Have you ever wondered about making soap? Are you tired of buying soap in the store that dries out your skin and fill it with unknown chemicals?

Learning how to make soap is not terribly difficult with the right instructions. It is also incredibly rewarding to shower with soap that YOU created. You know what is in it, you know what isn't. You make it the way you want to!

Visually Learning How to Make Soap

The Internet is full of information on how to make soap at home. For me, I read the books and articles. I went to forums and looked at pictures but it wasn't until I saw the process in person that all of that information I gathered started to make sense. If you are a visual learner like me, check out this link to a soap making video that will help you out.

There are many oils available for you to use to make your soap. The days of only making soap from animal fat are gone. Now you can make your soap from oils that are extracted from various plants.

Carrier Oils and Soap Making

The great thing about using oils, called carrier oils, is that they can provide your skin with many nourishing effects. Everything from moisturizing to infusing your skin with vitamins.

Essential Oils and Soap Making

You have probably heard of essential oils. They are also commonly referred to as aromatherapy oils. Essential oils are also extracted from plants and are often very fragrant. It is this fragrance that people use when making natural soap at home.

In addition to their fragrance, essential oils also carry other powerful properties. Some can treat fungal infections and rashes, others work as insect repellents, and still others have a calming effect on people. The properties are as varied and interesting as the essential oils themselves.

By using the essential oil in your soap, you will add the properties of the oil to your creation!

The cold process is one of the most popular methods of making soap. These are the basic directions for using the cold process.

1. In a glass bowl, add lye to distilled water mixing slowly.

2. Melt your oils in a stainless steel pot.

3. When the temperatures of the oils and the lye water are close to the same temperature, pour the lye water into the into the oils. This will create the soap mix.

4. Stir the soap mix throughly until it reaches "trace".

5. Once the soap mix reaches trace, add the essential oils and/or fragrances called for by the recipe.

6. Stir the soap mix and pour it into the soap molds.

7. Cover the molds with towels and let them set for 24-48 hours.

8. After the soap has solidified, remove the soap from the mold.

9. Let the soap cure for 4-6 weeks.

That is the basic method for creating soap. The actual process can be more complicated depending on your recipe and experience level. If you have never made soap before and need more detailed instructions, check out this step-by-step soap making video.