what is lye in soap

Lye is a very alkaline product that is used to make soap. It is a general term for two different alkaline compounds known as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Lye is needed for the chemical process that soap goes through, but it's not present in the final product. During the soap making process, the lye is heavily diluted with water and added to the oils to create a thick mixture. The mixture is then added to a mold for 24 hours to harden, and set to cure for 4-6 weeks. During the curing process, the soap bars lose water weight, in which the sodium hydroxide is dissolved. All natural soap is made with lye, and it is the most traditional and natural way to make soap. It is not possible to make soap without lye. However, there are alternatives to lye, such as potassium hydroxide, which is often used to create liquid soaps. Glycerine is not an alternative to lye, as it wouldn't allow the oils to combine and the chemical reaction to occur.