How to Make Soy Candles
Soy candles are certainly growing in popularity. Because soy wax is plant-based and made from oil extracted out of soybean flakes which is then hydrogenated, they are natural and of superior quality when burned. Instead of emitting black soot while burning, soy candles emit white soot. It’s therefore perceived to burn “cleaner”, although we know that soot – black or white – is not harmful to people.
How is soy wax different?
Soy wax is softer compared to paraffin, so it doesn’t make the best choice for making certain kinds of candles such as pillar, taper and novelty candles.
Melting soy wax
Working with soy wax is very similar to the techniques you would use with paraffin. You will use a double boiler to melt the wax at a temperature between 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
As with any other kind of wax, be sure to watch the temperature as you heat and melt the wax. Don’t let soy wax heat above 150 degrees for too long because it could burn and turn yellowish in color.
Coloring and scenting soy wax
Once the wax is all melted, add the coloring. You’ll then remove it from the heat source before adding fragrance into it. A 7% fragrance concentration is ideal with soy wax. For example, for every pound of soy wax you’ll add around 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil. Beware not to go beyond 7% or the coloring will bleed through the candle.
The good news is that soy candles hold colors and fragrances pretty well.
Cooling and setting soy wax
Soy wax temperatures can be between 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit when you pour it out to molds to cool. Do not pour it after it gets too cool or the candles could crack. Using water to help cool it down faster could also cause it to crack.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and keep creating when you’re working with different types of wax throughout your candle-making journey. Although soy wax is very similar to paraffin in terms of their properties – how they hold colors, scents and shapes – and the techniques used in crafting them, as you keep experimenting you might find that certain designs work better with certain kinds of wax. Just like trying out recipes, you keep improvising as you create until you get the hang of it.
