Isn't Lye Dangerous? Why is it in the Soap?

Lye is dangerous. There’s no way around that. To make bar soap, we use Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which can cause blindness if it contacts the eyes, serious chemical burns on skin, and lung irritation if inhaled in dust or mist form. It reacts violently with water and organic tissue, generating heat as it dissolves. A concentrated lye solution can eat through skin in under a minute as fats and proteins break down on contact. That’s why we use gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and controlled mixing environments when handling it.

Also why it's used as draino. 

Why Soapmaking Requires Lye

Soapmaking requires a strong base to trigger saponification—the chemical reaction between a fat (triglyceride) and a base (lye) that produces glycerin and soap. The same reaction that would turn your eyes into soap on contact is precisely what transforms the pig tallow we use into a cleansing, solid bar.

Without sodium hydroxide (or potassium hydroxide for liquid soap), soap simply would not exist. “Lye-free soap” is just a marketing phrase, not a chemical reality. To get soap out, you need lye in. 

Why There’s No Lye Left in the Final Soap

Although lye is harsh, it is fully consumed in the saponification process. Each lye molecule reacts with triglycerides, breaking the fatty acids free and binding to form soap salts. After the reaction, no unreacted sodium hydroxide remains.

To guarantee this, we measure precisely and superfat, using extra fat beyond what the lye can react with. This ensures that a small percentage of nourishing fat remains unconverted, which not only makes the bar gentler on skin, but ensures every last molecule of lye has been consumed. After pouring, the soap is cured for 4–6 weeks. During this time, excess water evaporates, and any trace alkalinity neutralizes. pH testing and cure time confirm that the reaction is complete and the bar is safe.

By the time the soap reaches your hands, every atom of sodium hydroxide has been transformed. What started as a caustic chemical becomes something entirely different—a mild, effective cleanser that’s safe for skin and the environment.