Sappanwood Dye Powder

Botanical name: Caesalpinia sappan

Common name: Indian Redwood, East Indian Brazilwood

Colorant: Brazilin (oxidizes into Brazilein)

Dye type: Adjective dye (requires mordants for color development and fixation)

Shade Range: Vibrant red hues, ranging from pinks and bright reds to purples depending on pH and mordanting. With alum, it yields red to pink tones, while iron produces deep purples and browns​.

Mordant Requirements: Pre-mordanting with alum is common to achieve bright red colors. Iron and copper mordants can darken the color to purple and brown​.

Fastness: The dye has good washfastness but is more sensitive to light, meaning that colors may darken with prolonged sun exposure​.

Common Uses: Traditionally used for textiles, Sappanwood is also employed in crafts, and as a food and drink colorant. In natural dyeing, it offers a versatile palette and can be combined with other dyes to achieve various hues​.

Country of Origin: India, Southeast Asia

Vegetarian product: Yes