Natural Powders for color

[dixiedragon]

It's pricey, but Australian sandalwood powder is lovely. A bit scratchy though. Kind of a purpley red.

 

[Spice]

I will be infusing the oil for a couple of days to see what it does first. Im going to do a test batch of adding the paprika directly too. Thanks for all the feedback. If all goes well I will up some pix soon.

 

[HappyHomeSoapCo]

Paprika is definitely scratchy. But in a good exfoliating way. I infuse my paprika in olive oil on the stove on low heat then let sit and cool for several hours sometimes a day. When I pour out the oil through cheese cloth, I can control the scrubbiness by how much I allow in. I don't have my ratios in front of me, but today I used 7tbsp paprika in 28 oz olive oil. My total oil weight was 125 oz. When I pour the infused olive oil through the strainer I do it over a scale because I know I'm going to loose a few ounces of oil. I'd rather not deal with the mess of trying to get every last ounce out of the paprika. So I just add more olive oil to get back up to the 28 oz that I need for the recipe.

 

[Spice]

I've used paprika powder directly in soap batter. It makes a speckle-y orange color. The pic shows a salt bar with swirls of orange made with paprika. (The light speckles are the salt particles.) About 1 tsp ppo is about right. Be careful -- paprika particles are a bit rough, so if you don't want a scrubby soap, use with a light hand.

You can infuse paprika in any oil and get a non-speckled orange. (I have done this with annatto to get a yellow color, but not yet with paprika.) I'd infuse maybe 1 tablespoon of paprika powder in a cup (250 mL) of oil. Let stand for some days or gently warm the oil in a water bath for a few hours.

I was reading this again. I want to infuse my oils, how is an infused oil measured when pouring? I mean, how would I know I am using 1 tbl sp of turmeric, for example?

one more: is the measurement of herbs the same for infused oil as it would be adding it for soap? 1 tea sp added to soap oils would be 1 tea sp added to infuse the oil?

 

[DeeAnna]

"...1 tea sp added to soap oils would be 1 tea sp added to infuse the oil? ..."

No, I don't do that, because infusing an oil with a spice gives a different result than using the spice directly in the soap. Infusions give an even color to the soap like a dye; powdered spice generally gives a speckled color. I would generally use a larger amount of spice for an infusion, and less if adding the spice directly to the soap. How much or how little depends on experience, the spice being used, and the look I'm going for -- it's hard to give a firm amount.

If I add a powdered spice directly to the soap batter, I measure it out by volume or weight and mix it into part or all of the soap batter, just like you would any powdered colorant.

If I use an infused oil, my recipe doesn't say I used 1 TBL of annatto in my soap -- I'm really not doing that. I would record, for example, that I infused 1 TBL of annatto in 1 cup of olive oil and it was infused for so many hours or days at whatever temp (room temp usually). I normally use a bit more oil to make the infusion than I want in my soap recipe, because some oil is lost when I separate the oil from the solid material. I only use the oil in the soap recipe -- the solid material is discarded.

When making the soap, I weigh the correct amount of infused oil to be put into my soap batter. If the color is too dark, I use less of the infused oil in my next batch, and vice versa if too light. You really can't use a little more or a little less of an infused oil while making a given batch of soap as you can do with a separate colorant -- it all has to go into your soap batch because the oil is part of the soap recipe.

I hope this makes sense!

 

[Dahila]

I wonder if anyone knows that pigment; Orchid Pigment, it is ultramarine. I am looking for soap which shows the color, maybe someone used it)

 

[Spice]

"...1 tea sp added to soap oils would be 1 tea sp added to infuse the oil? ..."

No, I don't do that, because infusing an oil with a spice gives a different result than using the spice directly in the soap. Infusions give an even color to the soap like a dye; powdered spice generally gives a speckled color. I would generally use a larger amount of spice for an infusion, and less if adding the spice directly to the soap. How much or how little depends on experience, the spice being used, and the look I'm going for -- it's hard to give a firm amount.

