Where to Buy Lye in Europe, Canada & Australia

Without lye, there can be no soap. Here in the United States, we used to be able to buy Red Devil lye at the local grocery store. Several years ago, that was discontinued and soap makers had to scramble to find other sources for lye for soap making. A number of local and online vendors took up the slack to make up for Red Devil Lye being pulled from the supermarkets.

But what about outside of the USA? Shipping regulations differ all over the world, but here are some online stores that sell sodium and/or potassium hydroxide. (Note: I have not ordered from any of these companies; I buy my lye locally. So I cannot attest to the reliability or customer service of any of these vendors.)

• United Kingdom (UK)
  • Just a Soap Co UK
  • Butterbur & Sage
  • The Soap Kitchen

• Canada
  • Creations from Eden
  • Soap and More (Alberta)
  • Cranberry Lane (British Columbia)
  • Soap and More (Alberta)
  • Saffire Blue

• Australia
  • Lehman's Soapmaking Supplies
  • Snowdrift Farm
  • The Soap Dish

If you know of another vendor that sells 100% lye, or know of a good mail order vendor, please post it in the Candle and Soap Making Forum

Some other ways to get lye for soap making:

• Get together with other soap makers in your area and "go in" on buying a bag of lye from a local chemical supply house - (or one of the online vendors above), carefully splitting it between you. Lots of soap makers buy their lye in bulk. Most large cities have a solvent or chemical company that will sell lye (Sodium Hydroxide) in 35 or 50 lb. bags. You'll pay a fraction (per pound) of what the Red Devil cost, but, you've got to be able to safely store that much lye. Remember the cautions you go through with a 12 oz. jar of lye, now imagine 35 lbs. of it!

• Buy a whole bag yourself, knowing that it needs to be stored in an airtight container, safely away from children, pets or other unknowing people.

• Check your local hardware store - Depending on the regulations where you live, some hardware stores may sell 100% sodium hydroxide as a drain cleaner.

Where ever you find your soap making lye, going with an experienced vendor selling lye specifically to the soapmaking trade is the safest, and believe it or not, usually the cheapest way to go.

Be sure to check out (and add your comments to) the Lye Suppliers thread on the Candle and Soap Making Forum.