Teach Soap

So I was working on a concept soap this weekend and ideally, I wanted it to be a sort of celadon green. The only green botanical I have in hand at the moment is comfrey leaves (note: leaf bits, not powder!), so I infused some OO with the leaves, ended up with a strongly green oil, and figured I'd be good to go for a first experiment.

Using the greened oil as 15% of total oils netted me... something that wasn't green at all! This soap also has gold mica swirled through it, which contributes to the yellow, but even before the swirl, the base soap was this sort of yellowy color:



I really need to get a picture of my green infused oil for comparison, but I'll say it's a slightly yellower green than lime jello and a bit more transparent.

Possible interference factors:
- there is a tablespoon of honey in this batch.
- there is goat milk powder added to the solid oils; I noticed that this did make the solids rather yellow. (I'm pondering using coconut milk instead to keep things whiter...)

So uh, with all that on the table, my question is, are there natural colorants I can use to get the green color I want with the above ingredients included? Do I just need to up the percentage of comfrey oil I was using? Would some other plant make for a brighter color?

I think clay might provide the color I want, but I don't know if I want the other clay benefits in this particular soap...

Or am I just best off using an oxide or mica here?

Thanks in advance!

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

If you don't want to use green clay, green oxide will work. For micas, make sure that the green is CP soap stable as some are not.

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

You can infuse your oil with nettle leaves.

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Shieh Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/ShiehDesignStudio
http://soapandrestless.blogspot.com

I like Olive leaf powder for most of my greens, if I'm not using clay. You can infuse it, or just add it in. Depends on the look you're after.

I've had nettle leaf powder turn brown on me. Parsley gives a nice pale green, and it stays green.

Thanks for the input so far!

I'd read that parsley leaf stays a nice green in soap, I suppose it only makes sense that the powdered form would, too. Would that be true of an infusion of parsley, too, I wonder?

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

Hi! The comfrey can/will get you a green, but in this instance, you over-rode it with the milk. Any milk will get you a brownish/caramel color, which is a strong color. So your infusiopn wasnt strong enough to give color. If/when the comfrey infusion isnt/wasnt strong enough, you increase the amount of comfrey in your infusion, not the amount of infused oils that you put in the batch. You can also increase the time you infuse. I dont know how long you infused your oil either, but it needs to be a long while (days/weeks) if cold, and at least 2 hours if hot )more if you want stronger). Either way, the way to increase the coloring is as I said.

For other natural greens, you can use nettle or you can use spirulina. Spirulina will give you a darker green. Actually I often mix nettle and spirulina for a different green. Nettle alone give a pretty limeish colored green. Both of these can be used straight into your pot or mixed into oils.

Have fun experimenting!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Thanks LavenderLady! I actually did a warmish infusion (left the crock pot off overnight) for about 48 hours, because 24 didn't give me a strongly green oil. It did take such a long time to develop a color, though -- I'm wondering if powder would have worked better/faster than the chopped dried leaves I was using (I gather they're for making tea). Either way though, good to know about the milk -- this is my first time using any sort of milk (clearly! ) and I didn't realize it was so strong a color.

I'll give the comfrey oil another try when I make some other green-themed soap, I'm curious how it will do without interference from other ingredients XD

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

The cut leaves are good for coloring, but you really need more heat. I will sometimes heat on low in the crock pot for a whole day, and then I leave it set over night or even for another day before I strain it. Like I said, increasing the amount of leaves or the length of time for the infusion is the best way to get stronger color. Usually people start off by using too little product in their infusion. I use/recommend an amount that is just barely covered by the oil.

I understand about the milk. I was surprised too, when I first used it! So it is live and learn. Have fun and good luck!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Ok, I've never tried nettle for coloring soap. I use it in teas and food all the time. Gonna try and dig through my cabinets laters today, It's time to make more hunter's soap, and hubby wants a "camo" bar

green clay gives a nice green color

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~Alyssa
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to all things; which is the mean of many extremes. -Ralph Waldo Emerson