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Ideas for Making Soy Candles

Bidisha Mukherjee
Candle making doesn't have to be a boring activity. There are many interesting ways to make them. This information gives you a few ideas for making soy candles. These ideas are quick, easy, interesting, and extremely fun.
Soy candles have become extremely popular for a number of reasons. Since soy wax is cheaper than bee wax, they are comparatively cheaper, since they are fragrant of soy, they don't need to be scented exclusively, and since they are made out of a natural substance like soy, they don't produce any smoke.
These factors have made soy candles an instant favorite and it seems they are here to stay in the long run. They can be made either with wicks or without wicks. This information discusses a few ideas for making both the kinds of soy candles. Rest assured that these ideas are extremely simple, methodical, and practical.

Instructions

● In a double boiler, add one pound of soy wax and heat it at a temperature of 175 degrees. Maintain a check on the temperature with the help of a thermometer.
● Once the wax has completely melted, add a color of your choice to it. Be careful while adding color, since once added, the color can't be separated from the wax. A general rule of thumb to follow is to add twelve drops of dye or color to one pound of soy wax.
● Soy is fragrant and has its own distinct smell. Still, if you wish to add a special fragrance to the candles, you can do so by adding essential fragrant oils to the molten wax.
One and a half ounce of fragrant liquids is more than sufficient for a pound of soy wax. Blend the ingredients of soy wax, color, and fragrance (if any), extremely well to get an evenly distributed mixture.
● Lower the temperature of the heat to 150 degrees Celsius and transfer the molten mixture into molds or containers.

● It is at this point of time that you should insert the wick into the candle. Hold one end of the wick and immerse three-fourth of it into the molten wax. The wicks can be the same as those used in paraffin wax candles.
● Allow this arrangement to stand for about 4-5 hours and don't disturb it by trying to shift its position or change its location.

● Once the wax has hardened completely, remove the candle out of the container gently. Do this once you are absolutely sure that the wax has hardened completely. Wait for 2-3 days before you light the candle.

Tips

● Avoid using food colors or food additives for making soy candles as they tend to clog the wick and the wax melts out sooner.
● Make sure that the fragrances or essential oils you add to the wax are soy-compatible.
● You may add UV inhibitor to the wax which prevents the wax from melting when exposed to direct sunlight or artificial light.
● After insertion of the wick, you will see that a small hole forms at the center of the candle. To close this hole, bring a hot flame near the top of the candle which will melt the wax near the top and fill up the hole.

Candle Designs

Soy candles can be made in different shapes and sizes and used for decorative purposes.
If you wish to have flower bases for your candles, you can use dried petals of various flowers, like, rose, jasmine, zinnia and so on. Even dried herbs can be used for the same purpose.
Just add the petals into the molten soy wax. It will look beautiful and smell good too. Molds in the shape of various fruits like apples, oranges, grapes, water, melons, etc., can be used to create soy candles. Add the respective color and fragrance to the wax and you have amazing fruit-soy-candles ready to be used.
Similarly, you can make candles in the shape of seashells. Soy candles in the shape of seashells, in your room, will remind you of the sandy beaches. However, try to avoid candles with dipped tappers as the set up time for soy wax is too long.
If candle making is your hobby or you have been contemplating about starting your own business, you can use these ideas which can serve both the purposes.
That means, these methods can be used for making candles on a large scale as well. Don't forget to explore your creative side and make your soy candles as distinguished as possible.