Harvey Kees
Put 2 c lukewarm fat (just warm enough to be liquid) in a 1-quart plastic carton. In another carton, put 1 c cold water and 4 Tbls lye, stirring gently with wood spoon to dissolve. (Allow to cool, or use less water and add ice cubes.)
Then, with wood spoon, stir fat as the lye solution is slowly added. Stir to the consistency of a thick butterscotch sauce. (This takes about ½ hour if temperatures and everything is just right.) Add perfumes, borax to make hard-water soap, etc. at this time.
Pour into molds. Leave undisturbed for 24 hours. Then, remove from molds and let ripen in a dry place for at least 2 weeks.
The amount of lye specified makes a soap of average hardness. Less lye results in an oilier, creamier soap. More lye makes a harder soap.