Many homemade bath soaps are made the old-fashioned way from a mixture of lye and lard. Lye can either be purchased from a soap-making supply store or even a grocery store. It is also possible to make lye by pouring cold water over ashes and then saving the resulting water. Be extremely careful when handling lye as it is extremely irritating to skin and the respiratory system. Lard can be purchased from a butcher, and some grocery stores also carry lard. Alternatives to lard include sunflower oil, canola oil and vegetable oil. Metal pots made from copper, aluminum, stainless steel or other tempered metal should never be used to make soap. Glass, ceramic and stone can all be used to mix soap. Always add lye to cold water, as the reactions will not work properly if added to heated water. Pleasant scents and oils can be added to the soap to make it smell better. Common household pans and casserole dishes can be used for soap molds. Allow the soap to sit for one week before using.
Bath salts are even easier to mix up than homemade soaps. Coarse sea salt and Epsom salt make the best basis for bath salts. Essential oils for highly scented flowers and herbs should be used. A mixture of sea salt and Epsom salt will produce a nice effect when placed in warm water. The essential oils can be mixed in with the salt and then placed in jars. You can also add actual herb and flower dried pieces to the mixture as well. However, if you are planning to use this method gather the salt into cheesecloth and throw directly into the bath. This prevents the herbs from sticking to the body.
Safety is important when making bath soaps or salts. Many of the ingredients, such as lye, can be hard on skin and nails. Always wear gloves and protective eyewear when working with these ingredients. In addition to these safety measures, some of the recipes call for outdoor mixing. Make sure to follow all instructions to avoid any unnecessary and unsafe reactions. Never touch heated ingredients directly. Always use an oven mitt or other protecting material to prevent serious burns. Do not re-use pots and utensils used to mix up bath salts and soap for other purposes. The ingredients can leach into the utensils and should not be use for food to be eaten.