SOY Candles

How to Make Soy Candles at Home

How to make SOY candles . . .Mmmm . .

I remember when I was in 4th grade, I made candles with crayons after I saw instructions on how to make candles in a magazine. I used candle wax from regular white candles and dyed the wax by adding various colors of crayons. Then I molded candles using a small container and used braided cotton thread for wicks.

The end result was some very colorful candles, and I kept them for several years. Making candles was an entertaining and exciting experience at the time. Unfortunately, infused in my memory was the fact that the candles didn’t smell good when they were burned. That was the reason why I kept them so long but didn’t want to use them.

Are they better than normal paraffin candles?

The benefit of soy candles is that they don’t release as much carbon dioxide into the air as normal wax candles, so they are safer candles both for you personally and for the environment as a whole. Some research even shows that burning candles doesn’t increase the carbon dioxide levels in the air at all.

The best thing about natural candles is that candles are organic; another plus is that they are much cheaper than beeswax. They are made of soy wax, which comes from soybean oil, a renewable source of energy.

Paraffin candles are made from petroleum, which is why it is hard to clean up paraffin wax when it has spilled. But since candles are all natural, spilled soy wax is much easier to remove from your furniture or carpet with hot soapy water. Candles can also last up to 50% longer than paraffin candles.

In addition,

Soy candles produce 90% less soot than paraffin candles, which results in a cleaner burn that both your respiratory system and your house will appreciate in the long run. Because of the large liquid wax pool that forms around the candle’s wick while it’s burning, more essential oils are evaporated into the atmosphere than are when a paraffin candle is used.


In summary. . .

Soy candles are a great natural alternative to beeswax and are cost effective. They are easy to make and are also much easier to clean up. It is also safe to put the utensils you used to make the candles in the dishwasher. When made with high-quality fragrance oil, soy candles can be used for home remedies to relax or to relieve pain.

To How to Make Soy Candles

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Materials:

• 1 lb. of soy wax (=16 oz.)
• 1 oz. of fragrance oil (1 fl oz. of fragrance oil will scent 16 oz. of melted wax.)
• Wax dye (blocks, chips, or liquid)
• 1 cotton wick (For two jars, you will need two wicks.)
• 1 16-oz Mason jar or two 8-oz Mason jars (All you really need is a dry, clean jar. If you have a jar you’ve saved that you would like to use, go right ahead.)

Fragrance Oil:

• The right amount of fragrance oil is the key to make good candles. Soy wax can’t absorb excess fragrance oil.

1 oz. of fragrance oil (=2 TBS or 6 tsp.)=16 oz. soy wax.

Wicks:

The bigger the diameter of your jar, the thicker your wick will need to be. The easiest way to obtain a wick is by buying one wick that already has an attached metal disc.

Or if you prefer, buy the cotton wick and metal disc separately and attach them yourself after measuring your candle’s height.

The HTP series are preferable for use in soy candles, because they have a self-trimming wick and are rigid instead of slack, which makes it easier to keep the wick in the center of the candle when making it.

The HTP wicks are also especially well-suited for tough-to-burn formulations that contain many additives. When you go to a local store like Michael’s, Robert’s, or Joann’s Craft, you can simply choose your wick by measuring the wick inside the jar.

• General tabbed wicks-The metal disc is crimped onto the bottom of the wick (pre-cut at 6 ¾ in.).
• A cotton wick for a larger jar- Depends on how large of a jar you use. (You can get them pre-cut at 6 ¾ in. long or buy a roll of cotton wick.)

Soy Wax Blocks and Flake Wax:

The flake wax is easier to measure and to use, especially because it melts more evenly than wax that comes in a block. If you prefer the block wax, break the wax with a knife or screw driver before you use it.

You can check a local store or the internet to purchase soy candle materials. Remember that you can’t make good-quality soy candles without good-quality materials.

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Wax Dyes:

• Blocks: Chunks of colored wax. Break off pieces and add to melted wax. Inaccurate because it’s tedious to measure.
• Chips: Like a large pill. Quite accurate and less tedious to measure.
• Liquid: Highly concentrated liquid dyes. 4-5 drops=1 pound of melted wax. (1 ounce=about 960 drops) Accurate because it’s easy to measure.

Effects of Scented Herb Oils

Here is some information about fragrance oils. Choose the fragrance you desire or make one yourself.

• Peppermint—helps in digestion. Temporarily relieves respiratory problems including nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, cold and cough. A home remedy for nausea, headaches, stress, and anxiety.
• Pine tree—increases metabolism. Home remedy for joint pain, arthritis, and rheumatism. Emotional benefits=energizing feeling that removes anxiety and nervous tension. Useful for loss of concentration and memory loss.
• Cinnamon fragrance oil—boosts brain activity, a good brain tonic. Removes nervous tension and alleviates memory loss. Refreshing aroma. Digestive tonic. Mosquito repellent. However, it often causes irritation and allergic reactions.
• Green apple fragrance oil—boosts energy, increasing vitality. It helps detoxify the body, counter symptoms of rheumatism, and make the eyes strong.
• Green tea fragrance oil—relaxer, reduces backache or headache. Provides fresh, crisp scent, so it can be used as an air freshener. Fragrance alleviates stress.
• Lemon—stimulates your brain to focus/concentrate on work or study – increases productivity. Helps to keep insects away.
• Orange blossom—relaxes your body to improve sleep at night. Calming and soothing effect for insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
• Rosemary— calming effect on the nervous system when arthritis, bronchitis, and colds appear. Brings clarity of thought.
• Vanilla—for a mellow, relaxing atmosphere or entertaining background. Commonly used in exhibitions and open houses.
• Jasmine—uplifts your mood, alleviating tension. Works as an anti-depressant. Activates the immune system, builds energy, and stimulates alertness.
• Lavender—relieves headaches, insomnia, anxiety depression, and motion sickness.
• Basil—promotes alertness and concentration. Stimulates the nervous system. Encourages a positive attitude, relieves migraines, and helps digestion.
• Eucalyptus—relieves chest problems, such as asthma, coughs, sinusitis, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Remedy for rheumatism and arthritis. Repels insects.
• Aromatherapy-provides relief from stress and headaches. Muscle relaxer. Regulates hormones, boosts mood, improves sleep, and stimulates the immune system. Improves blood circulation.

How to Make Soy Candles

1. In a pan, slowly heat the soy wax on medium temperature until it has completely melted.
2. Remove from heat. Add your fragrance oil and stir it until all the fragrance oil is absorbed evenly by the soy wax. (If you want to add color, add wax dye according to the instructions on the label.)
3. Gently pour the melted soy wax into the jar and position the wick in the center. To keep the wick in the center, attach the wick to a small stick or pin and lay it across the jar, so it doesn’t shift position.
4. When the wax has become a solid, trim the wick to 1/2 in.
5. Light your soy candle. Relax your body and enjoy the fragrance!

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Tips:

Even though soy candles are organic and natural, they should not be used in a small room without circulating air.

To reduce the formation of smoke, a wick dipper can be used to straighten the candle’s wick. A trimmed wick of about 5 mm. will make your soy candle last longer without producing excessive amounts of smoke.

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Making soy candles with SOY DIET