The Soap Making 101 Kit is a delightful way to make wonderful gifts and have fun with your family. Along with detailed and easy-to-follow instructions, in both English and Spanish, your kit contains:

1 lb. White glycerin soap (8"x5")
1 lb. Clear glycerin soap (8"x5")
4 Molds (circle, square, rectangle and hexagon)
1 .03 fluid oz. White pearl powder
1 .27 fluid oz. Cucumber melon fragrance
1 .27 fluid oz. Yellow coloring
1 .27 fluid oz. Blue coloring
1 .27 fluid oz. Red coloring
Tips and project ideas (included in the instructions)

The soap in its base form comes in excellent order; both are wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and are very easy to cut and melt. The process of making the bars is simple and quick. First, prepare the surface you are going to work on; then take a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl and place the desired amount of soap inside. Microwave it on high for about 30 seconds or less (depending on the type of microwave). Make sure to watch it so the melted soap does not boil over. Once it's melted, pour a few drops of scent (depending on how strong you want it) and your desired color(s). You can also add the white pearl powder to the clear soap to make it glossy (I love the effect), but remember not to use it on the white soap because it does not make any difference!

When you are done adding what you want to the soap, pour the mixture into the mold(s) of your choosing. The directions said that the soap "skin" does not form very quickly, but I found that it did. This does not present any particular problems, but it is good to know. Now you may place it inside the refrigerator or just let it sit out on the counter and harden. If you are doing a layered soap, you will let the soap develop a "skin" and let the skin harden just a little bit—about five minutes—so that when you pour the next layer onto the first it does not collapse and mix the layers. I made this mistake plenty of times! Also, make sure that the melted soap is not so hot that it melts the other layer.

I had a very fun time creating several beautifully scented soaps. Though I tried the listed project ideas, I had some trouble making them look exactly as the pictures on the cover. This is to be expected, as I am new to soap-making! I plan to expand my skills in this area and attempt them again. I did make some very unique and widely multicolored mixtures. The white pearl powder mixed with the darker colors made exceptionally beautiful bars.

The kit states that it makes ten bars of soap, but I was able to stretch it to make eleven. You can also keep using the contents of the kit after the soap has run out by just getting more soap base! This is what I am doing, as I just love making soap and giving it away to friends and family! This kit was a fantastic introduction to soap making and well worth the $19.99 price tag.

Product review by Abigail Kessler, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2008