How to Make Soy Candles

Making soy candles has become very popular among candle makers.  There are many reasons why making candles with soy is preferred by many candle makers over other wax types.  Making soy candles has become increasingly popular not only because of the candle qualities soy wax produces but for health reasons as well.

Many people have increased their awareness in recent years over the safety and welfare of the environment.  Making soy candles contributes to the eco friendly mindset because it is a renewable resource, it does not contain harmful pollutants like its paraffin counterpart, and it burns cleaner than other candle waxes.

Making candles with soy is preferred by many candle makers because it supports the U.S. economy.  Paraffin wax is a petroleum by-product, and most of the oil used in making paraffin wax is obtained from foreign countries.  Patriotic Americans prefer to buy U.S. made products.  Soy candle wax is made by extracting oil from soybean flakes and hydrogenating it.  Making soy candles requires soy wax, so candle makers like the idea of buying a resource that is made primarily from U.S. soybeans.

Many candle makers switched to soy wax for making candles due to health concerns associated with burning candles made with paraffin wax.  Paraffin wax is known to contain chemicals that release toxins into the air when burned.  The fumes emitted from paraffin wax candles have been compared to the exhaust of a diesel truck.  Making soy candles is highly preferred because they are made from a vegetable wax and burn cleaner producing very little soot.

Making soy candles is easy.  The ingredients needed to make a soy pillar candle are:

  • Soy Wax
  • Soy Compatible Fragrance Oil
  • Candle Dye or Colorant
  • Wick
  • Pillar Candle Mold
  • Silicone Mold Release Spray
  • Mold Seal (plug or putty)
  • Wax Thermometer

Assemble the necessary materials, and you are ready to start making candles. In a well ventilated area, apply a thin film of silicone release spray to the inside of the mold. Wipe off any excess.  Insert wick up through mold.  Place wick plug in hole in bottom of mold or seal with wick putty.  Pull wick through, leaving about ¼” on the outside.  Wrap the wick around a Popsicle stick or wooden skewer making sure there is no slack in the wick.

Melt the soy wax.  Add color and blend. Add fragrance oil per manufacturer’s instructions.  Blend well.  Place mold on a flat level surface.  Slowly pour wax into mold when it is between 140 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  Allow candle to harden overnight.  Remove the pillar from the mold by slightly pulling on the wick.  If the pillar does not release easily, place in freezer for a few minutes.  After releasing from mold, allow the soy pillar to cure for at least 24 hours.  Trim wick if necessary.  Pillar candles need to be on a candle plate when burned.

Making soy candles is not difficult at all.  You need just a few basic ingredients and supplies to get started.  Soy wax is sold by the pound and is usually found in one, five and ten pound quantities.  When choosing wicks, be sure to buy wicks that are compatible with vegetable waxes.  Not all fragrance oils are compatible with soy wax.  Most fragrance oil suppliers have a compatibility chart for their fragrance oils.  For example, if a particular fragrance oil is safe for SW, PW, GW, then it is compatible with soy wax, palm wax and gel wax.

You are ready to get started making your own soy pillar candle.  Gather your supplies, and have fun making soy candles!