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Essentially Natural

Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium hydroxide)

Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium hydroxide)

R 69.00
R 69.00

Restock in progress Stock may still be with our manufacturing team or arriving shortly. Orders usually ship within 1-3 working days.
INCI: Sodium hydroxide

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.

This product is certified: Vegan and Beauty Without Cruelty.

Need detailed info? COAs and SDSs are available — just send us the product name and batch number, and we’ll gladly share them with you.
  • 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
  • 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

    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
  • 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.
  • 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

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.

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Produced in South Africa
Natural Origin
Vegan
Cruelty-Free
G
Graham K. (Cape Town, ZA)
Great quality product

Great quality product. Pure. Works like a bomb.

N
Natur.etc (Gansbaai, ZA)
Excellent quality, as

Excellent quality, as always!

J
James (Cape Town, ZA)
Fantastic service

Fantastic service.

T
Tanja (Mossel Bay, ZA)
Good product.

I used this in soap making. It is nicely packaged, which gives me a better feeling than buying drain cleaner at the supermark3t.

J
Jeff S. (Cape Town, ZA)
My own home made soap

Great service and sales amount perfect for me

E
Erika J.V.R. (Cape Town, ZA)
Good quality

This is a good quality product in a sturdy container

M
Marguerite d.T. (Johannesburg, ZA)

I am definitely planning on purchasing more of these! I made soap with it. I use the recipe that was provided on the Essentially Natural Blog - "Soap Making Part 2_ Rose Clay Soap" and now I am addicted to making soap! Wish the curing process didn't take that long. :p

E
Elriza V.W. (Amsterdam, NL)
Amazing

My 1st time making soap and what a pleasant surprise I made soap 3 times in 3 weeks!

Cant wait to make more

J
Janine L. (Cape Town, ZA)
Caustic Soda delivery

As a first time customer, the delivery was quick and was excited to find a little gift neatly packaged inside :) I’m excited to try my product and make many holiday soaps 👌🏼

T
Tenele D. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Lye solution

The delivery was smooth and quick ,Essentially natural's ,communication was prompt and effective. The product itself it excellent , packaged well and well labeled I was able to make lovely products thanks to this product will definitely be purchasing soon!

W
Wendy T. (Hermanus, ZA)

Great texture does what it must perfectly

W
Winstonia B. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Fast delivery

Delivery was fast and the product works wonders thank you so much

C
Christina R. (Cape Town, ZA)
So happy

I'm so happy to have found lye at my favourite supplier! Now I don't have to search around every time I run out. It emulsifies my soaps well and I will definitely stick with this one.

J
Josephine S. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)

Packaging very professionally done. The delivery was prompt and so fast. The product is great, will definitely reorder again

L
Lauren W. (Cape Town, ZA)
Works amazing

Works well on my soa

N
Nicola R. (Deneysville, ZA)
Lye

High quality product. Safely packaged and delivered on time. Would highly recommend Essentially Natural.

T
Tanna D.F. (Port Elizabeth, ZA)
Lye

Great product, excellent service and love that there are recipes on the website. Had a very successful experience making soap with my learners at school

K
Kerry B.
Soap maker in the making

Came so promptly and packed with such care. Of course I made soap almost immediately and although it hasn’t even had time to cure properly yet I think it turned out great!

S
Susan B. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Caustic Soda

Great product-I use for soap making

J
Jan d.W. (Cape Town, ZA)
Good product and price

The caustic soda (5kg) order was easy and quickly available which contained fine flakes like 2cm on average. It is easy to handle (with PPE) and the container is easily and effectively resealable. Now there is a lot of soap to be made.

S
S (Cape Town, ZA)
Great! Good price

It was the first time I used caustic soda for making soap and used all the necessary precautions (goggles, mask, a long sleeve top, etc) and your product worked well. After nearly 4 weeks, my soap is set and hard!Thank you!

A
Anje B. (Cape Town, ZA)
Caustic soda

Great quality. Order & delivery was easy & speedy, thank you its always a pleasure ordering from you.

M
M.V.D.W. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Great

I use it to make soap and shampoo bars. Very happy client, always.

C
Christian F.V. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Quick, easy and very cheap

My first order with Essentially Natural and it was top notch service. The products were neatly packed, it arrived within days and the best of all it is so affordable. First batch of soap is already made and can’t wait to test it.

PS: Thank you for the free gift!!!

A
Ayla W. (Stellenbosch, ZA)
Soap making

Essentially Natural's caustic soda feels so pure and easy to use. It is cheap and a lot safer than to buy at a hardware. I love the flakes as it just gives a much more pure feel. It dissolves quickly and mixes into oils super easily!

J
Jean M. (Chimoio, MZ)
Well Packed Lye

Product in optimal conditions

E
E.K. (Johannesburg, ZA)
Overall Experience

My overall experience with the Essentially Natural Team was excellent.
The products were neatly packed and exactly what I had ordered. Delivery was very fast.
Thank you for the surprise gift.

M
Monic L. (Stellenbosch, ZA)
Customer Service

My whole experience with the Essentially Natural Team was excellent.

The products was nicely packed and the free gift was an pleasant surprise. Will definitely re-order.

Will defiantly recommend Essentially Natural. 😊👌

M
Marissa H. (Bloemfontein, ZA)
Good quality

This is a good quality soda ash. It does the job well. Remember to always wear the correct PPE though.

T
Tish (Cape Town, ZA)
Turn around and exceptional customer service

My order was confirmed and delivered promptly. At some point I wasn't sure about a certain product and sent an email for clarity, I was amazed by how quickly I was attended to.

A
AC H. (Hoedspruit, ZA)
Great and fast delivery

Great and fast delivery and exactly what I ordered. Great quality product!

T
Thinus v.W. (Cape Town, ZA)
Perfect for making lye

I've already used this high-grade product a few times. Very happy!

S
Sheldon P. (Johannesburg, ZA)

Easy to order and quick and efficient delivery. The product is excellent and we will most definitely reorder.

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