Soy Candle Making Supplies for Those Perfect Candles

So, what are the soy candle making supplies you need? To be able to make a good soy candle, you need to use quality ingredients and good equipment. Soy candle wax, for example, is more expensive than paraffin wax, but the value pays for the extra cost.

When making any kind of candle, the first thing you need to do is gather all the supplies together.  Review the process in your head to make sure that you have everything ready to go.  No matter what you are doing, safety first.  The great thing about making soy candles, or any candles for that matter, is the cleanup is easy.  Soy candle wax is easier to clean up than other candle waxes.

Here are the essential soy candle making supplies that you should have handy:

Soy wax is all natural, derived from soy beans, burns longer and cleaner than paraffin wax. This is a great renewable source of energy.  You can get this wax in a solid block form or soy wax flakes.

You also need a double boiler to melt your wax. A double boiler is safer to use than a homemade set up of a can, sitting on a lifter, inside of a pot containing the boiling water.  This makeshift setup could work, but safety should be the first priority.  The reason you need a double boiler is because the wax is not in direct contact with the heating element or heat source.  The indirect heat of boiling water melts the wax without scorching or burning it.  Invest in a good double boiler.  It will last a long time.

Thermometer tells you exactly what temperature the wax is at.  Remember that you are working with a ‘flammable’ substance that can catch fire!  So, watch the temperature closely to get to that melting point.

You need a stirring spoon, or something to stir the wax as it melts.  This can be metal, wooden, or a heavy plastic.

Next is the wick. A wick is a thread-like string or cord or wooden object that holds the flame in a candle. As you research your wicks, you will find those that are better suited for soy wax.

Did you know you could make soy candles without a wick?  I didn’t.  Those wickless soy candles works with electric candle warmers that are plugged into the wall.

You need to use a mold or container to shape up your candle. Choosing how your candle will look is a fun part of the process.  Once you start to make soy candles, you will be looking at containers differently!  The molds available will ignite your imagination!

Don’t forget to add a scent or fragrance to your melted wax. Always use quality essential oils for your scent. The manufacturer will tell you what the correct temperature is to add the scent.

Choosing the color is an important part of your soy candle.  The rule of thumb when adding color is less is better.  It may take you a few times to determine the exact amount of color to add to get that ‘right look’.  Try both the liquid color dye and the color chips to see which you prefer.

That’s all the soy candle making supplies you need.  Shopping online or at your local craft shop is fun.  The choices are endless.  Once you master the art of making soy candles you will be ready to buy your supplies in larger quantities or at wholesale prices.

The last thought I want to leave you with is always be careful in making your candles.  Have your fire extinguisher close by.  Don’t leave the melting wax unattended. Remember, prevention is always better than the cure.  Have fun making your first soy candles.


Candle Making Tips To Help

Candle Making Tips That Will Help You Be Prepared For Anything

How about a few candle making tips to keep the fun in your projects for both you and your helpers?  This is especially important if you are new to the craft of candle making.  Are you ready for a few surprises?  Prevention and preparedness is the key.

When you start your first few projects, it is a good idea to keep in mind the process all the way through before you begin work.  The candle making tips for today are about accessories that you normally would “not” associate with candle making.  They involve newspaper, cardboard, place mats, and boxes.  See, I told you it would be surprising.  Believe me, you will thank me later, these are important tips for successful candle making projects.

First tip: think clean up!  That’s right, clean up.  If you make a big mess, you may never want to make candles again.  What a shame that would be.

The best thing to do is to take steps up front that will help you make clean up a breeze.  I am a big believer in this tip; prepare your working surface before you even get started.

Pick a nice clear counter top area close to where you stove or heating element is.  Then spread newspapers in the candle making area.

After your counter is covered, you may want to put a second layer of paper.  If you do not have a newspaper, butcher paper works great too and it’s inexpensive.  Next, I like to reinforce my counter protection with additional materials.

You have a couple of options for this.  Lay down some of your old rectangular dinner placemats or old cutting boards.  No cloth, only hard surface materials.  They make great landing pads to organize your work and place your potential spill problems, like coloring agents or scents.  If you spill, it doesn’t do damage to your countertops.  The hard surface pads made of wood, plastic or other materials will withstand and contain spills including hot wax.

