Natural soap colorants - need ideas

[neeners]

since I've started soaping, and creeping all the soap making website, blogs, and of course this forum, i've been seeing all these fantastic colours in soaps.

I want to add colours in mine, but the problem is, I don't have access to micas, clays, dyes, etc. I can really only find what's available in the local grocery store or health food store. shipping is not an option.

so far, i've used chlorella for green and turmeric for yellow. i'm hoping to gather some ideas so I can branch out a little, colour wise.

what have you used as natural colourants for your soaps, and what has worked/not worked?

 

[porumi]

Hi there,

I also use cocoa powder for brown and paprika for salmon peach.

Im sure others will have more suggestions.


Thanks,
Porumi

 

[judymoody]

Where are you located? Perhaps we can find a supplier that is close to you.

 

[neeners]

Barbados.

shipping isn't an option b/c shipping rates are usually high, and then there's taxes and duties here. There's no way around that b/c they make you open your package at the post office....

 

[ShayShay]

Carrot, tomato and other food purees, Coffee, cocoa powder, paprika, ground herbs, etc. Ruth Esteves published a great ebook about natural soap colorants with examples of each one she tested:
http://www.thenovastudio.com/handouts_ruth_naturalcolors.html

 

[Obsidian]

powdered madder root can produce a nice reddish pink.

 

[Saswede]

Shame about the shipping and duties ...... because I love using the various types of clay!

There aren't a lot of options for coloring in the supermarkets other than the ones that have already been suggested, Neener. The only one i could add is saffron - which I love in food and in soap, and which gives a beautiful yellow color. But it is expensive, so I only use it for special soap. I particularly like using carrot purée, and the color stays a lovely orange. But most other food additives either go brown or fade to a cream color.

If you can get hold of dried calendula petals, they're also a good additive to make a yellow soap - either as an infused oil (didn't add much color when I used it though), or just add the petals at trace (either ground up or whole). And if you really want to enhance the yellow color, you can steep the petals in boiling water for a few hours, then strain the petals out, chill the liquid and use the calendula "tea" to make your lye solution.


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[neeners]

thanks Saswede! I will play around and see what I get. at this moment, i'm a little tired with green and yellow and beige. lol. will try the carrot.

thanks everyone!

 

[Ancel]

If you can get annatto / achiote, it will give a bright orange. Papaya also gives a creamy light peach. Paprika, cacao and turmeric have already been mentioned. Charcoal will give black. There are no art supply stores selling clay? I can get red local clay here which I just make into dust, grey clay too. Avocado puree makes a dull green. Local green herbs in infusion will give varying shades of green. Haven't had any luck with natural, easily found blues or purples.
happy hunting

 

[Relle]

This thread might give you some ideas - http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=8276

 

[Honey B]

2 PORUMI = How much of these natural colorants did you use per batch- how many lbs? Thank You!

 

[neeners]

If you can get annatto / achiote, it will give a bright orange. Papaya also gives a creamy light peach. Paprika, cacao and turmeric have already been mentioned. Charcoal will give black. There are no art supply stores selling clay? I can get red local clay here which I just make into dust, grey clay too. Avocado puree makes a dull green. Local green herbs in infusion will give varying shades of green. Haven't had any luck with natural, easily found blues or purples.
happy hunting

oohhh!!! papaya!!! how much of that would you put into your soap?

I haven't looked into art supply stores yet. will do that soon.

I was also thinking this morning about purple cabbage juice...wonder if that will stay purpley, or just turn brown. I'm going to have to give that a try and report back!

 

[Nightlilly]

The cabbage juice has me wondering if anyone has tried grape juice. Anyone?

 

[neeners]

good point Nightlilly!

and what about cranberry? I've seen cranberry powder for sale at the health food shop. anyone tried that?

 

[Nightlilly]

ohhhh, cranberry powder! Will you volunteer Neeners?

 

[neeners]

hahaha. SURE! are you going to try the grape juice??

 

[Nightlilly]

You do Cranberry powder and I'll do grape juice! I may as well, I have a few days off and I'm already going to try soaping catfish bait for my nephew (don't ask, I have no idea what I'm doing!...lol)

 

[Ancel]

The papaya I puréed and used as 1/2 my water. Someone recently said that she used dried hibiscus petals inside the soap and they retained their colour, mine turned brown. Love the idea of cranberry though, can't get any here, but love the colour post pics!!!


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[Ancel]

Oh yeah, I also used a puréed yellow cucumber as 1/2 my water. Made a nice soap and had yellow flecks, though didn't change the soap colour.


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[Lidyax]

oohhh!!! papaya!!! how much of that would you put into your soap?

I haven't looked into art supply stores yet. will do that soon.

I was also thinking this morning about purple cabbage juice...wonder if that will stay purpley, or just turn brown. I'm going to have to give that a try and report back!

I read somewhere that purple cabbage will stink up your soap, but it'll be cool if it works. I have the same problem finding micas and pigments locally. I ordered rosella flower extract to see how it'll turn out. Will let you guys know how it turns out.


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