---
title: "Question And Answers"
id: "1872"
type: "page"
slug: "question-and-answers"
published_at: "2019-10-12T19:11:10+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-05-30T10:46:11+00:00"
url: "https://testsite1.vip/question-and-answers/"
markdown_url: "https://testsite1.vip/question-and-answers.md"
excerpt: "Question And Answers Answering some of the common questions we get asked Everything You Wanted To Ask About..."
---

# Question And Answers

### Answering some of the common questions we get asked

## Everything You Wanted To Ask About Ashes Tattoo Ink

This page answers the questions we get asked most often, both about Cremation Ink ® itself and about cremation ashes generally. If you’re researching ashes tattoos, scattering ashes, posting ashes, or you’re just trying to make sense of things after a loss, you’ll find honest, plain-English answers here.  
Cremation Ink ® is your loved one’s ashes infused with high quality sterile tattoo ink. The infusion of the ashes into the ink creates the ultimate memorial tattoo, so you can carry your loved one with you always.

![commemorative tattoo ink](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/commemorative-tattoo-ink.jpg)

### What Happens After I Order Cremation Ink ®?

Once you place your order for your chosen ink or inks, we start preparing your kit. The kit contains everything you need to return your loved one’s ashes to us in a safe, sturdy way, along with clear instructions on how much we need per bottle (roughly a tablespoon). We usually dispatch kits within 3 to 4 days and use fast, tracked postal services to get them to you as quickly as possible.

Once you receive the kit, follow the instructions and post your ashes back to us. The moment they arrive, one expert technician takes them on and follows them through every stage of [the process](https://cremationink.com/the-process-of-ashes-into-tattoo-ink/)
, from start to finish. Because each order is handled one at a time by one technician, we can guarantee there is no chance of any ashes ever being mixed up. After the work is done, your bespoke ashes-infused tattoo ink is sent back to you, along with any ashes that weren’t used in the process. Our turnaround from receipt is roughly 5 to 10 days depending on how busy the lab is.

Once your ink arrives, you take it to your local tattoo studio, and your chosen artist creates the memorial tattoo your loved one deserves.

![faqs cremation ink](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/faqs-cremation-ink-1.jpg)

### Is It Not Safe For A Tattoo Studio To Just Put The Ashes Into Some Ink?

No, and this is one of the most important things to understand before you start. For ashes to work properly in tattoo ink, they need to be reduced to the same molecular size as the pigment. That allows for combination between the ashes and the ink, rather than gritty particles floating on top.

A regular tattoo studio doesn’t have the equipment to do that, or to sterilise to the temperatures needed. Tattoo studios use an autoclave, which reaches around 121°C. Our process runs much higher than that, well beyond hospital sterility standards, for a 100% guarantee of complete sterilisation.

At Cremation Ink ® we don’t just sterilise the ashes. As they move through our systems we run multiple layers of sterilisation, making sure each stage is clean and to our standards. We also filter out heavy metals, medicinal remnants and any other contaminants commonly found in cremation ashes. The result is a [tattoo ink](https://cremationink.com/our-inks/)
 that’s safe, smooth and a pleasure for your artist to work with.

![all cremation tattoo ink - cremation ink](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/all-cremation-tattoo-ink.jpg)

### Safety For Your Loved One’s Cremation Ashes

When you place your order, a unique profile code is created. Your ashes are tracked against that code from the moment they leave you, through every stage of the process, and back out to you. What you send in is what you get back. None of your loved one’s ashes go missing.

Each order is also handled, start to finish, by one technician. This isn’t a small detail. It’s the single biggest protocol that protects your loved one. The same pair of hands processes your ashes from arrival to final ink, which means there’s a continuous chain of care and zero risk of accidental cross-contamination with any other client’s ashes.