If I add a powdered spice directly to the soap batter, I measure it out by volume or weight and mix it into part or all of the soap batter, just like you would any powdered colorant.

If I use an infused oil, my recipe doesn't say I used 1 TBL of annatto in my soap -- I'm really not doing that. I would record, for example, that I infused 1 TBL of annatto in 1 cup of olive oil and it was infused for so many hours or days at whatever temp (room temp usually). I normally use a bit more oil to make the infusion than I want in my soap recipe, because some oil is lost when I separate the oil from the solid material. I only use the oil in the soap recipe -- the solid material is discarded.

When making the soap, I weigh the correct amount of infused oil to be put into my soap batter. If the color is too dark, I use less of the infused oil in my next batch, and vice versa if too light. You really can't use a little more or a little less of an infused oil while making a given batch of soap as you can do with a separate colorant -- it all has to go into your soap batch because the oil is part of the soap recipe.

I hope this makes sense!

Yes perfect sense about how the infusion works. When you say that it all becomes part of the soap batch, does that mean that I need to account lye for it too? My first step will be to see how the herb will mix/color my oil. So I am wondering if I need to also account lye for it too? DeeAnna, do you prefer whole herbs rather then powdered?

 

[Susie]

Here is how I deal with spices infused into oil for soap colorants:

I infuse my spices into oils that I know are going to be in my recipe. For example, I will infuse 1 oz of paprika into 9 oz Sweet Almond Oil (or Olive Oil). Once I have infused that oil, I separate the liquid from the solid and discard the solids. *I weigh the container I am going to use it from and store it in.* And will put the colored liquid oil into that container and weigh again. Record this amount! I then use a recipe that calls for some amount of that oil. Once I have melted my solid oils, I use a small amount of the colored oil and mix into the melted solid oils until it looks a little darker than the desired shade. I then weigh that container to see how much I used. If I used 1 oz, I subtract that from the total amount of SAO or OO I need and add the remainder of the uncolored oil needed. I make a double or triple batch of colored oil at the time and store it in small containers in the freezer(in a labelled freezer bag). That keeps me from having to make more all the time.

Here is an example recipe:

Lard 12 oz
CO 3 oz
OO 12 oz - 1 oz colored oil = 11 oz
OO, colored, 1 oz

 

[DeeAnna]

The oil you used for the infusion becomes soap just like Susie explained, so you have to include this oil when you calculate how much lye you need. The color from the spice is just along for the ride -- it's just adding color to the soap, nothing else. I hope this helps!

 

[Spice]

The oil you used for the infusion becomes soap just like Susie explained, so you have to include this oil when you calculate how much lye you need. The color from the spice is just along for the ride -- it's just adding color to the soap, nothing else. I hope this helps!

Here is how I deal with spices infused into oil for soap colorants:

I infuse my spices into oils that I know are going to be in my recipe. For example, I will infuse 1 oz of paprika into 9 oz Sweet Almond Oil (or Olive Oil). Once I have infused that oil, I separate the liquid from the solid and discard the solids. *I weigh the container I am going to use it from and store it in.* And will put the colored liquid oil into that container and weigh again. Record this amount! I then use a recipe that calls for some amount of that oil. Once I have melted my solid oils, I use a small amount of the colored oil and mix into the melted solid oils until it looks a little darker than the desired shade. I then weigh that container to see how much I used. If I used 1 oz, I subtract that from the total amount of SAO or OO I need and add the remainder of the uncolored oil needed. I make a double or triple batch of colored oil at the time and store it in small containers in the freezer(in a labelled freezer bag). That keeps me from having to make more all the time.

Here is an example recipe:

Lard 12 oz
CO 3 oz
OO 12 oz - 1 oz colored oil = 11 oz
OO, colored, 1 oz

ok, I got it. This is what I need to know. Thanks Guys:wave:

 

[Spice]

today I will infuse paparika into oo and make ginger soap.I will post the soap in a couple of days, it will be HP...for now.

