You can have much fun making your own soy candles. Making soy candles is more a natural way and goes perfect with all the current discussions about our environment. So we can say it´s the greenway of making candles.
In this outline you can read some basic information about soy candle making and the necessary ingredients and equipment to make beautiful candles at your home. Making candles with soy wax is not so much different compared to candle making with paraffin or beeswax. However, it´s an easier and a cheaper way. I can guarantee much fun making your own candles so you should start and try it. After the first time you present your friend with an individual homemade candle instead of a bought candle from a shop or candle store, you will know the difference.
How to start making your first soy candle?
The best way for beginners starting soy candle making from scratch is making soy container candles. You can use any glass jar from your home. You can also buy special candle jars from a local craft shop or candle accessory online shop. Usually you can find them also at many local retail stores for a budget.
I prefer transparent containers made of glass instead of nontransparent containers made of porcelain, metal or ceramics. Colored candles looking beautiful in a transparent glass jar. Further the candlelight shines more bright through the glass into the room if a candle burned already down a little bit. Using colored glass gives you candlelight in the shade of the glass color.
The container should have a simple form. Straight or narrowed to the bottom so it is easier to place and fix the candlewick and to fill the container with hot melted soy wax.
Why using soy wax?
Using soy wax is a good choice for the environment and in general healthier compared to paraffin wax. Soy wax is made from soy beans and therefore a natural renewable and nontoxic product. Paraffin is a product from oil and refined with different methods.
Soy wax candles burn nearly without any smoke compared to paraffin made candles with almost a soot-blackened smoke. Candles from pure soy wax burn also longer with a natural smell. There is no need to add a fragrance. However, adding a fragrance of your choice can fill up the room with your personal preferred smell which touches your sense.
How to get the correct amount of soy wax?
Handle soy wax is easy as it comes mainly in flake form. You can measure the amount you want to use with a scale. You can use a reliable digital food scale to measure the exact weight. The needed portion of soy wax depends on the container size. You have to consider the soy wax volume in flake form is higher than in the melted condition.
Considering the melted soy wax dense is only a little bit lower than water you can roughly calculate with 1 kg (2.2 lb) for each liter. To be on the save side calculate with 10% on top. You can check the volume of your container by filling it with water and then filling it into a measuring cup. Now you can read the volume. If you know the volume of your container (example: 200ml), you can weigh the soy flakes you need (200ml = 200g + 10% = 220g).
Another method is to tare out the container, fill it with water and weigh it. Now you can use directly the measured weight. Add 10% and you will have the necessary weight for your soy wax you need to fill the container.
How to melt soy wax?
Melt soy wax only in a double boiler. Buying a professional wax melter can be expensive. A special double boiler pot for e. G. heat up milk will do a good job. The highest possible temperature of the wax is the maximum water temperature which is normally 212°F (100°C). The flash point of wax is typically in the range above 300°F (150°C). If you use a double boiler you are on a safe side.
How to build your own double boiler melting soy wax?
You can easy build your own double boiler. Use a larger normal pot and a smaller pot with a spout for pouring the melted wax. Fill the larger pot with roughly two inch of water. Then place a metal item to prevent a direct contact of the smaller pouring pot with the bottom of the larger heating pot. A metal cookie cutter which should not be too small for a stable positioning of the pouring pot works well.
If water evaporates too much fill it up again with some water so the double boiler cannot run dry. The best way to do is to preheat the water you want to fill in so the water in the double boiler remains hot.
Use a thermometer for the right temperatures
A thermometer is a must have item to check the correct soy wax temperature (melting temperature, temperature for add dye and fragrance, pouring temperature) during your soy candle making procedure.
Further I recommend melting the soy wax on an electric stove. An open flame like with gas ovens reaches higher temperatures and can ignite wax vapors more easy.
Using a thermometer you can always control the wax temperature and adjust it to the correct level if necessary.
Add a smell and color during your soy candle making procedure
When your soy wax is melted and has a temperature around +/- 175° F, you can add a dye to get a beautiful color for your candle. The easiest way to do is using a liquid dye. Calculate the necessary number of drops for your melted soy wax and stir the soy wax enough for a binding of the dye with the wax. You can also start with less dye and look at the color result. If you like a stronger color you can fill in more dye until you get your expected result. If you do it in this way the chance is low to get the wrong color by putting in too much dye at the beginning.
At the same temperature you can now put in your fragrance oil of your choice. If you use 1 -1.5 oz of fragrance oil for 1 lb of melted soy wax you will get a wonderful strong smell when you burn the candle. You should stir the soy wax with the fragrance 2-3 minutes to mix it enough.
I recommend to use only quality fragrance oils for candles. You will get fewer problems, especially if you just start making your own soy candles.
Final step of soy candle making
Place the candlewick
As different wax types, fragrances and dyes can have an influence on the wick type and size it´s difficult for beginners to choose the right one. If the flame is too small it´s undersized and if the flame is too big the wick is oversized. If this happens try the next size and look at the result. It´s a learning curve by trial and error.
The easiest way for beginners is using cored wicks for container candles. They contain a core so you get a stiff and unbending wick. Place the wick in the center of the container. You can fix the wick easy with a clothespin placed across the container. After that you can pour the melted soy wax.
Pour the soy candle wax
The necessary pouring temperature depends on the information of your soy wax supplier and the natural wax you use. A rough figure is a temperature between 150° – 160° F for votive and pillar wax and 110° – 135° F for container wax. To follow the instruction for the soy wax you use is the best way to make it right and to achieve the best results.
The containers should at least have room temperature. A little bit warmer can be helpful. Pour the melted soy wax carefully and slowly into the container and please pay attention to the candlewick position. If necessary correct the position after pouring the wax.
Let the soy wax cure at room temperature. At minimum 1-hour for each inch height. The best is to wait 24 hours before you burn your homemade soy candle. To get a great finished surface you can pour an extra layer of hot soy wax on top of the already cured soy candle.
Enjoy your soy candle
Now it´s time to light up your first homemade soy candle. This will be the most exciting time if it is your first candle you made.
Please bear in mind not to place a burning candle under or near flammable materials. You should also never leave a candle alone while burning.
I hope you enjoyed the short outline with some general information about soy candle making. It´s your turn now. Start and have fun.