Gather ingredients: oils/fats, lye, distilled water, optional fragrance, colorants, and additives
Gather equipment: heat-safe containers, scale, thermometer, stick blender, mold, spatula, gloves, and goggles
Put on gloves and goggles
Measure all ingredients by weight
Slowly add lye to distilled water, never water to lye
Stir until dissolved and let the lye solution cool
Melt and combine the oils/fats
Let the oils and lye solution cool to similar temperatures
Pour the lye solution into the oils
Blend until the mixture reaches trace
Add fragrance, colorants, or additives
Pour the soap batter into the mold
Tap the mold to remove air bubbles
Cover and let the soap set for 24 to 48 hours
Remove the soap from the mold
Cut the soap if needed
Cure the soap in a dry, ventilated area for several weeks
Store the finished soap in a cool, dry place