No excuses, if you don’t have old placemats or cutting boards, I bet you can get your hands on a big cardboard box and cut out a nice working surface with that.

My husband was a great help when he saw what I was up to.  He went into his shop and cut a piece of plywood into the shape of my kitchen countertop.  Then he cut that piece into three separate sections.  I put it on top of the newspaper; this keeps my counters from getting scratched.

My point here is that proper preparation up front will make it easy to clean up after your project is completed.  More importantly there are no stains or wax on my counter tops.

Are you ready for more candle making tips?  Make a plan for where you keep your candle making supplies, pots, measuring tools, wax and all the other supplies you use.   My advice is to put them all in one place where they will not be disturbed.   Keep an eye out for the cardboard box that is the right size for all your things.  Even better, plastic storage boxes are very reasonably priced, come in all sizes and they have nice lock down lids.  They work great and can be stacked in a closet or out in the garage.  Either way, be creative here and you will find something that will work for you to keep all your candle making supplies in one place.

This is experience talking here.  If a month goes between your projects, you will pull everything out and then disappointment strikes.  There is always something missing!   ”Where is my scale?”  “Where are my measuring spoons?”  Your operation goes on hold as you begin your search for what is missing.  Murphy’s Law – you discover you are missing something important just when your wax is melted and at the perfect temperature.

So remember, plan success by setting up your work area properly and when you are done, have a place for all of your materials where nobody will get in them and move your things around.  I hope these candle making tips have been helpful.

Have fun!


Beeswax Candle Making

Discover the fun of Beeswax Candle Making!

For some reason, beeswax candles are intimidating to many candle makers.  It’s a love/hate relationship.  Either you are going to love beeswax candle making or you won’t like it at all.

When you think about beeswax, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  Did you think about flowers, honey, the smell or the bees?

When bees collect the pollen from flowers it is converted to either the honeycomb or honey.  Honey not used as food is stored for the long winter months, hence the honeycomb.  The honeycomb is designed to raise their brood and store excess honey and pollen.  How the honeycomb is made is fascinating.  Nature’s perfect engineering uses the least amount of wax to hold the maximum amount of honey.

Beeswax is easy to work with, having a lower melting point than other waxes.  Beeswax burns brighter, longer and cleaner than paraffin wax.  Beeswax also puts negative ions into the atmosphere to clean the air and energize the body.

For those who are allergic to scent, beeswax has a sweet natural scent so you don’t need to add more scent in your candles.

Beeswax candle making is an easy process that requires very few materials. When you want to make a beeswax candle, you first need to define what type of beeswax candle you are going to make.

There are two types: the rolled up beeswax and the dipped beeswax candles. These two types both use beeswax but both have different procedures.

Making Rolled Beeswax Candles:

Working with rolled sheets of beeswax is a great way to involve kids.  The supplies you need are sheets of beeswax, wick, a sharp knife and a cutting board.  Beeswax needs to be soft and pliable.  You can warm your beeswax sheet up with a hair dryer or passing over a pot of boiling water.  Make sure not to melt the wax, just warm it up a little.  Also, make sure the room is warm when you are ready to start.

The process is easy.  Basically, it is 4 easy steps.

  1. Place the beeswax sheet on your cutting board or work surface.  Placing a piece of wax paper underneath helps you work with the sheets.
  2. Measure and cut the length of the wick, allowing a one each excess on either end.  Place the wick on the very edge of the beeswax sheet, approximately 1/8th of an inch from the end.  Press down gently making sure the wick is surrounded by wax.  (Note: A word about the wick – use a cotton wick for even burning.)
  3. Roll wax sheet, being careful of the honeycomb pattern, making the rolled candle.  Press the edge to secure it to the rolled candle. (Make sure not to roll up the wax paper.  It will burn!
  4. Choose the best end for the top – trim the wick to ½ inch.  On the bottom of the rolled candle, remove the exposed wick.

Remember to store your completed candles in a cool, dry area.  The rolled up or the pillar beeswax candle is the most simple to make.

