Red Devil lye

Overview
Red Devil lye, a retail-packaged form of sodium hydroxide necessary for soapmaking and some types of candlemaking, was discontinued by the manufacturer (Reckitt-Benckiser) for reasons that remain unclear. The primary suspicion is that the US government was putting pressure on them to discontinue it because of its use in illegal "meth labs" (methamphetamine manufacturing); this would seem part of a broader campaign to prevent US citizens from having access to an increasing number of basic chemicals.

Some online retailers continue to provide sodium hydroxide, but often with restrictive requirements.