How to Guide for Aromatherapy Soy Candle Making

Soy candle making is different than making candles with other waxes. And it’s also an art to scenting them with real essential oils (far different than “fragrance” oils) to make sure the scent binds to the wax. But soy candle making can be mastered and be very fun!

With practice, you’ll learn to make them with ease. Soy wax calls for specific measures to make sure the soft wax molds properly and the scents adhere to the soy wax. To get used to soy candle making, I suggest first making poured soy candles (poured into a container and meant to stay in it while burning). In fact, if any type of candle making, including soy candle making, is new to you, you might want to get your feet wet by just buying and trying a soy wax candle kit at your craft store before venturing on your own. But, this article covers the how-tos for both poured and molded (those that stand on their own without the container) soy candles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soy candle wax (see article for which type)
• Candle containers or molds (amount of wax needed for the size of mold or container should be available from the soy wax package or supplier)
• Wick (wick package or supplier will tell you what size is needed for the type and size of candle you’re making).
• Container for melting and pouring the wax. A double boiler and glass pitcher can work, or get a special candle pitcher at a craft store that can be set inside a larger pan of water for melting.
• Essential oils of your choice.
• Optional candle dye (not food or soap coloring – these are water based and won’t work).
• Optional silicon spray to help candle release from mold

1. Choose your soy wax according to whether it will be molded (stand on its own) or stay in a poured container. Soy wax for molded candles needs to be harder than that for poured candles. The supplier should tell you which is which. Usually, stand-alone soy candles made at home are small. The larger commercial ones use special equipment to get the soft wax to work in larger sizes. If this is your first attempt at soy candle making, poured candles are suggested.

2. Melt the wax to about 170 degrees F.

3. Add the dye. In soy candle making, the wax sometimes has trouble binding with dye. So, add any candle dye you desire now, but first shake the dye very well before putting it in the melted wax if it's liquid dye. The candle dye instructions will tell you how much to use according to the size of your candle.

4. Stir the wax with the dye for at least two minutes using a whisk to get the dye to bond with the soy wax. At this point, some people also add a uv inhibitor so their soy candles won’t fade in sunlight or strong fluorescent light. Your choice. Amount will be given on the uv inhibitor depending on the size of your candle.

5. Add true essential oils. Aromatherapy soy candle making means you'll be using true essential oils. You’ll need less essential oils than you would a fragrance oil, often only about ¼ the amount called for with fragrance oils. Because soy wax often calls for one ounce of artificial fragrance oil per 16 ounces of melted wax, do the math to adjust to essential oils.

6. Make sure the temperature is at least 170 to allow the oil to bind, but not hotter than 185. The oils will dissipate in the heat if it’s too hot, and not much will be left for your hardened candle.

7. Once the temperature is correct, add the essential oils and again stir for at least two minutes with the whisk to make sure the oils bond with the wax.

8. Spray with silicon if needed. If using metal molds for stand-alone soy candle making, special silicon spray can be purchased to spray onto the mold to help release the cooled candle. Do that now if this is the case.

9. Prepare the wick in the mold. Many people just tie the wick to a pencil which is laid across the mold or container, with the remaining wick dangling to the bottom of the mold or container. If the wick seems to need weight to keep it straight, you can dip it in the melted wax and let it cool while holding it straight before putting it into the mold or container.

10. Pour the wax. Reduce the temperature to between 95 and 110. Soy candle making means pouring soy wax at the correct temperature which reduces the frosted look soy candles sometimes pick up. And if you pour it too hot, it will harden unevenly at the top. The candle will still burn fine, but won't look as nice. Though not essential, it can help to have the molds be a little warm, just above room temperature when pouring. Not cold and certainly not hot.

11. Cool them off. Soy candle making avoids "quick cools" that other types of wax suggest. Allow your soy wax candles to cool naturally without hurrying the process (such as with dipping molds into ice water) to keep the new soy candle from cracking.

12. Cut off wick to about a quarter inch. Cure for at least 24 hours. Remove from mold if you soy candle is a molded one, and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• If your candle does end up hardening with an uneven or lumpy look at the top, heat the top slightly with a hairdryer to soften and even it out. Let it cure again for 24 hours.
• Wax gets very hot and can burn
• Never leave a burning or smoldering object unattended
• Author disclaims liability and offers article for educational purposes only.
• Articles by this author are registered with the national copyright office.
• Parents are responsible for any activities involving their children.

[healthymomof5]

on 2/6/2009 Really great information!5*