How To Make Soy Candles
The popularity of making soy candles is flourishing since they are natural and burn cleaner then a paraffin wax candle. Many people prefer making soy candles for these reasons, and although it may be a bit more expensive then paraffin wax, they are quickly becoming hooked on them.
Soy wax comes from soybeans where the oil is extracted from the soybean flakes and hydrogenated. From the United States in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana is where the vast majority of the world’s soybeans are grown. The belief that soy wax burns cleaner then paraffin wax candles is true to a degree. When any candle is burned, it emits soot which is not harmful to people. Although, paraffin candles emit a black soot when burned as apposed to soy candles that emit a white soot that is a little cleaner.
When making soy candles or paraffin candles, the techniques and equipment are the same. The only real difference is the wax. A double boiler is primarily used to melt the wax. By placing a smaller pot containing your wax into a larger pot filled with water and heating it between 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit will melt the wax evenly. Be sure not to have the temperature of the stove to high to reduce the risk of burning the wax, that would give it a yellowish appearance. With the wax fully melted you could now add any color of your choice, then remove it from the heat to add your fragrance. The ratio of 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil for every one pound of soy wax will yield an optimal 7% fragrance concentration by weight. If you make the fragrance concentration too high, it could bleed through the candle. Once the wax is about 95-110 degrees Fahrenheit, pour it into your mold and allow it to cool. It is important not to let the wax become too low of temperature when pouring into your mold or your finished candle could crack. Similarly, never use water to cool the candle quickly since this will also cause the candle to crack.
With the many similarities between making soy candles and paraffin wax candles, there are also some differences. Depending on the type and style of the candle you are making may determine the type of wax you will use. Soy wax is not the most suitable wax for many novelty candles since it is a much softer wax. Soy wax is not ideal for taper or pillars candles because they require a much firmer wax. Floating candles made of soy wax can be successfully created if they are not more then 3 inches in diameter.
Making soy candles is like creating a new food recipe. With experimentation and determination, you can try things out one way and then another to see what works best for you. If you can make candles using paraffin wax, you can make candles from soy wax. Both hold scent and color in the same ways. It is always great to learn different types and styles of candles to offer a stunning variety in your candle making whether you are making candles for business or pleasure.
Making soy candles can be extremely fun and lucrative. As always try out many different types of scents and molds to see which you like the best.
Do you know which it will be?
