5 comments about Making Soaps & Scents : Soaps, Shampoos, Perfumes & Splashes You Can Make At Home.

1. This was my first book that I bought on soap making and I really wished I had read the reviews first, before I purchased this book. I should have known something was not right when she didn't have any pictures of her finished soaps with her recipes. Could it be because they don't come out right, so she has none to show? I have attemtped to make two of her recipes so far. The Cinnamon Ginger,pg. 71; which came out a dark, ugly, smelley, mess. My second attempt was her Soothing Honey Vanilla Soap, pg. 73. What a fiasco that turned out to be. She neglects to tell you that when you add the 6 ounces of melted beeswax to the oils that are at 100F degrees(as instructed by her Basic Vegetable Soap), the beeswax will immediately solidify again and float on top. So, now I had to re-melt everything to a temperature around 150F to get the Beeswax to stay melted and blend into the oils. And of course, my Lye was already at 100F, waiting to be added to the oils. I see now why she has the section of water baths to regulate your Lye/Oil tempertures. You are going to need them. Anyhow, in order for the beeswax to stay liquid, I had to keep the temperature around 150F. And now I wasn't sure which temperature my lye should be. She also neglected to warn you that honey can cause your batch to separate, that happened to me also, when I added the warmed honey. I have serious doubts that my soap will turn out ok, it is in the mold now, but it did not look good when I poured it. And, I also just found out, after reading on the Internet, that you should not add more than 1.5% beeswax to a batch, otherwise you will have problems keeping the batch at a liquid state. The other reason is because of Beewax's hardening properties. Since it makes a soap hard, too much is not good, not unless you have a jack-hammer to slice it:). Well, her recipe called for 6oz of Beeswax, which is more than 13%, I am afraid I will end up with a brick in the morning. Again, this is the type of information she neglects to explain to you. Another important note is the use of Essential Oils in her reipes, e.g., again, her Soothing Vanilla Soap says to use 2 oz of Vanilla Essential Oil. I am not sure who her supplier is, but I couldn't find pure Vanilla Essential Oil for under $194.00, for 2 ozs, and that was for Vanilla Absolute. I am so glad now, that I used Fragrance Oil instead. I don't have 200.00 to throw away, while I try to figure her recipes out. Again, this is book is truly lacking in information. I am sure an experienced soaper would have known these things, but than, I think an experienced soaper would have read this recipe,laughed and tossed it aside. And yes, how much lye do you need for the Lemon Lime Coconut Hair Bar on pg. 91, anyway? That's right, somehow the editor neglected to add it. Hopefully, once I become more experienced, I can use some of her recipes, but for now, I think I will stay with the Internet, so I can learn. Buyers beware, is all I have left to say about this book.



2. This is just another book that was written to cash in on the current DIY craze in toiletries and bath products. The author is not much of a soapmaker, and I ended up selling my copy to a used bookstore within 6 months of ordering it. The book is beautiful to behold, while being a pain to actually use due to the format and size, but is essentially useless next to the few books that actually impart info which empowers crafters to make ingredients decisions because they've learned something. Read Cavitch if you want to learn something.

   This is just another abbreviated Martha-esque book.




3. This beautiful, slim book is split into two parts:

   1) 'Making Soaps,' which begins with a little history on where and how soap was invented (supposedly in Rome from animal fat and ash residue some few thousand years ago), followed by a list of tools and ingredients you'll need, like a scale, paring knife, measuring cups/spoons, large stainless steel/ceramic pot, rubber/latex gloves--oh, the list goes on and on. Then it goes into the techniques and three methods of soapmaking: cold-process, hand-milling, and melting (aka Jell-O method; the easiest of the three). There are even recipes for you to try, like Cinnamon Ginger, Honey Vanilla, Coconut Rosewood, etc, which just made me hungry after reading them. I guess the nice thing about soapmaking is that if you mess up, you can always eat your mistake (j/k). I haven't tried any of the recipes myself, so I can't say they'll work, especially after reading a few other reviews below. As for the shampoo section (which is also lumped here), that's reduced to just 8 pages--half of which are just photos--and doesn't go into great detail.

