Product Description
An inspiring exploration of the goodness of chemical- and additive-free soap. 102,000 copies in print. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

best soap making resource I have seen
I have read several soap making books and have been making soap for a long time.This book and "The Soapmaker's Companion", by the same author, are my go-to resources whenever I am making soap.Susan Miller Cavitch is thoughtful and thorough, and provides information about how ingredients respond to each other chemically and how our skin responds to ingredients. If she wrote another book I would buy it in a heartbeat.

A rather Good book,
This book was a good read for me. I liked the author because she is very into natural ingredients and only advises us on natural perservatives to help our soaps last. She gives us some good ingredients to use that will make lovely Bars of soap. The batches are very large which will give you around 40 Bars of soap. My only annoyance about this book, is that she constantly switches from ounces to pounds to grams, all in one bloody recipe, I mean why couldn't she just use ounces or just use grams etc? That annoyed me! Other than that a good book and I'm happy I have it.

Love, love, love this book...
I have been making soap for years.But before and after every batch, there are two things I grab first, this book and "the soapmaker's companion"...Highly informative, easy to read and essential for soapmakers of any skill level...

Best book ever
This is one of the best book for anyone who really wants to know how to make soap. The book offers averything one should know about soapmaking

A great soapmaking reference for creative, teachable spirits!
I began making my own soap about 15 years ago.I learned the basics from another soapmaker in her shop in Colorado.This was before all the many books and resources on soapmaking became readily available.
I bought this book as soon as it came out.It, along with several others, were great resources for expanding my knowledge and technique with soapmaking.
I see so many reviews that make these types of books "all or nothing" propositions.These books were never intended to present "the ONLY way" to do anything!
NOTE:I don't superfat my soaps and I don't use GSE.I don't do much of anything EXACTLY the way anyone else does.I do keep a huge database of information (the science of soapmaking, essential and base oil information, additive information, etc.) that I've compiled from many, many sources.THAT database is my soapmaking "Bible."
That's the beauty of getting a good knowledge base from many, many sources along with actually experimenting on your own!Completely uneducated, very poor people throughout the ages have been able to make perfectly servicable, even magnificent soap without reading a single book on the subject, much less having the wealth of knowledge we can get on the internet.While the science of soapmaking is fascinating to me, and you can certainly make soapmaking into rocket science if you want...it really isn't rocket science!
Go make some soap!Keep notes on what went great and what didn't.Grate your failures and use them for laundry or household soap.Blaze new trails!One of your experiments may turn out to be infinitely better than any soap you could have copied from anyone else!
Build yourself a nice library about ANY topic you are passionate about.Read a variety of authors, enjoy the contradictions!Then GO...GO and create your own way, your own dream, your own method.Experiment.Learn from success and failure!
If you don't have the money to buy more than one book before you start a new craft or hobby, go to the library and borrow them!
Stand on the shoulders of giants and the wee little people who gave you even a hint of help in achieving your goals and dreams.Write your own book and share what YOU'VE learned! ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A must-have for candle lovers...
Whether you make your own candles to decorate or buy them from the store, this is a great book with lots of interesting projects -- something for everyone.The complexity of projects varies, so if you're in the mood for being creative but don't want to spend the whole day at it, you'll be sure to find something that suits you.Definitely a book to have in your collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Candle gel is the hottest new product in candle crafting. This new product (95% mineral oil, 5% resin) is transparent, is extremely easy to clean up, and has a significantly longer burning time than traditional waxes. Author Kaila Westerman gives the basics of gel candle crafting in ten easy steps, then explores the endless possibilities for creating special effects with layers of color, swirls, bubbles, specialty molds, and embedments such as glass, botanicals, shells, stones, and pieces of solid paraffin candle wax. Readers can create candles that look like rainbows, aquariums, seascapes, playful sodas and other drinks, and more. Since gel candles cannot stand alone, each design is enhanced by wonderful whimsical, vintage, or even sophisticated containers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

NOT RECEIVED THIS BOOKS SINCE OCT 23'2009
I am still waiting for this book bought from Jersey XRAY since Oct 23, tried to talk with Amazon.com, their computer system ENABLE the item NOT RECEIVED THE ITEM. I had to dispute the transaction with my bank.
thanks

Great Bargain - Good Condition & Quality Information
This book is very instructive with great photos and is in very good condition.It was a bargain!

Gel Candles: 40 Creative Projects
Great book, gives alot of information. A must have if you enjoy making candles.

Great and Easy To Follow
I love the pictures and the easy to follow projects, I recommend this book if you would like to make your own gel candles.

Author Corrects Oct. 27 Review
I am the author of this book.I am compelled to respond to the negative review written October 27.

