Books with a scientific approach?

[CamillaHB]

After my first soap making attempt I realized that this would be highly addictive and I am now trying to find out which books to buy.
I am the nerdy kind of person who wants the scientific explanation, so the books should provide that.

Judging from the reviews on Amazon I have come up with these two candidates:
Soap Maker's Workshop by Robert McDaniel
The Soapmaker's Companion by Susan Cavitch

Are those the right choices for me, or do you have better suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[dieSpinne]

I have the first and can say that, though it is a good primer, it is not as technical as I like, even though he has a chemistry degree and a lot of self-described experience in the field. That being said, it is a good starter's book with straightforward theory and a number of usable recipes

 

[ericllucas]

While I don't know of what book to buy, I think you'll find in the some of the people who respond to questions here a level of chemical and technical knowledge that is pretty humbling. Keep reading, you'll see what I mean. The people here not only know how to make pretty soap, they know the underlying chemistry. Pretty cool!

 

[carebear]

Dr Kevin Dunn has a book Scientific Soapmaking which is fabulous.
http://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Soapma ... 447&sr=8-2

I was fortunate to be one of the group who helped to edit the book and can tell you that it is very interesting. And very technical. Soapmaking is chemistry in action and Dr Dunn will explain that chemistry.

It explains the chemistry of fats, oils, and soaps, and it teaches sophisticated analytical techniques that can be carried out using equipment and materials familiar to makers of handcrafted soap. Presented in a college textbook format, Scientific Soapmaking guides students and individual soapmakers alike to formulate questions about soap and design experiments to answer those questions scientifically.

I haven't read the other two books, so cannot compare.

 

[fiddletree]

I like 'Smart Soapmaking' by Anne Watson

 

[soapbuddy]

I second Kevin Dunn.

 

[Soapy Gurl]

I like the Soapmaker's Companion, it has some nice recipes, but it will not give you a technical approach.

 

[tlm884]

Heres a good free ebook primer on soap making

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34114

 

[dagmar88]

I second Kevin Dunn.

Yes, I'd definitely go for that one.

 

[Pentazole]

Well I'm both an avid soapmaker and a chemistry professor, if the latter is worth anything, and would gladly answer any technical questions you may have, here or through PM.

 

[ericllucas]

Well I'm both an avid soapmaker and a chemistry professor, if the latter is worth anything, and would gladly answer any technical questions you may have, here or through PM.

You make my point precisely, thanks.

A pentazole is an unstable and sometimes explosive thing. Curious that you would choose that as your name for this forum

 

[green soap]

I have the 'soapmakers workshop', not too good on answering my questions, not much in there I did not know already.

I also have 'scientific soapmaking' by Kevin Dunn, and while it still leaves a few of my questions unanswered, it is a much better book on the science behind soap.

 

[CamillaHB]

Thanks a lot everybody. I didn't know Kevin Dunn's book. I will have at look at that one. And thanks for your offer, Pentazole

Comments on the other two books are still welcome. They are cheaper and I might start out with one of them.

 

[agriffin]

I second Kevin Dunn.

I third him.

 

[IrishLass]

I second Kevin Dunn.

I third him.

I fourth him.

IrishLass

 

[CamillaHB]

OK, OK, I'll start saving!

Thanks!