 

[RogueRose]

Coffee works both as a liquid and a powder. As a powder it gives a nice mild/moderate exfoliant. I've put it through a very find mesh tea strainer after powdering it in a coffee grinder and it still gives a mild exfoliant - a nice texture to use all the time even in sensitive areas it won't be too rough.

Bentonite clay can be brown, grey to greenish.

Chocolate - bakers chocolate (no sugar) or chocolate liquor, mixes very nicely and can give almost a black if used in high enough amounts. Cocoa powder obviously gives a brown.

Tumeric powder - Gives a very nice orange to a light "orange sickle" color

Titanium dioxide & Zinc oxide - makes white and both act as a sunscreen if used in lotions or lip balms

Activated charcoal/carbon - pulverize in coffee grinder (it gets VVEERRYY dusty) and a little goes a long way!

Parsley powder - buy bulk parsley flakes and powder it in a coffee grinder. The powder goes a lot farther than the flakes.

Rosemary - Can be used whole or ground anywhere from whole to a fine powder for color or exfoliant. I have used it on top of soaps to give a little texture and scent.

Lemon zest - fresh lemon zest added at trace to a "whitish" soap (think lard & coconut oil mix) will turn the soap a nice yellow with a hint of orange. It gives a great lemon scent and the zest is very nice as an exfoliant!


Using citrus peels either fresh or dried - this is something I really want to work with. Does dehydating the peel make it loose any of the oils or scent? I like using it fresh but haven't used it after drying.

 

[Spice]

Paprika is definitely scratchy. But in a good exfoliating way. I infuse my paprika in olive oil on the stove on low heat then let sit and cool for several hours sometimes a day. When I pour out the oil through cheese cloth, I can control the scrubbiness by how much I allow in. I don't have my ratios in front of me, but today I used 7tbsp paprika in 28 oz olive oil. My total oil weight was 125 oz. When I pour the infused olive oil through the strainer I do it over a scale because I know I'm going to loose a few ounces of oil. I'd rather not deal with the mess of trying to get every last ounce out of the paprika. So I just add more olive oil to get back up to the 28 oz that I need for the recipe.

I have infused my oil with the paprika, it is dark orange. It has been sitting for 24 hrs now. Can paprika infused oil stain washcloths? :idea:

 

[debikers]

I just picked a bunch of Goldenrod flowers today and infused them in canola oil using a water bath method( instant
Gratification ). Can anyone tell me how much yellow that
Will add to my soap? And I will be doing CP with no swirls or anything. Just wanted to try it because I've never infused an oil before. Lol thank you in advance !!

 

[Spice]

I just picked a bunch of Goldenrod flowers today and infused them in canola oil using a water bath method( instant
Gratification ). Can anyone tell me how much yellow that
Will add to my soap? And I will be doing CP with no swirls or anything. Just wanted to try it because I've never infused an oil before. Lol thank you in advance !!

what is a water bath method?

 

[Spice]

"...1 tea sp added to soap oils would be 1 tea sp added to infuse the oil? ..."

No, I don't do that, because infusing an oil with a spice gives a different result than using the spice directly in the soap. Infusions give an even color to the soap like a dye; powdered spice generally gives a speckled color. I would generally use a larger amount of spice for an infusion, and less if adding the spice directly to the soap. How much or how little depends on experience, the spice being used, and the look I'm going for -- it's hard to give a firm amount.

If I add a powdered spice directly to the soap batter, I measure it out by volume or weight and mix it into part or all of the soap batter, just like you would any powdered colorant.

If I use an infused oil, my recipe doesn't say I used 1 TBL of annatto in my soap -- I'm really not doing that. I would record, for example, that I infused 1 TBL of annatto in 1 cup of olive oil and it was infused for so many hours or days at whatever temp (room temp usually). I normally use a bit more oil to make the infusion than I want in my soap recipe, because some oil is lost when I separate the oil from the solid material. I only use the oil in the soap recipe -- the solid material is discarded.

