Soap Book

I'm surprised at the negative reviews! I was a beginner when I bought this book - now I've been making soap for about 5 years now. I have purchased more complicated soap books but always go back to this one for its simplicity. Yes I use pure essential oils (wholesale in bulk) and yes they cost a bit more - but thats the point of making your own products - to avoid the cheap processed toxic junk thats out there! I use the soap and I sell it at local gift shops - people don't mind paying $4-$6 a bar when they are buying pure stuff. I don't think some of these reviewers actually made the recipes - they just critiqued them. I use the quantities suggested and have never ruined a batch of soap - all lovey long lasting bars. A reviewer suggested using tallow to cut costs and make harder soap - first of all, yuk, I make soap to reduce the toxins on my body and 2nd, my bars have always been hard! They last a long time in the shower. They must be using soap that is only 24 hours old or something - soap has to age a week or 2 and you get nice hard long lasting bars. Soap making does not need to be complicated - why do you need more than one recipe - it is the essential oils that change the soap.

Sandy Maine presents the whole package in her luscious soapmaking books, thus I credit her as an important inspiration for my career in bodycare. Maine goes deeper than merely presenting recipes, her books contain gorgeous photographs that are truelly inspirational as well as touching personal narratives. The fact that the recipes are variations on the same base oils makes them economical because you don't need to invest in numerous types of fixed oils to achieve success. You can also feel confident about adding your own unique colorants and other ingredients, thus creating your own recipes.All of her books are eco-friendly and encourage respect and engagement with nature.Sandy Maine is also highly involved in the field of soapmaking. She advises and inspires many soapmakers in various stages of their development. As a soapmaker who has gone from novice to professional I highly recommend Maine's soapmaking books.

I loved this book I have been agonizing for month's about making soap myself. I have spent a small fortune in specialty shops for these kinds of soaps. After spending hours on the internet and purchasing 3 seperate books I decided to use Sandy Maine's recipe for a first try. I think it's going to be a success!!! Once I gathered up enough courage to use LYE!!(it's not as scary as it sounds) The next hardest part was gathering all the equipment. Most items can bee found at the local Walmart, Pic n Save, even the Thrift store!! That's where I found my postal scale. I like that every basic recipe is the same just the additive's are the only change. I would also recomend "The Complete Soapmaker" by Norma Coony. Excellent picture's!!! Deals mostly with hand milling which semms to require much less essential oil. The oils are not eaten away by the lye solution. Susan Miller Cavitch's book "The Natural Soap Book" is a good reference and full of all kinds of "advanced" information. Not really a beginner book. I would love any input or advise from any one reading this review.

This book was easy to read, and easy to follow. I was a bit intimated to make such a large batch of soap, so I made a quarter batch,(it is drying as I type). A small batch is much less expensive, and not near as scary when you are working with lye.