using mulberry for color?

[Ruthie]

Has anyone ever used the fruit of the mulberry as a colorant in soap? What was the result? I was just reading about its potential as an edible (food) colorant, and that started me wondering. I would just try it, but this is the wrong time of year.

 

[SoapAddict415]

I haven't tried using berries for color because it seems that every post that mentions certain fruits like berries for color suggests that they'll turn brown. But I'm curious if frozen berry pulp will make a difference in the brown factor like how using frozen milk works in a milk soap.

 

[Hazel]

My first reaction is that mulberries would turn brown but I decided to check first before I replied. According to The Soap Dish's Natural Colorant Chart, black mulberries turn red violet to dark bluish purple in soap. However, I don't know if this refers to powdered mulberry or fresh mulberry or whether it is used to infuse an oil or if added after the lye solution is blended, etc.

I think it would make an interesting experiment.

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

I have wondered the same about Elderberries. They are suppose to be a powerful colorant. Whenever I work with them, making jelly/wine, they stain my fingers a deep purple. That does not wash off, but turns brown before it wears off.

 

[Hausfrau007]

I experiment with small, one-pound recipes. If the batch doesn't turn out, the worst that can happen is I scrape it into the trash.

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

As Ruth said it is the wrong time of the year. But it just so happens I have some frozen Elderberries..... but I'm not sure how to proceed. When I use herbal colorants, I infuse it in oil and add it at trace. But this is a small seedy berry. Maybe press the juice, add it at trace

 

[Ruthie]

If you have enough frozen berries, you could add some to oil and juice and add the other at trace. If you are wanting to experiment. Who knows, if you could isolate the seeds, they might be a nice exfoliant. :wink:

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Ok I've done more research on it, and Elderberries are most like going to go brown. I found this viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33268.
BUT I'm stubborn so I'm gonna try it any way. and do a few thing different. I will try adding the juice at trace instead of to the lye, and I'm put my soap in fridge. Wish me luck!

 

[Hazel]

It looks like the problem was overheating. You may not have a problem if you keep an eye on it. Please let us know how it turns out. Good luck!

 

[green soap]

Has anyone tried blueberries? I have lots of frozen blueberries.

 

[Hazel]

I have heard blueberries turn gray in CP but I don't know for sure.

 

[AngelMomma]

I made a blueberry concentrate awhile back. I gently boiled down blueberries and strained it. I simmered a little while to concentrate it. When I put it in the soap it immediately turned gray. I probably could have added the whole amount and it still wouldn't have been very dark, but it would have just been gray. I am thinking that I added it at the end of a HP though I can't remember for sure. And now that I think about it thats kind of weird bc it sure was not lye heavy. Maybe its just because its a higher PH still.

 

[green soap]

Grey might still be interesting. Gray and brown swirls for a man scented soap?