The idea of working with lye scares me. Isn’t it dangerous?
This is a very common fear and we understand it well. Make no mistake, sodium hydroxide, NaOH, or lye is a highly dangerous and caustic substance. However, there are proactive safety measures you can take to make it a much safer and more pleasant experience. Click on our “Lye” link to read about working with lye safely. For those who want to craft their own soaps without having to work with lye, melt and pour processes are a more attractive option. This is where an already prepared soap base is melted, desired ingredients are added and it is poured into a mold. This is a method preferred by many crafters because you can use almost any additive without worrying about how the reaction of the lye will affect the properties you are trying to take advantage of. If you want soaps that have the added benefits of dried herbs, coloring, or fragrance – to name a few, melt and pour is much more forgiving than cold-process.
