Soap: Making It, Enjoying It

by Ann Bramson

How to make beautiful gift soaps at home with instructions for coloring, scenting, molding, and carving. Selection of the Better Homes & Gardens Family Book Service . 140,000 copies in print.

Genres: Crafts

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 1975

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the grandmother of all soap making books. I found it while working as a book sorter at a thrift store and was intrigued, as I had always heard that my Grandmother was a (hot process) soap maker. She passed away when I was little so I never got the chance to learn from her. So I used this book to try my hand at homemade soap.
The recipes and instructions are good.
It was written in the 70's, so there are materials and equipment that might have been unavailable or much more expensive then. Like a stick blender, stainless steel thermometers, or heat resistant Tupperware pitcher with a square, non-dribbling spout, and a digital scale that zeroes out. All now easily available at second hand stores or Walmart.
Also, there are better oils and recipes out there for tallow free soaps. This book has great recipes though. I'd recommend reading it and a more modern soap making book (like the Everything Soap Making Book) in tandem.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not very helpful to me. I didn't want a rough recipe, I wanted precision and scientific understanding of process. She provided neither. It was still a useful read, though I found some information in it contradictory to information I read in more recently published books, especially the mixing lye solution with oils part.

[SterlingSpider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info, this book definitely informed and inspired my soap making interest, but be forewarned; it is majorly hippy-dippy seventies in verbal approach. I wouldn't say the book suffers for it, but you may want to steer clear if that sort of thing annoys you.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the 1970's . . . I'm sure there are newer methods and equipment, but I found this book to still be a great introduction to how to make soap. And I loved the chapter on soap's history - very interesting, and inclusion of some advertisements from the past was a fun aspect.

[Yves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This basic book reads like a charm and after you just know how to make soap. The historical data is fun and not overdone. This is not a fancy book, but you learn.

[Anie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great soap making intro, with useful and adorable hand illustrated instructions.

[Jennifer Gilden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basic soapmaking book. I made some nice castile soap based on her recipe. Of course, since it's an older book it doesn't include some newer techniques, like using an immersion blender to speed up the process. But combine this with some more up-to-date info from the internet, and you have a good basis for making soap.

[Richard Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful book that should be in the library of any potential soaper (soap maker). It is one of the earlier books written for this hobby/small business, but the information is still timely.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

straight-forward and clear instructions for making lye soaps with a variety of fats and oils. definitely makes the whole process seem less intimidating. also includes an oddly fascinating history of soap.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very handy easy to read guide to soap making.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to soap making. It was a great way to learn about a soap making. It's very basic and explains the process in just enough detail for a beginner. Highly recommended!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book, after reading I'm pretty sure I don't want to make soap!

[Elizabeth Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie, but goodie! Easy instructions. Can't wait to start making cold process soap!