   2) 'Making Scents,' which also begins with a history on fragrances, this time starting around 3500 BC. I wasn't too interested in this portion of the book, but it is a great place for beginners to start since organic perfumes are relatively easy to make, and the tools required are a lot fewer and less dangerous than for soapmaking. However, as the author mentions, don't expect to make a reproduction of Chanel No 5 or the like. There are some good perfume recipes, though, like Rose Water, Vanilla Bean Water, and Pear Nectar Perfume (none of which I've tried, but would try if I ever got around to it).

   I received "Making Soaps and Scents" awhile back as a gift. What I liked most about it was the vegetable-based soapmaking recipes since I'm a vegan and didn't want to get involved with any animal products. However, I'm not very good at arts and crafts at all, and forget about getting me in the kitchen: I usually end up burning something when I do. For that reason, I've been a little wary of attempting any of these soapmaking ideas. For now, I'm happy just buying vegan soap/shampoos at the store, like Crystal (a soap), which doesn't include or experiment on animals. But for those who are into arts and crafts, then "Making Soaps and Scents" is certainly worth checking out. It's quite informative, with several tips and troubleshooting pages throughout the book; not to mention it's very colorful and beautifully photographed, even if the photos are mainly just of soap.




4. NOT for the novice soaper but interesting for inspiration, this book has some major errors that may cause a novice headaches and make an accomplished soaper wince.
   
   Oh - I am not addressing the fragrance portion of this book
   
   For starters, please do NOT mix your lye solution in a glass container - even Pyrex can shatter and you could end up with horrid burns. And a dust mask doesn't protect you from fumes so keep that in mind!
   
   Please also, don't use crayons to color your soap... I mean REALL!?!
   
   And while I'm at it, don't line your mold with waxed paper. Or go ahead and try it and then come back and write your own review! It won't peel off easily... I recommend freezer paper myself.
   
   And the last thing I will mention is that her discourse on how much better vegetable oil soaps are than animal fat soaps is just plain wrong. She gives a nicely balanced "basic" recipe for veg soaps, but doesn't do the courtesy of providing one for animal (just tallow alone is not great, but then neither would be just coconut oil). You can use almost any blend of oils & fats to produce a soap to meet almost any needs... don't limit yourself to what she thinks is gospel.
   
   Go online, read a ton of free stuff on a few sites, join a soaping forum online or find a friend who soaps... That will be much more helpful than this book.
   
   Some of the references and suppliers are outdated, but it was published in 1999 so that is to be expected, and some are still around.
   
   Good luck.



5. This book is mostly about making soap from scratch. There are good lists of supplies and formulas included within the book. A good starter book for soap making and precautions in handling your product in process. The scents section is not the main focus of the book but has some good ideas for creating fragrant soaps that should prove helpful.

5 comments about Essentially Soap: The Elegant Art of Handmade Soap Making, Scenting, Coloring & Shaping.

1. I had to have a friend who is very good with math teach me how to figure INS values. (Math major I am not.) If you like math and are very scientific about soap you'll like them. I am sure INS values would gaurd you from making a bad batch, but it boggled me a bit.
   I am a hot process soaper and this book was not helpful for perfecting hot process. The recipes are well balanced and you won't go wrong there, but I am going to buy the soapmaker's companion next. (I have Milk-Based soaps also.)

   I just don't think any one book will give you it all. Soap making methods are very personal and I suggest you buy several books and take what you like from them and leave the rest.
   Soap making is after all very personal and Dr. Bob has given a good take on his personal niche with soap. With some exploration each soaper can find theirs.




2. I am a veteran soapmaker and really enjoyed this book.



3. Overall, as a beginner, I enjoyed this book and appreciated a lot of his explanations and directions. I found his explanation of the math/calculation portion a little confusing, however. His step by step soap making was nice. I wish he would have explained different methods of coloring soap a little more. I am interested in making herbal soaps as natural as possible, and this book has helped me to get a basic idea. He goes over melt and pour in a brief overview, and I was glad he didn't spend too much time on it. He teaches the cold process method. I plan to find books that teach hot process next. This book is recommended for beginners.



