As much as I like SCM and all the information she provides, I often find it overwhelming, as someone without a science background. The DIY B&B, Humblebee (and others) recipes provide a good starting point. Their recipes are usually well researched and the reasons for including ingredients explained. They walk you through the process, often with explanations of why it's done that way.
Once you decide on a recipe to try, there are enough of us here who have tried it and can provide some guidance. I, for one, absolutely love the DIY Lotion Concentrate recipe and have played around with it a lot. Seriously, I've added all kinds of ingredients to it and haven't had a single failure. Most of my experiments are for personal use but some of them have become bestsellers at the market.
The recipes are a great way to start with formulating, if that's your end goal. But the recipes available out there, from people like DIY B&B, Humblebee & Me, Whole Elise, and some others, are generally good recipes on their own. And, it feels great to be able to say, "I made this and I love it!"