Of course the reviewer has a right to her opinion, however it is incorrect that I recommend people "set an untabbed wick in gel".In my introduction, on page 4, I state "The wick must be self-tabbed with a metal holder".In my general discussion of materials required, on page 21, I state "the wick must have a metal T-Tab at its base which is at least 7/16" high".Finally, in my detailed discussion of wicks on page 22, I explain at great length why a tabbed wick is so essential (it would be a fire hazard to not use one).

I do not believe that the reviewer has read my book very carefully because her statement about wicks, as well as her other statements, do not reflect the content of the book.

Thanks for taking the time to read this statement.

Sincerely,

Kaila Westerman ... Read more

Product Description
Making candles can be very exciting and a lot of fun. It is important to remember that candle making
involves some basic concepts. It will take a few tries to complete the steps properly, but give it some
time. You will have to experiment to find the methods that work best in your work environment to
make the candles you want. It is suggested that you only make a few candles at a time to keep from
wasting money on supplies while you are learning. ... Read more

Product Description
Create a relaxing oasis of serenity, comfort or romance in any room. Step-by-step directions explain the techniques of candle and potpourri making--from scented, hand-dipped tapers to decorative column candles to aromatic mood enhancingrose petals that readers can use to decorate and fragrance their homes.

Readers will find recipes for all occasions, seasons and places including spicy Christmas potpourris and elegant Hanukkah candles--all made from herbs, flowers and oils.

A resource directory, safety hints and decorating advice help readers enjoy and explore the relaxing and soothing world of mood lighting and fragrances.Amazon.com Review
With a brief but compelling history of the candle, Catherine Bardeyintroduces us to a once-essential source of light that has lost none of itscharm through the ages. We may no longer depend on candles for everydayillumination, but we still rely on them to create atmosphere, evoke a mood,or enhance our decor. Excellent descriptions of the various materials andtechniques (molding, dipping, pouring, rolling, decorating) and extensiverecipes for many types of candles ensure that even the novice can createbeautiful designs.

The book's second half is devoted to potpourri, which is given the samecareful treatment. A short introduction to scent in history--touchingconcisely upon perfumes, incense, and aromatherapy--leads into explanationsof several methods for creating potpourri (fixatives, drying, storing,displaying). This is followed by specific recipes for, among others,spring, summer, and autumn medleys; energy-boosting, relaxing, andromantic scents; and themed potpourris for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day,Thanksgiving, and Christmas. A final section charts botanicals to grow forpotpourri making, explores essential oils and their useful properties, andoffers additional candle-decorating ideas. Pretty photos enhance the presentation. --Amy Handy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great for beginners
This book is quite clearly written with enough variety to keep you interested but not so much that it is overwhelming.Nice simple recipes and easy to find ingredients.I recommend it! ... Read more

Product Description
This box set contains "The Complete Book of Garlands", "Circles and Decorative Wreaths" and "The Complete Book of Candles". ... Read more

Product Description
This handbook contains step-by-step projects and ideas for over 30 candles which can be created at home in a short time and at a reasonable cost. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to make moisturizing milk-based soaps like Oatmeal, Peaches and Cream, and specialty soaps, as well as how to turn this hobby into a moneymaker! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Informative Book
Making handcrafted soap is a fun hobby, while venturing into milk based formulas is an interesting challenge. This book is filled with information a soapmaker can use to embark on using a variety of milks as the liquid in soap recipes. Great recipes, easy-to-read and follow instructions. I would definitely recommend the book.

Another good soapmaking reference book
I'm on a roll today, reviewing all of my old soapmaking books for future generations of soapmakers!
I admit to cutting and pasting alot in these reviews because I believe the same thing about most of these books...they all have their place in my library!
I began making my own soap about 15 years ago.I learned the basics from another soapmaker in her shop in Colorado.This was before all the many books and resources on soapmaking became readily available.
I bought this book as soon as it came out.It, along with several others, were great resources for expanding my knowledge and technique with soapmaking.
Unscented soap made with fresh goats milk, honey, and the very best quality base oils are my FAVORITE soaps after all these years.
Another reviewer noted that this book creates a pretty fair "fear factor" about all that can go wrong with milk-based soaps.They actually are a little more exciting to make and you do have to pay a little more attention to your temps and timing.However, you do NOT have to make the huge production out of it that the author makes it appear to be.You'll learn that cows milk and goats milk soaps will turn out differently depending on a whole bunch of little details.As all my soap reviews state...EXPERIMENT...enjoy the learning curve.
I see so many reviews that make these types of books "all or nothing" propositions.These books were never intended to present "the ONLY way" to do anything!
I don't do much of anything EXACTLY the way anyone else does.I do keep a huge database of information (the science of soapmaking, essential and base oil information, additive information, etc.) that I've compiled from many, many sources.THAT database is my soapmaking "Bible."
That's the beauty of getting a good knowledge base from many, many sources along with actually experimenting on your own!Completely uneducated, very poor people throughout the ages have been able to make perfectly servicable, even magnificent soap without reading a single book on the subject, much less having the wealth of knowledge we can get on the internet.While the science of soapmaking is fascinating to me, and you can certainly make soapmaking into rocket science if you want...it really isn't rocket science!
Go make some soap!Keep notes on what went great and what didn't.Grate your failures and use them for laundry or household soap.Blaze new trails!One of your experiments may turn out to be infinitely better than any soap you could have copied from anyone else!
Build yourself a nice library about ANY topic you are passionate about.Read a variety of authors, enjoy the contradictions!Then GO...GO and create your own way, your own dream, your own method.Experiment.Learn from success and failure!
If you don't have the money to buy more than one book before you start a new craft or hobby, go to the library and borrow them!
Stand on the shoulders of giants and the wee little people who gave you even a hint of help in achieving your goals and dreams.Write your own book and share what YOU'VE learned!

