Gather soap base or oils, lye, water, and optional fragrance or color
Put on gloves and safety goggles
Work in a well-ventilated area
Measure all ingredients accurately
If using lye, slowly add lye to water, never water to lye
Let the lye solution cool
Heat oils or melt soap base
Combine the lye solution with the oils if making cold-process soap
Blend until the mixture reaches trace
Add fragrance, color, or additives if desired
Pour the mixture into a mold
Tap the mold to remove air bubbles
Cover and let the soap set
Unmold the soap after it hardens
Cut into bars if needed
Cure cold-process soap for several weeks
Store finished soap in a dry place