Why Aren't My Cremains White?

Cremains can be received from crematoriums in a variety of colors, from chalk white to charcoal black. This color variance is usually a result of the temperature the crematorium was run at and the percentage of material other than tricalcium phosphate (what 'pure' cremains consist of) is left once the cremation process is over.

If the cremains we are working with are particularly dark, that is perfectly fine. However, your pieces may have more bubbling than lighter colored cremains, as the remaining organic matter becomes gas. For products made with hot glass, this may mean the cremains will be harder to see, but oftentimes they will turn white from the process. For lampwork products such as animal figurines and touchstones, darker cremains will darken the shade of the final piece overall.