Are small glassware items (beakers, flasks, pipettes) legal to own/safe to purchase?

yes

why would this be illegal?
if anyone asks, you could use them and the lye for making soap.

It's okay, except for the super-paranoid states like Texas, where they restrict specific glassware to prevent metamphetamine manufacture.

Maybe a distillation apparatus might be an issue in some countries.

But beakers, pipettes etc. are not controlled at all AFAIK.

Its legal. Unless you're being watched I wouldn't worry about it. You can make things like a magnetic stirrer on your own.

What if you order something like a soxhlet?

never stopped me. have had glass mailed to me for 15 years.
but I am a chemist. aromatherapy is a legitimate hobby/business.
even a soxhlet is legal to own. The draconian laws aren't heavily enforced, they don't have the money/resources to go after every hobbyist.

LE goes off of probably cause, mainly large purchases because there's more money involved. Policing is a business. Purchase anything bulk, it will raise suspicion. That includes 22 L flasks, any large-scale equipment.