Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17863 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Synopsis
Using a simple double-boiler technique, you can create inexpensive moisturizing hand soaps, revitalizing shampoos, invigorating shower gels, soothing bubble baths, and much more.

Customer Reviews

A useful book to bring out the Alchemist in you....
If you've already learned to make solid soap and want to progress to shower gels, shampoos etc, this is a great book.

If you cant make cakes turn out right from a cake mix, you might find this hard going.

The instructions on how to make basic liquid soap were so indepth, at first they seemed a little daunting but if you take time to read and digest them you'll be well on your way to your first batch of liquid soap.

A lot of the recipes call for the use of denatured alcohol which you can't buy in the UK unless you have a dispensation from Customs and Excise but, thankfully, clear instructions are also given for an 'alcohol free' method.

If you're really interested in making liquid soap, this book is well worth persevering with.

Happy Soaping!

Concise, thorough and inspirational!
Making liquid soap is not rocket science but it's not child's play either. With this publication Catherine Failor has succeeded in "demystifying" the process and while I wouldn't describe the book as "liquid soap making for dummies" it isn't overly complicated either. In my opinion someone that has some experience in hot process soap making will find it much less daunting to get into liquid soap making but a complete novice that follows the very clear step-by-step instructions and photographs should be able to make a successful batch of liquid soap at the very first attempt provided they use one of Catherine's recipes from the book. If you are an experienced soap maker or, like me, find it very difficult to follow any recipe to the letter without "tweaking" it here and there, the book contains all the information, charts and tables to calculate and formulate your own recipes. A fairly comprehensive trouble shooting section will be helpful in saving problem batches (and saving face with the family).

The book has recipes and formulations for liquid soaps, shampoos for the whole family (including baby and the dog), bubble baths, shower gels and many ways to personalise and vary them. I find the chapter on fragrance formulations very helpful as I often lack imagination or inspiration in this department. These products make superb gifts and could be made and sold to supplement the family income too. The book is beautifully illustrated but I think I would have preferred it if there were less photographs of rubber ducks, hair brushes, fruits and vegetables and more pictures of the finished products with ideas for packaging and presentation.

If you're practical, crafty, and prefer natural bath products, this book is a must for you.

Interesting book needs re-editing
There aren't many books that cover liquid soaps on the market but this book requires re-editing. I found the book lacking in structure as it seems a bit mixed up, with a certain amount of repetition. The author obviously has a good knowledge of soap making and gives some good advice but as a chemist myself however I am skeptical due to the mistakes in chemistry. pH is fundamental to soap making and an area that could have done with correct explication.
The addition of Borax in soaps is highly recommended in this book. I would advise people NOT to use Borax in their soaps as it is toxic for reproduction and to be avoided by pregnant women as it can cause problems for the child. It can be replaced with sodium percarbonate.
Also I don't consider phenolphthalein to be a good indicator because its colorless in acidic solutions and pink in basic solutions (between pH 8.2-12). If the concentration of the indicator is particularly strong, it can appear purple. In strongly basic solutions, phenolphthalein's pink color undergoes a rather slow fading reaction and becomes colorless again.
Also the list of suppliers are all in the US.