Sappanwood

Sappanwood (lat. Ceasalpinia sappan) produces vivid hues ranging from red, fuchsia, and crimson to purple and burgundy. Its global renown arises from its user-friendly characteristics, making it particularly easy for beginners to achieve vibrant colors. It is impressively efficient - even a small quantity of sappanwood can yield a diverse range of bright tones. In addition, it remains versatile for a long time, creating paler shades like pink, lilac, and mauve. Additionally, this plant holds a fascinating historical background, spanning several centuries, making it worthwhile to explore and remember.

Name: sappanwood

Latin name: Ceasalpinia sappan

Other names: Indian brazilwood, Indian redwood, eastern brazilwood, sappan wood, brazilwood tree

Type: mordant dye

Part of the plant used: a core of a tree

Main colorants: brazilin

Main colors: red

Other colors: various shades in a red spectrum such as fuchsia, purple, burgundy, lavender, pink, orange, peach, as well as brown

Purpose: natural dye for textiles, leather, wood, candles, and other natural materials. It can be used for making botanical inks, pastels, watercolors, printing paste, etc.

Dyeing with sappanwood:

Here you can find a recipe with illustrations for dyeing with sappanwood.