Herbs as Natural Colorants, part 1

The picture I've posted today is of an herb that I infuse in oil to get a real nice natural color for soap. This is a shot of my herbs soaking in oil. Initially, the color of the oil becomes a dark red. But once it gets mixed in with other oils and the lye water, it turns a purple-blue color.

The herb I'm using here is alkanet root. According to folk lore, "it helps such as are bitten by venomous beasts, whether it be taken inwardly or applied to the wound" and "It helps bruises and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the smallpox and measles as any is; an ointment made of it is excellent for green wounds, pricks or thrusts."

That may well be true (or not) but today I'm using it as a natural colorant for my 'Siren' soap. Later, I'll post a picture of the final product.