Alkanet root is the root from the European plant Anchusia Tinctura or Anchusa officianalis a plant with little red flowers that grows in profusion once planted, often found growing by the roadside as a weed.(Weed = flower growing in the wrong place)
Madder root can also be used, and also beetroot.
Alkanet oil is readily available from quality stock finishers or good gunshops.
Steve I personally think that any stocker who talks about 'secrets' is an insecure BS merchandiser.
The answer to what should be the correct colour is purely your choice, the colour that lights your fire.Look in any of the quality books like Macintosh, Dodd-Hughes, Spanish Best, etc., and then replicate the colour you like.
We covered this subject in depth here some months ago.Use the search facility for 'Alkanet Root'
