Colorants

Not all colorants perform the same way in every application. Our colorants are rated for the uses they suit: CP soap, MP soap, bath bombs, body use, eyes, lips, and resin. Use the Colors by Use filter on any colorant collection to narrow to your project, and check the approved-use row on the product page before you formulate. Candle dyes are for wax and have their own collection.

Storage: keep containers tightly sealed and away from direct sunlight and moisture. Clumping mica or dye is usually a sign of moisture exposure, not spoilage.

Mixing: for the most even color, pre-disperse powdered colorants in a small amount of oil or glycerin before adding to your batch to avoid streaking.

Testing first: always test a new colorant in a small batch, since pH, temperature, and other ingredients can all affect how a color performs and shifts over time, especially in cold process soap.

Micas are naturally shimmering mineral powders that add color with a pearlescent or metallic finish. Dyes and lakes are concentrated synthetic colorants that produce vivid, saturated color without shimmer. Pigments are finely ground mineral or synthetic powders that give flat, opaque color without shimmer or dye intensity.

A mica's base can be either naturally mined or lab-created, but the vibrant color you actually see is usually added separately, coated onto that base with pigments that aren't natural themselves. In other words, mica being a natural mineral doesn't necessarily mean the finished color is natural too. Read more about natural vs. lab-created mica here.

Not all of them. Some dyes and pigments can fade, discolor, or behave unpredictably in the high pH of cold process soap. Filter by CP Soap Use, read the product's use notes before you buy, and test a small batch first.

Wondering about food coloring specifically? Our Lye Safety FAQ covers why it's not a great substitute for real soap colorants.

Natural colors are derived from clays, plants, minerals, or other naturally occurring sources and tend to produce softer, earthier tones. Lab-made colorants (synthetic dyes, lakes, and some pigments) are engineered for brighter, more consistent, and often more vivid color across batches.

It depends on the product and the intensity you want, and it also varies by base. For MP soap, a good starting point is about ¼ to ½ teaspoon per pound of base, added gradually. For cold process soap, usage is typically higher, around 1 to 2 teaspoons per pound of oils. Always check the specific product's recommended usage rate, since concentration varies significantly between micas, dyes, and pigments.