Coloring Soap Naturally

Top row: paprika, mace & turmeric
Bottom row: rosemary, cinnamon, black cocoa & annatto

Rosemary - measuring out

I want to keep my soaps as natural as possible.  This includes using natural colorants.  At the same time I don't want all of my soaps to be exfoliating.  So here's the rub, how do you use ground plant matter for color without adding exfoliating properties.  You infuse the oil using the ground plants and either time or heat.

Adding oil to rosemary

So I am starting my second round of oils and spices or herbs in the crock-pot.  In the first round I used annatto, paprika, mace & turmeric.  This round I am seeing what I get from cinnamon, rosemary and black cocoa.  I am not sure what I will get from this round, but it never hurts to try something.  This is one of the really fun parts of soap making, the experimenting.  ;)

Cinnamon

The first round I heated in short bursts over 3 days.  I would turn the crock-pot to low for a half an hour at a time.  I don't have a keep warm setting unfortunately.  Since I don't want to ruin the oil by overheating it, it takes me a little longer to work the heat.

Don't forget to shake up to get all of the
spices mixed

 I love the fact that you can use everyday things to color your soaps.  And there are so many wonderful and generous soaping bloggers that are so very generous with all or their knowledge.  I am extremely grateful to all of you fine folks!  I don't know if I am going to like the results of the black cocoa, but I think that the mace is going to work really well for bakery style soaps.

Rosemary & cinnamon shaken up

In the crockpot

 I love the challenge and experimentation of making soap.  It is a ton of fun.   I look forward to seeing what the soap will turn out like using these oils.  I will post pictures as I cut the soaps.  Til later folks!

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