The craft of soap making has become a very popular hobby during the last few decades.

Can you imagine what a chore it must have been in colonial times? Having to render tallow and leach lye from ashes before even starting the soap making process?

Today, all you have to do to get your ingredients is sit down at your computer and order them. They come right to your door...or mailbox.

Soap making is easier now too! If you can follow a recipe, you can make homemade soaps.

You're probably saying "Yeah, right! What about the lye. That stuffs bad for you. Isn't it?". Lye or Sodium Hydroxide, as it is also called, is a caustic soda so yes, it is bad for you in its raw form.

You'll be happy to hear that once handmade soap is finished being made, it no longer contains lye.

During the soapmaking process a chemical reaction takes place that causes the lye and oils to join together. This process is call saponification. Once saponification takes place, the lye no longer exists...it's now a new product....soap!

Saponification? Chemical Reactions? Now your having thoughts about mad scientists aren't you?

If your worried about having to set up a lab and get all sorts of weird scientific equipment, don't. Most of the supplies you'll need you probably already have right in your kitchen.

A pot, some bowls, a whisk, empty jars, a spatula, candy thermometer ... everyday kitchen equipment. Your most expensive purchase will probably be a weight scale that is accurate to the nearest gram.

My favorite part of the soapmaking process (and sometimes the hardest) is deciding on what type of soap to make. There are so many options to choose from that I often have a difficult time trying to pick just one.

You first have to decide what type of base oils to use. What colors and textures or design ideas do you want to try? Botanicals or spices? Essenitals oils? The choices are only limited by your imagination.

A homemade soap recipe is a great place to start when you're a beginner. As you become familiar with the soap making process, you will be able to create your own unique recipes that are tailored to meet the needs of your skin type.

Soap making becomes an addiction...once you start you'll never be able to stop. Thank goodness it's fun to do and creates something thats good for you!