I have never personally made soap. There are so many persons who make soap to sell here on the Olympic Peninsula that my wife & I just buy it at the local Farmers Market. I did see & read an article on soap making in Mother Earth magazine that I thought was quite interesting. It 'Almost' made me give it a try.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/how-to-make-soap-from-ashes-zmaz72jfzfre