4. Dr. McDaniel's book is a great reference for those who are seasoned soapers as well as beginners looking for an introduction. One of the reasons this book is superior to others is the fact that the photos are instructional as opposed to decorative. For example, on page 57, he has wonderful photos demonstrating what trace looks like and how it behaves. I LOVED that because trace was the most elusive thing for me. People described it till they were blue in the face and I still didn't get it. It wasn't till I saw the photo that the "Aha!" moment came.
   
   The recipes that he features are a mixed bag. There are the simple ones for beginners, cheap ones for us misers, luxurious ones for the fancy folks, facial soaps, shampoos, milk soaps, and even pet shampoos! Also included is a SAP table complete with KOH values and INS values, directions on how to use it, how to calculate water for your own recipes. It also includes directions on how to rebatch soap and of course, the obligatory melt-and-pours. What I found fascinating was the directions on how to make your own potash and how to make your own essential oils. This guy really goes over how to make everything. For those of us interested in learning about the soapmaking process from scratch, this book is indispensible!
   
   On top of all the good information, you really feel like the author has a deep understanding of the subject. The only thing I would change, if I could, is I would ask Dr. McDaniel to also include information on hot process soap making. He covered everything else, I wondered why he didn't at least provide a cursory explaination of the process.
   
   All in all, if you can only get ONE book on soapmaking, this is it.(Though how could you possibly just get one? Who has that much will power?)



5. I'm new to soapmaking and have taken 1 class on it. I'm obsessed with this new art and have poured thru 6 books in 4 days I love it so much! I can tell you this book was one that I got from the library (but will own soon!) and it's a MUST HAVE! It's informational more than a book of recipes but it's very clear and one I will refer to always. Don't get me wrong, the recipes are great but they are for 4 lb batches which seem a bit big for me right now (2 solo soap adventures so far)....very new. The other must have book with 2lb recipes is "Smart Soapmaking" by Anne L. Watson! YOU have to have this book in your soap library!

5 comments about The Handmade Soap Book.

1. This book is an inspiring look at handmade soap recipes. The photographs are helpful as well as beautiful, and there are some good photos of the soapmaking process. Readers should always be aware that every soap recipe should be run through a lye calculator before use, and this book is no exception. Typos do happen, and a few of these recipes are lye-heavy. The descriptions of each recipe are also not very informative, but rest assured that every recipe will create luxurious handcrafted soap. The photos will also inspire the reader to create their own recipes and experiment with color and fragrance options.



2. As a professional soapmaker I own just about every soapmaking book published. "The Handmade Soap Book" by Melinda Coss is my favorite and I highly recommend it. The photographs by Emma Peios are sensual and entice you to want to make each and every soap in the book. The recipes are for small batches which works well while you are just learning and when you've found your favorites you can double or triple the recipes. The recipes are well written and pretty much fail-proof. Coss is not a soap snob or purist, rather she uses color freely to produce delightful results. Coss features both vegetable soap and animal-based materials for those who would like to experiment and choose for themselves rather than have the decision made for them which is done in many soapmaking books. Yes, the book is a bit pricey but it is hardcover so it is durable, the photographs are inspirational and the recipes make "The Handmade Soap Book" worth every penny.



3. I returned this book. As an experienced soapmaker, I found that this book just repeated a lot of the same information from other books I have read. There are better books out here and this one is pretty mediocre. I would recommend "Essentially Soap" over this book.



4. I am a beginner soap maker, and found the recipes and pictures good for inspiration. Also, the sequence of pictures for a basic recipe from heating stage to the trace stage are useful. However, the book is not useful for creating your own recipes. While the book has a saponification table and a description of how to calculate amount of lye to use, it does not tell you how much liquid to use in a new recipe.



5. I like the way the book is organized and written, and the photos are inspiring. The writer does a good job of organizing the topics. I found the lists of additives, essential oils, and fillers especially interesting and informative, and I return to this section often. However, after plugging in a few of her recipes in a lye calculator, I was disappointed in the lye heavy recipes. I felt this was very lazy editing and a potential danger to new soap makers who do not know how to design their own recipes. I checked some of her sap values and they are correct, but, out of a sampling of 5 recipes, 2 recipes are lye heavy: "Grapefruit Slice" is -1.6% lye heavy; "Fresh as a Cucumber" is also -8% lye heavy. However, "Blackberry Smoothy", "Peach Melba", and "Strawberry Soap" are all okay. If you already know how to design your own recipes, this is a good book for inspiration.

