Lac Dye — Natural Red Colourant
Water-soluble natural red dye recovered during the washing of sticklac — the classic laccaic-acid colourant used for centuries on silk and wool, now supplied in export-grade powder form.
📄 Documents Supplied
Lac Dye
Lac dye is the deep crimson colourant that occurs naturally in sticklac, recovered from the wash water when raw lac is cleaned during seedlac production. Chemically it is a mixture of laccaic acids (A–E) — anthraquinone-type molecules related to the colourants of cochineal — supplied as a dark red-brown, water-soluble powder.
It is one of the oldest textile dyes of the Indian subcontinent, prized for the warm reds it develops on silk and wool with common mordants. Today demand comes from natural-textile dye houses, craft and heritage restoration suppliers, cosmetics R&D, and laboratories working on natural colourants. Regulatory status for food use varies by country — buyers intending food or cosmetic application should confirm permissibility in their market, and we supply documentation to support that assessment.
As a by-product of our own seedlac processing, our lac dye is traceable to the same washed sticklac stream as the rest of our lac line — one supplier, one audit trail.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Form | Fine powder |
| Colour | Dark red to reddish brown |
| Principal constituents | Laccaic acids A–E |
| Solubility | Soluble in water; sparingly in alcohol |
| Dye content | Batch-specific — stated on COA |
| Moisture | Batch-specific — stated on COA |
| Origin | India (recovered during seedlac washing) |
| Standard packing | 25 kg HDPE-lined bags / 5 kg pouches on request |
| Minimum order | 25 kg |
| Shelf life | 24 months in cool, dry storage away from light |
Values shown are typical ranges; a batch-specific COA accompanies every shipment. HS code: 3203 00 (colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin).
Where Lac Dye Is Used
Textile Dyeing
Warm crimson-to-scarlet shades on silk and wool using standard mordanting practice; a heritage dye with growing natural-fashion demand.
Craft & Restoration
Traditional pigment for heritage textile restoration, artisanal dyeing and natural-ink makers.
R&D & Laboratories
Reference natural anthraquinone colourant for research into bio-based dyes and colour chemistry.
Cosmetics Development
Evaluated as a natural colourant in cosmetic formulation where local regulation permits — documentation supplied.
Buy Lac Dye in Bulk
MOQ from 25 kg · Full export documentation · FOB / CFR / CIF / DDP from Kolkata & Mumbai · Quotes within 24 hours.