This logwood extract comes from the heartwood of Haematoxylum campechianum, harvested in the Mexican region of Yucatán. Known also as the “Bloodwood tree” (and called Uitzquauitl or Huitzcuahuitl in Nahuatl Aztec), logwood has been one of the most beloved natural dyes for centuries. Its heartwood will give you a versatile palette of purples, blues, greys, and blacks, on all fibers. This makes it a cornerstone in both historic and modern dyeing.

Unlike logwood chips or powders, this extract is concentrated and fast to prepare, dissolving easily for quick and reliable results. At low concentrations, it creates medium purples, blues, or greys; at higher concentrations, it produces saturated night blues, deep purples, and intense blacks.

Historical & Cultural Notes

Logwood was first introduced to Europe in the 16th century from the Americas. Banned in England (1581) because the brilliant colors often proved fugitive, it later became one of the most important dyestuffs of the 17th and 18th centuries once dyers discovered how to properly mordant it. In colonial trade, logwood was so valuable that it was often smuggled, and Campeche in Mexico became a global hub for its export.

Active dye components: hematoxylin → oxidized hematein
CI Natural Violet 5 

Shading Tips

• Alum (slightly alkaline bath): bright purples and violets
• Copper sulfate (1%): deep night blues
• Acidified bath: shifts color to coppery browns
• Iron: lovely grey-blacks
• Overdye with cochineal or madder: plum and wine-red tones