Essential oils and colour

[squeakycleanuk]

I made a lotion bar a while back and added some german chamomile which turned it greenish. I'm assuming the same could happen with Cp soap, would the colour make it through saponification? If so, are there any other essential oils which can influence the colour of the soap?

 

[Genny]

Some eo's do & some don't & it matters what supplier you get it from as well.
I've used german chamomile & it turned my soap a light, light blue after curing.
I've used Sweet Orange eo & have had my soap turn a light yellowish orange. Lemon Eo has turned light yellow. Peru Balsam has turned brown.


Usually if the eo is clear, then you'll get no color. If the eo has a color, you'll get a lighter version of that color. But then your soaping oils can also affect the color as well when mixed with the eo.

 

[squeakycleanuk]

Thanks Genny, so far I've only done unscented soaps but I'm planning on using essential oils in my next batch, so I'll soon find out for myself. I'm sticking with natural ingredients where possible, so it'd be nice if I could get some natural colour without even trying Do you think its possible to do swirls and patterns with essential oil coloured soaps? Say if you split the soap in two and did one half peru balsam and the other half with sweet orange and swirled? I think I feel an experiment coming on

 

[ohliver]

I don't know much about soap making, but it certainly seems possible to create swirls with EOs. If you separate and then mix, it seems like it would to well. Please do tell of the results of your experimentation.

 

[lsg]

I doubt if you will get the colors you desire from just essential oils. You might try adding clay for color, ultramarines or oxides for color.