Oatmeal and Honey Soap Bars: A Hot Process Soap

• 1). Grate 3/4 cup of unscented white bar soap into a heat-resistant bowl. Add 1/4 cup of water but do not stir the mixture.
  
  
• 2). Fill a pot one-third of the way full with water and heat to a simmer. Set the glass bowl with the grated soap and water on top of the pot. Allow the grated soap to melt, without stirring, then remove the pot from the heat.
  
  
• 3
  Use a spatula to fold and pour your homemade soap solution.bamboo spatula image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Add 1/4 cup of oatmeal, 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tsp. almond oil to the soap solution. Carefully fold the added ingredients into the soap solution by scooping your spatula down toward the bottom of the pot and slowly lifting it back up to the surface. Fold the ingredients only long enough to mix them.
  
  
• 4). Rub a thin coating of petroleum jelly all around the inside of your soap molds. This will make it easier to pop out the soap once it has hardened.
  
  
• 5). Use your spatula to fill the soap molds slowly with your oatmeal and honey soap solution. Fill the soap molds almost to the top, then place the soap molds in the refrigerator until the soap feels hard to the touch.
  
  
• 6
  Oatmeal, when added to soap, soothes irritated skin and moistens dry skin.Oatmeal with blackberries. Bowlful of cereal. image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
  
  Pop your oatmeal and honey soap bars from the soap molds. Set the bars of homemade soap on a cooling rack and place the rack in a cool, dry place so the soap can cure for three weeks. After three weeks, wrap your soap bars in plastic wrap and store out of direct heat.
  
  

Seed and Spice Soap Balls: A Cold Process Soap

• 1
  Olive oil, when added to homemade soaps, adds a soothing moisturizer.olive oil image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  Measure out 1-1/2 cups of soap flakes and pour into your large mixing bowl. Add 5 tbsp. each of water and olive oil. Mix the first three ingredients using a spoon.
  
  
• 2). Use your hands to knead the soap mixture until it has the consistency of play dough. Continually turn the ball of soap mixture over and press into the dough with the heels of your hands. Divide the soap dough into 16 equal parts using a tablespoon.
  
  
• 3
  Ground cinnamon adds a fragrant, natural scent to your soap.cinnamon image by Azazirov from Fotolia.com
  
  Prepare your soap ball seeds and spices by placing 1 tbsp. each of the ground cinnamon, ground ginger, poppy seeds and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Use a separate bowl for each spice and each type of seed. Fill your fifth small bowl with cool water.
  
  
• 4). Take each soap ball, one at a time, and dunk it in the bowl of water. Roll the soap ball around in your hands to ensure the entire surface is coated with water. Dip the ball into one of the four coatings and coat well.
  
  
• 5). Press the soap balls that have been dipped in seeds between your hands to adhere the seeds to the soap. Cold processed soap does not need to be cured, so the soap balls are ready once they're coated.