the soy candle making book

The Soy Candle Making Book for Hobby or Business

The information contained in this book is for informational purposes only.

Any advice including legal or financial, that I give is my opinion based on my own

experience. You should always seek the advice of a professional before acting on something

that I have published or recommended.

Since candle making involves wax, oils and heat, please understand that it is more of a

risky hobby or business. I cannot be held responsible for any harm or damages to yourself or

property, that may occur while you are making your candles while using recipes and advice

from this book. You agree to use due caution when working around melting wax on the heat

source, and while burning your candles.

Please understand that there are some links contained in this guide that I may benefit

from financially. The material in this book may include information, products or services by

third parties. Third Party Materials comprise of the products and opinions expressed by their

owners. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third Party material or

opinions. The publication of such Third Party Materials does not constitute my guarantee of

any information, instruction, opinion, products or services contained within the Third Party

Material. The use of recommended Third Party Material does not guarantee any success and or

earnings related to you or your business. Publication of such Third Party Material is simply a

recommendation and an expression of my own opinion of that material.

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2014 Melissa Hall. All Rights Reserved.

Visit www. SoyCandleMakingTime .com

Table of Contents

My Story....................................................................................................................................................9

Preface......................................................................................................................................................13

Understanding Candle Wax......................................................................................................................14

Other natural waxes used in candle making........................................................................................15

Pros and Cons of Soy Wax..................................................................................................................15

About the Ingredients...............................................................................................................................17

Soy Wax...............................................................................................................................................17

Types of Soy Wax...........................................................................................................................20

Fragrance Oils.....................................................................................................................................25

Soy Candle Fragrance List..............................................................................................................30

Wicks...................................................................................................................................................32

Wick Types and Sizes.....................................................................................................................35

Jars and Containers..............................................................................................................................50

Wick Stickers.......................................................................................................................................51

Dye......................................................................................................................................................53

Supply List and Other Useful Info...........................................................................................................56

Color Mixing Chart.............................................................................................................................57

Measurement Conversions..................................................................................................................59

Burn Times..........................................................................................................................................59

Soy Candle Recipes.................................................................................................................................60


Soy Jar/Container Candles..................................................................................................................61

Wickless Candles.................................................................................................................................67

Soy Tealights.......................................................................................................................................69

Soy Votives..........................................................................................................................................70

Soy Tarts/Melts....................................................................................................................................75

Advanced Soy Candle Recipes................................................................................................................77

Vanilla Cake Soy Chunk Candle.........................................................................................................77

Layered Soy Container Candles..........................................................................................................84

Swirl Candles......................................................................................................................................87

Sliceable Wax Loaf..............................................................................................................................93

Soy Whipped Frosting.....................................................................................................................99

Testing Your Soy Candles......................................................................................................................102

Cleaning Your Equipment......................................................................................................................109

Scent Mixing..........................................................................................................................................110

A Few Fragrance Recipes..................................................................................................................112

Using Essential Oils...............................................................................................................................113

Candle Labels.........................................................................................................................................114

Warning Labels..................................................................................................................................114

Decorative Tags and Labels...............................................................................................................115

Designing Your Tags.....................................................................................................................115

Starting a Business.................................................................................................................................118


I would love to add a whole section on starting a candle business here in this book, but it is such an

extensive subject, that it really needs it's own book!.............................................................................118

I have plans to start writing it, but in the mean time, there are some excellent articles on my website

that can get you started and informed! Just go to http://www.soycandlemakingtime.com/start-here and

scroll down to the business section. And, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!...............118

Troubleshooting......................................................................................................................................119

Frosting.........................................................................................................................................119

Sink Holes.....................................................................................................................................120

No Hot Throw...............................................................................................................................121

No Cold Throw.............................................................................................................................122

Wick Mushroom...........................................................................................................................122

Melt Pool Too Deep......................................................................................................................122

Melt Pool Too Shallow.................................................................................................................122

Rough Tops...................................................................................................................................123

Smoking Wick..............................................................................................................................123

Wick Won't Stay Lit......................................................................................................................123

Color Fading.................................................................................................................................123

Candle is Tunneling......................................................................................................................124

Oil Seeping Out of the Wax..........................................................................................................124

Candle Testing Sheets............................................................................................................................125

Friends and Family Test Sheets.........................................................................................................127

Candle Making Suppliers.......................................................................................................................128

Suppliers in the USA.........................................................................................................................128

Alabama........................................................................................................................................128


Alaska..........................................................................................................................................129

Arizona.........................................................................................................................................129

Arkansas.......................................................................................................................................129

California.....................................................................................................................................130

