Making lye soap the old-fashioned way involves using lye made from ash, so preparing the lye is the first step. Prepare the lye by using a large wooden container with a hole near the bottom on two sides. Collect wood ashes and place in the container, then scoop out a depression in the center and fill with 2 to 3 qt. of water, heated to boiling. As the water seeps down through the ashes, keep adding more boiling water. Do not stir the ashes. Place two bowls (stainless steel or enamelware) underneath the two holes in the wooden container. The lye solution will trickle out.

Soap is essentially a mix of lye and fat. Strange how it manages to get you clean, but it does. Once the lye is prepared, the fat needs to be made ready before mixing. Any kind of animal fat or vegetable oil is suitable for making soap. Often a mix is used to create a better consistency. Prepare the fat by purifying it. To purify fat, heat your desired amount in a large pot along with twice as much water. Bring to a slow boil and let simmer for about an hour. Remove from heat and let cool until fat solidifies. You can speed this process by putting it in a refrigerator. Once the fat has hardened, use your hands, a big spoon, or tongs to lift the hardened blob of fat out of the container, leaving behind the residual bits and the water in the bottom of the pot. Put the fat into a clean pot and return to the stove. Heat it up slowly and gently until melted, but don't get it very hot. It should not be anywhere near boiling.

Now that the fat and the lye are both prepared, it's time to combine them. Bring fat and lye, independently, to about 95 degrees. Once warmed, combine them in a large pot. Thoroughly stir, then keep stirring from five to 15 minutes, or until about the consistency of sour cream. Add any essential oils, scents or colors. Pour the liquid soap into soap molds and led dry. Let cure for 24 hours, then remove from the molds. The soap is ready to use.