Teach Soap

I was wondering what I can use to color my soaps naturally. I have used cinnamon, oatmeal, alkanet root powder and turmeric root. Can any one suggest any other possibilities? Trying to keep the soaps as natural as possible.

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Melissa

I've used paprika, a combo of paprika & turmeric to make a pretty peach, ground cloves (1/2-1tsp) for 2# batch, ground coffee, powdered ginger (yellowish but not as bright as turmeric). If you use the ground spices be careful not to use too much because they can cause skin irritation.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I actually used paprika in a batch I made the other day and the soap came out smelling a lot like raw dough (stinky). Used with a freesia EO from BB. This happened to me one other time when I tried to use nutmeg but the smell was even worse. The only way I can think to describe the smell is like raw dough. I don't think it was a problem with the batch because I split it in 1/2 and the rosemary lavendar scent came out fine which I used no colorant in! Has anyone else had this problem? The batch I made using nutmeg was made about 5 weeks ago and still smells just as bad!

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Melissa

Weird. I added my coloring & FO right after I added the lye water and then brought everything to trace. The only thing I smelled was the FO I used. Even after CPOP that's all I could smell.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Dissolve honey in your water before adding the lye. pomegranate juice, watermelon drippings, curry powder, tomato juice, wine and brewed green tea (the good stuff not the supermarket brand) are some of the natural colorants I use. Don't believe in adding anything that isn't natural to my soap.

I've used paprika and haven't noticed a problem with unwanted odor. I make it into an infusion... I don't know if that would make a difference. I also use rose hip powder (but too much CAN be scratchy), beer, cocoa powder, activated charcoal, french green clay...

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spotted-H ... l&filter=2
http://spottedhipposoap.blogspot.com/

This site has a lot of herbs for natural colors in soap. http://www.emporiumnaturals.com/index.p ... 6d3jfqvlh0

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thank you all for the ideas!! Next time I will use the paprika as an infusion hopefully that will help. I have only been making soap for a couple months so all information is helpful!

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Melissa

I have made some wonderful soap with pumpkin or carrots

I've used turmeric powder and paprika and have noticed that both are kind of scratchy. Has anybody else experienced this? Also, I've used lemon zest to get yellow, chlorophyll to get green, and cocoa powder for brown (dark brown).

I infuse my paprika in oil and strain it out. I find it too scratchy otherwise.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Soapbudy, how much paprika do you use per lb. of CP soap?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.