The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes, Techniques & Know-How

by Susan Miller Cavitch

In this comprehensive guide, Susan Miller Cavitch covers everything you need to know to make your own soaps. Learn the basic techniques for crafting oil-, cream-, and vegetable-based soaps, and then start experimenting with your own personalized scents and effects. Cavitch provides tips for making more than 40 different specialty soaps, showing you how to design colorful marbled bars and expertly blend ingredients to create custom fragrances. You'll soon be making luxurious soaps at a fraction of the cost of boutique products.Important Notice Early printings of this book contain a recipe variation in a sidebar note on page 36. As a result of further testing, author Susan Miller Cavitch and Storey Publishing strongly recommend that you do not try this variation. Adding honey when you are combining the sodium hydroxide and water may result in a stronger reaction with more intense heat. The mixture may bubble up quickly and come out of the pot, posing a potential hazard.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, How To, Lifestyle, Reference

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 1997

Reviews

[Mel Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally gave this book four stars, due to its comprehensive nature and relatively easy instructions. However since then, I have read Soap Crafting by Anne-Marie Faiola, and would definitely recommend that book over this one. The advantages to Soap Crafting are the full-color pictures and wider range of possibilities presented for coloring and fragrances. Someone else mentioned Cavitch's "preachy tone" when it comes to using "all natural" ingredients, which I also found annoying, and which greatly limits the possibilities for creating soaps with bright colors and a wide range of fragrances.

[Nozdereli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap sabun yapımına dair basit tanımları açıkladıktan sonra ayrıntılı güzel tarifler sunmuş. Yazarın verdiği detaylı notları ve bol malzemeli tarifleri sevdim. Verdiği bazı masaj yağları için karışımlar da gayet hoş oldu… Birkaç tanesini denedim bile… Esansiyel yağlar ve fragrance (parfüm-esans) sentetik ve yarı sentetik yağların sabun ve kozmetik yapımında kullanımlarına dair verdiği bilgilerle bir aydınlanma yaşadım. Kitapta önerilen esansiyel yağ karışımlarının sabunları da çok hoş aromalandıracağını düşünüyorum… Verilen krem ve balm tariflerine de ayrıca bakacağım… Bütün bunlarla birlikte Dr. Louis Leakey’nin buluntularından yola çıkarak “Vücut Kokularının” evrimsel süreçteki önemini ve koku alma duyusunun yıllar içerinde toplumda nasıl değişerek formlandığını anlattığı satırları okumak benim için çok hoş bir sürpriz oldu…

[Shellie (Layers of Thought) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes you too can make soap. If you can cook and follow the directions its fairly easy. I didn't at first and had a couple of flops that were comical. I used olive oil and it came out very nice. Fun too!

[Angela]

Parts of this are out-of-date, with its emphasis on palm-oil soaps and a "Soap Making Online" chapter with a subheading "What is the Internet?" There are no photos, only illustrations. But the science gets top billing -- that plus all the troubleshooting & Q&A seem like they'd be helpful to beginning soap makers.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are curious about making soap this is a foundational book in your education. Susan Miller Cavitch writes in a practical way to set you straight in vital information necessary to safely proceed. Pick it up, it's one for the bookshelf in any soapmaker's library!

[Stacia Leigh]

For a more serious / advanced soap-maker.

[SACHIN LOHAKARE · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to read

[Merry Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Lovely! I found this little comprehensive guide at my local library. I nice little reference guide of information.

Vegetable soaps, transparent soaps, liquid soap, laundry soap, oil guide, natural plant colorant guide, minerals and clays, troubleshooting guide, some essential oil combos, etc.

There's also a very helpful section on some of the legal aspects of starting a business (and a laughable section about the internet with categories like "What does "online" mean?")

I don't think that I'd choose to purchase this one over some other, newer guides, but it's great if you have cheap or free access! Still relevant 20+ years later.

[Shmegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this right after reading Cavitch's first book. I wasn't too pleased with the first book and I'm happy to say this one is better,though not the best. The preachy tone, unsupported claims and messiness of the first was cleaned up. The recipes were also cut down from 40 bar batches to 12 bar batches which is more practical. However massive sections were the same, so much so it seems more of an updated edition instead of a separate book. The first book felt more like a book brief and this felt like the actual book. I don't understand why they continue to publish the first after this came out. It was written only a few years later and the first was already woefully outdated. However this one is ripe for a new edition too. There is a chapter explaining the internet and how to use web forums for research, which even in 97 seems a bit hokie. The scientific section makes me think she is not confident in the information she is giving and seems like a wasted opportunity as well. You read this book for the recipes and there are quite a few and something for everyone including a one bar test recipe. If you have to choose between Cavtich's two books, read this one. The recipes are worth it. Other then that you can skim it and read more updated books on the science, history and selling of soap.

[Horus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in making their own soaps at home with as few chemicals as possible. As Cavitch is very interested in natural soap making, most of these recipes are alao good for those wishing to make historically based soaps. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow. She does get into further chemical details for those who are interested. The book is somewhat dated with her explanation of the internet and selling/conecting via that medium, and it is written from an American perpective as her section on regulations only applies to US laws. These points to not detract from the main usefulness of the book.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've ever found on how to make soap, a break-down of the chemical process, and how to make your own recipes. Susan is the expert. She must have made 1000's of recipes to get these down right and all of her know--how in the "What Went Wrong" section. I not only learned to make soap from this book I now create my own recipes each time having fun with my own trial and error experiments. My best bars are, however, when I follow her recipes exact, or do only slight variations. I love handmade soaps and will never buy a manufactured bar again.

[Paula Avanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was much more informative than Susan Miller Cavitch's first book "The Natural Soap Book". This book is pretty detailed and great for beginners and experienced soap makers alike. I'm pretty picky though and my search still continues for unique soap recipes. This book got me off on a good start; not to forget to mention I also had wonderful ladies from my church teach me hands on soap making, but now I need just a soap recipe book.

[Kati Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. So, I'm going to make soap. This book was super informative. Along with watching tons of you tube videos and reading this book, I actually think I can do it. I appreciated that the book explained, very technically, WHY fat plus sodium hydroxide made soap. I can now add "saponification" to my vocabulary. I'll update when I actually MAKE the soap - it may change my rating. ;)

[Shelba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every recipe works and delivers what it promises. My only prbblem at this time is finding lye for soapmaking. Lots of great ideas and information about aromatherapy, emollients, and other healing things to do to your soap.

[Erin]

This book seems a little out of date according to some blogs I've read though it seems pretty comprehensive in its scope, which makes sense considering the title. I haven't been able to try any recipes yet, but I will update once I have experimented a little.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the advanced soapmaker. Includes more complex soap recipes and delves into real science. Extensive lists of natural additives and somewhat daunting narrative of legal and administrative aspects of running a soapmaking business. Excellent troubleshooting section.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to make soap for a long time and so many sources say that it's easy but I've never really believed it. After reading this book, I finally feel that I can pull it off. Once I find my thermometer, I'll make soap! I'm so excited to finally understand the process.

[Jennifer Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of information in this book. Some of it can be overwhelming if you don't already understand some basics. Also some of the information is kind of outdated. That said there are still some parts that I have marked for reference because they are good and helpful.

[Brynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad...I still prefer White's book and suggest that over this one, but this is not bad if you need a book to introduce you into ONLY vegetable cold process soap making it tells you what you need to know when first starting out.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a source of great information - there's lots of it, from technique to science. It was a bit dry and hard to follow at times. Recipes are for large batch. Must read it again to take notes for some of the chemistry breakdown.

[Diane Fogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I book I check out of the library repeatedly so I can make soap. I am thinking of purchasing a copy for my collection. Very helpful information and soap making recipes, as well as troubling shooting guide.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book on making soap and the qualities of the ingredients that go into it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous recipies and help for novices and experienced soapmakers too!

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book. My daughter gave it to me for my birthday. I learned the batch of soap I just made has too much lye. OOPS!

[Marie Z Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me how to make soap - great soap from the very first batch!
I love this book and still use it every time I make a batch of soap!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, who doesn't love handmade soap?? Well, I do! And I learned to make it from this book.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this upon the suggestion of Elizabeth, as we are planning on getting together to make soap in the new year.
It was fascinating and I'm very much looking forward to my new endeavor.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't made soap yet but seems very informative

[Elizabeth Flowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but for a first timer in lye-making, it was a bit overwhelming with information.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some great information but is dated.