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Title: Essentially Soap by Robert S., Dr. McDaniel ISBN: 0-87341-832-8 Publisher: Krause Publications Pub. Date: April, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.81 (32 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: inadequate for the cold process soapmaker
Comment: I will give this book 3 stars because some of the recipes are actually good ones, but it gets 2 stars knocked off for some procedural problems and Dr. Bob's lack of information.
NOwhere does he instruct the cold process soapmaker to insulate the mold after pouring the soap, and this is especially important if you are using small individual molds as pictured in the book. The stuff will solidify, sure, and it might heat up some, but it's supposed to do a lot more than just heat up a bit in the mold, the reaction is supposed to really get underway, culminating in what most soapers term "gel stage". He doesn't even address this, which makes me wonder how most of his cold process soaps come out (i.e. the ones that don't appear in the book). Soaps that go through this stage tend to be much more uniform in color and texture. If soap drops in temperature after being poured into the mold, that's a problem. You may get a solid, but you may also get a crumbly mess or a separation. Stacks the odds against the beginner, IMHO.
The second problem I had is cosmetic: a good 1/3 of these soaps are sweating, literally. He advocates popping the molds into the freezer to help loosen the soap, but if his soaps hit the gel stage properly this probably wouldn't be necessary. Freezing soap causes textural problems in my experience, and it never is the same, especially if you left the soap in the freezer for an hour. Another few pictures of soaps appear to have what is commonly referred to as "soda ash" growing on them. This is common, but I don't understand why he didn't at least trim off the ash before snapping pictures, or rinse it off. It's just soap dust, but sometimes it's a problem and the soaper actually a soap that was accidentally lye-heavy.....and I'd hate to see someone think that soap with lichen on it is normal when they might actually end up with some lye burns.
I bought this book hoping that it would pick up where Cavitch left off, explaining more about fatty acids and oils, and about why some oil combos work better than others, and the like, but this book just doesn't deliver. I would never have known that Dr. Bob was a fats chemist, other than from his reference to it in the introduction. The historical stuff was interesting, and I appreciated the picture of KOH production, but it didn't contribute to the book overall. He has his way of doing things and apparently his soap comes out okay in the end, but this isn't a "one-stop-shopping/learning" book by any stretch. Get yourself The Soapmakers Companion instead, and take some of her claims with a grain of salt....just use this book for the recipes.
Rating: 5
Summary: He Did Exactly What He Intended
Comment: This book sparked my initial interest into soap making. I love Dr. Bob's writing style and all of the pictures in his book. The information was presented in a very comprehensive way. I even like the pictures of the soaps that aren't totally smooth, and those that have condensation on them. I think they add an artistic quality. Let's face it, not every single batch turns out perfectly smooth, and I think those that make great assumptions that the soaps must be lye heavy reveal their own cynicism in the way they presented their opinions.
In regard to the comment about his not explaining the gel stage & the criticism of his choice to freeze his soaps, any honest soaper will tell you that sometimes the batch will gel, and sometimes it doesn't, and it doesn't predict whether or not the batch will turn out ok. It's a matter of preference, and if Dr. Bob prefers to do it that way, and it works, so what? That's why we read books, to get different people's perspectives. I don't always wrap my molds in blankets or towels for insulation and they turn out just beautiful. I can't believe that someone even took the time to criticize him for using individual molds, instead of large molds like pvc. Come on now, are we still so immature that if someone doesn't do it like "us" then there's something wrong with him? Shame on you.
As far as I'm concerned this book is an excellent book for beginners. (It was for me.) Those that expressed outrageous disappointment do so because they had set expectations of what Dr. Bob's book should've been and what it needed to entail in order for it to be satisfactory to them. And because he didn't read their minds and cater to their preconceived expectations his book is a failure. I totally disagree. Obviously, the only way they'll ever be happy is if they just write their own books & satisfy their own expectations (since they obviously have all the answers already).
Great job, Dr. Bob. I think your book is a Masterpiece.
Rating: 5
Summary: INS values mesh science and soap.
Comment: I had to have a friend who is very good with math teach me how to figure INS values. (Math major I am not.) If you like math and are very scientific about soap you'll like them. I am sure INS values would gaurd you from making a bad batch, but it boggled me a bit.
I am a hot process soaper and this book was not helpful for perfecting hot process. The recipes are well balanced and you won't go wrong there, but I am going to buy the soapmaker's companion next. (I have Milk-Based soaps also.)
I just don't think any one book will give you it all. Soap making methods are very personal and I suggest you buy several books and take what you like from them and leave the rest.
Soap making is after all very personal and Dr. Bob has given a good take on his personal niche with soap. With some exploration each soaper can find theirs.
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Title: The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide With Recipes, Techniques & Know-How by Susan Miller Cavitch ISBN: 0882669656 Publisher: Storey Books Pub. Date: July, 1997 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Soap: Making It, Enjoying It by Ann Bramson ISBN: 0911104577 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company Pub. Date: January, 1981 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: The Natural Soap Book: Making Herbal and Vegetable-Based Soaps by Susan Miller Cavitch ISBN: 0882668889 Publisher: Storey Books Pub. Date: August, 1995 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Soapmaking For Fun & Profit : Make Money Doing What You Love! by Maria Nerius, Maria Nerius ISBN: 0761520422 Publisher: Prima Lifestyles Pub. Date: 27 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: The Soap Book: Simple Herbal Recipes by Sandy Maine ISBN: 1883010144 Publisher: Interweave Press Pub. Date: September, 1995 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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