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Essentially Natural

Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium hydroxide)

Essentially Natural Caustic Soda Lye (Sodium hydroxide)

Regular price R 69.00
Regular price Sale price R 69.00
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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

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