![sterilization](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/sterilization.jpg)

### Aftercare For Your Cremation Ink Tattoo

Looking after a tattoo done with Cremation Ink ® is no different from any other quality tattoo. We always recommend Bepanthen, applied twice a day for the first week or so. It keeps the colours bright and the line work fresh for years to come. Beyond that, follow your artist’s specific aftercare advice. Each studio has its own preferred routine, and your artist knows their own work best.

![handling cremation ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/handling-cremation-ashes.jpeg)

### A Guide For Your Tattooist

We use only the best pigment, so the tattoo lasts longer and stays brighter. Our ink holds a very high pigment percentage, which means vibrant tattoos that don’t end up looking washed out a few years down the line.

The ink is homogenised, with the pigment molecule reduced to a much smaller size than standard tattoo ink. That makes it easier to apply cleanly, especially with bug pins and finer, more stylised designs, and reduces overworking of the skin. The ink can be used to recolour over old tattoos, as well as for lining, shading and colour packing, all the basic applications in tattoo design and implementation. Even when infused with the client’s loved one’s ashes, the ink holds a very low viscosity, so it’s easy for the tattooist to work with and suits every tattoo style.

![cremation ink faqs](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cremation-ink-faqs.jpeg)

### Cremation Ashes Q&A: 26 Common Questions, Honestly Answered

This second half of the page is a plain-English Q&A on cremation ashes themselves. We’ve been asked all of these many times over by clients and the public, and the answers are based on real experience rather than guesswork. If you have a question that isn’t here, we also have a [Cremation Ink FAQs page](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/cremation-ink-faqs/)
 and an [even more FAQs page](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/faqs-page/)
 for further reading.

![can you post cremation ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-post-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Can Cremation Ashes Be Mailed?

Yes, in most cases. Some postal services frown on it because, visually, ashes can resemble illegal substances, but most countries permit the posting of cremation ashes, especially within domestic borders. Pack them in a sturdy, sealed container, label clearly, and use a tracked service. If you’re posting internationally, check both the sending and receiving country’s import rules first. We post finished ashes-infused ink worldwide every week, so we have plenty of experience with what works.

![can-cremation-ashes-be-shipped](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-cremation-ashes-be-shipped.jpg)

#### Can Cremation Ashes Be Shipped?

Yes, with some caveats. Shipping human body parts is not allowed, but cremation ashes are treated differently in most countries because the ashes themselves are no longer organic in the same way. Customs in the receiving country may occasionally open the package to test it (usually to rule out illegal drugs), but they’ll be passed straight through once verified. Always use a tracked, signed-for service and include a return address so they can come safely back to you if there’s an issue.

![who-owns-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/who-owns-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Who Owns Cremation Ashes?

In most countries, ownership of cremation ashes is covered in the deceased’s will. If no will exists, then the person who paid for the cremation and collected the ashes is generally considered the legal owner. It’s a grey area legally, but those two principles (the will first, the funeral payer second) cover the vast majority of situations.

![who-do-cremation-ashes-belong-to](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/who-do-cremation-ashes-belong-to.jpg)

#### Who Do Cremation Ashes Belong To?

There’s no single global law on this, so most people fall back on the same common-sense order. First, anything stated in the will or in the deceased’s expressed wishes. Second, the named beneficiary of the will. Third, the next of kin or the person who arranged and paid for the funeral. If there’s any dispute between family members, it’s worth involving the solicitor handling the estate, because they can guide everyone through what the deceased actually wanted.

![who-has-rights-to-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/who-has-rights-to-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Who Has Rights To Cremation Ashes?

Rights usually sit with the direct family, but where that isn’t clear, they pass to whoever paid for and arranged the funeral. In contested situations, a solicitor will fulfil the will of the deceased and resolve who has the final say. The cleanest way to avoid any of this is for everyone, while they’re still here, to write down what they want done with their ashes. It saves untold heartache later.