The dipped beeswax candle is more complicated than the rolled up kind but not as complicated as what you think. What makes it complicated is that you need more tools and time to make it.

Before you actually make the dipped beeswax candles, you must gather the materials needed like the beeswax, wicks, double boiler, thermometer and a stirrer.

First, you need to melt the wax using your double boiler. Use the thermometer to determine the temperature. Keep it on a temperature recommended by the manufacturer (about 145 to 150 degrees). If you want to use additives like dyes or coloring, mix it in the melted wax. Use a wooden spoon as a stirrer to mix all the ingredients.

After the wax is prepared, you now dip the wicks. You will find equipment that holds your wick while you dip it in the pot of melted wax for a few seconds. Repeat this until you have the desired thickness of your taper candles.  (Note: Look for taper candle dipping molds or taper candle dipping systems at your favorite candle supply store.)

Then let the candles cool completely after dipping. After cooling the candles, then you can light it up and enjoy its wonderful beauty and its aroma.

As you can see, beeswax candle making is relatively easy, and with a dose of creativity, you can use multiple colors or cut different designs to give them a unique look. If you have not tried using beeswax you are in for a great surprise.  There is no feeling quite like enjoying the soft glow and smell of a natural beeswax candle.


All About Soy Candle Wax

Candle making is becoming more popular all the time.  It’s an art form that enthusiasts love to do as their favorite hobby or even a small business. You do not have to be an expert in candle making to make candles.  Making candles is simple and not complicated.

Candles make perfect gifts.  Candles are perfect presents for any occasion; consider them for Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother’s or Father’s Day, Halloween, bridal showers, weddings, new homes; the list is endless.

Soy candle wax is made from renewable, natural ingredients. Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil, burns cleaner and longer than the petroleum based paraffin wax.  Michael Richards invented soy wax in 1992.  Richards wanted to find an alternative for the more expensive beeswax and tested different natural plant waxes. He ended up with vegetable waxes made from soybean oil, coconut oil and palm oil. He also blended beeswax with soy wax to make a clean natural wax candle, with an amazing smell and easier to work with.  It was discovered that soy wax mixes well with fragrance (essential oils) to produce natural scented candles, used in aromatherapy candles.

There are those that prefer making soy candles over using other candle wax.  Here are some benefits of working with soy candle wax:

  1. Soy wax candles are reasonably priced to make. Beeswax, another renewable natural wax, however is more expensive to work with.  The soy bean is a great renewable source and easy to produce.
  2. Soy candles are natural. It does not emit carbon dioxide when it burns, like petroleum products do.
  3. Soy candles produce less ash. Ash is unhealthy and dirty.  Soy candles produce approximately 90% less ash than paraffin candles.
  4. Soy candles last longer. Since the soy beans undergo a hydrogenation process; this process makes the candle harder and last longer than paraffin candles.  A soy candle stores for long periods of time in a controlled, cool environment.  Because of the hardness of the candle, you can use it even on a hot day.
  5. Wax spills are easy to clean up, using hot soapy water.

I hope you see why soy candles are so popular.  The process to make soy candles actually is simple.  You need soy wax, a mold or container, a thermometer, a wick, some scent and dye (or color), a stirrer and a double boiler.

Basically, melt the soy wax in a double boiler. While you are melting your wax, preheat your mold or container so that it is ready to pour wax into it.  Once your wax starts to melt (using your thermometer to get the right melting point), stir in the scent and dye.  Use the stirrer to mix it so that the color and scent are all mixed in.

Prepare your wick. Hold the wick in the center of the mold or container. Once your wax is ready, pour it in the mold or container slowly and carefully.  Allow your candle to cool and then trim your wick!

There you go. You’re done with your soy candle.  It really doesn’t sound hard, does it?  The trick is to prepare all your ingredients and supplies ahead of time so that you are working in a smooth rhythm.  Once you make your first candle, you will be hooked at how easy it is to make!

To make it a perfect gift, wrap a ribbon with an artificial flower glued on the outside of the container. Or place it in a box or in a gift basket.

Now that you know all about soy candle wax and how easy it is, enjoy making your very own soy candle!