Colorado.......................................................................................................................................130

Connecticut..................................................................................................................................130

Delaware......................................................................................................................................130

Florida..........................................................................................................................................131

Georgia.........................................................................................................................................131

Hawaii...........................................................................................................................................131

Idaho............................................................................................................................................131

Illinois..........................................................................................................................................132

Indiana.........................................................................................................................................132

Iowa.............................................................................................................................................132

Kansas..........................................................................................................................................133

Kentucky......................................................................................................................................133

Louisiana......................................................................................................................................133

Maine...........................................................................................................................................133

Maryland......................................................................................................................................134

Massachusetts..............................................................................................................................134

Michigan......................................................................................................................................134


Minnesota.....................................................................................................................................134

Mississippi...................................................................................................................................135

Missouri.......................................................................................................................................135

Montana........................................................................................................................................136

Nebraska......................................................................................................................................136

Nevada.........................................................................................................................................136

New Hampshire...........................................................................................................................136

New Jersey...................................................................................................................................136

New Mexico.................................................................................................................................137

New York.....................................................................................................................................137

North Carolina.............................................................................................................................137

North Dakota...............................................................................................................................138

Ohio.............................................................................................................................................138

Oklahoma.....................................................................................................................................139

Oregon.........................................................................................................................................139

Pennsylvania................................................................................................................................140

Rhode Island.................................................................................................................................141

South Carolina.............................................................................................................................141

South Dakota...............................................................................................................................141

Tennessee......................................................................................................................................142

Texas.............................................................................................................................................142

Utah..............................................................................................................................................143

Vermont........................................................................................................................................143

Virginia.........................................................................................................................................143


Washington..................................................................................................................................144

West Virginia................................................................................................................................144

Wisconsin.....................................................................................................................................145

Wyoming.......................................................................................................................................145

Suppliers in Australia........................................................................................................................146

NSW.............................................................................................................................................146

Victoria.........................................................................................................................................146

Perth..............................................................................................................................................146

Suppliers in Canada...........................................................................................................................147

British Columbia...........................................................................................................................147

Ontario..........................................................................................................................................147

Suppliers in United Kingdom.......................................................................................................148

Glossary.................................................................................................................................................149


My Story

I started making soy candles in August of 2008. I have always been looking for work at home

opportunities and I've tried several but none had worked out. I build websites but at that time

I was still in the process of learning and building a couple sites but not making any money

with them yet. I was also painting miniature art cards that I sold on eBay and I did make some

money from that, but I was still searching for something else that might bring in more income

and build into a possible full time home business. I don't remember how, but I stumbled on to

candle making.

I read about and saw pictures of some beautiful carved candles and that sparked the idea

about candle making. I am an artist and so I thought I could learn to do that! . Then as I was

searching around Google about candle making, I somehow stumbled on to soy candles.

Before this, I always thought soy candles were those gel candles I saw in the store, so I didn't

know anything about them! But once I learned a bit about soy candles , I decided the candle

carving would be too much work to learn with a lot of supplies to buy, although I thought that

sometime in the future I would like try it.

August is my birthday, so I thought I'd buy myself a soy candle making kit off eBay as a kind

of birthday present. I found a good price on one with, I think, 5lbs of wax and 5/ 1oz fragrance

oils, some wicks, and I can't remember what else.


I remember making my first candle which was apple pie, and I was in love! I

remember putting the lid on while letting it cure for 24 hours and when I took

the lid off, it smelled so wonderful! I couldn't help but keep sniffing it whenever

it wasn't lit!

So, after I made a few more candles with my little kit, I went on a search for soy candle

suppliers and I started my website. That first website really wasn't much to look at when I look

back on it now, but at the time I thought it looked great! Haha. How much we learn......

I was fortunate to find a soy candle supplier only 45 minutes away from where I live, and after I

got the website up in September 2008, I made my first 2 sales in only a month or so!! One of

those sales was an order for 5, 8oz candles.

The website had barely gotten listed in Google and I was getting hardly any traffic and I still

made a couple sales before Christmas! So I thought, if I'm making sales with this little traffic,

how much could I sell if I could get more traffic? And that's what got me going in the candle

making business.

Now, I'd like to be able to say that I'm still selling them today, but I am not. I did not quit due


to lack of sales and customers, or lack of quality in my candles though. The only reason I quit

is because since 2008, each year got busier and busier especially starting at the end of August

and on through Christmas. Now, I had two boys when I started in 2008, and my youngest at

that time was about 3 and getting easier and so I had a bit more time on my hands, plus sales

were not much for awhile.

