Natural Colourants

The natural ingredients below can be infused to produce natural shades for use in soaps.

Basic method:

Place your chosen colourant and the vegetable oil in a heat-proof glass jug and heat in the microwave for two minutes on medium.
Alternatively, heat in a heavy bottomed saucepan on the cooker for three minutes.
Leave to cool and infuse.
Strain liquid through a sieve into a clean jug.
Pour the oil into a clean sealable glass bottle and add a label for reference.

Alkanet Root

Infuse as follows to make a medium purple colourant:

Crush 3 teaspoons of alkanet root with a mortar and pestle.
Place the alkanet and 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a heat-proof jug.
Sit the jug in a pan of water and bring to a simmer.
Infuse the alkanet for around 40 minutes
Leave to cool completely then strain through a sieve into a clean jug.
Transfer the oil to a clean, sealable glass bottle and add a label.

Use less alkanet/more oil for a paler shade.

Beetroot Powder

When infused, beetroot powder produces a reddish-brown natural colourant.

Cayenne Powder

Cinnamon Powder

Paprika Powder

Combine Paprika and Turmeric to make a nice orange colour.
Infuse 4 teaspoons of Paprika and 2 teaspoons of Turmeric in 9 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Spirulina Powder

Spirulina is a microscopic blue-green vegetable algae that grows in tropical oceans.
Infuse 2 teaspoons of Spirulina in 4-5 tablespoons of vegetable oil for a natural green colour.

Turmeric Powder

Infuse 4 teaspoons of Turmeric in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil for a yellow shade.