Rare earth carboxylates in solid form are prepared or treated with a solubilizing agent to improve the solids solubility in aliphatic solvents. Other methods, such as treatment of the aliphatic solvent, to improve the solubility of solid rare earth carboxylates in aliphatic solvents are also described. Solubilizing agents identified for use include, but are not limited to, carboxylic acids, poly-acids, glycols, alcohols and mixtures thereof. These processes and treatments are particularly useful in regard to solid rare earth versatate, rare earth neodecanoate, rare earth octanoate, rare earth 2-ethyl hexanoate and rare earth naphthenate compositions.