Then I went and got pregnant again at the beginning of 2009 and had our 3rd boy in

September 2009. Well, with having 3 kids and then starting homeschooling our oldest in

2009 who was in first grade at the time, things started getting crazy, especially during the

holidays. I was up late nights making candles and getting them ready to ship or take to the

Saturday market, or craft fair, trying to deal with housework and homeschool, spending time

with the kids and the hubby and so Christmas time was pretty miserable for me. I felt like I

couldn't stop and enjoy

the holidays because I had orders to fill and the house was a mess (more than normal) and my

kitchen is so small that it was getting overrun with candle making stuff!

After Christmas in 2011, I was so stressed that I didn't want to make another candle for quite

awhile! So in January 2012, I decided to close the business, but I didn't want to completely

quit making soy candles. I decided to just make them for myself, family and friends. I also

decided that I wanted to get back to working on websites since that was what I enjoyed most

and the one consistent thing I've done throughout the years and that I really love and can do

with kids around and without making a mess :)


I started back on some other projects that had been on hold while I was doing the candle

business and then decided that I could still enjoy sharing about how to make candles by

starting a new website specifically for soy candle making and teaching you how to make them

and even how to start selling them if that's what you're interested in.

That is my history with soy candle making and my business venture in that. I'm here to tell

you, it really can be a profitable business if you have the time. I just happened to have other

things that I felt were more of a priority and the candle business was causing me to drop the

ball in those other areas, but I know that it can definitely be a wonderful business opportunity

and one that you might be able to excel in. But that's not the topic of this book! I'll be writing

another book that goes in depth on how to start and grow your own candle making business in

the near future.


Preface

Candle making can be an enjoyable hobby, and an excellent way to make custom gifts for

friends and family or even provide you with a source of income. It can also be considered a

form of art. There are so many kinds and styles of candles, different candle waxes and candles

for every occasion.

I am going to show you in this book how to make beautiful candles using soy wax. Every wax

behaves differently and uses different techniques in order to come out with the best candles.

I will try to go into as much detail as I can about how to use soy wax, how to test your candles,

where to buy supplies, and what might be the cause and solution when something goes wrong.

I hope you enjoy my book, and if you have questions or comments, or you just want to stop in

and say hi, you can catch me at www.facebook.com/homemadecandlecreations or visit my

website www. soycandlemakingtime .com . Much of the information in this book can also be

found in the articles of my website, but this book will allow you to have everything in order

and at your fingertips as well as some awesome extras!

Let's Get Started!


Understanding Candle Wax

There are many different candle waxes out there, and so there are many different kinds of

candles and wax blends. The normal candles you find in the stores are mostly made using

paraffin wax which is derived from petroleum. It is debatable whether paraffin wax emits

harmful chemicals when burned in a candle. Some say that it does, while others claim that it

has been so refined that it is perfectly safe and does not emit any significant amounts of

chemicals when burned.

I lean toward using natural wax candles because I would rather be on the safe side. Below are a

few links so you can come to your own conclusions. I will say that soy wax definitely has many

other advantages to paraffin which I will talk about further on.

http://candles.org/faqs/ Scroll down to find questions and answers about paraffin wax

and it's safety.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8211543.stm

www.scsu.edu/news_article.aspx?news_id=832 (South Carolina State University

research)

www.lead.org.au/lanv7n4/L74-9.html

There are numerous other resources out there about paraffin wax and candle safety and you

can just Google paraffin wax safety paraffin wax emissions candle carcinogens etc.....


Other natural waxes used in candle making

Palm wax-Is made from palm oil and is not modified like

soy wax is, since it is much easier to turn into wax than

soy. It is a very hard wax, and excellent for votives and

pillars.

Beeswax- probably the most natural wax. There is no

need for processing beeswax since it is simply separated

from the honey and is ready to melt and pour! It is the most

expensive natural wax to buy.

Vegetable wax blends

*Palm wax picture courtesy of thecandlemakersstore.com

Pros and Cons of Soy Wax

I'm not going to sugar coat anything here, and I am not going to say that soy wax candles are

the Be all, End all. For one, I have not yet tried other natural wax candles. Also, different

waxes have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I will say that soy wax has some decided advantages over paraffin wax candles. So lets take a

look at the Pros and Cons of soy.

Pros

1. Least expensive natural wax

2. Able to hold more fragrance oil than paraffin

3. Cleaner burning than paraffin with little to no soot when made and burned properly.


4. Does not require a repour to fill in sink holes like paraffin wax does.

5. Easy to clean up with soap and water

6. Burn twice as long as paraffin candles

7. Can be used for making a whipped topping decoration

8. Burns completely with no wax left on the sides of the jar if made properly.

9. Non-toxic

Cons

1. More expensive than paraffin wax

2. Can be tricky to work with

3. Tends to frost

4. Must add additives to make pillars or other candles poured in a mold


About the Ingredients

Soy Wax

We already covered the pros and cons of soy wax,

but now I want to talk a little more about the wax

itself since that is what you came here to learn about

isn't it?

