Monday, September 10, 2012

Handmade Soap Makers: It's time to play...."Name that Colorant"

Handmade soap is endlessly interesting, isn't it?   Just when you start to think you know something of what you're doing a batch throws you a curve!

This batch of handmade soap came out a TOTALLY different color than I expected.  I have worked with this colorant on many occasions....but not with this particular technique: Infusion.

It left this "bubblehead" scratching her head for sure....I'm guessing it may morph into the color I had expected, but I'll have to wait and see about that.

In the meantime:

Anyone want to take a stab at what I used to get this color?

Oh, and I just happen to need to do this "flop" color for some 250 wedding favor soaps later this month....hmmmm.  Romans 8:28 comes to mind.  Don't you just love that? ;) 

Soap on!




9 comments:

Amy@10th Ave. said...

I have NEVER achieved that shade from natural colorants and I don't think I've ever seen it before, either. It's stunning! I've had alkanet turn a pretty shade of gray instead of purple, but I wouldn't guess it would ever go blue....Hmmm....don't you just love a good (ahem) "coincidence"? I suspect Romans 8:28, too! :)

Erica P. said...

Is this color before it morphed or after? Before...I would guess woad, after...I would guess alkanet. What color were you going for?

Tierra Verde Handmade Soap said...

idk my friend. Hmmmm,I'll be interested to know the culprit.;-))

Lisa said...

Ah huh - I think Alkanet root powder/infusion. I have had this happen to me with a purple/grey tint to it.

Nitya said...

Oh my, did alkanet do this? Love the color! I hope you can recreate the color to make 250 soaps.

Ambra said...

Alkanet - it always tuns that lovely blue and then morphes into lavender as the alkalinity goes down. t's a great process to watch :)

The Soap Sister said...

Ah, my soaping buddies never disappoint me! Yep, it was an alkanet infusion. :)

As long as I've used it (adding powder directly at trace) I have only seen navy blue morph into deep purple....never this teal-sky blue.

The good news it that it has morphed into purple after all, which is what I wanted, perfect for my new Lilac soap!

Thanks for playing everyone, you clever soapers, you! ;)

Anne-Marie said...

Lovely color! I'd say it was an Alkanet infusion of some type. :)

Cyndy said...

I've even had my alkanet infusion give me dark green. It's one of my favorite colorants to work with. Such an adventure :)!