Natural colorants can be a great addition to handmade soaps as they add vibrancy and beauty to the product, and can also provide additional benefits for the skin. Here are some common natural colorants used in soapmaking:
Clays - Clays come in a range of colors and can add a soft, natural hue to your soap. They also help to absorb excess oil and impurities from the skin.
Herbs and spices - Many herbs and spices, such as turmeric, paprika, and spirulina, can add color to your soap. They also contain antioxidants and other beneficial properties that can be good for the skin.
Natural pigments - Pigments derived from natural sources, such as Himalayan rhubarb root, madder, or annatto, can add bright, bold colors to your soap.
Plant-based oils and butters - Certain plant-based oils and butters, such as avocado oil or cocoa butter, can add natural color to your soap while also providing moisturizing and nourishing benefits for the skin.
We have collected our soap-safe ingredients in a special section of the webshop:
When using natural colorants in soapmaking, it's important to keep in mind that some natural ingredients may change color or fade over time. Additionally, certain natural colorants like logwood may not work well with certain soapmaking techniques or may require special preparation. As a rule: if it would fade on fabric, it will also be fugitive in soaps. It's always a good idea to research and test your chosen natural colorants before incorporating them into your soap recipe.
How much colorant will you need to color your soap?
The amount of natural colorant you should use in soapmaking depends on a few factors, such as the type of colorant you're using, the desired color intensity, and the size of your batch.
In the picture you can see how the amount of woad powder makes a difference in the shade.
In this video you can see how you make this three layered woad soap;
Here are some general guidelines:
Clays: 1-2 tablespoons per pound of oils. Clays can add subtle hues to soap and are often used for their skin benefits.
Herbs and spices: 1-2 tablespoons per pound of oils. Dried herbs and spices can add color and texture to soap, but they may also have a scent that affects the final fragrance of the soap.
Plant-based pigments: 1-2 teaspoons per pound of oils. Pigments derived from plants, such as madder root or indigo, can create vibrant colors in soap but may require more or less depending on the desired intensity.
Ultramarines and oxides: 1 teaspoon per pound of oils. These mineral-based colorants are highly concentrated and should be used sparingly to avoid speckling or staining.
It's always a good idea to start with a small amount of colorant and gradually add more until you achieve the desired hue. Keep in mind that the color of the soap may change slightly during the curing process, so it's a good idea to wait until the soap has fully cured before evaluating the final color.
How to make Cold Processed soap yourself:
This is how you make colorful soap:
Ingredients:
500g olive oil
250g coconut oil
100g castor oil
50g shea butter
135g sodium hydroxide (lye)
320g distilled water
Natural colorants (such as clays, herbs, spices, or pigments)
Essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
Equipment:
Safety goggles
Gloves
Digital scale
Stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic mixing bowls
Stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic pot
Immersion blender
Soap mold
Instructions:
Prepare your natural colorants. Depending on the type of colorant you're using, you may need to mix it with oil or water beforehand to create a paste or infusion. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or do some research to find out the best way to prepare your chosen natural colorants.
Weigh out the oils and shea butter in a mixing bowl and set aside.
In a separate heat-resistant plastic or stainless steel pot, weigh out the sodium hydroxide (lye).
Slowly add the distilled water to the lye while stirring continuously. The mixture will become very hot, so be careful to avoid splashes.
Allow the lye mixture to cool to around 110°F (43°C). It's important to let both the lye mixture and the oils cool to a similar temperature, ideally around 110°F (43°C).
Once both the lye mixture and oils are at a similar temperature, add your natural colorants to the oils and mix well.
Slowly pour the lye mixture into the colored oils, while stirring continuously with an immersion blender.
Blend the mixture until it reaches trace, a stage where the mixture has thickened and the oils and lye have fully combined.
If using, add essential oils or fragrance oils at this stage and blend again until fully combined.
Pour the mixture into a soap mold and cover it with a lid or towel to insulate the soap.
Allow the soap to sit in the mold for 24 to 48 hours.
After the soap has set, remove it from the mold and cut it into bars.
Allow the soap to cure for four to six weeks in a cool, dry place before using.
Again, it's important to follow all safety precautions when working with lye and to accurately measure all ingredients. Different natural colorants may require different amounts or preparation methods, so it's a good idea to research and test them before incorporating them into your soap recipe.
The Sussex Handmade Soap Company has made a few instructional videos using materials from our online shop.
How to make natural soap using Himalayan rhubarb root:
Electric purple soap with Cochineal:
Have you been making soaps with natural colorants? I would love to see what you made with it!