Soap Mastery: Beginner Soap Making (Monochrome): Create Your First Soap, Shampoo & Conditioner

This is an introductory book that is well written and suitable for beginning soap makers. Intermediate and advanced soap makers may want to pass on this book, unless you want a refresher.The author steps the reader through the process of making four different products -- hot process soap, cold process soap, liquid soap, and a non-soap hair conditioner -- using a basic recipe for each.Pros:The author does a very good job of explaining each process and provides a few additional recipes to try complete with instructions.She does a very good job of discussing the ingredients, equipment, techniques, and safety.Her writing style is clear, friendly, and logical.The book is well edited and well organized.Not a lot of photos, but there are enough to get the point across.She gives correct information about how to handle lye burns on the skin -- with WATER only, never vinegar.Con:"...cold-processed soaps do have a longer cure time (usually 4 weeks) so if you want to have a soap that’s ready within 24 hours, then stick with the hot-process method...."The author takes pains in several places to say hot process (HP) soap is ready to use in a few days, while cold process (CP) soap takes weeks to be ready. The truth of the matter is this -- any HP or CP soap can be safe to use on the skin within hours to a few days after making, but neither soap is at its BEST until the soap cures for at least 4 weeks. It's a persistent myth that HP soap is ready to use (or even to sell) the day after it's made but somehow poor CP soap takes weeks before it gets to that same point.It is true that HP soap saponifies quicker due to the added heat used when cooking the soap ingredients, so it is safe to use on the skin within hours. Because CP soap is usually made without adding heat, the saponification reaction is slower. Most CP soap is skin safe in 1 day, but some can take up to 2-3 days to be skin safe depending on the specific type of CP method used.After saponification is done, however, HP soap and CP soap take the same 4-6 weeks to actually cure. By cure, I mean the process of drying to a stable weight, producing the best lather, and becoming long lasting. There is ~no~ short cut for making this cure time shorter.Don't take my word for this -- try it yourself with HP soap and CP soap. Ideally both should be made with the same recipe, just the different techniques for saponification. Evaluate each bar for a total of 4-6 weeks -- every day or two for the first week and once a week thereafter. Check the amount and texture of the lather produced. Press on the soap to check its hardness. Measure the weight loss over time. See for yourself whether the soaps improve over the cure time or not.A quibble:"...The oils and the lye should be of similar temperature to each other, ideally within 10'c / 50'F of each other. Note that this temperature requirement is less important during hot-processed soap making but it is a good habit to form...."I've seen this odd bit of advice repeated by many authors, but no one ever gives the reason for it, perhaps because it really is one of those odd soaping "rules" that sound reasonable but really isn't reasonable at all. You may indeed prefer the lye solution and fats to be not too hot and not too cool, but the fats could be 32 C (90 F) and the lye could be 49 C (120 F) and all will be just fine. Don't waste time getting them within 10 C of each other -- it's truly not necessary.A correction:A temperature difference of 10 C converts to a temperature difference of only 18 F, not 50 F. If one thing is at an absolute temperature of 30 deg C and another is at 40 deg C, the difference in temperature is 10 deg C. This is the same as saying one thing is at an absolute temperature 86 deg F, the second is 104 deg F, and the difference in temperature is 18 deg F.Another quibble:"...Caustic Soda (NaOH) is required for the creation of bar soaps and is often used in liquid soaps as well. You should be able to find it on the shelves of your local hardware store. ... Caustic potash (KOH) is required for the creation of liquid soaps and shampoo. Caustic Potash will need to be purchased from a specialised soap making supply store...."The chemical names of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) are far more commonly used in the USA. You won't find "caustic soda" sold in American hardware stores, but you will find "sodium hydroxide" sold as a drain cleaner. Also newbies often think the chemicals "caustic potash" and "potash" are the same thing, but they're not.Despite my critiques, I still think this book is a good one for beginning soapers and the author has her heart in the right place. A good introduction to the art of making hand crafted soap.

I really liked this book. I tried another book on soap making that went into a lot more of the history and chemistry of soap so I was glad that this one was more about making soap than telling me about soap. I saw this book on a Facebook group page and thought it would be helpful. It really was. I am a beginner on making soap so this book was more like a friend telling me how to do it than a technical book on the history and process. I would recommend this book to those that want to dive in and try it. Then look for other books for the technical stuff. Very nicely written.

This is a good book to start out with if you want to just get in there and start learning how to make soap. it goes more into the technique of making soap than the background of oils and essential oils. i would recommend this book to someone who definitely wants to see if soap making would be something they may be interested in.

Loved this book. I have read many and found them all very complicated and hard to follow. This one was very clear and easy directions. I highly recommend this book to anyone

Good explanations about and pictures depicting the various stages to expect when making your first soaps. I especially like her sections on how to make liquid soap and conditioner.

It has a complete info - not just for the beginners. Explains step by step systematically how to make soap, even with the pictures. Really making it easy to learn - like having a tutor by my side. Thank you!

Great to the point book. Clear and accurate information. Totally recommend for beginner or advanced soap maker looking to try a new method.

Very helpful for my soapmaking hobby!

A valued edition to any soap makers library regardless of how experienced they may be..I found it easily understand with it's simplicity of words and the easy instructions. The colourful pictures also made it easy to understand.

If you would like to learn how to make soap this book covers all you need to know, I found it be very informative and easy to understand.