Does anyone make their own soaps?

I've been toying with the idea of trying to make my own shave soaps.  I like to be self-sufficient and most of my life have always made things instead of buying them if I can.

I've also got at least a 2 year supply of current shave soaps and creams, but still want to see if I can improve upon, or come up with my own scents/feels in a soap.

Any tips for a fledgling soap maker? I know some of the basics around making standard bath bars, and I know that those recipes do not work for shave soaps, but all other methods of soap making are the same right?

Yes, all soaps are made the same basic way. It's fairly simple to try at home, getting a formula that works for you is a challenge though, lots of trial and error. Give it a try, it's fun!

The science is the same, production, sometimes. Ingredients, not really.

Any tips for a fledgling soap maker? I know some of the basics around making standard bath bars, and I know that those recipes do not work for shave soaps, but all other methods of soap making are the same right?

Depends a lot on the formula. My formula, for example, isn't really viable as a cold-process soap. Hot process isn't really any harder, just a little different. You didn't specify if you were using cold process, hot process or CPOP for your current bath soaps, so...

I plan to make some bath soap for the first time soon and then maybe attempt some shaving soap. I may do cold process for the first go, then attempt some hot process. I do have a question for your artisan soapers out there. I noticed a lot of artisans that also make and sell bath soap seem to go with the cold process method as they all show it curing and post pictures saying it will be available in a months time. Why wouldn't you use hot process so your product could be made available sooner? I think a lot of them use hot process for their shaving soaps. What am I missing?

I plan to make some bath soap for the first time soon and then maybe attempt some shaving soap.  I may do cold process for the first go, then attempt some hot process.  I do have a question for your artisan soapers out there.  I noticed a lot of artisans that also make and sell bath soap seem to go with the cold process method as they all show it curing and post pictures saying it will be available in a months time.  Why wouldn't you use hot process so your product could be made available sooner?  I think a lot of them use hot process for their shaving soaps.  What am I missing?

Not all shaving soap is made via hot process, just the good ones. And it's not even necessarily the same process as the crock pot method. The big difference is that the soap is saponified when it's put in the mold.

Now, that said, cold process is a hell of a lot less time consuming.

I plan to make some bath soap for the first time soon and then maybe attempt some shaving soap.  I may do cold process for the first go, then attempt some hot process.  I do have a question for your artisan soapers out there.  I noticed a lot of artisans that also make and sell bath soap seem to go with the cold process method as they all show it curing and post pictures saying it will be available in a months time.  Why wouldn't you use hot process so your product could be made available sooner?  I think a lot of them use hot process for their shaving soaps.  What am I missing?

Not all shaving soap is made via hot process, just the good ones. And it's not even necessarily the same process as the crock pot method. The big difference is that the soap is saponified when it's put in the mold.

Now, that said, cold process is a hell of a lot less time consuming.

Isn't cold process more time consuming when you consider the time it takes to get the soap to market? 

Was just wondering if there was a quality of the soap that was produced from that method that makes it attractive over HP. But I think if I understand you correctly it just easier?

Was just wondering if there was a quality of the soap that was produced from that method that makes it attractive over HP. But I think if I understand you correctly it just easier?

The texture of the soap thus created is different, which can be a plus or a minus depending on what you like. Also, hot process makes coloring techniques a lot more difficult, and it's easier to get air pockets inside your soap that way. But like you say, it's ready for use faster, and it takes about half as much FO/EO.

Was just wondering if there was a quality of the soap that was produced from that method that makes it attractive over HP.  But I think if I understand you correctly it just easier?

The texture of the soap thus created is different, which can be a plus or a minus depending on what you like. Also, hot process makes coloring techniques a lot more difficult, and it's easier to get air pockets inside your soap that way. But like you say, it's ready for use faster, and it takes about half as much FO/EO.

Thanks Eric!  That explains a lot.

I plan to make some bath soap for the first time soon and then maybe attempt some shaving soap.  I may do cold process for the first go, then attempt some hot process.  I do have a question for your artisan soapers out there.  I noticed a lot of artisans that also make and sell bath soap seem to go with the cold process method as they all show it curing and post pictures saying it will be available in a months time.  Why wouldn't you use hot process so your product could be made available sooner?  I think a lot of them use hot process for their shaving soaps.  What am I missing?

Not all shaving soap is made via hot process, just the good ones. And it's not even necessarily the same process as the crock pot method. The big difference is that the soap is saponified when it's put in the mold.

Now, that said, cold process is a hell of a lot less time consuming.

Isn't cold process more time consuming when you consider the time it takes to get the soap to market? 

Was just wondering if there was a quality of the soap that was produced from that method that makes it attractive over HP.  But I think if I understand you correctly it just easier?

Not really. And cure time requires no man power.

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Unless you like that rustic, grainy look to your soap, cold process is the only way to get what you want. And all those fancy soap patterns are cold process. Doable with HP, but so much more of a PITA and unnecessary.