Very New and Learning :D, Best Book to get started?

[SoapieSuds]

I feel so lost lol. Im really trying to learn all the lingo about Soapmaking , where to buy supplies etc.

I havent even done a batch of soap yet but im excited to try

Looking for good suppliers of Everything and maybe a few suggestions on good books for a VERY new beginner

Someone reccomended The Soap Dish to me and Brambleberry but i feel lost there too lol

Any and all help is appreciated thanks! :grin:

 

[Genny]

Welcome to the forum

For books, I highly recommend any of The Everything Soapmaking Books by Alicia Grosso and The Soapmakers Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch ~ Check your local library, many of them carry soap making books.

There are a lot of really good online soap information sites as well, like http://millersoap.com/ and very importantly http://soapcalc.net/

For supplies, first I'd check http://www.suppliersbystate.com to see if there's any suppliers near you so you may be able to save on shipping.

Other great suppliers of oils, butters, fragrance oils, essential oils, colorants, molds, etc. are:
Natures Garden Candles http://www.naturesgardencandles.com
Soapers Choice http://www.soaperschoice.com
From Nature With Love http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com
Essential Depot http://www.essentialdepot.com/
The Sage http://thesage.com
Brambleberry http://www.brambleberry.com (you already mentioned them, but I put it on the list anyway because they're great)
Bitter Creek North http://www.candlesupply.com/
Cibaria http://cibariasoapsupply.com/shop/
Essential Wholesale http://www.essentialwholesale.com/
Mountain Rose Herbs http://http://www.mountainroseherbs.com

There are a lot more, but those were the ones that I could think of off the top of my head. You can also find many oils at your local Walmart or Costco, if you have one of those stores.
Molds for someone just starting out can be simply made by using food containers you might have around your house. Or I use plastic drawer organizers that I got at The Dollar Tree.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

TeachSoap.com is a "learning website" by the founder of Brambleberry (Anne Marie Faiola).
MillerSoap.com is very popular with new soapers.
Asking lots of questions here would be super helpful :wink:! Don't be afraid...we don't bite (too hard)! :twisted:

As for books, The Everything Soapmaking Book by Alicia Grosso is a good place to start.

There are lots of suppliers, but for a newbie, I think Wholesale Supplies Plus is a good place to start...they carry everything and they have free shipping. When (or if) you're ready to buy in bulk, there are better suppliers...but that's for a later discussion.
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com

There is a sticky note with the "lingo" here on the forum:
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f16/acronym-abbreviation-definition-thread-3789/

Let us know if there's anything we can help with!

 

[melstan775]

You can get oils at Walmart? The only ones I saw at my local Walmart have a skin irritation warning on them. And the only cooking oils are vegetable, crisco, and sometimes sunflower.

 

[Genny]

You can get oils at Walmart? The only ones I saw at my local Walmart have a skin irritation warning on them. And the only cooking oils are vegetable, crisco, and sometimes sunflower.

Most Walmarts also have Olive Oil in their cooking section and coconut oil & castor oil in their beauty/health area. Sometimes they have coconut oil in their cooking section as well.
Our Walmart carries several kinds of olive oil, avocado oil, pumpkinseed oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, canola oil, etc. I think it just matters how big your Walmart is.
Your grocery store or if you have a restaurant supply store, might have some oils as well. But it may be cheaper to buy them online.

 

[SoapieSuds]

Wow you all are Awesome!! Thanks so much!! Im sure im going to have TONS of questions lol forgive me if they sound dumb hehe....I want to start small but im hoping that maybe i can have a small business for some extra income in the future if i can get good enough at making these, but im giving myself at LEAST a year before i even venture down that road...I will probably have soap coming out of my ears lol...my DH is at least excited about it too , We are a BIG Green Nature Loving family ((Im beginning to make my own Laundry Soap, Dish Soaps etc)) and i Cloth diaper my Daughter as well, So i figure this is the next step ...For awhile im going to absorb all of this info

 

[SoapieSuds]

How much is a good amount to start out with? Like say coconut oil? Is 1lb or 7lbs better. I would like to start with Small batches ((10-15bars)) per batch? But im not sure how far the coconut oil will go if that makes sense? Like is 1lb equivalent to 1 Batch etc?

I would like to start with CP soaps first

 

[melstan775]

Thanks for the headsup Genny. I will look closer next time I go to Wally world. I want to eventually make exotic soaps but as a newb I am getting a sense I should start simple. What to use for a thermometer to take soaP temperature?

 

[Genny]

Thanks for the headsup Genny. I will look closer next time I go to Wally world. I want to eventually make exotic soaps but as a newb I am getting a sense I should start simple. What to use for a thermometer to take soaP temperature?

Honestly, I don't take temps, but I bet a candy thermometer would work.

 

[LovelyMalia]

Get a good thermometer. I already ruined my candy thermometer. But i have an infrared one on the way.

When it comes to the oils, I only bought a pound of coconut oil and its going quick after 2 batches. I recommend starting with 2 lbs and seeing if you like soap making, then go from there.

I have The Everything Soapmaking book and i love it, but i recommend reading as many books as you can. There is so much information out there!

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

How much of a particular oil you need to buy depends on the recipe you're going to use. 1 pound of Coconut Oil will not go too far.
Maybe this will give you an example how much to buy:
To make 12 of my 6.5 oz bars (1.5" thick), I usually use 64 oz of oils total, and anywhere from about 25-35% of that would be Coconut Oil (16 oz - 22 oz). If you prefer smaller bars around 4 oz (1" thick), that same amount would make about 18 bars.