Soap by Ann Bramson (1975, Paperback)

I have this book and recommend it for soap makers or people thinking about soap making. It offers much information as well as many great ideas.

As a novice, interested in making soap and having no concept of where to begin to make soap, I found this book extremely valuable in resource material.
She gives the concepts behind making soap, the primary ingredients used, how to incorporate them, the hazards to watch out for and take precautions of; in essence very important guidelines to follow. She explains it also in easy to understand language, called 'plain english'. She gives a brief history of the soap, it's ingredients and how they evolved being incorporated/advertised to the public for sale. She also gives some alterations that can be used in making soap to create specialty soaps. She also gives some 'trouble shooting' for batches of soaps with problems. Things to avoid, or 'why' it happened, and possible fixes if any. It's a great book to start with for anyone interested in learning fundamentals about soap making. I just wish she had given more recipes, possibly discussed fragrances or dyes added more or additives. However, that would be a lengthy encyclopedia for one book and that's why there's other authors, each unique in their ideas/methods. I felt, it was a good investment for the dollar..and I know a whole lot more now, then I did to begin with! It's a good 'make it from scratch' book that will appeal to any crafts person. It gets down to basics using raw ingredients to make a finished 'old fashioned art, almost forgotten long ago since our forefathers passed on; and especially with today's mass production society. I myself, did not have a grandmother to pass down the tradition personally...so for me, it's an opportunity to learn. I am glad someone is willing to teach such an art still.