Alkanet root messing with my head

[Derpina Bubbles]

I decided to try alkanet root to colour my lavender GM soap instead of the liquid pigment I'd been using. I found plenty of info online about the colour morphing that can happen but figured I'd try my luck anyway. Well after just 2 hours in the mould it's changed from almost black to a blue violet colour. Every time I check it the colour is lighter.

I had wanted more of a purple shade but now I'll be happy if it just doesn't go grey on me. I used OO infused alkanet and soaped the GM at room temp. The soap is on the kitchen bench in the air-conditioning trying to avoid gel.

Does anyone know how long it takes before the colour usually settles?

 

[karenbeth]

I've been playing with that too. I infused some oo for 2 weeks. Didn't check my notes and put 150g on a 500g batch. That purple is so dark - might have overdone it! Today I was much more restrained and added about 30g to 250g. It went grey - not happy so I chucked in a bit more. It is now a bluey purple. But we will see what tomorrow brings. I like that colour in the photo. Fun playing around isn't it?

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

I only infused mine for 1 week before I just had to use it (I really suck at waiting). Bluey purple sounds like a great result.

The soap has become even lighter than the 2nd photo. It's a really pretty colour but wanted more purple. It's a light blue. It is oddly entertaining seeing the colour change. I'm glad I did the swirl because if it goes grey it won't be an all over, prison grey soap.

 

[shunt2011]

I think it looks pretty.

 

[Twiggy]

From my personal experience the AR color changes all the time while sitting in a mold, than curing and with the time... My oldest soap is now completely white, and it was bluish at the beginning.... But I will come back to using it, and fight again LOL

 

[judymoody]

The color you end up with is related to the color of your base oils (more yellowish oils will result in a more gray color) and the SF of your soap. The lower the SF the bluer the tint. The higher the SF the more pinkish/purple. I found this post on alkanet to be very interesting:

http://soapsisters.blogspot.com/2011/09/ratan-jot-blue.html

To get a good true purple, I use a lot of alkanet - to the point that the raw soap batter looks almost black. Here is a reference to a thread started by Twiggy that has lots of photos of alkanet soap.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=38851

 

[Saponista]

@judymoody, I just had a look at your lovely alkanet dyed soap. I notice you had put lavender on the top. What stage do you put it onto the top? I always worry that if I do it straight after poring the soap into the mold that the lye will discolour it, but worry that if I wait for the soap to harden then it won't stick to the top of the bars. For this reason I have never put anything natural like that onto the top of my soap. I would love to do something similar with rose petals.

 

[judymoody]

The lavender topped soap was Twiggy's - maybe she will come by with an answer.

 

[MirandaH]

Oh that is really pretty! I hope it sticks for you!

 

[Twiggy]

@judymoody, I just had a look at your lovely alkanet dyed soap. I notice you had put lavender on the top. What stage do you put it onto the top? I always worry that if I do it straight after poring the soap into the mold that the lye will discolour it, but worry that if I wait for the soap to harden then it won't stick to the top of the bars. For this reason I have never put anything natural like that onto the top of my soap. I would love to do something similar with rose petals.

Hi Saponista!! If you are talking about THIS SAOP , than I decorated it straight after I’ve poured the soap to mold. The lye is busy with oils, will not damage your “garnish” on the top

 

[Bowen14]

That looks beautiful! I love the swirlies - and the colour looks amazing! What is alkanet root? Wait...google is my friend

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

Woke up this morning to a lovely lavender colour on the top. I turned the mould over to see if it was ready to pop and aaaarrrrrggghhhh green swirls :Kitten Love::shock::sick:. Swamp thing green swirls. Dead swamp thing green with boogers. I hope this means that when it is exposed to air and cures it will go purple/lavender and not stay green. Pics show what the top looks like today and the bottom of the mould.

 

[judymoody]

Give it time to oxidize. Natural dyes often look nasty in the pot but when the dyed fiber is exposed to air it changes color.

 

[boyago]

The color you end up with is related to the color of your base oils (more yellowish oils will result in a more gray color) and the SF of your soap. The lower the SF the bluer the tint. The higher the SF the more pinkish/purple. I found this post on alkanet to be very interesting:

http://soapsisters.blogspot.com/2011/09/ratan-jot-blue.html

To get a good true purple, I use a lot of alkanet - to the point that the raw soap batter looks almost black. Here is a reference to a thread started by Twiggy that has lots of photos of alkanet soap.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=38851

I've been reading that the color is more dependent on the PH than the amount used (to some degree of course) and that would seem to reflect the supper fating giving more of a purple color. Since with the supper fat you are lowering the PH. Does this make sense? Anybody play around with that?

 

[Derpina Bubbles]

Give it time to oxidize. Natural dyes often look nasty in the pot but when the dyed fiber is exposed to air it changes color.

You were spot on. The second I popped the soap out of the mould the green side turned purple. It was cool to watch the instant change. The sides are still green but now I'm happy they will morph and no longer be swamp thing green. I cut it when it was still a little soft because I just had to see. You can see the 2 colours in this pic.

 

[neeners]

THAT'S SOOOO COOOL!!!! really pretty soap too.

 

[MirandaH]

Wow! That is so pretty! I love it!