1 comments about Beginner's Guide to Candlemaking.

1. what do you need to make candle

5 comments about Soothing Soaps: For Healthy Skin.

1. This is the 2nd book I have purchased by Sandy Maine. The pictures are wonderful as usual and the variations versatile and easy to follow. The resource guide is very helpful. She offers helpful information on the herbs used and explains how each used can benefit the user. It does not however, give a basic recipe for making the transparent soap as she did in an earlier book. I think at least one should have been included. This book is basically for melt-and-pourers.



2. I own another soap making book from Sandy Maine and enjoy it very much, so decided to try another one. After purchasing it from Amazon, I quickly realized that this book is strictly glycerine soaps. There was no indication of this from what I could tell. I wanted a book on actual soap making, not pre-made soap enhanced by botanicals. In summary, the title or book summary should mention that this book is about melt and pour soap only. Consequently, I returned the book.



3. I noticed that this book is lacking of showing how to work with the glycerine in order to make this soaps. I don't believe this book is for beginers in soapmaking. Other than that, it has nice photos!



4. I wanted some insight into how to incorporate herbs into my melt and pour soap, and I found this book very helpful. Contrary to what another reviewer said, not all melt and pour soap bases contain alcohol and fillers - it is possible to get m&p soap base that is composed of natural ingredients.

   I was pleased to find information on different methods of preparing your own decoctions, tinctures and infusions from herbs, and also some basic information on gathering herbs.

   I found this book to be very helpful to someone like me who didn't know anything about herbal soaps and didn't know where to start. I have already made several of the soaps and have been very pleased with them.




5. This is a nice lil book for ideas for healing soaps I use it more for the combinations of essential oils than the actual soap recipes. If you are new to soapmaking I would pair this with the book by Anne Watson called "Smart Soapmaking" and its always a good idea to get at least a couple good aromatherapy books to help figure out scenting and what goes well and what each oils properties are some oils although they smell good are not meant for every type of person to use its important to know what effects they can have on you, your families and or customers.

3 comments about The Everything Candlemaking Book: Create Homemade Candles in House-Warming Colors, Interesting Shapes, and Appealing Scents (Everything Series).

1. M.J. Abadie's The Everything Candlemaking Book lives up to its name with all the facts, how-to instructions, tips, safety precautions, and much more needed to embark on the creative and satisfying art of making one's own candles whether just for fun or for practical use. From the history of candlemaking, to step-by-step instructions on getting started, to making candles for holidays and special occasions, to using intricate techniques such as applique to ornament candles, to recommendations for tools and supplies, to using unique containers, to incorporating candles into rituals, to adding scents and other personal touches, The Everything Candlemaking Book is a first-rate instructional reference for anyone ready to roll up their sleeves and enjoy a unique and rewarding activity.



2. I will agree that this book has a wealth of information, such as history and useage of candles, along with good descriptions of the types of candles, etc. But what it lacked was good pictures showing step by step processes of candlemaking. It described a lot of things in text, but I am a picture person. Also I didn't find anything about Soy candles. Anyway, I was a bit disappointed due to the lack of pictures.



3. The Everything Candlemaking Book: Create Homemade Candles in House-Warming Colors, Interesting Shapes, and Appealing Scents (Everything Series)
   
   This is a great book! I picked it up and learned a lot about the history of candles, which really intrigued me. When she talks about how they were used for warmth, light, and fragrance in the time before electricity, I was enriched with a deeper knowledge of candles. I was also intrigued when she talked about their spiritual/religious significance and how they are viewed by various religions. I have always wondered about that sort of thing.
   
   The recipes/directions for making different kinds of candles (rolled, tapers, pillars, containers, etc) is pretty clear. She also gives you tips on some common tools that you need (skewers for puncturing air bubbles, lollipop sticks for immobilizing the wicks, etc) and how she gets them very cheaply (She shops second hand stores, garage sales, and discount stores for most of her supplies!).
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a beginner all the way through novice (she has a lot of tricks for making the most complex things with her candles).

5 comments about Natural Soapmaking.

