Natural colorants in soap

[NatureandNurture]

I'd like to stick with herbal colorants whenever possible. But wasn't sure which ones would impart scent in addition to color. Are there any I need to be wary of using for that reason?

I have cinnamon, cloves, and turmeric to use so far. I want to get something to make green, but there are so many options! Are any better than another?

ETA... is there any natural colorant that would make blue?!

 

[Milla]

Powdered parsley will get you a nice green color. I just used parsley from my spice rack and made it into a fine powder. You can also buy it as a powder too. ETA: 1 tsp ppo

This was with HP, but someone else did it CP and got a very nice green.

 

[TessC]

The only blue I can think of off the top of my head is German chamomile/azulene, but it's spendy.

Spirulina made a nice green with just a hint of blue for me, but I used too much and the smell came through, yuck.

 

[NatureandNurture]

Is there a general rule of thumb as far as how much to use?

Which herbs have strong odors that generally tend to come through? Is it best to try and mask them with EOs or FOs or will it really muck up and be awful?

 

[NANCYB]

Liquid Chlorophyll

I've been told liquid chlorophyll produces a very nice green. Cant say from experience, but I am going to try. Seems you can buy in vitamin and health stores.

I like to stick with natural colorant too.

 

[Maria]

Powdered chlorophyll works too. It doesn't take much, 1/2 a capsule colors 5 pounds of soap. Too much and you get green lather.

 

[NANCYB]

Powdered chlorophyll

So, in case thats all I can find at the health store, powdered will work too. Great!

I'm so glad I joined this forum, I am learning sooooo much good stuff.

Thanks Maria

 

[krissy]

i used a tiny amount of chlorella powder in a very small batch (8oz) and got the creamiest green with emerald colored speckles.

acai powder gave me a pinkish brown color

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[NatureandNurture]

Can you mix these in with your oils from the start do you think? Or only at trace?

 

[Maria]

I do HP and make a slurry of the additives including coloring, scent, super fatting oils and any clay, oatmeal, aloe, milk, spices, honey or other stuff after the soap is finished cooking. The more liquid in the slurry, the more the water is reduced to account for it.
With CP I did not have consistant results with additives as the lye is pretty tough on everything.

 

[Guest]

I'm all for atural colourants too. Akanet root powder has yielded the best results so far (gorgeous purple). I'm also looking for a green right now, something along the lines of this:
http://www.savonneriesoap.com/index.htm?ac=F2RPA-J

Do you think this is coloured mostly by mint?

 

[krissy]

I'm all for atural colourants too. Akanet root powder has yielded the best results so far (gorgeous purple). I'm also looking for a green right now, something along the lines of this:
http://www.savonneriesoap.com/index.htm?ac=F2RPA-J

Do you think this is coloured mostly by mint?

it says in the ingredients that it is parsley and mint leaves...i think that is it.

 

[Guest]

I've never used parsley or mint, was wondering which it mostly was coloured by. I guess I'll just have to try both

 

[Guest]

I have never used any green plant material in soap that didn't eventually turn brown over time--keywords here are brown and time.

I used my burned-honey color in soap today. Right now, the soap is deep chocolate brown. I'm waiting to see what color it is once it cures. I hope it lightens a lot. If it doesn't, I'll have to name it Buckwheat Honey Soap (buckwheat makes dark honey).

I used honey fragrance and wish it would get out of my nose!

 

[madpiano]

apparently mint turns brown, parsley doesn't.

Which is why mins soap usually contains parsley (if naturally coloured). I just finished a soap workshop and thats what the teacher said.

 

[Guest]

I have used green tea in a spa bar and it stayed green , I didn't expect it to.
Spinach powder makes a nice green , I love alkanet for all the shades that you can get with it . Carrots make a great orange , that has stayed .

Kitn

 

[luxurious bubbles]

Where do you guys get your alkanet root powder? I've found a few places online but was wondering if there might be a place local.

 

[Rosey]

so do you guys add it finely ground or do you infuse it in the water or is either method good?

 

[ilovedoxies]

I used some alfalfa root powder and it turned brown but I'm not sure if it was because of the fo I used or what.

I bought some clays from Texas Natural Supply and I've gotten really nice color with them, especially the rose clay. A little goes a long way.