Making your own homemade soy wax candles – here we present the best pour methods for soy wax candles. Soy wax candles have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their eco-friendly and health-conscious nature. The use of soy wax, derived from soybean oil, offers numerous advantages over traditional paraffin wax, making it an excellent choice for candle-making enthusiasts.
To achieve various captivating designs and textures, pour methods are employed during the candle-making process. In this article, we will explore different pour methods for soy wax candles and provide a comprehensive guide on how to create unique, visually appealing candles that not only delight the senses but also align with environmental values.
Pour Methods for Soy Wax Candles – What You Need to Know
A lot of people think that you need to heat the wax to 185ºF for making a good soy candle. Well, that’s not true. It will cool fast if you are heating a small batch of wax to pass to a pitcher to cool before hand-pouring it into jars. It means that you only need to heat a soy candle to 10-15 degrees hotter than the ideal pour temperature before pouring it.
The most serious issue here is that of size. The method can work great for a few candles. However, what happens when you need to make 100 pounds or more? How do you keep a high degree of continuity for an extended period?
Why Soy Wax?
Soy is a vegan wax since it is made without the use of any live insects or animals. It’s made from organic soybeans, and Soy grown in the United States has an excellent environmental footprint.
Soy doesn’t emit contaminants such as toluene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, or naphthalene, which contains 90 percent less soot than paraffin wax. It burns cleanly, has no beeswax residue, and leaves no black soot on the walls or upholstery. Soy wax is less expensive to manufacture than beeswax and is water-soluble, making clean-up a breeze.
Choosing The Candle Container
Since soy burns at a high temperature, the container must be able to tolerate it. You may make Candles out of glass, ceramic, or metal. It will cool uniformly. Glass with a thicker bottom and even walls will keep in heat and certainly give you greater adhesion.
You cannot use plastic because it will melt and emit contaminants into the air and spark a burn. Wood and untreated clay pots, such as terra cotta, are too brittle for candles and should be avoided.
Choosing Your Candle Wick
Wood wicks, paper core wicks, and cotton core wicks work well with soy container candles. Use the size recommended by the seller, and then try it to see if it burns properly.
If you’re using wood wicks, make sure they have a tab or a loop at the bottom that can be adhered to the base of your bottle. It is what you’ll need for wood wicks; the wick clip keeps it upright and centered.
A bow tie wick centering system is my choice for cotton and paper wicks. It is because it suits several containers and could be used with a double wick. Your clothespin may also use a clothespin.
Melting Soy Wax
A double boiler or a wax melter are also recommended. Melters have to control the temperature and have an auto shut-off protection mechanism to overheat the wax. If you heat the wax directly in a bath, it will yellow, and you should not reach 200° F for Soy.
To begin, place the parchment paper on the surface. Switch on the wax Melter or fill a big pot halfway with water on the burner. After that, make a double boiler. Then you have to make another pot on top, turn the heat to low, and keep an eye on it.
Slowly drizzle in your soy wax. Now what you have to do is wait for it to melt! This could take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the batch.
Adding Fragrance To Candles
The amount you apply depends on your preference and the density of the oil. Oils, such as those containing vanilla, are more potent than others.
Starting at 6%, or 1 oz. of scent per 16 oz./1 lb. of wax, is a reasonable rule of thumb. The fragrance load recommended by most wax manufacturers is 6-8 percent, with a maximum of 10-12 percent.
Citrus and certain herbal oils, especially those made mainly of essential oils, contain a lower density and can burn off more easily or have an off-flavor. Try blending these oils with a higher-density oil or adding them at a lower temperature.
Because of their high density, most fragrances containing vanillin/vanilla would be easier to deal with. Be sure you’re choosing candle-making oils rather than perfume or cologne which may have several volatile components such as alcohol or dipropylene glycol.
Refer to the advice of the manufacturer for best temperature fragrance applications. To ensure that the wax molecules have sufficiently grown, bring it to a temperature greater than the melting point.
This will fully encapsulate and capture any molecule of fragrances inside the wax. You should apply fragrances between 175 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Before using scent oils, make sure the wax has been cleaned from the heat source.
Adding Extra Oils & Butter To Candles
Massage candles are becoming increasingly common and adding more butter and oils to them will be a fun idea. You should not apply oils and butter to standard candle ventures because they can soften the wax and affect the burn consistency and scent.
Some candlemakers recommend using a small amount of fractionated coconut oil in their soy wax to minimize frosting and improve glass adhesion.
But remember that you have to make the oil the proportion of the fragrance too. Since your wax is similar to a sponge, it can only hold so much oil. Adding coconut oil can help you lower your fragrance load
Pouring Method
The type of wax determines the temperature at which you should pour the wax. Each soy wax blend/brand can have different properties and additives. These factors can affect the temperature of the liquid being poured.
Pouring about 135° F, or just before the wax begins to appear almost opaque, is the industry norm. However, you can pour some waxes at temperatures as high as 160-175° F. Pouring temperatures are also affected by the temperature of your workspace, where your candles will cool, and you may need to raise your pouring temperature on a cold day.
If you’re hand pouring, make sure to keep each candle’s temperature as consistent as possible. However, keep in mind that any temperature loss is unavoidable. Losing a couple of degrees does not make that much impact. However, if you do get distracted for a few minutes along the way, the difference might be significant enough to make the last few candles look entirely different from the others.
If you’re mainly batching with our melters, keep in mind that they’re made to retain heat rather than lose it. And that’s why you don’t have to heat the wax to 185ºF before starting to pour. Instead, maintain the temperature 10-15 degrees higher than the pouring temperature.