![where-do-cremation-ashes-go](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/where-do-cremation-ashes-go.jpg)

#### Where Do Cremation Ashes Go?

For pets, the ashes are usually posted or collected by the pet’s owner directly. For human cremation, the funeral home that arranged the service receives the ashes from the crematorium, then passes them to the family. Funeral homes follow strict legal rules about storing ashes. In the UK, for example, a funeral home is legally required to retain unclaimed ashes for 50 years before they can dispose of them.

![where-can-cremation-ashes-be-scattered](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/where-can-cremation-ashes-be-scattered.jpg)

#### Where Can Cremation Ashes Be Scattered?

Because cremation ashes are organic and biodegradable, they can be scattered in most places, within reason. If your loved one had a favourite place (a park, a beach, a hilltop, a garden), that’s often the most fitting choice. The only time a cost comes in is if you scatter on consecrated ground at a church or cemetery, where a fee is usually charged. Many people quietly scatter at private moments to avoid that. Just remember to check the weather, because rain or strong wind will work against you. The traditional method is to gently underhand the ashes as if you were rolling a ball towards a child, which is the most dignified way to do it.

![where-to-spread-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/where-to-spread-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Where To Spread Cremation Ashes?

That question really only has one true answer, which is wherever they’d have wanted. A favourite holiday spot, the football ground of the team they supported all their life, the garden of the home they raised their family in. Some families divide the ashes into several portions, scattering at multiple meaningful places. Others find one beautiful, quiet spot and leave them there in peace. Both are right. Whatever feels true to who they were is the answer.

![where-can-you-spread-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/where-can-you-spread-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Where Can You Spread Cremation Ashes?

In practical terms, almost anywhere. The land or water itself usually isn’t an issue, since the ashes are biodegradable. The only complication tends to be who owns the location and whether they’d object. Public parks, beaches, rivers, hilltops and the countryside are all common. National parks and protected sites sometimes have specific rules. Without condoning anything illegal, we’ll say plenty of clients have quietly scattered ashes in their loved one’s most-loved spots without making a fuss, and that’s how they wanted it.

![do-cremation-ashes-smell](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-smell.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Smell?

No. One of the first things eliminated in the cremation process is any smell of decay. The temperatures are so high that everything organic is broken down, and what’s left has no odour. The only sensitivity some people notice is mild dust irritation if they breathe in fine particles, but there is no smell.

![do-cremation-ashes-float](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-float.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Float?

Some do, most don’t. The bulk of the ashes are large enough to break the surface tension of water and sink. The finest, lightest particles can stay on the surface and float for a while before settling. If you’re planning to scatter ashes on a lake, river or the sea, it’s worth knowing that some will float briefly and the rest will sink. The flow of water tends to carry the fine particles outward into a beautiful soft cloud just below the surface.

![do-cremation-ashes-have-dna](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-have-dna.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Have DNA?

For the most part, no. DNA is fragile and doesn’t survive the heat of cremation. There may be very, very small forensic traces left in the densest bones (the femurs, mostly) but for practical purposes, cremation ashes contain no usable DNA. They do contain mineral residue and small traces of any heavy metals or medicines the person had in their system, which is why our sterilisation process strips those out for the ashes we use in tattoo ink.

![do-cremation-ashes-harm-plants](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-harm-plants.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Harm Plants?

No, and they can actually help. Cremation ashes are mainly bone, and bone is essentially calcium phosphate, the same kind of slow-release fertiliser used commercially in bone meal. Scattered around plants, ashes are read by the soil as a natural feed. One small caveat: ashes are alkaline, so a very large concentration on acid-loving plants (like blueberries, rhododendrons or azaleas) can stress them. A spread out portion is fine. Concentrated quantities are not.

![do-cremation-ashes-have-bones](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-have-bones.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Have Bones?

Yes, in the sense that bones are what cremation ashes are mostly made of. But what’s returned to you doesn’t look like bone, because after the cremation itself, the bone fragments are passed through a milling machine (a cremulator) that reduces them to a fine, uniform powder. No reduction request is needed from you, this is a standard part of the cremation process.

