Science, Tech, Math Science Colored Smoke Recipes Simple Colored Smoke Formulas Share Flipboard Email Print Make red or pink smoke by vaporizing an organic dye. Henrik Sorensen, Getty Images Science Chemistry Physical Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry in Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Updated March 06, 2017 One way to make smoke is to craft a smoke bomb, but you can make a smoke powder, too. Here are some formulations for colored smokes. The parts or percents are by weight. Basically what you do is measure the ingredients, sift them together to mix them, and ignite the powder to produce smoke. Up to 2% sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) may be added to slow the combustion/cool the reaction, if necessary. White Smoke RecipePotassium nitrate - 4 partsCharcoal - 5 partsSulfur - 10 partsWood dust - 3 partsRed Smoke RecipePotassium chlorate - 15%para-nitroaniline red - 65%Lactose - 20%Green Smoke RecipeSynthetic indigo - 26%Auramine (yellow) - 15%Potassium chlorate - 35%Lactose - 26%Reference: The formulations for colored smoke bombs came from Wouter's Practical Pyrotechnics, who cited the recipes as originating from L.P. Edel, "Mengen en Roeren", 2nd edition (1936).Wouter's website is very helpful. Though I didn't see recipes for other colors of smoke, he has an extensive list of formulas for colored fireworks, which you may be able to adapt to make colored smoke.More Dyes and ColorsIf you can order chemicals, here are some of the dyes used to produce more colors:Red:Disperse Red 9 (older formulation)Solvent Red 1 with Disperse Red 11Solvent Red 27 (C.I. 26125)Solvent Red 24Orange:Solvent Yellow 14 (C.I. 12055)Yellow:Vat Yellow 4 with benzanthrone (older formulation)Solvent Yellow 33Solvent Yellow 16 (C.I. 12700)Solvent Yellow 56Oil Yellow RGreen:Vat Yellow 4 with benzanthrone and Solvent Green 3 (older formulation)Solvent Yellow 33 and Solvent Green 3Solvent Green 3Oil Green BGBlue:Solvent Blue 35 (C.I. 26125)Solvent Blue 36Solvent Blue 5Violet:Disperse Red 9 with 1,4-diamino-2,3-dihydroanthraquinoneSolvent Violet 13Use care if you try these additional dyes. If you know of a reliable reference for additional colored smoke formulations, please feel free to contact me.Colored Smoke Safety InformationRead and follow the safety information for all the chemicals that you use. Use colored smoke outdoors only, in a well-ventilated area. citecite this article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Colored Smoke Recipes." ThoughtCo, Jun. 26, 2016, thoughtco.com/colored-smoke-recipes-607310. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2016, June 26). Colored Smoke Recipes. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/colored-smoke-recipes-607310 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Colored Smoke Recipes." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/colored-smoke-recipes-607310 (accessed April 19, 2018). copy citation Continue Reading