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Most of the molds available for soap making recipes today are made from either silicone or plastic materials. Silicone is favoured because it is durable but also for its flexibility which ensures the soap can be removed with ease and will not stick. Using something as basic as a cardboard box with a lining of food wrap is possible although this restricts you to basic rectangle or square shapes. 
When the soap is made it is necessary to purify it which entails boiling the crude curds in water before re-precipating the soap by using salt.
This cleansing process ensures the removal of glycerol and Sodium Hydroxide and gets rid of other impurities too. After that the water should be removed by a vacuum or spray dryer although it is possible to make chill roll which is the preferred method chosen by traditionalist soap making experts. However, amateurs can simply leave the soap on a rack to dry instead. When the “dry soap” is ready, it can be squeezed into shape starting as pellets and then transformed into the desired design be it blocks, bars or any other special shape.
Other soap making recipes may include adding minute pieces of metals like nickel, aluminum, titanium or silver and there are a few reasons for doing this whether it is to alter the colour of the soap or to give it anti-bacterial properties. If these metals come into contact with bacteria they will have an acute effect as they strip the electrons from the bacteria’s surface, gradually killing it. This works by preventing the bacteria from working as it needs to and after a large amount of electrons have been lost, it ceases to function. Bad smells can result from bacteria too and with some of the metal from the soap remaining on the skin and in the pores, preventing bacteria from growing and helping the hands to smell fresh. The same effect will fight any bacteria that could cause contamination on the skins.
For a less gentle product, perhaps for scouring or cleaning purposes, the addition of sand or pumice will accomplish this. Similar to exfoliating, which most will have hard of, these particles will assist in removing any dead skin cells from the area on which it is used. However, on the down side these pumice particles are not all the same size and rougher pieces may be too harsh for use anywhere other than the hands. There are more modern products on the market that are gentle enough to be used on more delicate parts of the body.
Smaller bits of soap can also be used at this stage when blended with a mix of scented oils and other ingredients used in soap making recipes. After it is milled and refined, using a vacuum chamber will remove any remaining air or water before the soap is ready for use or sale.