How to Make Soy Candles

Soy Candles are a preferred choice when it comes to clean burning. Paraffin wax is known to leave more soot than soy, so it is better for the environment and you as well.

Soy Candles start out like any candle, but instead of paraffin wax the material used is soybean wax flakes. You’ll want to have an apparatus in melting the flakes, perhaps in a double boiler or some other container for melting. Keeping a thermometer inside if you are melting the flakes in a pot over the stove. All wax and soybean flakes have a flash point so a slow and steady melt is a safe way of regulating it. Melting temperatures for soybean flakes should be no higher than 180 degrees.

Once the flakes have melted it is the perfect consistency for adding in fragrances, oils or other materials such as flowers, crushed herbs, dyes and the like. Soybean wax will dry white. In order to have consistent smelling or dyed candles, stir thoroughly for at least a minute.

Bringing the temperature down to 150 degrees is helpful when transferring the melted wax to the containers the candle is to be housed in. If you are going to be using molds, such as votive or pillar candles, the trick is to keep the molds warm before pouring the hot wax into them to prevent cracking.

After the wax is poured into the molds or containers, this is the time to add the wicks. If the wicks create a blemish in the center, use a heat source such as a blow torch for touch up. Dry for at least several hours.