The easiest soap I've made is from Crisco or some other brand of shortening. 3 pounds of Crisco (1 can), 6 oz of lye (you can buy red devil lye in store next to drano) 12 oz water. Melt crisco in enamel or stainless steel pan. pour cold water in glass bowl and slowly add lye while stirring with wood spoon. Stir till water is clear. When crisco and lye water are warm to touch, pour lye into crisco while stirring. Stir until you get a trace. Trace is when it thickens to the point where you can drop some of the mix back in to itself and it leaves a trail. Pour into mold, and set in warm place for 24 hours, then cut. Let cure for about 2 to 3 weeks. There are many soap recipes on the internet. Just go to a search engine and type in soap recipes, and a bunch of site will show up. I made this with my 9 year old grandson for a pioneer project. I made sure both of us had on eye covers and rubber gloves, just in case any splashed, but it didn't. It was fun. Kathy