When making the soap, I weigh the correct amount of infused oil to be put into my soap batter. If the color is too dark, I use less of the infused oil in my next batch, and vice versa if too light. You really can't use a little more or a little less of an infused oil while making a given batch of soap as you can do with a separate colorant -- it all has to go into your soap batch because the oil is part of the soap recipe.

I hope this makes sense!

I made my soap, at first I wasnt too sure if I used enough oo infused oil. I started out with 10 oz of oo, then I gradually added the paprika infused oo for a total of 5 oz, I have 53 oz of oil and my oo is 18 oz. I will insert pixs:clap:

 

[Spice]

 

[Conkwe]

"...1 tea sp added to soap oils would be 1 tea sp added to infuse the oil? ..."

No, I don't do that, because infusing an oil with a spice gives a different result than using the spice directly in the soap. Infusions give an even color to the soap like a dye; powdered spice generally gives a speckled color. I would generally use a larger amount of spice for an infusion, and less if adding the spice directly to the soap. How much or how little depends on experience, the spice being used, and the look I'm going for -- it's hard to give a firm amount.

If I add a powdered spice directly to the soap batter, I measure it out by volume or weight and mix it into part or all of the soap batter, just like you would any powdered colorant.

If I use an infused oil, my recipe doesn't say I used 1 TBL of annatto in my soap -- I'm really not doing that. I would record, for example, that I infused 1 TBL of annatto in 1 cup of olive oil and it was infused for so many hours or days at whatever temp (room temp usually). I normally use a bit more oil to make the infusion than I want in my soap recipe, because some oil is lost when I separate the oil from the solid material. I only use the oil in the soap recipe -- the solid material is discarded.

When making the soap, I weigh the correct amount of infused oil to be put into my soap batter. If the color is too dark, I use less of the infused oil in my next batch, and vice versa if too light. You really can't use a little more or a little less of an infused oil while making a given batch of soap as you can do with a separate colorant -- it all has to go into your soap batch because the oil is part of the soap recipe.

I hope this makes sense!

For color troubleshooting, I think it would be easier to over-Infuse an oil for a darker color. You can always lighten it with the regular oil to get the color you want, but you can't darken the oil, unless you do another infusion and that would be more work and time that could've been avoided. This way, you won't have to change the oil and lye amounts in the recipe to accommodate the color or be stuck with the color you get from an infusion, especially if someone is still experimenting with herb and oil ratios for color.

 

[DeeAnna]

Point taken about using plenty of spice in the oil to ensure the infused oil is intensely colored. I have to say 1 TBL of whole annatto seed per 1 cup of oil is intensely colored enough for the soap I make.

But I'm not quite sure I follow your advice that "...you won't have to change the oil and lye amounts in the recipe to accommodate the color...".

If you need 18 oz of OO in the recipe and you've already decided to use 5 oz of infused OO, regardless of how intensely colored it is, and 13 oz of regular OO, you are kinda stuck using that particular combination of infused and plain OO. The only way to change it is if you ~do~ recalc the recipe to allow for adding more infused OO to the batch to intensify the color or more plain OO to lighten the color.

Also, sometimes an infused colorant doesn't show its "true colors" in soap until after the batch is done, cut, and sometimes even cured. In that case, it's hard to know if you need to correct until well after the fact. In that case, the only way to handle that problem is to adjust the amount of infused oil in the next batch.

 

[debikers]

Sorry I just got to this now. I used a water bath method to infuse my Goldenrod flowers. I used a half gallon canning jar and filled it Half full of Goldenrod flowers (ends only) and covered it with canola oil. Placed jar in pan of boiling water and cooked for about 3 hours. Let it sit overnight and strained it this morning. It's green. I wanted yellow to make a chamomile soap. I have heard you have to dry the flowers first and that you can use them in full bloom. Which is the correct way and was it
Always gonna be green and not yellow? Surely someone has tried it. Thanks!!