Liquid Soap Dyes | Color Guide Resource
If you’ve ever second-guessed how much dye to use in a liquid soap base or ended up with a color way bolder than you intended - this guide is for you.
We’ve done hands-on testing with our MWFC Liquid Soap Dyes in both clear foaming hand soap and white lotion bases to help you confidently color your creations. There are no strict rules here - just a resource to give you starting points and helpful tips so you can create your ideal shade.
Whether you're after soft, dreamy pastels or vibrant, saturated hues, here’s how to dial it in.
Our Testing Setup
To give you a realistic baseline, we tested each dye in 16 oz batches using:
✨ Clear Base - Foaming Hand Soap
✨ Opaque Base - Lotion
Your results may vary depending on your specific base, opacity, fragrance and additives - always make sure to test with your own formula!
Drop by Drop Color Guide
These results were testing in 16 oz batches using our recommended usage rates (listed here under Maker Resources). Every base will shift results slightly, so think of this chart as a helpful starting point. Always test in your own products to make sure you're getting the shade you want.
| Color Style | Base Type | Drops per 16 oz | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastel | Opaque | 1 drop | Soft, even tint across all dyes |
| Medium | Opaque | 5 drops (7–9 for orange/red) | Red leans pink at lower usage; Black leans gray |
| Pastel | Clear | ~0.5 drop | Orange needs closer to 1 drop |
| Medium | Clear | 3 drops (5 for red) | Red still leans pink - add more to deepen; Black leans charcoal |
Visual Color Reference
Here's how each dye looked in our in-house testing. All samples were made using a clear base and an opaque (white) base with one version leaning towards a pastel shade and the other towards a medium shade. Use these as inspiration for your own creations - your results may vary depending on your specific base and recipe.
| Color Name | Opaque Base (# of drops per 16 oz) |
Clear Base (# of drops per 16 oz) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastel | Medium | Pastel | Medium | |
| Magenta Mist | 1 drop | 5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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| Orange Oasis | 1 drop | 7 drops | 1 drop | 3 drops |
 |
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| Sunburst Yellow |
1 drop |
5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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| Breezy Blue |
1 drop |
3-5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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| Plum Pop | 1 drop | 5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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| Rushing Red |
1 drop |
9 drops | ~0.5 drop |
5 drops |
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| Glistening Green |
1 drop |
5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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| Jet Black | 1 drop | 5 drops | ~0.5 drop |
3 drops |
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💡 Reminder: These dyes are very concentrated. Aways start with less and build slowly. It is much easier to deepen a color than to fix an over-saturated batch.
A Note on Red & Black
Both red and black can be a little tricky in both bases
- Red: At low usage, it tends to lean pink - especially in clear soap. If you’re after a true, bold red, you’ll likely need 7+ drops in a 16 oz base. Even then, expect a bit of a pink undertone.
- Black: Jet Black will always lean more towards a charcoal gray rather than a true black. Build it up slowly until you find the color depth you like best.
Just something to keep in mind as you experiment - every formula and base will shift things slightly.
Scaling Tips
All of our drop counts are based on 16 oz batches, but you can easily scale up or down:
- For 8 oz: use half the drops
- For 32 oz: double them
Always round down and test if you’re unsure - especially for lighter shades or pastels.
Make It Yours
Consider this a jumping-off point, not a rulebook. Your unique base, fragrance load, and even lighting can shift how colors appear. The fun part - you get to play, test, and tweak until it's just right!
And when you do? Tag us (@midwestfragranceco) - we'd love to see what you create with MWFC Liquid Soap Dyes
Quick Links
Blog: Getting Started with Liquid Soap Dyes (step-by-step guide)
Blog: Creative Ways to use Liquid Soap Dyes (inspiration guide)
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