1. Even though this book is entitled "Natural Soapmaking" it really refers using items such as herbs, etc in your soaps and not to the cold process you would doing when making soaps with lye (which can take a month to cure). These are easy receipes for someone just starting out and want to learn creative ways make soaps which gives you immediate results. It gives good instructions and information about aromatherapy, what different colors mean and what certain herbs to enhance your soaps. Although, she recommends putting Vaseline in the molds to assist with the releasing of the mold - you really do not need to do that! As long as you wait for the soap to harden completely that step is unnecessary! And for the cold process/lye makers you may want to pass on this one because you may be disappointed! It is a great addition to your Melt and Pour Soapmaking by the same author!



2. People who really make soap - and contrary to what others have said, it is far from an arduous or time consuming process, should do themselves a favor and pass on this book. Natural soapmaking means using lye and oils, not breaking down someone else's soap and reconstituting it.
   
   Waste of money.



3. I have to disagree with the previous reviewer about this book. I totally agree that it is definitely not a book for Soapmakers who use Hot or Cold Process Soapmaking like I orginally wanted, but it was certainly very helpfull. Her tips for making Hand-Milled Soap from store-bought soap was excellent. I currently live in the Caribbean where you can't find anything quite easy. I found a Hypo-Allergenic Soap Bar called Pure & Natural that was perfect. Matter of fact, I made one of her recipes yesterday using a PVC Mold, and it came out beautifully. As far as using Petroleum Jelly to release the Soap from the mold, it worked like a charm, just like she indicated in her book.
   
   There are alot of recipes in this book that can be used in regular soapmaking. I also love the idea that the book also has recipes and teaches you how to make Bath & Massage Oils, Solid Massage Oils, Bath Salts & Fizzies, as well as packaging and decorating your handmade items.
   
   Thumbs up for Marie.



4. If you want an easy way to personalize soaps for gifts or make other "spa" product for yourself and others this is a great starter book. It is well illustrated, great packaging ideas and label templates. Easy recipes to follow. It is exactly what I was looking for since I dabble in lots of crafts and am an expert at none!



5. I knew absolutely nothing about hand-milled soap making or soap making period and I picked this book up, read it cover to cover and enjoyed it all. I then bought my supplies (the very few I didn't already have in my kitchen) and some ingredients for two of the receipes and the rest is history. My teenage daughter and I spent the weekend making soap and we had a blast! All the steps in this book worked perfectly, although at first we struggled with the amount of time to melt the soap. Eventually we got it though and within a weekend we had our kitchen full of a variety of shapped soaps that began the curing process. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have the interest in creating soap from scratch (mixing with lye, etc). It has beautiful pictures and many creative ideas for wrapping. Love this book!

5 comments about 300 Handcrafted Soaps: Great Melt & Pour Projects.

1. Great book for beginners or pros alike. I will definetly buy more books by this author



2. Terrific! So many ideas and so little time! I made about a dozen varieties of soap, and each was delightful.



3. Beautiful pictures and well written, but the format may be confusing for a beginner. It was for me. At first I thought, "300 recipes all in one skinny book?" Then I understood why. Many, if not most of the "recipes," just have a list of materials and additives, but no procedure per se. For procedure the reader is instructed to see elsewhere in the book.
   
   For instance, Recipe #175 for Triangles, which immediately caught my eye, lists the amount of melt and pour base, drops of fragrance, additives (in this case, "green, yellow, and red soap curls cut from soap sheets"), and the size of mold needed. Then it directs the reader to "See 'Soap in Soap' in the Designer Techniques section" for the how-to. Ok, let's go see... Ahh, step three tells me to follow the instructions for "Embedded Toy Soaps," yet another section to which I must refer in order to make the Triangles. Suddenly I feel like I'm on a scavenger hunt just to make a couple of bars of soap. By this time, my excitement has fizzled and I'm ready to look elsewhere... as in another book altogether. As a beginner, I'm really looking for specifics. This book was not for me. I did enjoy reading the general info on soapmaking, that was helpful. And the pictures were gorgeous to look at, but I'm glad I only borrowed this book from the library and didn't actually pay money for it.



