The Color Purple
by Mary Thomas
(Southern Texas)
I use the Room Tempature and/or CP method with essential oils to scent and oxides for coloring to make my soaps with much satisfaction. I do have a problem with the iron oxide Violet I use for purple. The other colors: red, blue, green, yellow all remain pretty true but the violet turns an unappetizing dirty shade of mauve. I'm looking for more of a lavender shade, what can you suggest. Thanks.
Answer:I think the ultramarine violet isn't very stable in cold process soap making.
I mix together ultramarine blue with crimson mica and white mica for my purples. You could try ultramarine blue, ultramarine pink and titanium dioxide if you do not have micas. The amounts will vary depending on the shade you are going for. This is were experimentation and lots of notes will come in handy if you want to reproduce a successful colour again.
Cathy