There are several ways of making soap. Firstly before I attempt to make any soap I have to protect myself against possible splashes which can occur from the raw soap mix.Lye can burn your skin if not used safely.I wear long sleeves,eye goggles,rubber gloves and an apron(not a pretty sight)

Cold process which involves heating the butters and oils to a certain temperature whilst at the same time ( in a separate jug ) I prepare the lye (sodium hydroxide) when the fats and the lye have reached the optimum temperature I then add the lye to the oils and bring to a consistency similar to custard this is called trace.When the oils and lye react this chemical process is called saponification.I am ready then to add any colours,essential oil or fragrance oil give a good stir and pour this mix into prepared moulds.I wrap this up to keep warm because this needs to gel.I leave my soap for 24 hours before I take it from the mould and cut it.The soap needs to cure for at least 4 weeks before it can be used.

I make hot process soap is made in a crock pot.When the butters,oils and lye have reached a thick trace I put it in the crock pot on a low heat to cook.I check it now and again to see how it's doing and when it's starting to gel, the edges usually start to engulf the rest of the mix.All of this takes time and when I'm happy that the mix is cooked I take a small blob of cooled soap and just lick it if it tastes like an active 9v battery I still have lye that hasn't cooked so back on the heat it goes.When the soap mixture is ready I take it off the heat and add fragrance and/or colour .This process makes the soap mixture more gloopy and not as pourable as the cold process.I spoon the hot process soap into waiting moulds and leave it until set no need to wrap this one up.Leave to cure for a couple of weeks.

Whipped soap (floap soap) I prepare the lye first because this soap is made at room temperature and the lye needs to be cold. I take my hard oils and butters and whip them until they have doubled in size.Next I had the 'runny oils' to the whipped mixture,when that's whipped up well then the cold lye is added.I keep whipping until I am happy everything is well and truly mixed in.Then add colour (the fragrance is added after the runny oils have been added into the whipped mix.) 

Please note by no means is the above a tutorial just my explanation of making soap.