Spirit dye vs Aniline dye

Some time ago, perhaps 17 years, I purchased some black spirit dye from a paint shop in town. It had a texture a bit like raw sugar (kinda like 1mm x1mm x1mm cubes). You mixed the stuff with metho and then brushed it onto timber after which you could apply a clear coat to give the blackest of black a finish as you could get.
The paint shop no longer sells it and I have not been able to find anyone else who does.
I did however find some Aniline black dye. This stuff has a texture of talcum powder and is alcohol/metho soluble. However it does not seem to be completely compatible with spirit dye.
So what I'd like to know is....
1. Does anyone know what the difference between the 2 are?
2. Does anyone know where the old fashioned spirit dye can be bought?

You could probably get the dye crystals from a company the sells restoration supplies like Liberon, VanDyke etc hope this helps.

I googled the other and found that the Aniline is a byproduct of coal tar the mixed with potassium dichromate ??? hope this helps

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Originally Posted by pictureman

I googled the other and found that the Aniline is a byproduct of coal tar the mixed with potassium dichromate ??? hope this helps

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Yeah I googled Aniline dye and was surprised it has been linked to bladder cancer!. Kinda glad I resisted the urge to drink some of it.