| Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably, or How to Make Luxurious Handcrafted Soaps for Family, Friends, and Yourself |  | Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
List Price: $12.50
Buy New: $11.25
as of 9/9/2010 19:29 CDT details
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  63 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 115
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.3
ISBN: 0938497421
Dewey Decimal Number: 745
EAN: 9780938497424
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Maybe you've made melt-and-pour soap and want to move on to something more challenging and rewarding. Maybe traditional soapmaking appeals to you, but you figure it's too difficult or dangerous. Or maybe you're already doing it, but outmoded ideas and methods are complicating the process and slowing you down. No matter which of these fits you, you'll find Smart Soapmaking practical, helpful, and refreshing. Written by a former professional soapmaker, this book explodes the myths about soapmaking and shows you how to make luxurious soap with the least fuss and bother.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 63
 The Very Best Soap Making Book October 28, 2007
Theresa Y. Peoples (Upper Darby, PA)
103 out of 105 found this review helpful
When I started to make CP soap I purchased several books and also drove all the way from Philadelphia to DC to take a class. Then I received a magazine that I subscribe to which featured an article by Anne L. Watson. In a nutshell it summerized her book and at the end of the article she listed a awsome recipe for soap.
This article encouraged me to purchase the book. I have read a lot of soap making books. This book is the fist book that I was able to read from cover to cover more than once.
I highly recommend this book, It is consice and to the point, it will get you through your first batch and several more. Ms. Watson's techniques in my opinion are full proof. I have made several batches of soap and never had a failed batch yet.
Not to mention, if you have a question you can always email the author and get a response back.
I love love love this book. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Great Book - even for professionals April 18, 2007
Susanne Marhanka (Drexel Hill, PA USA)
53 out of 54 found this review helpful
I make soaps, professionally, since about 19 years and tried a lot so far. I am curious and love to experiment. I use this book now to teach my new employees a thing or two about soap an to take the fear.
I particulary liked the part with "shortening the curing time" I did try it before, but it did not work out as wished. Thanks to this book I found my mistake, tried it and oh wonder: it works! Ok, for the size batches we make - about 800 lbs at a shot - the temperatues, etc, had to be changed, but the basics are still the same.
So if your have a small business, larger business, do it as a hobby or are just getting started, the bottom line is: Buy this book, it is worth every single cent and does not contain the usual nonsense other authors write.
Just keep one thing in mind when using the by Watson referred Soapmakers Guide from S. Miller-C.: those recipes are for KOH not NaOH! Kathy Miller's website can give you the conversions (her site is in the references/ resources of A.L. Watson's book)
So good luck and lots of fun making soap!
S. Marhanka - Body & Mind Natural Collection
Smart Soapmaking May 21, 2008
K. Bergeron (Concord, NH USA)
42 out of 42 found this review helpful
I was inspired to make soap when my daughter shared some shea butter soap with me that she had bought at a farmer's market and because I was concerned about the chemicals in the products we were using.
I read a great deal about making cold process soap during the 2 years I was making melt and pour soap and gathering equipment. It seemed scary and complicated. Everyone said something different and there was lots about "rebatching" soap batches that didn't turn out well.
When I finally had all of my equipment and the only thing stopping me was clear directions and a bit of fear, I read reviews of soap making books on Amazon. This was the book that I was most impressed with from reading the reviews so I ordered it. I shall be eternally grateful that I did.
I have made 2 batches of soap from Anne's shea butter recipe, one of them a bug repellent soap, and they have both turned out perfect. Now I've created 2 of my own recipes using her information and instructions, to use up some extra oils I have, and feel completely confident that they will turn out well. Before reading her book I couldn't imagine creating my own recipes at all, much less this soon.
And like she says, you should never have to "rebatch" a batch of soap. I, too, have read the book several times and continue to reference the excellent information regarding creating your own recipes. I can't say enough good about this book, for either an aspiring or an experienced soap maker. I no longer fear making soap, but find it a totally awesome experience now and feel fantastic every day as I use the soap I've made.
If you're the least bit interested in making soap I would strongly suggest that this be the first book you purchase for your soap making library.
Great things come in small packages! July 9, 2007
Charlene Johnson (Colchester, VT United States)
37 out of 39 found this review helpful
This book has everything you need to start making soap. The instructions and illustrations for the cold-process of soap making are easy to follow, the recipes are simple and produce great soap every time. Anne's Shea Butter Soap is a very versatile recipe, and her references to other sources are invaluable. Would love to see the author produce a volume of soap recipes!
A book to make you feel smart about soapmaking. February 26, 2007
B. Huff
26 out of 27 found this review helpful
I have read a number of books about soapmaking. Sometimes it just seemed overwhelmingly difficult and dangerous. This book gives very basic and understandable instructions. She mentions in the book how sometimes after teaching a class students will say "you mean that's all there is to it?," which shows how it has been made easy to understand and gives people the confidence to give it a shot. Soapmaking basically comes down to mixing fat, water and lye. That's all there is to it. You can pretty it up with color and fragrance and additives, but that's up to you - and that is also where it can get complicated, but like she says people can write volumes on making pancakes but it doesn't mean making pancakes is hard. So if you are thinking of making your own soap, I would recommend you read this book cover to cover before you start. Also, as an added bonus, the author is very accessible if you have questions via e-mail. I have sent several e-mails and she has been very helpful and responsive.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 63
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