Natural Colourants

The ingredients below can be infused in vegetable oil 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, place the heat-proof jug, or a small stainless steel pan, inside a larger pan of water and heat on the cooker for three minutes.
Leave to cool and infuse.
Strain the 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 - 100g

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.

INCI name: Alkanna tinctoria
MSDS

Beetroot Powder - 100g

Infuse in vegetable oil for a redish-brown natural colourant.

INCI name: Beta vulgaris
MSDS

Cayenne Powder - 100g

INCI name: Capsicum frutescens
MSDS

Cinnamon Powder - 100g

MSDS

Paprika Powder - 100g

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.

INCI name: Capsicum annuum
MSDS

Spirulina Powder - 50g

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

INCI name: Spirulina maxima
MSDS

Turmeric Powder - 100g

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

INCI name: Curcuma longa
MSDS