Many people think of lye soap as a harsh homemade cleanser, but users often find that simple lye soaps irritate the skin less than modern detergents and bath bars. Saponification--a chemical reaction between lye and fats--creates all modern soaps, but industrial processes include other chemicals such as isoprophyl alcohol, diethanolomine or DEA, and butylated hydroxytoluene or BHT. Shifting to the simplest lye soaps eliminates these potential irritants. Plain lye soap has no scent and no added oil, but many crafted soaps also contain soothing oils and natural fragrances designed for those who need the extra touch.
Acts as a Cleanser
Lye soap's best known function as a hand or body cleanser depends on a physical process, not anti-bacterial action. Soapy lather removes contaminants from the skin and traps bacteria and debris. Rinsing removes the lather and the pathogens. Soap emulsifies oils and odor-causing bacteria on the skin, removing odors when washed away.
May Help Relieve Skin Diseases
Though lye soap is often described as non-allergenic, people may still react to basic ingredients and lye residues or to oils added for comfort or fragrance. Some skin problems thought to be allergenic may be simple irritations. Makers claim that lye soap relieves acne and eczema, and eases the symptoms of rosacea and psoriasis. A temporary shift to lye soap should demonstrate any actual benefits.
Laundry Aid
Detergent and chemical residues in clean clothing could cause as much irritation as chemical-laden bath soap. Lye soap's simpler formula presents less threat to skin health but lacks the additives that enhance the action of laundry detergents. Flaked or grated lye soap or water-based emulsions of lye soap both work in the laundry, but finding the right amount requires a trial-and-error approach. Rubbing a bar of lye soap on a dampened laundry stain removes some stains without bleach.
Helps Hunters Not Be Detected by Animals
Most bath soaps leave fragrant oils on the skin after bathing. Animals recognize these smells as warning signs of approaching hunters. Unwashed humans also give off aromatic alarms. Bathing with unscented lye soap before a hunt removes telltale body odors without adding new scent signals. Some lye soaps formulated for hunting include honeysuckle oil, a familiar but non-threatening scent in most American woodlands.
Can Be Used as a Fishing Bait
One of the least known fishing baits, lye soap targets the scavenging catfish. Chunks of lye soap bait jug-lines and trot-lines with specialized fragrances drifting from the long-lasting solidified fats catfish crave. Lye soap's soft texture allows a hook's penetration without splitting or crumbling. Exact recipes are secret, but famous catfish bait soaps may use bacon fat as the main ingredient, with anise scent for additional attraction.
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