Natural green colorants experiment
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Turns out I didn't have to wait long to see the difference in fading..
One week in, these are the soaps kept in the basement and in the window sill side by side.
The soaps exposed to light (right) faded considerably more than the ones stored in the dark. They were both exposed to air.
Top to bottom:
Spirulina
Wheatgrass
Moringa
Matcha
For those interested, the soaps that were exposed to air and light faded just as fast as the ones that were only exposed to light, not air as demonstrated in this picture. I'll leave them for a bit to see if a difference occurrs after a longer period of time, but I think light is the main culprit in fading.. especially of spirulina!
One week in, these are the soaps kept in the basement and in the window sill side by side.
The soaps exposed to light (right) faded considerably more than the ones stored in the dark. They were both exposed to air.
Top to bottom:
Spirulina
Wheatgrass
Moringa
Matcha
For those interested, the soaps that were exposed to air and light faded just as fast as the ones that were only exposed to light, not air as demonstrated in this picture. I'll leave them for a bit to see if a difference occurrs after a longer period of time, but I think light is the main culprit in fading.. especially of spirulina!
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That’s a really striking difference in the color of the Spirulina. The others seem to have taken on more gold tones. Is that how it looks to you?
That's exactly what it looks like to me! [emoji6]
We can use that knowledge
. Thanks for sharing your update.
penelopejane
Well-Known Member
What is HOSF?
What did you use (and how much) to colour the soap 4th from the left?
Have the colours still held?
Probably either High Oleic Sun or Safflower Oil. I think it's got to be one or the other. Someone else here also used that same abbreviation, but it is confusing because only that one person knows what they mean.
Edit, no I think it was Kurt in another post somewhere, still it is not a commonly used abbreviation, so confusing to others.
Just wanted to cone back and update on the curing in light vs dark environment. Most greens that were sitting in the window sill have faded almost completely after 6 weeks.
The upper row has been sitting in the window sill, the lower row in the basement.
Left to right: spirulina, wheatgrass, moringa and matcha.
The greens that have been in the basement are also starting to fade a bit, but it's nothing compared to the ones subjected to lots of light.
There's still no difference between the soaps that were packaged in plastic (no airflow) vs the ones that were unpackaged. So it seems like light is really the main culprit in fading of natural greens.
The upper row has been sitting in the window sill, the lower row in the basement.
Left to right: spirulina, wheatgrass, moringa and matcha.
The greens that have been in the basement are also starting to fade a bit, but it's nothing compared to the ones subjected to lots of light.
There's still no difference between the soaps that were packaged in plastic (no airflow) vs the ones that were unpackaged. So it seems like light is really the main culprit in fading of natural greens.
I think any pigment would fade because of sunlight. I can see it happens on cloths, any printed media, and now on soaps.
This leads me to look for some answer on the net, and here's what I've got: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/29445/why-does-sunlight-cause-colors-to-fade
This leads me to look for some answer on the net, and here's what I've got: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/29445/why-does-sunlight-cause-colors-to-fade
Thanks @Cocolive that's a great link!
Indeed most colorants fade. I'm not sure about micas because I've never used them, but natural colors are notorious for fading fast, especially greens. There was significant fading after 1 week and color is almost gone at 6 weeks, which means if you cure naturally green colored soaps in a light environment, color will be gone completely after cure. So even if most colorants react to light, this seems to be extreme with natural greens.
Someone (was it @earlene ?) also suggested oxigen/airflow might have an influence on fading of green colors, which I thought was an interesting experiment to make. Oxigen however seems less influential than light exposure.
Indeed most colorants fade. I'm not sure about micas because I've never used them, but natural colors are notorious for fading fast, especially greens. There was significant fading after 1 week and color is almost gone at 6 weeks, which means if you cure naturally green colored soaps in a light environment, color will be gone completely after cure. So even if most colorants react to light, this seems to be extreme with natural greens.
Someone (was it @earlene ?) also suggested oxigen/airflow might have an influence on fading of green colors, which I thought was an interesting experiment to make. Oxigen however seems less influential than light exposure.
I am wondering if Oxides are natural colorants? I have a Red Brick Oxide that does not appear to fade at all. I made soap with it about 3 years ago, I think and it's as dark now as it ever was. I do have to admit that I don't store this soap in sunlight, though and that I did use more of the colorant than I should because it really does bleed a lot of pink into the lather when used.
Oxides are not my colorant of choice, so I only have 3 that I bought when I attended a soap gathering and another soaper was de-stashing supplies. They are from reputable soap suppliers, but without looking, I can't say which supplier for sure.
As for micas fading, some do and some don't. I have a soap at sink-side, which gets sunlight through my kitchen window that is still as bright as the day I made them in Feb 2017. I used some Micas & More really bright colors in that soap, in fact, they are almost psychedelic even still. The only reason I put that bar of soap there is because the colors match the soap dish and the decor in my kitchen! It's been in this location for several months with no visible fading.
Oxides are not my colorant of choice, so I only have 3 that I bought when I attended a soap gathering and another soaper was de-stashing supplies. They are from reputable soap suppliers, but without looking, I can't say which supplier for sure.
As for micas fading, some do and some don't. I have a soap at sink-side, which gets sunlight through my kitchen window that is still as bright as the day I made them in Feb 2017. I used some Micas & More really bright colors in that soap, in fact, they are almost psychedelic even still. The only reason I put that bar of soap there is because the colors match the soap dish and the decor in my kitchen! It's been in this location for several months with no visible fading.
Oxidized metals are the "rust" of a metal--oxidized iron is rust, for example. The oxides here are lab created for purity as naturally found oxides often contain other minerals like arsenic or lead. I have read that there is a mine in France where the oxides come directly from the ground but it is a very pure source. Oxides can be a bit harder to use, as a little goes a looong way and they will come off on a washcloth if you use a lot. But they dont fade. There is also less color choice. Red seems to be the brick color, no lovely deep pinks and plums.
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Just realized I should really update this thread! About a month ago I made a final attempt at matcha soap with a cold infusion and it worked! The soap is still green just when I was about to give up on matcha..
A few days ago I added my homemade frozen pandan at trace and that also worked, need to see how it holds up but it looks promising!!
(I'll try to come back later with pics)
just when I was about to give up on matcha..A few days ago I added my homemade frozen pandan at trace and that also worked, need to see how it holds up but it looks promising!!
(I'll try to come back later with pics
)trying to get the smileys to work, sorry...
I have good luck with spirulina for soap. Turns it a lovely green color that stays true
Thanks @SoapySuds ! Spirulina is still one of my faves as well it does fade for me after a while unfortunately.
it does fade for me after a while unfortunately.
Lin19687
Well-Known Member
can you post pics of the soaps Now to see how the color has changed since it has been about 4 months?
Maybe in the order they are in post #1
Maybe in the order they are in post #1
I love spirulina too...my spirulina faded in a couple of months, alas. In melt and pour it is beautiful, in the clear mp....and lasted 8 months before fading to a nice yellow. I am trying chlorella now.
