Here's a brief article to introduce you to soap making

http://www.ideamarketers.com/?Soap_Making_--_The_Disappearing_Skill&articleid=467687

I don't make my own potash, I use Red Devil lye. And if it's off the shelves, you have Homeland Security to thank for that or the champions of the war against drugs.

I may have to make my own lye soon. I use 10 lbs of fat from the market. Scraps. Most of the time it is free.

There may be a time when we will have to make our own soap. Like cheesemaking, it's an interesting and useful hobby. I may have included my recipe close to the beginning of this blog.
If you want my recipe, contact me, but it's the simple one on the Red Devil site. It produces a bright white soap that when aged, provides good lather. No perfume. Just the basics. Fat, lye and water. It lasts a long time and I'm told it is great for acne and diaper rash.