12/02/2026
From soft blush to deep rose, every pink tone comes from cochineal, a natural dye used for centuries, extracted from insects found on cactus.
For those who want to know more …
Cochineal is a natural dye derived from insects that live on Opuntia cacti, feeding on the plant’s moisture and nutrients. The insects are found on the pads of prickly pear cacti, gently collected by hand and dried.
For centuries, cochineal was used by Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, including Mixtec, Zapotec, Aztec and Otomi communities, to colour textiles and amate paper. Its use dates back as early as the second century BC. As its value became widely recognised, cochineal began to be intentionally cultivated rather than gathered in the wild. This semi-domesticated form produced a higher concentration of pigment, prized for its intensity and range. Depending on the process, cochineal can yield tones from soft blush to deep crimson colours.