What did pioneers use to make hand soap?

Pioneers typically made hand soap using simple ingredients such as animal fats, lye (derived from wood ash), and water. They would render fat from animals like pigs or cows and mix it with lye to create a chemical reaction known as saponification, which produces soap. Essential oils or herbs might be added for fragrance. This homemade soap was essential for personal hygiene and cleaning purposes in their daily lives.