Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium hydroxide)

Description

Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye is sodium hydroxide, a highly caustic alkali used in soap making to trigger
saponification when combined with oils and fats. It is a raw process ingredient rather than a finished cosmetic
component, and it is essential for making true hard soap by cold or hot process methods. Used correctly in a tested
soap recipe, the active lye is consumed during saponification. This is a specialist soap-making material and must be
handled with strict safety procedures.

♡ Why we love it: Caustic Soda Lye is a core soap-making ingredient for makers who want to create true handmade soap
from scratch. It is a specialist raw material, but an essential one for serious soap craft.

Key Properties

• Ingredient: Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH
• Function: Alkali for soap making
• Form: Caustic solid
• Profile: Specialist process ingredient for saponification
• Suitable For: Cold Process Soap, Hot Process Soap And True Hard Soap Made With Oils And Fats
• Storage: Store tightly sealed, dry and away from moisture, sunlight and heat

What It’s Used For

• Cold process soap making
• Hot process soap making
• Producing hard soap through saponification with oils and fats
• Tested soap recipes that require sodium hydroxide
• Specialist soap craft
• Accurate lye calculation for oil-based soap formulas

Who It’s For

This Product Is For:

• Soap makers following correct lye-handling procedures
• Makers using verified soap recipes and accurate weighing
• Cold and hot process soap projects
• Experienced or well-prepared beginners who understand caustic material handling

This Product Is Not For:

• Cosmetic leave-on products
• Direct skin application
• Internal use
• Food use
• Children or unsupervised use
• Anyone unable to follow strict safety procedures
• Guesswork soap recipes without accurate lye calculation

How To Use

• As a Soap Making Ingredient: Weigh accurately according to a tested soap recipe and calculate lye amounts correctly
  for the oils used.
• Mixing Rule: Always add lye to water, never water to lye.
• Ventilation Tip: Mix in a well-ventilated area.
• Equipment Tip: Use suitable lye-safe containers and utensils.
• Cure Tip: Allow soap to cure fully according to the chosen method before use.
• Safety Tip: Keep vinegar myths out of emergency handling and flush skin or eyes with plenty of water if exposed.

Safety Instructions

• Danger: causes severe burns
• Highly caustic material
• Always wear protective gloves, eye protection and protective clothing
• Avoid skin contact, eye contact, inhalation and ingestion
• Mix in a well-ventilated area
• Always add lye to water, never water to lye
• Keep away from children and pets
• If skin or eyes are contacted, flush with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention
• Store tightly sealed, dry and away from moisture, sunlight and heat
• Not suitable for food use
• Do not store near acids or incompatible materials

FAQs

Q: Why is lye needed for soap?

A: It is required to convert oils into soap through saponification.

Q: Can true soap be made without lye?

A: No, true soap made from oils and fats requires an alkali such as sodium hydroxide.

Q: Is finished soap harsh because it uses lye?

A: When formulated correctly and fully cured, the lye is consumed during saponification and the finished soap should
be suitable for normal use.

Q: Is Caustic Soda Lye safe to handle casually?

A: No, it is highly caustic and must be handled with full protective equipment and strict safety procedures.