Traditional Pour Method
The traditional pour method is the foundation of soy wax candle making. It involves melting the soy wax, adding fragrance and color, and pouring the mixture into molds. This method is suitable for beginners and allows for experimentation with different additives and shapes.
Container/Heatproof Pour Method
Ideal for creating scented candles in heatproof containers, this method simplifies the process of candle making. Pouring the melted soy wax directly into containers saves time and effort and produces stunning results, especially when using transparent containers to showcase layered designs.
Layered Pour Method
The layered pour method adds visual interest to soy wax candles by creating multiple colored layers. This technique allows for artistic expression, enabling candle makers to blend colors creatively and produce eye-catching candles.
Swirled Pour Method
With the swirled pour method, you can achieve elegant and sophisticated patterns in your soy wax candles. By combining different colored waxes and employing specific swirling techniques, you can create mesmerizing designs that add a touch of luxury to your candles.
Marbling Pour Method
The marbling pour method involves mixing contrasting colors of soy wax in a way that creates intricate and beautiful marble patterns. Each candle becomes a unique work of art, and experimenting with different color combinations can yield stunning results.
Fragrance and Color Considerations
Selecting the right fragrance oils is essential in ensuring your soy wax candles emit delightful scents. Additionally, you can use dyes or natural colorants to enhance the visual appeal of your candles, complementing their overall aesthetic.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Despite following the pouring methods diligently, candle makers may encounter common issues such as sinkholes, frosting, or poor fragrance throw. Understanding these problems and their solutions will help achieve better results in candle making.
Candle Clean-Up
Since most of the pouring pitchers are aluminum, you cannot wash them in the dishwasher. Cleaning almost all equipment and surfaces using hot soapy water or isopropyl alcohol is an easy option.
Curing Candles
It is a topic on which creators sometimes disagree. In the process of bonding, soy wax encloses/traps oils scent. Unlike paraffin wax, Soy doesn’t immediately release or evaporate scent and requires a longer time to tie together.
Allowing the candle to cure (rest) for a few days before burning would cause the soy wax and all the fragrance molecules to completely bond together. Cure periods can be 3-4 days and may not exceed two weeks. Your tests will help you determine how long it takes to reach the perfect hot toss.
Pour Methods for Soy Wax Candles FAQs
Q: Are soy wax candles safe to burn indoors?
A: Yes, soy wax candles are safe to burn indoors as they produce minimal soot and are non-toxic.
Q: Can I reuse old containers for making soy wax candles?
A: Yes, as long as the containers are heatproof and clean, you can reuse them for soy wax candle making.
Q: What is the average curing time for soy wax candles?
A: The average curing time is around 2 to 3 weeks, but longer curing periods can lead to improved fragrance.
Q: Can I mix different fragrance oils to create custom scents?
A: Yes, mixing fragrance oils allows you to create unique and custom scents for your candles.
Q: Is it necessary to add colorants to soy wax candles?
A: No, it is not
Q: Why is candlewick drowning?
A: Take a closer look at your candle container, which is always overlooked as a cure to a drowning candlewick. Have you admired the wax for changing the shape of the candle jar? Or overfill the jar to the point that the wick and melt pool are trapped?
The sleeve is probably too small for the candle’s diameter. You can equate the scale of your bowling wick to the size of your pot with printable candle-lining charts in the Simple Living Library.
Q: How should you fix the sinkhole of the candle?
A: When candle wax melts, it expands and then shrinks as it cools. Sinkholes develop in candles as the wax cools too quickly. And it prompted one of two things: you either dumped a wax of candle into the cold candle or poured it into a warm bucket of candles. Otherwise, the candle wax would have been spilled too warm and couldn’t cool.
A sinkhole emerges around or above the candlewick as this occurs. What is the best way to repair a sinkhole in a candle? Remove the skin hole with a heat tool. Hold the heat gun from the candle about six to eight inches, turn it around to melt the wax until it is full of the sinkhole.
Q: How should you remove the candle wax from the glass?
A: The only way to strip candle wax from glass is to freeze it. Remember that as candle wax cools, it shrinks. Then, put a few hours in the freezer for the glass candle pot.
With the aid of a butter knife to remove it, the wax typically comes right out as you pull it out of the fridge. And, if the jar is dishwasher dry, rinse it with soap and water or put it in the dishwasher.
This procedure could be preferable if you have many glass containers from which to extract candle wax. Remove the wick with a spoon or butter knife and as much candle wax as you can. Then, using two layers of parchment paper, line a deep baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 180° and put every jar of candles into the oven. Allow 15 minutes for the candle wax to melt, inspecting often. Take the baker gently from the oven and put it on a heat-proof table.
Then put the melted candle wax with a towel or hot pad in a hollow glass or metal pot in Empty pasta jars or a coffee tin serve well. Allow the wax to cool before discarding the old wax. Dip your surplus wax into an old baker and dip pinecones in to make a DIY Firestarter.
It’s good to do whatever you want with the wax as long as you don’t splash it down the sink or into a plastic garbage bag. Enable for cooling after extracting the molten candle wax from each tub. Rinse with soap and water or a ball of cotton that is immersed in vinegar to clear the waxy traces.
Pour Methods for Soy Wax Candles Conclusion
Soy wax is a budget-friendly and beginner-friendly wax. Soy is well-known and sought after in the industry, where natural ingredients/products are in high demand. Although soy candles have a more delicate smell, they still retain their scent and emit less soot than other wax varieties.
Both characteristics to be sought in soy wax can be a considerable fragrance charge potential (10%+), strong glass adhesion, and intense cold and hot throw. If you’re concerned about the climate, look for non-GMO products produced in the United States.