Make natural soap for fun. Just like baking a cake, you can choose to start with a kit or make it from scratch. Easy soap making methods can be as simple as amelt and poura or a more involved mixing of fat, lye and water. No matter what method you choose, you can have fun experimenting with fragrances, essential oils or herbs, and colors. Be artistic! Be creative!

The "melt and pour" method is safe enough for kids to do. Choose from soap bases like goat milk, honey, glycerin, olive & aloe, oatmeal, shea butter or any other base you can find on the market. They're all a little different, so choose the one with the qualities you prefer.

To make a bar soap, melt the soap base completely, stirring frequently, then add the other ingredients. Choose your own fragrances, colors, or essential oils. Then pour the soap into the molds and allow it to cool. Don't worry about getting it right the first time -- you can re-melt and try again.

Feeling adventurous? Try the more advanced method using fat, water, and lye. You will need a little more equipment, time, knowledge and caution. Lye is a caustic agent that requires special handling. Use eye protection and rubber gloves, and keep it off your skin and clothes. Also, lye will damage aluminum and Formica so avoid contact with table tops and counters. For details, recipes and more ideas, type "make natural soap" into a search engine.

Making soap is not only fun, it saves money. Compare the cost of fancy soaps to what you make yourself! Use your imagination to make your own soap look and smell exactly like you want. You can even start your own soap business!

Making natural soap at home is environmentally friendly compared to the production of commercial products. Prior to World War I, people used to make soap at home from leftover cooking fats, using purchased cans of lye. Before that, people made lye from wood ashes.

The move toward sustainable living also has some healthy side effects. Skin is the largest organ of your body and taking care of it is important. By making your own soap, you know exactly what's going on your skin. If you are allergic to one ingredient, simply substitute another. You can make vegetarian soap using vegetable fats instead of than animal fats.

Making your own soap is fun, healthy and good for the environment. It allows you the flexibility to add ingredients you like and leave out the ones you donat. Homemade soap is good for your family finances as well. There are so many easy soap making recipes out there, anyone can do it.