What Is Your Favorite Lye?

[Dennis Tyler]

When I first started making CP soap, I just bought my lye through Bramble Berry. Eventually, I realized that I was overpaying so I swapped to ordering either Belle Chemical or Florida Laboratories from Wal-Mart. What is your go-to lye?

 

[AliOop]

Whatever is least expensive when I need to buy more of it!

Seriously, I've purchased lye from Essential Depot, from a local chemical supplier, from the local hardware store, and from Amazon. It's all worked just fine.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I tend to stick with the 2lb bottles of Essential Depot lye based mostly on the combination of price and purity, but also because I’m adjusted to the size and shape of the container (I have fairly small hands). In the past I used lye from Ace Hardware and generally had no issues, but occasionally the lye would have clumps of dark grey impurities.

 

[MelissaG]

Essential Depot is my favorite. Problem is, they are also expensive. I only buy when there's a sale.

 

[dmcgee5034]

I also used to buy from BB, and now get Essential Depot from Amazon. I have the 2 lb container on my subscribe and save, and can defer the shipment or move it up if I need to. Even still, I watch the other sizes because sometimes there is a better deal on the 4 pack of 1 lb containers.

 

[justsomeguy]

Essential depot.
Switched from belle chemical.
Never going back.

 

[CatahoulaBubble]

I order 5 gallon buckets on Amazon. I don't have a preferred brand but I do prefer the microbeads as they dissolve better.

 

[Dennis Tyler]

Thanks for the replies. This looks like a crazy good deal on Essential Depot.

 

[Becky1024]

A couple more - The Lye Guy is good and sometimes runs sales, and Red Devil from local hardware stores. I also like the price of Bulk Apothecary, but their lye bottles have static and the microbeads tend to go everywhere.

A couple more - The Lye Guy is good and sometimes runs sales, and Red Devil from local hardware stores. I also like the price of Bulk Apothecary, but their lye bottles have static and the microbeads tend to go everywhere.

 

[dibbles]

I used to buy from The Lye Guy, but he packages (or did) in thin bottles. One of them split open and it was a mess to clean up - fortunately it happened when I was returning my bottle to the bin I store it in so I didn't have NaOH everywhere. Lately I've been using Belle Chemical with no issues.

 

[Becky1024]

I used to buy from The Lye Guy, but he packages (or did) in thin bottles. One of them split open and it was a mess to clean up - fortunately it happened when I was returning my bottle to the bin I store it in so I didn't have NaOH everywhere. Lately I've been using Belle Chemical with no issues.

I bought from him last summer and they are nice sturdy bottles.

 

[dibbles]

I bought from him last summer and they are nice sturdy bottles.

Thank you, good to know - he must have changed up the bottles.

 

[2lilboots]

Red hot devil lye from Duda energy on Amazon.

To stop the static, wipe plastic bottles with dryer sheet, and shake the bottle vigorously before opening.

 

[Cindy D.]

I've been using Belle chemical lately, before that Essential depot, in the beginning I was using Red Devil. I will never go back to red devil it had a smell that wasn't from the lye itself, the other brands are much cleaner IMO.

 

[justsomeguy]

Thanks for the replies. This looks like a crazy good deal on Essential Depot.

Thanks for this! I should be set for lye for awhile now that I have dry buckets