#36: The Invention of Mauve Dye
Mauve, a beautiful pale purple often seen in fall and spring fashion, was accidentally discovered by William Henry Perkin in 1856. At 18, he aimed to create an affordable quinine, but he ended up with this fashionable hue instead.
provided by constative.com
While attempting to synthesize quinine from coal tar, Perkin instead stumbled upon a striking purple residue that adhered well to fabric, initially dubbed “Tyrian purple” before settling on “mauve.” This invention marked a significant turning point in the history of dye manufacturing.