![do-cremation-ashes-contain-dna](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-contain-dna.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Contain DNA?

Functionally no, but on a forensic level, traces may survive. The femur bone is the most likely place for any DNA to be protected from the heat, but the amount left depends on how long the cremation ran and at what temperature. Most modern crematoria run protocols designed to leave no usable DNA, both for dignity and to align with industry standards. So while you may read articles claiming DNA can be extracted from ashes, in practice it’s not something you can rely on.

![do-cremation-ashes-include-coffin](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-include-coffin.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Include Coffin?

Almost no, and what little might remain is removed before you see them. The wood of a coffin doesn’t survive the cremation temperatures, so it breaks down completely. Any non-organic bits, like screws, nails, handles or hinges, are removed by hand and with magnets after the cremation, before the ashes go through the milling stage. Crematorium technicians take real pride in making sure what you receive is only your loved one, and nothing else.

![do-cremation-ashes-have-to-be-buried](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/do-cremation-ashes-have-to-be-buried.jpg)

#### Do Cremation Ashes Have To Be Buried?

No. What you do with cremation ashes is entirely up to you. Many people keep them in an urn at home, scatter them in a meaningful place, divide them between family members, or use them in keepsakes such as jewellery, glass, vinyl records, or, of course, [memorial tattoos](https://cremationink.com/tattoos-with-ashes/memorial-tattoos-with-ashes/)
. Some religions do recommend burial of ashes in consecrated ground, Roman Catholicism being one of the most well known, and there’s usually a cost for that. But there’s no general legal requirement to bury cremation ashes anywhere.

![can-you-take-cremation-ashes-abroad](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-split-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Can You Split Cremation Ashes?

Yes, and many families do. It’s a way for several people to each carry a piece of their loved one. To do it at home properly, lay cling film or a clean sheet on a table to catch anything that spills, close the windows so no draught moves the ashes, and keep children and pets out of the room. Weigh the empty containers first, then divide the ashes between them by weight, so each person gets an even share. You can also ask the funeral director to do it for you before the ashes come home, which avoids any awkwardness.

![can-you-take-cremation-ashes-on-a-plane](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-take-cremation-ashes-on-a-plane.jpg)

#### Can You Take Cremation Ashes On An Airplane?

In most cases, yes. The complication isn’t really with the airline, it’s with the customs officers at the airports you fly from and into. A large container of fine powder will raise questions during security checks, so it pays to be prepared. Carry the death certificate, photo ID for the deceased and the funeral director’s contact number in case airport staff need confirmation. The ashes are never confiscated outright. The worst that happens is they’re held and posted back to your home address. We had one personal friend rejected at the airport when trying to return to Iceland, but another simply travelled with the right documents and had no issue at all.

![can-cremation-ashes-be-mailed](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-cremation-ashes-be-mailed.jpg)

#### Can You Post Cremation Ashes?

Yes. Many funeral directors receive cremation ashes by post, depending on where the cremation took place. International posting can be a grey area in countries that ban the mailing of “human remains” (the wording catches some shipping rules), but in around 95% of the world the postal service handles ashes without trouble. Always include a return-to-sender address, use a tracked service, and pack the ashes in a sealed, sturdy container.

![can-you-post-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-put-cremation-ashes-in-a-tattoo.jpg)

#### Can You Put Cremation Ashes In A Tattoo?

Yes, and this is where Cremation Ink ® is the expert. With over twenty years of experience in this very bespoke field, we work with clients all over the world wanting to keep their loved one with them in a permanent, personal way. You place your order, we ship you a kit, and you return a small amount of your loved one’s ashes to us. We then take those ashes through our sterilisation and infusion process, with multiple checks along the way to guarantee there’s no mixing of ashes from different clients. The finished ashes-infused ink, plus any ashes we didn’t use, comes back to you. You then take it to your local tattoo studio, and your artist creates the ultimate [ashes tattoo](https://cremationink.com/ashes-tattoo/)
 in your loved one’s memory.

