Natural soap colours

Kasthuri Turmeric (Cucurma aromatica) : Yellow. Not cooking turmeric (cucurma longa).

Red Sanders powder: Maroon

Sandalwood powder: Beige

Carrot/Tomato paste: Orange-Yellow

Spinach/Coriander paste: Light green

Beet paste: Maroon

Spirullina/Algae/Seaweed : Green

Orange EO: light shade of orange

Cocoa powder/Chocolate: Brown

Vetiver powder: Beige

Fenugreek seed powder: Light brown (speckled)

Alfalfa: (use dried, ground alfalfa) gives medium green color (find it here)

Alkanet root: (infuse in oil) produces purple to blue color (find it here)

Annatto: (infuse in oil) produces yellow to orange color (find it here)

Beet root powder: results in squash yellow color; contains antioxidants (find it here)

Black walnut hull: (use dried, ground) adds purple to black specks; good for exfoliating (find it here)

Calendula: (dried, whole flowers) produces yellow streaks; has healing properties (find it here)

Calendula: (powdered) adds yellow color; healing benefits (find it here)

Carrots: (use ground, raw) produces yellowish orange color; contains beta carotene

Chamomile: (use dried, powdered) produces beige to yellow color (find it here)

Chamomile essential oil, German: (also known as Blue Chamomile) results in light green color (find it here)

Chlorophyll: (use powdered) green color; has deodorizing properties (find it here)

Cinnamon: brown color; can be irritating to some skin types

Cloves: (use ground) brown color; can be irritating to some skin types

Cocoa powder: brown color

Chocolate: (use a melted chocolate bar) brown color

Coffee: (use finely ground) brown to black color; exfoliating, has antioxidants, and removes odors

Coffee: (instant) brown to black; antioxidant and odor eliminating

Cornmeal: yellow color; exfoliating

Blue cornmeal: purplish blue to brown color; exfoliating (find it here)

Elder berries: (use in lye) light brown color; high in antioxidants even though original color has changed (find it here)

Green tea powder: brownish green color; antioxidants

Henna: olive green to greenish brown color (find it here)

Indigo powder: deep blue color; Caution: Stains easily!

Kelp: green color; minerals and iodine in minute amounts (find it here)

Madder root: red to purple color (find it here)

Milk: shades of beige to brown, maybe orange

Moroccan Red Clay: brick red color; draws out impurities in the skin (find it here)

Orange Juice: (use in place of water in lye/water solution) beige to light orange colors; lowers pH of soap

Paprika: gives an orange color

Poppy seeds: black specks; exfoliating

Pumice: gives gray color; good for exfoliating (find it here)

Rose pink clay: produces brownish pink color; draws out impurities in skin (find it here)

Rose hips: (use ground) produces burgundy to brown color; high in Vitamin C (find it here)

Safflower petals: produces yellow to orange color (find it here)

Saffron: results in yellow color

Sage: (use dried, ground) produces green to brown colors

Sandalwood powder: (depends on the type used) red will be brownish red; yellow will be yellow to beige

Spearmint: (use dried, ground) green to brown color

Spinach: (use dried, ground) produces light green color

Spirulina: produces green to bluish green color (find it here)

Tree lichen: (depends on type used) from pink to green to brown

Tumeric: results in yellow color

Wheat grass juice: (use dried) gives green color (find it here)

Woad powder: produces blue shades; Caution – can stain! 

Common Soap Making Oil Substitutes

Apricot Kernel Oil: Sweet Almond Oil, Hazelnut Oil
Avocado Oil: Chia Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil
Avocado Butter: Shea Butter, Mango Butter
Canola Oil: Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil
Castor Oil: No substitute
Cocoa Butter: Beeswax, Shea Butter, Palm Kernel Flakes
Coconut Oil: Palm Kernel Flakes, Tallow
Coffee Butter: Avocado Butter, Shea Butter
Chia Seed Oil: Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil
Grapeseed Oil: Olive Oil, Hazelnut Oil
Hazelnut Oil: Grapeseed Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp Seed Oil: Avocado Oil, Hazelnut Oil
Jojoba Oil: Meadowfoam Oil
Mango Butter: Avocado Butter, Shea Butter
Meadowfoam Oil: Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil: Rice Bran Oil, Canola Oil, Grapeseed Oil
Palm Oil: Tallow, Palm Kernel Flakes
Palm Kernel Flakes: Palm Oil, Coconut Oil
Peanut Oil: Olive Oil, Canola Oil
Rice Bran Oil: Olive Oil, Canola Oil
Safflower Oil: Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil
Shea Butter: Avocado Butter, Mango Butter
Sunflower Oil: Olive Oil, Safflower Oil
Sweet Almond Oil: Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Chia Seed Oil
Tamanu Oil: Neem Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil

Remember, if you do sub out any oils in your soapmaking, always run it through a lye calculator!

Soap-Making-Oils