. This bookwill help you be able to determine just what it is that will pleaseyou soap-wise.