Soap making is becoming more and more popular, with many people looking for natural products to use as an alternative to commercially produced soap. Homemade soap has the advantage of being chemical free and pure, as well as cheap. Learning how to make soap at home also has great benefits for people who suffer from skin irritations, acne, eczema and psoriasis.

There are various methods on how to make soap, and each of them has its own techniques, ranging from basic skills to more advanced soap making processes.

How to make soap - the Cold Process

The cold process in soap making involves mixing a lye solution - sodium hydroxide and water - with fats or oils to produce a substance which is then thoroughly blended and poured into a soap mold. Soapmakers learn how to make soap by allowing the mixture to thicken to the correct consistency, know as tracing. The saponification process in soap making means that the lye reacts with the fat and oil to produce glycerin, which gives the soap its mildness and skin softening properties.

How to make soap - the Melt and Pour Method

The melt and pour process is an easy way to learn how to make soap; there is no saponification involved, as there is with the cold process of soap making. With melt and pour, or soap crafting, a base soap (clear glycerin soap) is melted down in a double boiler or microwave oven. Once the soap mixture is melted, fragrance and coloring can be added to give the soap an attractive appearance and scent. Melt and pour is a great way for children to learn how to make soap, as it is not necessary to handle lye, which is caustic and can be dangerous to work with.

How to make soap - the Hot Process

Making soap using the hot process involves heating up the mixture to burn off the excess liquid. Most soapmakers will learn how to make soap using the cold process first, as the hot process is a bit more difficult to master. Soapers know how to make the soap mixture reach the full saponification stage by examining the thickness of the substance, or even by tasting the blended soap! This method of soap making takes longer to produce, but the soft mixture is then put into molds and can be used almost immediately.

How to make soap - the Rebatching Method

After practicing and perfecting how to make soap using the cold process, soapmakers grate bars of soap and melt it into a thick gel mixture. Like the melt and pour method, rebatching helps to make soap crafting easy for beginners and children. The main reason for rebatching is that essential oils or other additives can be added more effectively, as the temperature of the soap mixture is much lower than it is with the cold, or hot process of soap making. Beginners don't even need to learn how to make the soap first, as commercial products can be used instead.

Find out more about how to make soap before you begin, and make sure that you understand the safety aspects of soap making, especially if you will be using potentially dangerous lye solutions!