WHAT ARE SELECT SHADES?
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Select Shades are a blending of FD&C and D&C Dyes.
They are highly concentrated liquid color additives which can be used in all Bath & Body and Soap products That ARE NOT waxed based.
These are water/oil soluble dyes.

Select Shades are based around only 8 Basic Colors. With these colors you can create over 800 beautiful perfect shades, color match different products by using the color chart, and not worry about a lot of extra liquid being added to your product.

The base colors can be used on their own, however these colors are Meant to be blended. You can achieve fantastic Purples, Reds, and Blues for example only by blending.

HOW MUCH TO USE GUIDELINES
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All colors are blended per Lb of Product. This INCULDES LIQUIDS for CP and HP soaps, Not JUST oils!
The general rule for CP and HP soaps is the Suggested Maximum Usage Rate of 1 Teaspoon per Lb of product.
We highly suggest not going over 1/2 tsp. per Lb of product for Bath and Body products such as Bath Gels, M&P, Lotions etc. as the colors may be too dark. However, it can be safely used up to the same Maximums per Lb as for CP and HP soaps.

All colors are broken down into 1 tsp. to 1/8 tsp. in the Online Color Chart. There usually should be no need to go higher than 1 tsp. per Lb for any product.

One thing our testers discovered is that Purple Velvet is NOT a deep purple color (Please look at the color chart). But in using Purple Velvet in blends, they created wonderful bright vibrant purples like Grape Twist and Shanghai Purple.
Remember - The name of the color is not always based on the outcome in CP soap.

HOW TO BLEND COLORS
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Some people get confused when it comes to blending and just what exactly a "Part" is.
Many times they have not read this information!
Once they have, they no longer have any questions about blending.
READ! That is why this information is here!

The thing to remember is this is VERY SIMPLE!
A PART can be anything you want it to be. 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 TB, Drops - as long as the PARTS you use are the same you can use anything as a part.

Here is an example:
You want to make CP soap using Alpine Violet at 1/2 tsp. per Lb.
You have a 3 Lb batch.
You would need 1 1/2 tsp. for the entire batch of CP to get Alpine Violet.
3 LBS X 1/2 tsp = 1 1/2 tsp.

The Color Chart calls for: 2 parts False Blue - 1 part Purple Velvet - 1 part Aquamarine

Lets Use 1/2 tsp. as our "Part"

• 1 tsp. False Blue (2 parts needed therefore 1/2 tsp. X 2 = 1 tsp.)
• 1/2 tsp. Purple Velvet (1 Part)
• 1/2 tsp. Aquamarine (1 Part)

This will give you 2 tsp. of Alpine Violet.

Sometimes the Blending Chart will ask for 1/2 Part. If we are using 1/2 tsp as our Part, what would 1/2 of that be?

RIGHT - 1/4 tsp.
SEE? IT IS VERY SIMPLE!

As you can see you can use ANYTHING as your PART! To make less use 1/4 or even 1/8 tsp. as your part.
The possibilities are endless.

Don't confuse Blending Parts with Usage Rates! They are two completely different things!

If you have questions on how to use the Color Chart. Go to HOW TO USE THE COLOR CHART

WHAT CAN CAUSE COLOR PROBLEMS
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There are many things that can be added to soap.. This can be Fortunate for the soap, since it makes it better, however, for color it can cause problems.

The main things that affect how a color works are:

• Olive Oil - Very heavy "Green" color of some Olive oils can affect the outcome of the actual color. Even if the amount is below the 25% mark. Pomace Olive Oil is the main contender in this category.
• High Yellow colored Fragrance or Essential Oils - Even though it may not be a very heavy yellow oil, the yellow can affect the color you achieve. Many times this can be overcome, TRUST THE COLOR CHART! MOST times the color will NOT look like it should but it will come back to the "REAL" color. Sometimes there is nothing you can do for some oils.
• Discoloring Fragrance Oils - Nothing can overcome a fragrance oil that discolors to a dark brown such as Vanilla's.
• Herbs & Botanicals - Some herbs and botanicals CAN leech out into the soap. Green herbs can cause some greening of the color.
• Not Testing - OK so this isn't an Ingredient per se, but TESTING is part of the art of making soap. LEARN how to use the colors by testing in small batches. Don't make a 24 Lb Batch of soap your first time using Select Shades, Test, Test, Test!