Natural Colorant Help

[carbca]

So, I just made my first batch of CP!!! Like literally 1/2 an hour ago. Yaaay for me! Looks good in that its hardening up quite nicely and that I really didn't have any issues during the process (I've been researching now for more than 8 months). BUT...I had nothing to color my soap with and didn't want to really leave it plain. Some website said chlorophyll can be used as a colorant, so I went out and picked dandelion leaves and pureed them down with an ounce of olive oil (which I accounted for in the recipe). My recipe included solid palm oil which was VERY mustardy in color - so my goal was to aim for a dark green soap to hide that color. The oil was given to me and I think it was food grade as it reminded me of the popcorn oil used at the theatre. Yup, didn't work. I have dark mustard colored soap with itty bitty green flecks in it.. anyone use natural colorants and exactly how much do you use. (I made a 3Lb batch).
Thanks!

 

[judymoody]

You used virgin palm oil, I think. I did the same for my very first batch of soap and it looked like cheddar cheese! It was nice soap, though. Look for bleached, deodorized, refined palm if you want to avoid the color and distinctive odor.

Lots of options for natural colorants - tomato paste, pureed carrots (baby food), turmeric, paprika, cocoa powder, parsley, avocado and cucumber purees. Most green herbs will turn brown over time though.

This link might be helpful: http://www.soap-making-resource.com/nat ... rants.html

The site has lots of tutorials about how to use them.

Also try: http://www.mullerslanefarm.com/soapcolors.html

Congratulations on your first batch!

 

[carbca]

Funny you should say that! My smaller molds still look the same, but I have a large 'brick' mold and that one is turning brown in the center, with a swirled effect. I am definitely going to look for a different type of palm oil. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Wolfie]

For a nice pink/blue swirling, try either the annatto seed or the Alkanet root. Both can be infused in oil for a week and the resulting colorant withstands the high alkalinity of the CP. For a white bar soap, try using a good deal of sesame oil. And of course, refined palm oil is key Cocoa/coffee for a brown effect (which you don't need for the moment I guess) Charcoal for black; and paprika for red.

 

[Loolee]

Lard also gives a terrific white bar of soap.

I used tumeric in my soap and at first it was a lovely pumpkin color, but then it faded to a pale yellow. Still pretty, but not as nice as the pumpkin.

 

[vikkime]

For a nice pink/blue swirling, try either the annatto seed or the Alkanet root. Both can be infused in oil for a week and the resulting colorant withstands the high alkalinity of the CP. For a white bar soap, try using a good deal of sesame oil. And of course, refined palm oil is key Cocoa/coffee for a brown effect (which you don't need for the moment I guess) Charcoal for black; and paprika for red.

What kind or charcoal should I use? I would assume not the stuff you buy for the grill.