Natural Soap Colorants

A very informative post from Soap-blog on Natural Colorants in soap. They were acquired from a variety of sources on the internet and it is very helpful to have the colorants all in one spot for reference.

Here is the list of natural colorants.

Reds and Pinks

Alkanet Root - Pink/Red to Purple - Infuse 2.5 tbsp per pound olive oil

Beet Root - Pink to Red - Infuse 1 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil

Cochineal Powder - Deep Red - Made from insects and is not considered vegan

Hibiscus - Red

Lady’s Bedstraw - Coral Pink - Use the roots

Madder Root - Pink to Rich Red - Add 1 tbsp per pound soap at light trace

Morroccan Red Clay - Brick Red - Very stable, add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap

Pink Clay - Muted Pink

Rattanjot - Red to Purple - Infuse 1 tsp in 2 ounces of oil

Red Cabbage - Rose - Can add unpleasant scent

Red Palm Oil - Pink to Orange

Red Reef Clay - Deep Red

Red Sandalwood - Maroon - Add ½ to 1 tsp per pound of soap at light trace.  Lower pH yields red and higher pH makes purple

Rose Hip Powder - Pink to Burgundy - Add at light trace

Rose Pink Clay - Brick Red - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap

Sorrel - Soft Pink - Use the roots

St John’s Wort Flowers - Red - Infuse flowers

Tomato Puree - Red to Orange



Oranges and Peaches

Annatto Seed - Orange to Yellow - Infuse 2 tsp per pound oil

Butterfly Bush Flowers - Orange to Gold - Infuse flowers

Carrot Powder - Orange - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap at light trace

Dahlia - Orange to Yellow - Infuse

Mace Powder - Orange - Infuse 1 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil

Milks - Orange/Yellow/Brown - Add lye to milk instead of water

Orange Peel Powder - Orange - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap at light trace

Pansy Herb Tea - Orange

Paprika - Peach/ Salmon - Infuse ½ to 1 tsp per pound oil

Pumpkin/Sweet Potato Puree - Deep Orange - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap

Safflower Petals - Orange to Yellow - Infuse/ Petals retain color

Sweet Orange Oil - Orange - Add to scent and color soap at light trace

Tomato Puree - Red to Orange

Tumeric - Orange/Gold - Add to oils or infuse

Wheat Germ - Yellow Orange



Yellows and Golds

Acacia Flowers - Maize Yellow - Infuse flowers

Annatto Seed - Yellow to Orange - Infuse ¼ tsp in 2 ounces oil

Black-Eyed Susan - Yellow - Mix petals in lye solution

Calendula Flowers - Buttery Yellow - Infuse 1 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil or add ¼ cup petals per pound of soap at trace

Chamomile - Yellow/Gold - Infuse 1 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil

Dahlia - Intense Yellow - Infuse

Elderberry Leaves - Yellow - Infuse

Fennel Mustard - Yellow

Ginger Root - Yellow

Goldenrod Flowers - Muted Yellow - Infuse

Ground Mustard - Yellow

Milks - Orange/Yellow/Brown - Add lye to milk instead of water

Red Palm Oil - Creamy Yellow to Gold - Use 1% for creamy yellow and 15% for gold

Safflower Powder - Yellow - Add 1-2 tsp per pound soap at trace

Saffron Petals - Warm Yellow - Infuse

St John’s Wort Leaves - Yellow - Infuse

Tumeric - Gold - Add to oils or infuse 2 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil

Yellow Clay - Yellow - Add 1-3 tsp per pound of soap



Greens

Alfalfa Powder - Pea Soup - Add 2 tsp per 4-5lb batch soap (Unpleasant scent)

Blue Green Algae - Green

Burdock Leaf - Natural Green - Infuse

Chlorella - Green

Chlorophyll (Liquid) - Light Green - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Comfrey Leaf - Deep Sage Green - Add 1 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Cucumber - Pale Green

Dandelion Leaf - Green - Add 1-2 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Dill - Green

French Green Clay - Green - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Kelp - Dark Green - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Mugwort - Greenish Gold

Nettle Leaf - Lime Green - Infuse or add 1 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Olive Leaf - Green - Infuse or add 1 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Parsley - Green - Infuse flakes for better staying powder

Peppermint - Green

Sage - Green

Spinach - Green - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Spirulina Moss - Green - Infuse 1-2 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil or add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap at trace

Stevia Powder - Green - Infuse 2 tbsp in 2 ounces of oil

Ulva Lactica (seaweed) - Sage Green



Blues and Purples

Alkanet Root - Pink/Red to Purple - Infuse 2.5 tbsp per pound olive oil

Black Mulberry Puree - Dark Bluish Purple

Blackberry Puree - Purple

Blue Chamomile EO - Robin’s Egg Blue - Add ½ to 2 tsp per pound soap at trace (Will scent)

Blue Cypress - EO Blue - Add ½ to 2 tsp per pound soap at trace (Will scent)

Blueberry Puree - Blue - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap

Indigo Powder - Blue - Infuse 2 tsp in 2 ounces of oil or add ¼ to ½ tsp per pound soap

Purple Grape Juice - Bluish Purple - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound soap

Purple Indian Corn - Dark Purple/ Maroon

Red Geranium Leaf - Dark Purple to Grey

Red Hibiscus - Purple - Infuse

Red Sandalwood - Purple - Add 3 tbsp per 6 lb soap

Woad Leaf - Sky Blue - Add 1/8 to ½ tsp per 5lb soap



Browns and Tans

Acacia Flowers - Golden Brown - Infuse flowers

Betonite Clay - Beige to Green/Grey - Add 1-3 tbsp per pound of soap

Black Walnut Hull - Rich Brown - Add ¼ to ½ tsp per pound soap at trace

Cinnamon - Tan to Brown - Add ½ to 1 tsp per pound soap at trace

Cloves - Brown - Add ¼ to 1 tsp per pound soap at trace

Cocoa Powder - Dark Brown - Add ¼ to 1 tsp per pound soap at trace

Coffee - Deep Creamy Brown - Use brewed coffee in place of water or add grounds at trace

Comfrey Root - Light Milky Brown

Elderberries - Light Brown - Steep in lye solution

Milks - Orange/Yellow/Brown - Add lye to milk instead of water

Oolong Tea Extract - Brown to Green



Blacks and Greys

Charcoal Activated - Black - Add 1 tbsp per pound soap at light trace

Pumice - Grey