Soap Crafting

Anne-Marie Faiola’s first soapmaking book, published three years before “Pure Soapmaking,” takes a more project-based approach. Where “Pure Soapmaking” teaches you the fundamentals progressively, “Soap Crafting” is built around 31 specific recipes, each designed to teach a distinct technique or style.

Why Consider This One

If you are the kind of learner who wants to jump in and make something specific right away, “Soap Crafting” might suit you better than “Pure Soapmaking.” Each of the 31 projects is self-contained, with its own ingredient list, step-by-step instructions, and photographs. You could open to any recipe and follow it without reading the rest of the book first.

The book is particularly strong on creative techniques. Faiola shows you how to create layered soaps, embed objects within bars, use household items as molds, and incorporate ingredients like coffee grounds, avocado, and beer to achieve different textures and properties. The emphasis is on making soap that looks impressive and feels distinctive.

The spiral binding is a practical touch: the book lies flat on your workspace, which matters when your hands are covered in soap batter and you need to check the next step. The photography is clear and the instructions are reliable, as you would expect from someone who has been teaching soapmaking for years.

What to Expect

A project-driven guide with 31 cold-process soap recipes, each featuring step-by-step photography. At 239 pages, it covers the same fundamentals as “Pure Soapmaking” but organizes them around specific projects rather than a progressive curriculum. Best suited for crafters who learn by doing and want variety from the start.