Mixing Ingredients: The rendered fats or oils were heated and mixed together in a large pot or cauldron. Once heated, the lye solution was slowly added to the fats while stirring continuously.

Saponification: The mixture of fats/oils and lye underwent a chemical reaction called saponification. This process converts the fats and lye into soap and glycerin. Saponification typically took several hours to complete.

Curing: After saponification, the soap mixture was poured into molds to cool and harden. Once solidified, the soap was removed from the molds and cut into bars or other desired shapes.

Curing and Aging: The freshly made soap bars were then left to cure and age for several weeks to allow excess water to evaporate and the soap to harden further. This curing process also helped to mellow the harshness of the lye and improve the soap's quality.

Final Preparation: Once fully cured, the soap bars were often stamped with a maker's mark or decorative design before being packaged or sold.


Mixing Ingredients: This step could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of the batch, the viscosity of the fats/oils, and the thoroughness of mixing.

Saponification: Saponification is a chemical reaction that typically takes several hours to complete. In medieval times, this step might have taken around 3 to 6 hours, with occasional stirring and monitoring of the mixture.

Curing: After saponification, the soap mixture would need to cool and harden in molds. Curing could take anywhere from 24 hours to several days, depending on factors like temperature and humidity.

Curing and Aging: Once removed from the molds, the soap bars would be left to cure and age for several weeks. This step could take around 4 to 6 weeks, allowing excess water to evaporate and the soap to harden further.

Final Preparation: Stamping or decorating the soap bars could take an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the complexity of the design and the number of bars being prepared.