Why should you learn how to make soy candles? Soy candles are natural and burn cleaner than paraffin candle wax. Their popularity is ever increasing. Although soy wax is a little bit more expensive than paraffin wax, people who have used and made soy candles are quickly becoming addicted to them.
Soybeans are the source of soy wax, which is a vegetable wax. Oil is extracted from soybean flakes, then hydrogenated. The majority of the world’s soybeans are grown in the United States in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.
A lot of people want to know how to make soy candles due to the fact that soy candles are said to burn cleaner compared to paraffin candles. This is true to an extent. Soot is emitted by all candles. There is no way around that. Soy candles emit white soot whereas paraffin candles emit black soot. Soot is not dangerous, but white soot is still a bit cleaner than black soot.
As you learn how to make soy candles, you will discover that the only thing that is really different between making soy candles and paraffin candles is the wax. They both use the same techniques and equipment. Soy wax is melted using a double boiler. A double boiler is a smaller pot with the wax placed in a larger pot full of water that is placed on the stove top. Heat the soy wax to 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful not to keep the melted wax above 150 degrees Fahrenheit for too long because it could burn which will give the wax a yellowish appearance. Ounce the wax is fully melted you can add the color you like. Fragrance can be added after it is removed from the heat.
The amount of fragrance should be always maintained to 7%. What that means is that 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil should be added with 1 pound of soy wax. This should be taken note of when learning how to make soy candles, as excess candle fragrance will result in the bleeding of the candle. The temperature of the soy wax can be around 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit. You can then cool the wax by pouring it into the mold.
The candle could develop cracks if poured at a lower temperature. The wax should be between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Water should never be used for cooling the candle at a faster rate. This could also cause the candle to crack.
Although soy wax candles and paraffin wax candles are mostly the same, there are a couple of differences. As you learn how to make soy candles you will know that soy wax is not suited for some kind of candles, because of its soft nature. For instance, soy wax does not work well when you are trying to make novelty candles. It also does not make good pillar candles. You can also not make taper candles with soy wax. If the diameter is above 3 inches, floating candles can be made.
Soy wax candles and paraffin wax candles are made using the same method, so you can definitely learn how to make soy candles. Making candles is kind of like trying out a new food recipe; sometimes you have to try things one way then the other to see which works best for you. The bottom line is that soy wax and paraffin wax both hold scent and color the same in candles but, it is great to learn how to make a new kind of candle and offer a variety in your candle making whether you are making candles for pleasure or a business.