Why Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) Is Used in Soap — and Why It's Nothing to Fear
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If you’ve ever turned over a bar of handmade soap and seen the words “Sodium Hydroxide” or “Lye” on the ingredient label, you might have paused — especially if you’re trying to avoid harsh chemicals.
Here’s the truth: you can’t make real soap without lye. But don’t worry — once the soap is finished, there is no lye left in the final product. Let us explain.
🧪 What Is Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)?
Lye is a strong alkaline ingredient that reacts with oils and butters in a process called saponification. This chemical reaction transforms oils into soap and glycerin — it’s the foundation of traditional soapmaking.
🔬 Is Lye Dangerous?
In its raw form, yes — lye is caustic and should be handled with care.
But when used properly in soapmaking:
- It’s completely consumed in the saponification process
- No lye remains in the final, cured soap bar
- The result is a mild, skin-safe bar of soap
In fact, if a soap doesn’t use lye, it’s not actually soap — it might be a detergent bar or melt-and-pour base (which still used lye at some point in manufacturing).
🌿 Why We Use Lye — Proudly and Safely
At Sunshine Craft & Soap, we carefully calculate and measure our lye-to-oil ratios using trusted soap formulation tools. We superfat our recipes, meaning we use extra skin-loving oils to ensure the soap is nourishing and gentle.
You get:
- A firm, long-lasting bar
- Luxurious lather
- No synthetic foaming agents
- And zero leftover lye
💬 Final Thoughts
Seeing “sodium hydroxide” on a label might feel alarming at first — but once you understand how real soap is made, you’ll see that lye isn’t scary — it’s essential.
We believe in transparency, education, and safe, nourishing skincare you can feel good about.
Got questions? We love sharing our craft — feel free to reach out to us!
Written by Sunshine Craft & Soap • Sudsy Side Notes Blog