Mulling Pigments 2


Pouring some glycerin into the mortar.

Pouring some glycerin into the mortar.

Adding the pigment.

Adding the pigment.

Back in May, nordagirl asked a question on the Starting With Color post. “Is there any reason you couldn’t use this same process with the dropper bottles to mix oxides or ultramarines with glycerine? If it makes any difference, I’m making CP soap only at this point.”

Using the pestle to start mixing.

Using the pestle to start mixing.

Unfortunately, glycerin is so thick and these pigments won’t fit through the hole of the dropper bottle. You can mull your pigments and create a thick paste to color your Cold Process Soap instead.

Now before you look at me like I’m crazy and wonder what mulling is, I’ll explain it. Mulling is when you mix a pigment to pulverize the clumps of pigment in preparing a paste for painting or coloring soap.

Collect needed supplies:
Glass mortar or a flat pane of glass
Pestle or a flat bottom drinking glass
Glycerin
Pigment Color of your choice (I used Lavender Fields Color)
Rubber Scraper

There still are lots of pigment clumps.

There still are lots of pigment clumps.

Scraping the mortar.

Scraping the mortar.

There are two methods to use with mulling a pigment. I have taken photos of the first method.

#1 Pour a small amount of glycerin into the mortar. Use the pestle to coat the sides of the mortar with glycerin. Once the sides of the mortar have been coated, add 1 teaspoon of dry color into the mortar. Start mixing the color into the glycerin until you have created a tacky color paste.

Scraping the pestle.

Scraping the pestle.

#2 Scoop 1 teaspoon of dry color into the mortar. Use the pestle to make a small well in the mound of pigment. Pour a few drops of glycerin into the well. Start mixing the glycerin into the pigment and continue mixing until you either need more glycerin or you have created a tacky color paste.

Continuing to mix the pigment and glycerin.

Continuing to mix the pigment and glycerin.

Both methods will help prevent surprise clumps of color in your products, as well as allow you to store the paste in a small jar until you are ready to use the color. Yippee!

Final product.

Final product.

Isn’t that so easy?

Submit your photos and text for the guest written Embedded Melt & Pour Soap Challenge! Submissions will be accepted through October 18th at blog@thesage.com. The submissions will be released October 19th through October 23rd. Each guest writer will receive a $25 gift certificate.

Don’t forget to submit your blog or video posts to win the MMS Perfumer’s Kit. Remember, this kit is worth $280! Wow!

Andee

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About Andee

Director of Happiness. I'm a thirty-something soap snob. I've grown up with handmade soaps, and I love them! I really like making lotions, soaps, and perfumes. I adore mixing scents to come up with something new. My favorite scent is either Wicked or Cotton Candy. I tend to hoard fragrances, I even have an Earl Grey Tea from the MMS catalog. I won't tell you how old it is, but it sure is good!

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