Alkanet Root Powder Soap 15


Today we will start with Alkanet Root Powder. Alkanet Powder is dark purple in color. It reminded me a little of blueberry fiber. It also smelled earthy and slightly fruity. I don’t expect the earthy woody odor to come through the soap but I could be wrong. Let’s go find out what happens! 

 

Notes: I must admit, I was surprised at how bold the color was with only 1 teaspoon of alkanet powder. I noticed there was not any staining of the skin during use. I was really worried that this soap would at least stain a wash cloth. Good news! It doesn’t! The lather is white although the water does have a mild blue tint from the soap.

I didn’t notice any strange odors coming through. It smelled like a plain bar of unscented soap. I am in love with the color though. I do want to use it at a lower usage rate and see how much that changes the color of the soap and if it still colors the soap with a nice blue without being quite so intense. I plan on doing that at a later date down the road. How does that sound? Would you make it with a lower percentage of alkanet or would you keep it the same?

I am really excited to make this soap with fragrance oils now. I am thinking bold fruity scents like Juicy Grape, Red Grape and Blueberry and Huckleberry. What fragrances oils do you want to pair with this beautiful and bold coloring botanical?

Ingredients
Palm Kernel Oil
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Shea Butter, Regular
Lye
Water
Alkanet Root Powder
Equipment
Scale
Microwave Safe Container
Spoons
Pipettes
Immersion Blender
Soap Bucket
Gloves
Soaping Goggles

Recipe:

Recipe in Grams
170.1 Palm Kernel Oil
141.75 grams Coconut Oil
113.4 grams Olive Oil
28.35 grams Shea Butter, Regular
69.46 grams Lye
177 mL Water
1 tsp Alkanet Root Powder
Recipe in Ounces
6 oz Palm Kernel Oil
5 oz Coconut Oil
4 oz Olive Oil
1 oz Shea Butter, Regular
2.45 oz Lye
6 fl oz Water
1 tsp Alkanet Root Powder
Recipe in Percentages
38% Palm Kernel Oil
31% Coconut Oil
25% Olive Oil
6% Shea Butter, Regular
Q.S. Lye
Q.S. Water
Q.S. Alkanet Root Powder

Weigh all of the oils into a microwave safe container. Heat gently until liquid. Add the Sodium Hydroxide to the water to form a lye solution. Allow the oils and the lye to cool to a lower temperature. We do not want to have the soap overheat and volcano. Mix the oils and lye solution and blend until trace is achieved. Add the botanical at this point. Stir well. Pour into a mold and allow to sit for 24 hours. Cut the soap. Allow the soap to cure. Longer curing time will result in a harder bar. Enjoy!

 

Taylor

Finished Soap

Finished Soap

Alkanet Powder

Alkanet Powder

Melted Oils

Melted Oils

Mixed Soap

Mixed Soap

Adding Alkanet Powder to Soap

Adding Alkanet Powder to Soap

Stirring Powder into Soap

Stirring Powder into Soap

Soap in Mold

Soap in Mold

VN:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Alkanet Root Powder Soap, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

About Taylor

I'm a twenty something happy, animal loving, curious experimenter. I love reaching back into history and trying old recipes for cosmetics or foods. I'm constantly asking "Why?" My curiosity has me trying new things. I love taking walks with my dog as well as staying at home to cuddle with the dog and my cats. Some of my favorite scents include Hinoki Wood, Rose Garden, Jasmine and Gladiator.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 thoughts on “Alkanet Root Powder Soap

  • Windy

    I use alkanet root powder mixed with madder root powder to get a nice lavender color for my lavender scented soap. I mix both powders with a couple of ounces of olive oil and let it sit for a few days so the olive oil can absorb the color from the powders. I pour off the oil leaving the “sludge” of the two powders behind. I use this oil as part of my soap recipe. The color is blueish at first but becomes a nice lavender as the soap cures.

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    • Tina

      Carrie, good question! I don’t believe at the usage rate of 1 tsp per lb that any texture would be noticeable. I will ask Taylor to pop in here and let us know though.

      Tina

      VN:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
      Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
  • Clary

    You mention that Alkanet Root Powder is deep purple in color. What color is the soap? On my monitor it is the color of steel wool.

    For the rest of this Botanicals series, would you mind telling us your interpretation of the color so we can judge both by our computer monitor’s color and by your description?

    Thanks, that would be a help.

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    • Tina

      I believe the color is a blue/grey that has lavender tones to it. When using a color like this it will appear more grey when not enough color is added. It will appear more brilliant if more color is added. I hope that helps.

      VN:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
      Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
  • Valerie

    Wow! I am happy to hear you can put the Alkanet root powder right into the soap at trace! I infused 1 ounce of Alkanet root into 16 ounces of Sunflower oil and just use a bit of that oil in a recipe. Thanks for the post! I am going to have to try it this way!

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
  • KinkyWitch

    I LOVE alkanet root powder! I use it in my Twilight soap (Jacob fragrance) and swirl it with activated charcoal colored soap. It’s one of my most popular soaps, too.

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
  • Nichol

    OOh, I’ve only used alkanet by infusing the oils. I’m glad to see it turns out so lovely by just adding the powder.

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
  • Lara

    I have used alkanet root before to make a pink to lavender soap. I cant remember what I did though! I think I infused a portion of the oil with root pieces and not the powder.. that I’m pretty sure of. I know infusing the lye water doesn’t work, that batch was just ugly.. So this time I infused oil with the root powder added that at trace. Then I decided, after reading this, to add more of just the powder. We will see… hopefully we will get a lavender when it cures.

    VA:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)