Milk Based Soaps
I love this book!This is actually my second copy after lending my first one to a friend.I have recomended this book to quite a few friends that also have goats and too much milk.This is the best basic book on the market!

This book is like having one muffin recipe you really like.
Do you have a muffin recipe that you love?This book is like having a favorite muffin recipe with many variations.I guess if it is your favorite don't argue with it.But, this book is full of variations of a basic recipe.
It is a nice book, but I had hoped for more variety.
But, I do love muffins.

Worth having if you want to make whoke like soaps.
I was initailly intimidated by this book and I owned it for a while before I attempted her methods.But if you want to make soap with real milk (not powdered as an additive) this is a great resource.Making whole milk soap is not easy.This methods works.I admit I use a stick blender and keep it in one pot but my milk has never curdled due to her cold bath method.Her recipes produce gentle, silky soaps and are made with readily available ingredients.My main complaint with some of the other books is that you cannot get many of the ingredients unless you go online and pay shipping.I agree with another reviewer that she does not explain the why behind some of her methods.I think the glycerine and the sugar are for more lather but I'm not positive.I know the amount of honey is limited due to the risk of the soap overheating in the mold.My only other concern about her recipes is that they do not produce much lather and I like bubbles.However, now that I know the method and have had a lot of success I can experiment with the recipes to customize the soap. ... Read more

Product Description
Make your own candles at a fraction of the cost ofstore-bought ones! With the help of Candle Making in a Weekendyou will learn quick, easy, inexpensive and fun ways to make your owncandles and decorate plain ones. 20 projects, covering a range ofcandle-making and decorating techniques, include how to dye waxwonderful colors, pour it into unusually shaped molds, perfume it,model with it and embed it with decorative objects. The basictechniques are very simple--the possible variations, endless. Includeslists of all the materials and equipment needed; plus colorful gallerypages showing a variety of handmade candles for adding charm toholidays, weddings, romantic dinners, bubble baths and other specialtimes.Amazon.com Review
Beginners can easily jump right in and turn out very good-looking candles with the clearly presented instructions in this guide. Nice color photosillustrate both finished products and every step along the way as we learnhow to create marbled, layered, aromatic, embedded, appliqued, chip, andseveral other variations of candles. Most project designs are fairly standard but are nevertheless attractive; a few are more innovative, such as the stacked candle or the lantern candle with embedded dried fruits. Additional ideas (though no instructions) are provided in the six "candle galleries"--double-page spreads showcasing themed tableaux of container, embedded, Christmas, decorated, multiwicked, and floating candles. An introductory section covers all the basics of materials and general techniques. --Amy Handy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent basic introduction to candlemaking
After looking through stacks of books featuring floating candles, sand candles, and red white and blue beeswax cutout candles, I settled on this book for its introduction to a variety of techniques.This book answeredquestions I had on how to keep the wick still in votives, pouringtemperature for different types of candles, how to make drip candles, andhow to inlay objects.The author offers useful tricks for completing eachproject successfully accompanied with step by step photographs.The mainthing I love about this book is that I can adapt its techniques to make myown creative projects.

Candle Making in a Weekend
Colorful and practical.This book has great ideas for decorative candles.Each idea has step by step instructions (as well as pictures so you can double check your work)for basic techniques that stand alone or can be combined with others to make more elaborate candles.

