Organic Sage Natural Dye
Salvia officinalis L. · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Dried and Cut Leaves
Organic sage leaves produce soft greenish-yellow, muted gold and earthy yellow-green shades. A carefully controlled iron afterbath can shift the colour towards olive, moss and deeper grey-green.
These dried, cut leaves are cultivated in Bosnia and Herzegovina and supplied specifically for textile dyeing and craft use.
Sage is an accessible botanical dye for wool and silk and can also be used on suitably prepared cotton and linen. The finished colour depends on the fibre, mordant, water chemistry, dye concentration and modifiers.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Salvia officinalis L.
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Common name: Common sage or garden sage
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Plant part: Leaves
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Origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Organic status: Organic
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Form: Dried and cut
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Colours: Greenish yellow, muted gold, yellow-green, olive and grey-green
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Fibres: Wool, silk, cotton and linen
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Mordant: Recommended; use a fibre-appropriate method
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Suggested quantity: Approximately 100% WOF
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Iron response: Olive, moss and deeper grey-green
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Colourfastness: Good to excellent when suitably prepared, mordanted, dyed and finished
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Vegan: Suitable for vegan projects
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Product use: Textile dyeing and craft use only - not sold as food
How much to use
Begin with:
100g dried sage per 100g dry fibre
Equivalent to 100% WOF - weight of dry fibre.
| Quantity or treatment | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Approximately 50% WOF | Pale yellow to soft straw |
| Approximately 100% WOF | Greenish yellow to muted gold |
| Stronger or repeated bath | Deeper yellow-green or earthy gold |
| Light iron afterbath | Olive, moss or grey-green |
| Later exhaust bath | Pale yellow or beige |
These quantities are guidelines only. Sage strength varies between harvests and batches.
The result also depends on the fibre, mordant, water chemistry, extraction method, temperature, processing time and modifier.
Basic guide for wool or silk
Ingredients
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Approximately 100g dried sage per 100g dry fibre
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Approximately 10% alum WOF
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Optional 1–3% iron WOF
Method
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Prepare: Scour the wool or silk thoroughly and wet it before mordanting.
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Mordant: Mordant with approximately 10% alum WOF, or follow your preferred protein-fibre mordanting method. The fibre may be left in the cooling mordant bath overnight.
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Soak: Cover the sage with water and leave it for several hours or overnight.
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Extract: Heat the sage and soaking water gently to approximately 80–85°C (176–185°F) and hold for one hour.
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Strain: Strain through a cloth or contain the sage in a securely tied dye bag.
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Dye: Add the rinsed, mordanted fibre and hold the bath at approximately 80–85°C (176–185°F) for one hour.
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Develop: Allow the fibre to cool in the bath. Leave it overnight if a deeper shade is required.
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Modify: For olive, moss or grey-green, transfer the fibre to a separate, diluted iron afterbath.
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Finish: Rinse thoroughly and wash gently with a suitable pH-neutral detergent.
Protein and cellulose fibres require different preparation.
Dyeing cotton, linen or another cellulose fibre? Find suitable preparation and mordanting methods here.
Modifying with iron
Iron shifts sage’s greenish yellows and muted golds towards olive, moss, khaki and grey-green.
Use approximately 1–3% iron WOF in a separate, well-diluted afterbath. Begin at the lower end and increase only if necessary.
Where possible, use iron acetate, as it is generally gentler on textile fibres than ferrous sulphate used on its own.
Options include:
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Prepared iron acetate
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Carefully made iron water
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Ferrous sulphate combined with sodium acetate
Homemade iron water varies considerably in strength and cannot be treated as a fixed-percentage solution. Test it on a small sample first.
A separate iron afterbath provides greater control and preserves the original dye bath for additional yellow shades.
Observe the colour continuously and remove the fibre promptly once the required shade develops. Excessive iron can make fibres harsh or brittle.
Tips from the dye pot
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Choose the quantity | Begin with approximately 100% WOF for greenish yellow. Use less for paler shades. |
| Soak before extracting | A soak of several hours or overnight helps begin the release of colour. |
| Control the heat | Hold the extraction and dye bath at approximately 80–85°C rather than boiling vigorously. |
| Mordant appropriately | Alum generally produces clearer yellow and greenish-yellow shades. |
| Extend the bath | Leaving the fibre in the cooling bath overnight can deepen the result. |
| Strain carefully | Use a cloth or dye bag to prevent leaf fragments becoming caught in fibre. |
| Use iron sparingly | Begin at 1% WOF and use iron acetate where practical. |
| Reuse the leaves | A second extraction may produce useful paler shades. |
| Keep notes | Record the WOF, fibre, mordant, water chemistry, temperature and modifiers. |
Colourfastness
Sage can produce good to excellent colourfastness when the fibre is suitably prepared, mordanted, dyed and finished.
Performance depends on the individual batch, fibre, mordant, dye quantity, depth of shade, extraction method, modifiers and aftercare.
Suitable mordanting generally improves the consistency and durability of the finished colour.
Iron-modified shades may appear deeper, but a darker shade should not automatically be assumed to be more permanent. Excessive iron can damage textile fibres.
Wash dyed work gently with a pH-neutral detergent and avoid prolonged exposure to strong, direct sunlight.
Storage and safe handling
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Store sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
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For textile dyeing and craft use only.
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This product is not sold as food or as a culinary or herbal product.
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Do not consume or use in food, drinks, cosmetics or medicinal preparations.
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Avoid creating or breathing plant dust and fine particles.
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Prevent contact with eyes, mouth and open wounds.
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Wear gloves and suitable protective equipment when handling dusty material.
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Wear gloves and eye protection when preparing mordant or iron solutions.
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Follow the safety instructions for all mordants and iron compounds used.
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Use iron sparingly, as excessive iron can damage textile fibres.
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Use dedicated dyeing equipment—never food-preparation utensils.
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Keep away from food, children and pets.
For textile dyeing and craft use only - not for consumption.
What you receive
Your chosen net weight of organic, dried and cut sage leaves, supplied in a pouch.
As this is a natural plant material, variations in leaf colour, texture and piece size should be expected.
Mordants, iron, downloadable instructions and other dyeing supplies are sold separately.
Packaging
We pack as sustainably as we can while protecting your dye materials. Pouch types may vary according to pack size and the availability of our preferred lower-impact options.
Display jars are not included.
Learn with us
Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your results, ask questions and explore natural colour alongside fellow natural dyers and dye-plant growers.
