These 6 EDIBLE natural colorants + INDIGO are samples I have wanted to make for a long time.
I love having my first set of colorant samples so when I made my Easter egg soaps I had to make more samples.
Starting at the top moving clockwise TURMERIC, INDIGO, CHARCOAL, SPIRULINA, non-colored, CURRY, COCOA POWDER, PAPRIKA.
With the EXCEPTION of INDIGO, these colorants can all be eaten.
FRESHLY mixed these colors looked pretty good...BUT by the next day MOST faded out to a version of off white.
Center top, clockwise: turmeric, indigo, charcoal, spirulina, non-colored, curry, cocoa powder, paprika.
The TURMERIC and SPIRULINA were very close in color to Nuclear Orange Pigment and Green Apple Moss from my first samples before they cured. It was so sad to see their color fade out.
This experiment like my last EXPERIMENT wasn’t up to scientific standards but I have a couple more pictures of the process.
The colorants were measured using the end of a spoon.
1/4 tsp. warm water mixed in 2 oz Dixie cup.
( After mixing in the soap, the samples were left sitting out on the counter and DIDN'T go through any kind of gelling process.)
⇒Right OFF I have to say I am going to try this AGAIN!⇐
I have used cocoa powder, indigo, turmeric, spirulina and charcoal in soap before with varying results. Cocoa powder, indigo, and charcoal have all held their color fairly well over time in my soap. Turmeric, and spirulina have lasted several months but gradually faded out. I have not tried CURRY or PAPRIKA before.
It could FEEL like these sample were a waste of soap and time...
BUT I that's NOT the way I THINK!
I BELIEVE you can ALWAYS LEARN... even from
perceived FAILURES.
THINGS I LEARNED:
⇒INDIGO has a gray blue look. (I have read that this changes slightly depending on where it is added in the process. Some people like adding it to their lye water) A little INDIGO goes a long way! Start out with a VERY small amount and gradually add more.
⇒INDIGO & CHARCOAL don't change much from their freshly made color. (SODA ASH may affect the top but adding more colorant isn't going to change soda ash.)
⇒CHARCOAL is great for grays. When using CHARCOAL and wanting near black, keep adding until you have the color you want. (I would not use more than 1 Tablespoon per pound of oils. It can turn your lather dark.)
⇒When using COCOA powder to make brown, add a bit more powder after you get the brown you want. I have had better luck with this colorant holding than my sample shows.
⇒SPIRULINA, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA & CURRY all need a lot of colorant. When you ACHIEVE the color you want you still need to ADD more colorant! (EXPERIMENT! I think I would STILL keep it to 1 tablespoon colorant per pound of oil ratio.) These samples all have SPECKLES; even in their faded colors I can see faint speckles. Steeping your colorants in oil to transfer the color to the oil is a way to get a more uniform color without specks.
So many things in the process of soap making can have an effect on soap, especially over time. My samples are a great example of this...
24 hrs later most of the colors look drastically different.