This is a book ofprojects.If you're looking for a history of the techniques/materials usedto create these candles you won't get it.But if you want quick ideaswithout alot of informational interference, this is it. ... Read more

Product Description
Candles are remarkable for their ability to instantly and dramatically change the mood of a room, enhance any occasion and create an atmosphere of enchantment and romance.Making them by hand gives you Complete control over such essential factors as size, shape, scent, color and even texture, and homemade candles are both a stunning contribution to any home decor, as well as a one-of-a-kind, highly personalized gift.this Comprehensive guide to making candles explains the processes of dipping, molding and rolling candles and provides creative suggestions for displaying the inspirational results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Must be good
Bought this for my picky Mom... haven't heard any complaints, so it must be good.:D

Creative Ideas Galore!
I knew I had to have this book the minute I browsed through it.It not only gives you tons of creative ideas, but sparks your creativity to come up with ideas on your own.This is not a step-by-step "how to"book.It's more of a decorating and idea guide.

I loved the carvedsquash and gourds. You better believe my house will be filled with themnext fall.I also loved the simple groupings of candles - whites/creams,fun colors, fun shapes and sizes.And who can resist the various themes: garden, seashore, etc..Are you starting to see a trend here?Thepossibilities are endless.

This book sits on my nightstand.I thumbthrough it every few days or so for ideas.I'll soon be making my owncandles, and you better believe I'll be using lots of the ideas I found inthis book to display them.

This book proves you don't need a ton of moneyto do some really awesome decorating.You just need some imagination!BUYIT NOW!It's a great bargain and a lovely and well-made book. No cheesypaper - this is quality stuff with lots of great pictures and captions. Youwon't be disappointed.This would make a GREAT gift book - pair it up witha couple of candles and some ribbon for a really classy gift. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book on candlemaking!
This is a terrific book for the beginning candlemaker. The author gives a great introduction to candlemaking with nice explanations on materials needed, basic techniques, types of candles, etc. Also, the information is easy to understand. Great for someone getting started. The ideas in the book are new and refreshing. Each project has easy to follow directions and wonderful full-color pictures to help you along. My husband has been making candles since the late 60's and he loved the book. We checked it out of our local library and now we are definitely going to purchase this book!

Lovely photos , no new projects to speak off
Sue Spears the owner of The Candle Shop in convent Garden London is thecollater of this book, she has put together a lovely visual book , but withno really new ideas .And some of the material suggestions as a bit silly, a nice coffee table book on candles, not really informative for thecandlemaker. ... Read more

Product Description
A beautiful gift book; a style and decorating book; and a wonderful practical project book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Candle making book
This book is a guide for people with intermediate to advanced candle making and candle display skills.It has plenty of advice on how to display candles and plenty of illustrations.It was my first time making candles and I used this book moreas an inspiration for candle display.Also a word of advice for all beginners.Do not waste money buying the recommended tools separately.Goto your neighbourhood art and supply store and buy a candle making kit as it is cheaper and comes with most supplies. ... Read more

Product Description
With this inspirational book you can not only create your own beautiful candles, but update those you already have by painting, carving, or stenciling. ... Read more

Product Description
The Complete Guide to Gel Candlemaking contains step by step, easy to follow instructions, on how to design a wide variety of gel candles, using relaxing essential oils, and natural fragrance oils . . . . . . . . . . (Essential oil Guide included in Book)You will also receive in-depth information on how to purchase the Basic Tools and Supplies needed to get started, along with valuable tips on how to turn your new-found hobby into extra income. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good book
if your into mixed drinks, desserts and scented candles, this is a book for you, my wife loves that the candles look just like the real deal... may have a bit of typo errors but as far as pricing and ideas shared, i don't regret getting it... ... Read more

Product Description
The Art of MAKING PERFUME - Learn to Mix Essential Oils & Make Homemade Fragrances Last Book for the Kindle is an excellent resource to help you make your own homemade perfumes.
We are pleased to offer thousands of eBooks for the Kindle. Click on our Editor Name next to the book title above (eBook-Ventures) to view all of the titles that are currently available. ... Read more

Product Description
A guide to candle making, which contains around 40 step-by-step projects, and offers advice on the way in which candles can be used in the home, and the range of candle holders that can be bought or made.Amazon.com Review
This volume is laden with gorgeous photos and helpful tips.Chapter 1, "Candle Style," demonstrates beautiful ways todecorate with all kinds of candles. Chapter 2,"Candlemaking," covers the basic equipment and techniquesfor creating dipped, molded, rolled, carved, scented, stenciled, gold-leafed, and candy-twist candles, among others. Chapter 3,"Containers for Candles," is full of creative ideas forcrafting candleholders; with the help of The New Candle Book,you can display your candles in decorated bottles and jars, a tasseledcandelabra, mosaic holders, copper sconces, candle shades, or even anintricately braided salt-dough candleholder--you'll learn to make themall. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best candle book I've read so far!
The only shame in Amazon is that you can't flip through the full-page, full-color illustrations and really get a feel for how helpful this book is!Learn the basics as well as creative ways to make candles withinformative step-by-steps, with nothing left to the imagination. ... Read more