Making Transparent Soap: The Art Of Crafting, Molding, Scenting & Coloring [Paperback]

Catherine Failor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2000

With common ingredients and equipment, readers can craft stunning transparent soaps. Step-by-step photographs offer a full exploration of this special technique, ingredients, and the basics for making transparent bars. Includes recipes and tips for creating unique and beautiful soap masterpieces.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a beautiful full color book with easy to follow step by step instructions.”

 –American Small Farm

 

From the Back Cover

Now you can make stunning transparent soap in your own kitchen!

Contrary to popular belief, making beautiful see-through soap doesn't require loads of special equipment, supplies, or overly complex preparation methods. All you need are some kitchen basics, such as pots, stirrers, and a thermometer; some inexpensive supplies from your local supermarket or craft store; and basic know-how -- and you're on your way to creating your own personalized soaps.

Following Catherine Failor's easy, step-by-step directions, you can create transparent soap masterpieces that are milder, richer, and creamier than any commercial brand on the market!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First Edition edition (April 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158017244X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580172448
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catherine Failor has been making soap for 20 years. Combining a background in graphic design and a passion for science, Catherine developed new home-soapmaking techniques which she used to start her specialty soap manufacturing company, Copra Soap. Her current venture, Milky Way Molds, produces "the finest selection of craft molds in the Milky Way Galaxy." She is also the author of Making Transparent Soap (Storey Books). Failor lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, everything you need to know & more, May 2, 2000

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Making Transparent Soap: The Art Of Crafting, Molding, Scenting & Coloring (Paperback)

This is an essential guide for anyone wishing to make transparent soap. The author guides you seamlessly through the complex soap making process with step-by-step instructions color photos & a very helpful troubleshooting section.

The book starts out detailing the properties, advantages & disadvantages of each soap ingredient. Then safety precautions & equipment selection are outlined, including selecting a mold.

Two methods for making the soap & 8 vegetable-based soap recipes follow. Conveniently, complete instructions for modifying these & formulating your own original recipes are included as well. Adding dyes & fragrances is also discussed. Several essential oil fragrance formulas are included.

I was very impressed that the book included both instructions & complete plans in for making labor-saving tools including a square wooden soap mold, an adjustable-wire bar cutter & drill mixer. The extensive resource list including websites was also invaluable.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Please Use Extreme Caution, May 7, 2002

By 

Julia A. Rose "Jewels" (Northfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Transparent Soap: The Art Of Crafting, Molding, Scenting & Coloring (Paperback)

I bought this book for myself. I read it over several times and became very familiar with the process before attempting anything. The book is extremely informative and well-written. Very easy to understand. The description of ingredients and the purpose of each one was very useful. Beautiful pictures. Nice sections on coloring, fragrancing & moulding. Great info. on where ingredients can be purchased. However, even though I followed the directions for the alcohol/lye method to the letter, I still had a disastrous first experience. My mixture, simmering on lowest possible heat, boiled up and oozed out the sides, despite the tightly cinched bungee holding the sheets of plastic in place. My inner pot ended up floating on boiling soap foam. I managed to save the remainder that was left in the pot and finished the simmering proccess directly on the burner (after cleaning the outside of the pot thoroughly). I estimated the amount of sugar/water solution and glycerin to add to it. Although I can't vouch for the amounts of any of the ingredients at this point, the stuff that I did save managed to come out very well. Looks pretty, smells great and lathers beautifully. I'm just lucky my stove top didn't burst into flames considering the flamable alcohol that oozed over the sides of the pot. I believe next time I try this (soon) I will ajust the method to what I consider safe and hope that it works well. If you plan on making this soap, please be sure to have an extinguisher close by. I'm not sure why I had such a horrible time with this method, but I'd hate for it to be worse for anyone else.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good explanations, August 24, 2001

By 

Midori Chadwick "midori chadwick" (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Transparent Soap: The Art Of Crafting, Molding, Scenting & Coloring (Paperback)

Ever read a soap box label? Ever wondered what all that stuff in soap does, why it's there? This book is very good at explaining what the components do, how they contribute to lather, if they dry or moisturize skin, etc. I found the information helpful even if I don't ever actually make my own soap (but I think now I want to try).