Are you considering soy wax for candle making? Or have you tried soy wax and your candles did not turn out the way you wanted? Or are you looking for the best soy wax formula for your candles?
There are many variables involved with candle making in general, such as, pouring temperature, fragrance oils, wicks, dyes, heating temperature and so on. What candle making comes down to is you need find the formula that works for you.
You can form a love hate relationship with soy wax because of its quirks. I prefer to love soy. I love the smell when you melt a giant batch full of soy preparing it for candles or melts.
Trying to find the best wax that suits your candle making style is confusing. Let me help you unravel the confusion.
What a joy it is to go through website after website, soy wax after soy wax to find the wax that best fits you. Actually it is more of a headache.
In my “immature” candle making phase I invested loads of money trying to find the right wax. First I tested paraffin, but then I started to learn about soy and I really liked what soy candle wax was all about.
My first soy candle wax was Plain soy 415 container wax. Since this was a referral from another candle maker, I thought this wax was going to be “the bomb”. I purchased 100 lbs. of it right off the bat without trying it(*blush*). Boy did I go overboard.
I worked with the soy wax and worked with it. I added additives and other goodies trying to make the wax work for me. It just wouldn’t work. There went all that money down the drain . Like I said this was my “immature” phase.
I was on a hunt for an impressive soy wax and through another referral I was told about Nature’s Wax C-1. I was a bit wary about buying, but I took the gentle plunge of 10 lbs. Once I tried this soy candle wax I was hooked. The first pouring I did I didn’t add any additives.
For me, Nature’s Wax C-1 was the soy wax for candle making. This was my ticket for making great candles . I would highly recommend it, but try out a sample first before making a huge investment.
Here is an idea of some soy wax for candle making:
- Golden Soy Blend
- Natures Wax –what I use
- Ecosoya
These are just a few of the many kinds of soy wax. Because soy is very temperamental, find a forum or candle and soap making ning group and look for a candle maker in your state or area and see what they use. That may help you hone in on a potential soy wax. Even ask a reputable wax company about their soy waxes.
I make a soy wax blend. It is not completely soy. I do a 70 soy: 30 paraffin wax ratio. I found that this is a great blend and you still maintain the characteristics of soy wax. I also add 1% vybar to paraffin wax and a UV inhibitor. I only add 1% vybar to paraffin wax because vybar hardens wax. Soy wax is already hard. You don’t want to make it harder. I have tested this soy wax blend with vybar and without. The vybar blend won. I love this mix. I achieve great cold and hot scent throw.
Now if you are looking to make this all soy try adding soybean oil. I haven’t tried that blend, but I have heard good results from it. This blend would work well in making scoopable melts.
Even though soy wax for candle making is temperamental, I wouldn’t let that slow you down in making great soy candles. I like the added benefits to using a more soy characteristic wax versus all paraffin.
Some of the added benefits of soy are:
- Low sooting when burned
- Burns at a cooler temperature
- Great hot and cold scent throws.
- Longer burn times than petroleum based waxes
- Soy wax cleans easier with hot soapy water
Using soy wax requires a lot of patience and testing. Who knows you may get it on the first try. If it takes you longer to find your soy wax combination, don’t give up. I sure didn’t and now I have a lot of happy soy wax blend for candles consumers. If you are interested in a candle testing sheet sign up for my newsletter and receive it for free.
It is a nice helpful tooling to testing your candles with.
The biggest advantage I noticed is that there is low sooting. That in my book is major. If you choose to work with soy wax, then enjoy your soy!
Many Blessings,
P.S. If you have anymore questions about soy wax for candle making come on over to our forum and ask about soy there Candle Marketing Sweeti Forum