4. I love this book because it has numerous-300- visually applealing soaps. This lets the soap crafter get away for the "Plain White Soap" and make each bar a peice of art with color and texture. A great book for beginners and those who want to take it to the next level. The book mentions that you can get most of your supplies at thrift stores to by pass an huge inverstment. I purchased all my soap making supplies from the thrift store and I am selling prfessionally.



5. as a new soap maker, i found this book really nice. it is full of very exiting ideas

4 comments about Soap Carving: For Children of All Ages (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1. This book is a gem in the rough. It is not slick or up-to-date looking, but it contains excellent instructions on carving soap as a prelude to carving wood. The author, an engineer, shows you how to create carving tools out of popsicle sticks. This is the one of the coolest craft ideas I have ever seen and it worked very well with a group of children from my church. Not only does he describe how to make a basic carving tool (by cutting a diagonal and then sharpening the "blade" on sandpaper) but he shows how to make a gouge and other tools too.
   
   The main part of the book contains detailed instructions on how to carve several different objects (a heart, a turtle, a dolphin coming out of water, and more), with a picture showing each stage of the carving process. These were great instructions for me; the children I worked with (ages 5-10) could have used easier models/instructions. This book is great because it shows how to introduce a new fun craft activity, carving, in a way that works for groups of kids safely and without much expense. The kids loved it!



2. Excellent book for carving. The kids enjoyed it. Well written and illustrated.



3. I am a teacher and I carve in my free time. I have always regretted that the tools for carving are too sharp and dangerous for kids to use , so sharing my hobby with the children was out of the question until I read this book.
   What a nice idea, tools made out of popsickle sticks!!
   I made a class set of the tools and my kids happily carved some of the figures suggested in the book.
   I did it with a grade three class when the kids learned about Inuits carving soapstone. The kids enjoyed it a lot. Children in higher grades will have as much fun doing it and hopefully they will be as proud of their creations.
   I can recommend this book for anyone who would like to carve with kids but is afraid to do so.
   One suggestion. Have the children bring a serving tray, or baking sheet and have them carve on that so the chips of soap will stay in the tray rather than fall on the floor!



4. Great book, has lots of detail. Especially like the instructions for making your own carving tools out of popsicle sticks.
   My 6 yr. old grandson carve a soap owl and it came out good.

5 comments about Gel Candles: 40 Creative Projects.

1. I loved this book since I saw it with those wonderful pictures and detailed instructions. I particularly liked the floating candle project and since I make my own gel, I made the 9% self standing gel candle according to instructions. The gel worked great, floated well but the candle did not light at all!!!!! I was making these candles for a wedding party and there was no way to light those candles. I changed the wick for a different thickness and nothing worked until I tried again the 5% gel. It burned OK! The candles float well only they are not as stiff as with the other gel.



2. As an experienced gel candlemaker I'm appalled at the dangerous projects this book showcases! Never, I repeat NEVER seat an untabbed wick in gel. HELLO - it's a fire hazard! Speaking of fire hazards, please don't embed many of the items recommended - just because it's "not near" the wick doesn't mean it can't catch fire.

   The book also gives instructions on cooking your own gel with mineral oil and resin which is a direction violation of Federal Trademark law.

   This book is a disgrace to candlemaking. I'm embarrassed. This inexperienced candlemaker/author did NO significant research before publishing this rubbish. Inexperienced gellers are being ripped off simply trying to learn gelling. Don't waste your hard earned cash here.




3. I am the author of this book. I am compelled to respond to the negative review written October 27.

   Of course the reviewer has a right to her opinion, however it is incorrect that I recommend people "set an untabbed wick in gel". In my introduction, on page 4, I state "The wick must be self-tabbed with a metal holder". In my general discussion of materials required, on page 21, I state "the wick must have a metal T-Tab at its base which is at least 7/16" high". Finally, in my detailed discussion of wicks on page 22, I explain at great length why a tabbed wick is so essential (it would be a fire hazard to not use one).

   I do not believe that the reviewer has read my book very carefully because her statement about wicks, as well as her other statements, do not reflect the content of the book.

   Thanks for taking the time to read this statement.

   Sincerely,

   Kaila Westerman




4. I love the pictures and the easy to follow projects, I recommend this book if you would like to make your own gel candles.



5. Great book, gives alot of information. A must have if you enjoy making candles.