Basically, you can wash your hands with it straight away. It foams like a charm without having to treat it first. But: It is simply colourless and odourless and is divided into 3x 500g blocks. The soap blocks are easy to cut with a kitchen knife. I cut them into small pieces and then melted them slowly in the microwave, added a few drops of scented oil and cosmetic colouring and poured them into a silicone mould (e.g. ice cube mould). Instructions are included. You don't have to, but it looks nicer and smells better. :-)