How To Make Soy Candles
Using soy wax for soy candles has been progressing nowadays because soy candles are made using natural materials and the soya candles are better than other candles when it comes to black-free soot. The soy wax for the candles may be a little bit expensive than the paraffin wax but more people prefer this type because it is environment-friendly and nature-based.
Soy wax is natural wax because its materials came from soybeans. The soybean flakes are extracted and hydrogenated to get the oil which is used to make the soy wax. Most of the supply of soybeans came from some states of the United States, particularly from Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. If you have been familiar with the paraffin candles, you probably have noticed the black soot it emits. With the soy candles, the soot emitted is white for a cleaner and nicer appearance.
Making soy candles is similar in procedures with that of the paraffin candle making. You will need the same equipments and techniques as well as the amount of proportions for each ingredient. You can also use the same double boiler, the smaller one on top of the larger one, for melting the soy wax as what you have been using in melting the paraffin wax.
The temperature for heating the soy wax is also the same which is from 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and the soy wax should not be heated directly on top of the stove or keep it heated over 150 degrees for longer period because the color of the soy wax will turn into yellow if that happens.
As soon as the wax is melted, mix the desired color and stir the mixture. The fragrance should be added when the boiler is removed from the stove and the standard amount of fragrance should only be 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil per one pound of soy wax. Too much amount of fragrance oil would ruin the candle. While the mixture is still hot, probably between 95 to 110 degrees, pour it on the candle molds with the wick that you have prepared beforehand and let the candle cool down by itself for hours. The candles will crack if poured cold or cooled using water.
The soy candles and the paraffin candles have so much similarity, but these two kinds of candles also have differences of their own. One big difference of the soy wax from the other wax is its softness. Since soy wax is made from soybeans, it is usually softer. It only means that soy wax should not be used when making novelty candles, taper candles, or pillar candles. Soy wax is good for floating candles and other types that have the size of up to 3 inches in diameters only.
Scented or not scented, candles can be made from paraffin and soy wax. These two kinds of wax can hold scents, fragrances, and colors in the candle. But aside from the usual and ordinary techniques, using new materials for candle making is just like creating new dishes using new recipes.
By using other materials for your handmade candles, you will determine which materials and ingredients are best in producing quality candles. Soy candle may be expensive but it is also eco-friendly and bio-degradable. This way you can have other options not only for your own pleasure but also for your candle making business.
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