5 simple steps to safely make your own fragrant soaps

When it comes to gifts, there's no better feeling than giving something you made yourself. Fragrant soaps are a fun, cost-effective way to create a unique gift that your friends or family will use and enjoy.

Half the fun is personalizing your handmade soap, and different scents, colourants and unique moulds are a great way to do so.

Because the basic ingredients you'll be working with are oil or fat, caustic soda or potash, and water, you'll also want to protect your eyes and skin as you make the soap.

Here's how you can do both.

• The safest place to combine ingredients is out of doors.
• Always mix caustic soda or potash slowly with cold water. Make sure you pour them into the water rather than the other way around.
• Caustic substances bubble and spit when they touch water. Protect your eyes and avert your face to avoid inhaling the fumes when ­mixing them.
• Caustic solutions burn so make sure to put your safety first. If they come into ­contact with your skin, wash them off immediately with cold water and seek medical help if necessary. Wear old or protective clothing as splashes will burn holes in fabric.
• Wear rubber gloves.
• Use glass, enamel, stainless steel or ceramic utensils.
• Cover work surfaces and floor areas with newspaper and ensure that children and pets are far out of reach from the solution.

1. Bring both oil or fat and caustic soda solution to 35°C to 37°C (95°F to 98.5°F) by placing their containers in basins of hot or cold water, depending on whether they need to be warmed or cooled.
2. To ensure thorough mixing, stir the oil or fat before the caustic soda is added. Pour in the caustic solution in a steady stream while continuing to stir with an even, circular motion.
3. The mixture will turn opaque and brownish, and then lighten. The soap is ready when its surface can support a drop of mixture for a moment; its consistency should be similar to that of sour cream.
4. Add colourants, scents and other special ingredients (adding them earlier may interfere with saponification, the process of turning fat or oil into soap). Pour the finished liquid into moulds and then place them in a warm location.
5. Cover moulds with cardboard, newspaper or blankets. The soap should be removed from the moulds after 24 hours, then left uncovered in freely circulating air for two to four weeks.

Voila! Now you've got your own handmade soap creations to give as gifts to family and friends.