How to Make Soy Candles in 9 Easy Steps
I would like to share with you how to make soy candles right from your home kitchen. Soy candles are probably the easiest candles to make compared to other types of candles like paraffin candles. You can buy all the materials you need to make a soy candle from the internet or from any local hobby shop or craft store. Lots of people prefer soy candles over traditional candles because they retain their scents longer. Soy candles are also cheaper than beeswax candles and plus they use all natural ingredients. Another reason why soy candles are so popular is that they produce a lot less soot compared to a paraffin wax candle and they are easy to clean up after you make your candle. Soy candles wax are made from plant oils which is a lot more environmentally friendly compared to other candles that use petroleum in their wax.
When you are ready to buy your supplies for your soy candle keep in mind that you can mix and match scents for your soy candle. You can mix different types of fragrances to get the one that you like the best. Typical soy candles uses about a pound of wax, but remember to make your fragrance oil before you add it to your wax. Here are a few of the BASIC steps required to make a soy candle:
Step 1
Decide on how many soy candles you want to make. If you are planning on using a votive candle it takes about two ounces of wax per votive.
Step 2
Decide what type of mold you want to use for your candles. You can choose from cartons or metal molds and you can cut them to the desired height. If your children want to try making candles, they should start by making short candles because it will be easier for them to insert the molds into the wax.
Step 3
Next, spray the inside part of your mold with silicone, or you can use a light wipe of vegetable oil. Then you cut a wick which is two to three inches longer than the mold. Attach a tab and stick it to the center of the bottom part of the mold with a little spread of melted wax. You can use a chopstick across the top of the mold so that it can be centered and straightened.
Step 4
Now you need the wax. To find out how much wax you will need, you must pour water into the mold and mark the level you desire. After you have marked the level, you can empty the mold. Be sure to keep the mold dry.
Step 5
Melt your wax and make sure you are doing this in a controlled area and you are a control method to regulate your temperature.
Step 6
Once the wax is melted you need to add your color to your wax. Be very careful when adding color to your wax to make sure you don’t’ get burned by the wax. You need to have something like a flat bottomed wire whisk to stir the color into the wax.
Step 7
Add your fragrance oil to the wax and you should mix this into the wax for at least two minutes. This will ensure your fragrance oil is well blended into the wax.
Step 8
Pouring your wax into your votive. Your votive needs to be slightly above room temperature when you pour the wax into the votive.
Step 9
Once your wax has cooled down some you want to add your candle wick. Let your candle cool in a natural manner, but before the wax gets to hard you want to insert your full extended wick.
Now you are done and you just have to wait for the candle to completely cool down. Keep in mind that these steps are just very basic steps and to really make a soy candle you will need to understand each step in greater detail. I hope I have given you a general idea of how to make a soy candle. May your candle burn bright.
The Author:
Sean Templeton has been writing about candle making for several years.
Photo. Yan Krukov
Source: Ab
My soy candles will not burn. Extra, different wicks do not help. Can you give me some suggestions?
It’s possible that the soy wax you are using is too hard or dense, which could be why different wicks aren’t helping. Try using a softer, more flowy soy wax or adding in some coconut oil to make the wax more pliable. You may also want to check the temperature at which you are pouring the wax into the container – if it’s too hot, it can affect the way the candle burns.
I would like to get molds to make x-mas candles, is soy wax good for that?
Yes, soy wax is a great choice for making Christmas candles, as it is a natural and eco-friendly material that produces a clean burn. Look for silicone or metal molds specifically designed for candle making to ensure that your finished candles come out perfectly every time. You could also experiment with different scents and colors to create a truly unique and festive holiday candle.