![can you take cremation ashes abroad](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-take-cremation-ashes-abroad.jpg)

#### Can You Take Cremation Ashes Abroad?

Yes, with the right paperwork. There’s no global law preventing it, but customs at both your departing and arriving airports may want to verify the contents. We recommend you carry the death certificate, ID for the deceased, and the funeral director’s phone number in case staff need to confirm what’s in the urn. If in doubt, call the customer services of both airports a week before you fly. They cannot keep your loved one’s ashes from you permanently, the worst that happens is they’re posted back to your home if customs refuses entry. For peace of mind, plan ahead and have your documents to hand.

![can-you-use-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/can-you-use-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### Can You Use Cremation Ashes?

Yes, in lots of creative and lasting ways. People have used cremation ashes in oil paintings, mixed them into ink for pen-and-ink drawings, set them in jewellery, pressed them into vinyl records, even sent them into space. The most personal and permanent option is what we do at Cremation Ink ®, infusing the ashes into tattoo ink so you can carry your loved one in a memorial tattoo for the rest of your life. A short look around our site, especially the [memorial tattoo designs](https://cremationink.com/memorial-tattoo-designs/)
 page, will give you a sense of the ways people have used this option.

![what looks like cremation ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/what-looks-like-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### What Do Cremation Ashes Look Like?

Light grey sand, mostly. After many years and thousands of clients, we’ve noticed they’re not always identical. Occasionally they’ll have a slightly yellow or beige tinge, depending on the person’s medical history, age, and the cremation conditions. We once handled a pet’s ashes that came back a much darker grey. On the whole, though, expect a soft, sand-like, light grey powder. There’s a photo on our [process page](https://cremationink.com/the-process-of-ashes-into-tattoo-ink/)
 for a clearer visual reference.

![what-are-cremation-ashes-made-of](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/what-are-cremation-ashes-made-of.jpg)

#### What Are Cremation Ashes Made Of?

They are not, despite what some sites claim, mostly made of coffin remains. We’ve watched cremation processes in person. After the cremation finishes, the remains are first sifted for any obvious non-organic bits (coffin handles, artificial joints, screws), then passed through a strong magnet to lift out any remaining metal, then sent through a milling machine called a cremulator to reduce the bone fragments to a uniform, sand-like consistency. What’s returned to you is your loved one, and only your loved one.

![what-are-cremation-ashes](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/what-are-cremation-ashes.jpg)

#### What Are Cremation Ashes?

Cremation ashes are the remains of a loved one after the body has been passed through a process of intense heat. The heat reduces the body to mainly bone fragments, which are then milled into a fine, grey, sand-like consistency. Cremation is one of the most affordable funeral options and has the smallest environmental footprint of the traditional options. For most families, it’s the chosen route, and it’s the natural starting point for a memorial tattoo or any other lasting way of honouring the person you’ve lost.

### Where To Next

If you’ve got more questions, we have two further FAQ pages worth a read: [Cremation Ink FAQs](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/cremation-ink-faqs/)
 and [Even More FAQs](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/faqs-page/)
. Or if you’d like to read about the [process of ashes into tattoo ink](https://cremationink.com/the-process-of-ashes-into-tattoo-ink/)
 in more detail, that page covers the lab side step by step.

When you feel ready, you can [order your inks here](https://cremationink.com/shop/)
. We’ll send out a kit, walk you through it, and look after the rest.

![Faqs cremation](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Faqs-crmeation.jpg)[Cremation Ink Faqs](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/cremation-ink-faqs)

![more cremation ink facts](https://testsite1.vip/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/more-cremation-ink-facts.jpg)[cremation faqs page](https://cremationink.com/question-and-answers/faqs-page)