Sourcing neutral colorants?

[arlinaallen]

Hi Friends!

I'd like to try and make wood grain soaps but I'm not sure where to get the brown colorants. I have a bunch of color micas but no brown. Any recommendations are much appreciated!

 

[dibbles]

I get most of my micas from Nurture Soap. Mocha Brown is a rich, dark brown. You can change the shade by adding less colorant or white to part of the batch to lighten, and adding a little red, orange, etc. to the lighter shade will also change the color for variation. Cocoa powder also works well for a brown color. A small amount of black or dark gray is also a nice addition in woodgrain.

 

[AliOop]

Welcome from another Idahoan! I like Nurture's Mocha Brown, as well. I have often used cocoa powder and carob powder for brown, too, but do find that they thicken my batter pretty quickly.

 

[Tanya & Joy]

Hi Friends!

I'd like to try and make wood grain soaps but I'm not sure where to get the brown colorants. I have a bunch of color micas but no brown. Any recommendations are much appreciated!

Did you try using turmeric? I have tries a few time and the bars turned out dark brown.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I also use NS Mocha Brown, but also like cocoa powder for wood grain soaps. When I disperse it in oil, I don’t have issues with it thickening my batter. Here’s a recent, useful thread on using cocoa powder in soap: SMF June 2022 Un-Challenge - Cocoa Powder

 

[penelopejane]

Coffee added to the water fraction makes brown soap. And you can add it to an FO that discolours caramel/brown for a deeper colour.