How To Make Soy Candles
Soy candles are becoming more popular. In comparison with the standard paraffin wax they are natural and burn cleaner. It is no wonder so many people who try soy candle wax fall in love with it. It is a bit more expensive but many feel well worth it.
Soy candle wax is made by hydrogenating soybeans. This vegetable wax burns cleaner that other wax. What makes it burn cleaner is the soot it emits. Soy candles emit a white soot as compared to black soot, which is a little cleaner.
The process for making soy candles is the same as the process for making paraffin candles. Although the wax is different, the techniques and equipment used are the same. Soy wax can be melted with a double boiler. You need to heat the wax to a temperature of between 150 to 180 degrees, but make sure it doesn’t stay above 150 for too long as this can cause it to burn. If your wax has a yellowish look then this is what happened.
Color can be added once the wax is fully melted. The next step is to remove it from the heat and add any desired fragrance. Be sure to use the correct amount of fragrance as too much can cause it to bleed through the candle. Shoot for about an ounce of fragrance oil for every pound of wax. Once the wax reaches the proper temperature, you then pour the wax into the mold.
Let me give you a couple of tips to prevent your candle from cracking. First, do not let the temperature of the wax get too low before you pour it into the mold. Second, do not try and cool the candle too quickly by using water. Keep these in mind and you shouldn’t have any problems with your candles cracking.
Soy wax is great but because it is a softer wax it is not suited for all types of candles. Some examples of the types of candles that do not work well with soy wax are pillar, novelty, and taper candles. Although you can make floating soy candles, they must only be up to 3 inches in diameter.
In general, any candle that can be made with paraffin wax can also be made with soy wax. Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to experiment. Think of it as trying out new food recipes. Try different things and see what works. Although paraffin wax will hold the scent and color the same as soy, it is fun to add some variety to your candle making. Whether you are making candles for business or pleasure, give soy a try and learn how to make a new kind of candle.
