Red sandalwood
lat. Pterocarpus santalinus
€6.38
Out of stock
Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a versatile natural dye that can yield a variety of warm shades, including peach, soft pink, muted red, terracotta, and auburn. Traditionally used in textile dyeing and revered for its beautiful range of earthy tones, red sandalwood is both eco-friendly and rich in historical significance. The colors produced can vary based on factors like dye concentration and the type of fiber used, offering a spectrum of subtle and unique hues for natural dyers. Due to the interesting process of color extraction, sandalwood is a great dye for those who wish to expand their knowledge of various dyes and include more experiments to their creative work.
Name: sandalwood
Latin name: Pterocarpus santalinus
Other names: red sanders, saunderswood
Type: mordant dye
Part of plant used: bark
Main colors: peach, pink
Other colors: soft shades of terracotta, warm red, auburn and similar.
Purpose: natural dye for textiles and other natural materials. Can be used for making botanical inks, pastels, watercolors, printing paste, etc.
Dyeing with sandalwood:
Use 100-200% WOF (weight of fiber). For lighter shades, you can use less.
For best results, soak the sandalwood dyestuff in alcohol for 30 minutes before adding it to the dye pot. Simmer for one hour, then let it cool.
Add pre-mordanted fibers to the dye solution and simmer for 30-60 minutes, depending on the depth of shade desired. Allow to cool.
For a broader color palette, try adding citric acid, cream of tartar, soda ash, or chalk.
To expand your palette even further, experiment with additional mordants, such as iron sulfate or various tannins.