I did this block in 3 hours and it would be easier if I was making more, so it's not all bad. These types of soaps have a glycerin base, so that's really hard to make by hand so we buy it from a local bulk supplier for oils, powders, soaps and candles (same place we get candle stuff from) along with the scents. Glycerin soaps you just heat, color, and pour to shape. Other types of soaps are more challenging but my mom used to make lard and lye soap when I was a kid and it cleaned dang near anything it so much as looked at. Smelled funny, though. Someday, when I have pigs, goats, cows and bees, I will make my own soap bases. Until then, I will stick to the meltable soaps and soap carving.