Teach Soap

Like a lot of people, I learned about soapmaking from her Soapmaker's Companion, but I'm finding that a lot that I (and others) do contradicts her advice with no particular ill effect. For instance, she sees rebatching as pretty useless, but it's how I started "making" soap, so that I could play with scents and additions and the like without dealing with lye (I was home with a 2-year-old and 2 cats, so didn't want the risk). I still like it for some of my soaps, because I can use less EO and get a bolder scent.

She says never to put in the freezer, for instance--that it affects the texture. Yet it seems almost everyone uses the freezer to keep soaps from overheating or to get them out of the mold more easily. She also superfats to 10%--eek! She also says that a bar with any "appreciable" amount of cocoa butter has to be cut quickly, because it will set up rock hard. Well, I've make 12% cocoa butter bars and they aren't any harder at the 24 hour mark than my olive/palm/coconut bars.

So what do others think? I love the book, and think it's great, but after some experience (and now finding forums and seeing what others do), I'm taking a lot of her rules with a grain of salt. Or a dip of sodium lactate.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

I agree, Mellifera. I have her "Natural Soap Book" and while it's helpful, there are many things in it that are contradictory. I think that's because it was published in 1995 and much has changed since then. Her recipes always include grapeseed oil as a preservative (we know it's not) and nutrients (superfat oils to be added at trace) altho she does list these as optional. I use her book as a guide, but think Alicia Grosso's "Everything Soapmaking Book" is far more practical as a "how to" book.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Much has changed since that book was written. Some old wife's tales were finally put to rest due to some soapmakers that pushed the envelope.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

And she REALLY doesn't like animal oils in soap!

Poor woman doesn't know what she's missing.

Anita

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I'M ALL IN with the lard soap. Many things in this life change, just think at one time they thought the world was flat and that it was impossible for people to fly? I wonder if she is still soaping and if she is on any of the forums and has changed her view on some things?

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Since the book is still in print, it would be nice if she would update it.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Animal parts are not needed to make lovely soaps, any more than they are needed for making a lovely meal. I love using fruity, veggie, herbal and flowery oils in my soaps and I'm not missing anything by not including the death of an animal. As a vegan, the thought of bathing in animal fat creeps me out.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

True. I meant that in a really nice way. Sorry if I sounded kind of mean.