Mimosa Root Bark Project Planner
Pick what you want to make and how much of it. The planner works out how much Mimosa tenuiflora root bark you need, which form to order, and gives you a step-by-step instruction sheet you can download or print for the day your order arrives.
Quantities are starting points drawn from published craft and research sources listed below. Always run a small test first.
What you can make with Mimosa tenuiflora root bark
The inner root bark is a tannin-rich raw material. A 2022 study measured 23.4% condensed tannins in the bark of the tree, and that tannin is what makes it useful across several crafts.
| Project | Best form | Typical amount of bark |
|---|---|---|
| Dyeing cotton, linen, wool or silk | Shredded | 25 to 100% of the dry fibre weight |
| Colouring vegetable-tanned leather | Shredded | 50 to 100% of the leather weight |
| Darkening wood with a tannin wash | Powder | About 15 g per 475 ml (1 US pint) of water |
| Cold-process soap | Powder | 1 to 3 teaspoons per pound of oils |
| Melt-and-pour soap | Powder | 1/4 to 1 teaspoon per pound of base |
| Infused oil for soap and balms | Shredded | 2 to 10% of the oil weight |
| Dry clay mask blend | Powder | 5 to 15% of the blend |
| Sugar body scrub | Powder | 1 to 3% of the scrub |
How the numbers are worked out
Dyeing. Natural dyers measure dye as a percentage of the dry fibre weight (WOF). Suppliers of raw bark dyes generally suggest 50 to 100% WOF, with less for pale shades, and about 30 parts water to 1 part fibre. Cotton and linen are usually mordanted with aluminium acetate at 5 to 10% WOF; wool and silk with alum.
Soap. Soap suppliers recommend about one teaspoon of a botanical powder, dispersed in a tablespoon of oil, per pound of cold-process soap, and about a tablespoon of botanical per pound of oil for infusions. The planner assumes one level teaspoon of root bark powder weighs about 3 g. That figure is an estimate, so weigh the powder if you can.
Wood. Woodworkers raise the tannin level of wood with a bark “tea” of about a heaping tablespoon of bark powder per pint of hot water, then brush on an iron acetate solution. The iron reacts with the tannin and turns the surface dark.
Leather. The bark of this tree has been studied in Brazil as a vegetable tanning material for sheep hides. Full tanning of raw hides is a long process, so the planner covers the simpler job of colouring leather that is already vegetable-tanned.
Masks and scrubs. Here the powder is used only as a plant-based colour and a fine texture. The blends are simple starting formulas, not tested cosmetic products. Patch test first and make no health claims if you sell them.
Lab results and a certificate of analysis (COA) for the bark can be provided on request.
Sources
- Revista Árvore (2022): condensed tannins in Mimosa tenuiflora bark
- Embrapa (2015): sheep hides tanned with black jurema (Mimosa tenuiflora) bark
- Dharma Trading: fibre preparation and mordanting
- Bramble Berry: natural colorants in soap
- Popular Woodworking: ebonizing wood with bark tea
- Journal of Wood Science (2023): iron acetate solution for ebonizing wood
- FDA: frequently asked questions on soap
Frequently asked questions
Which form of root bark should I order?
Shredded for dye baths, leather and oil infusions, because it strains out cleanly. Powder for soap, masks, scrubs and wood washes. Whole bark if you want to store it for a long time and cut or grind it yourself.
Can I use whole bark for a powder project?
Yes. Break it up and grind it in a mill or blender kept for craft use, then sieve it. Wear a dust mask.
Are the quantities exact?
No. They are starting points. Water, fibre, oils and the bark itself all vary, so test a small amount before a full batch.
Can I keep the instruction sheet?
Yes. Use the download button to save it to your phone or computer, or print it. The sheet includes your quantities.
Know what you need?
Order whole, shredded or powdered root bark in the right pack size.