I’m addicted to natural soap. It’s so much better than the soap you find in stores, which is actually detergent. Natural soap never dries out my hands and smells delicious.

At a bee keeping workshop hosted by Auburn University, a local soap maker shared this relatively easy hot process soap recipe. I edited a bit for clarity. Recipe copyright to Neil Snider.

You can use any form for this, including cake or bread pans. Whole Foods sells soap in large rounds, where you chip off uneven blocks. Get creative with scent. My favorites are mint chocolate and rosemary mint.

Basic Oats and Honey Crockpot Soap

Ingredients:

• 18 oz. Palm Oil
• 14 oz Coconut Oil
• 4 oz Coco Butter
• 24 oz Olive Oil
• 2 oz Quick Oats
• .5 oz Honey
• 2.75 oz Water
• 8.2 oz Lye
• 16.5 oz Water
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 oz fragrance or essential oil of choice.

Supplies:

• 6 Quart Crockpot
• Hand Held Blender
• Soap Form (20 H x 3 W x 2.5 H inches wood form), lined with wax paper
• Soap cutter or butcher knife
• Food processor or clean coffee grinder

Yield:

• 20 bars

Directions:

1. Place all oils in 6 quart crockpot, turned to high heat.
2. In separate bowl, pour lye into 16.5 oz of water (very carefully). Let stand for five minutes until clear.
3. Mix oils with hand held mixer until melted.
4. Pour lye mixture, carefully,  into crockpot. Continue to blend until mixture resembles instant pudding.
5. Reduce heat to medium and cover with lid and cook for 60 minutes. Mixture may boil over if heat is too high.
6. Mix honey with 2.75 oz water and place in fridge.
7. Grind oatmeal for a few seconds in food processor or coffee grinder. Place to the side.
8. After 60 minutes, the soap mixture should be stringy and stiff enough for a spatula to stand up in.
9. Turn off heat.
10. Add ice to soap and mix until melted.
11. Add oatmeal and honey water to soap.
12. Stir until mixture is moisture free.
13. If desired, add fragrance or essential oil (add a few drops and mix in, repeat, until mixture reaches desired scent level).
14. Place in mold and let cool for approximately 8 hours. Cut into bars.