First of all, for your candle making, it is best to find

your soy wax from a company that is as close to you

as possible because the shipping will be outrageous if you are needing to order more than a

pound. This is not the fault of the supplier, it's just that shipping rates for things more

than 1lb are fairly expensive. And if you decide you want to make candles as a business, you

will definitely need to order your wax by the bag (50lbs) or more, so you can imagine how

much shipping will be for that much wax!

I was very fortunate to find a soy candle supply company just 45 min. south of me, so I would

just go and pick up my order if the price of shipping was going to be more than the cost of gas.

While paraffin wax, beeswax and palm wax can be used for container candles and free

standing candles such as votives, pillars and tapers, 100% soy wax is best for only container


candles because it is a softer wax and does not release well from molds(like, really, it won't

release! lol), and also would not hold up well standing on it's own, especially if your home gets

very warm during the summer months. (This is something you should think about if you plan

on shipping your candles during the summer.)

There are also other soy container blends that use natural vegetable oils, or more commonly

soybean oil, to help the wax resist frosting and help with color retention, as well as making the

wax a little bit harder. Golden Brands 464 is an example of a soy blend that is made to hold up

well in warmer climates.

Natural additives are also added to soy wax to make a votive blend or pillar blend for use as

votives and tarts or pillars. These additives are usually some sort of vegetable oils that help

harden the wax and help it shrink away from the mold when it cools so that the votives, tarts,

or pillars will come out easily.

Soy wax can also be mixed with paraffin wax (called a Parasoy blend), beeswax or palm wax for

different uses, and to make a harder candle for votives and pillars. Beeswax and palm wax are

expensive waxes, so mixing soy with them can give you at least a partial beeswax or palm

candle while cutting some costs.


Some brands of soy wax may have a better hot fragrance throw than others, but I really think

it mainly comes down to figuring out the right recipe for a specific brand of wax. When I first

started making soy candles, I thought that adding more fragrance would give me more hot

throw (what you smell when the candle is burning). That is not always the case! You see, soy

wax, or any kind of wax for that matter, has a certain fragrance load, or amount of oil that it

can hold before it starts seeping out.

Wax and Fragrance Load

Wax is like a sponge. It will soak up a certain amount of fragrance oil, but once it is full, the oil

will begin to seep out. We don't want this to happen, so the maximum fragrance oil load for

most soy wax is usually around 10% per lb of wax (or 1.6 oz of fragrance oil for each 16oz of

soy wax). If you use more than that, you might begin to see the oil seeping out from the top of

the candle once the wax is cooled. This is a fire hazard since the flame could come directly in

contact with the oil and of course we all know what happens when you put oil on a fire!

I recommend only using 6-7% fragrance oil load for your candles. If you are using high quality

fragrance oils, then you should even be able to use less than that.


Types of Soy Wax

I use 100% soy wax for my container candles, and the Votive/Pillar blend for my votives and

tarts/melts. Both of those waxes are the American Soy Wax brand (Used to be Enchanted Lites,

but they went out of business and American Soy Organics took over their container waxes and

created their own votive/pillar wax).

However, there are several brands of soy wax, and within each brand, usually several soy

blends along with 100% soy. It can be difficult to decide which brand and type to use. I am in

the process of doing some in depth testing of each wax.

For this book, however, I am just going to list the brands and types of soy wax so you can have

a list in one place with links where you can do some research looking at reviews and places to

buy them. A couple of these waxes link to the Amazon.com version, just so you can compare

pricing. They are going to be more expensive on Amazon per lb but they also have free shipping

for Prime members, so depending on where you live, it might be worth it.

(And, just so you know, the Amazon.com links do link to my affiliate account, so

if you do click through from one of my links and decide to buy from there, I will

make a small comission.)


Calwax CB3- Made from 100% hydrogenated soy and vegetable oils. Single pour

Candle Science Wax on Amazon.com- This is actually just the Golden Brands 464 that

they have on their website as well. It's a little expensive for a 2lb bag on Amazon, but if you

have Amazon Prime, then it would qualify for free shipping, so it might be worth it depending

where you live and if you are just wanting to test it out.

Cargill Naturewax C-1- This is actually a soy/palm blend. Description says it has great

fragrance throw, and resistant to bloom or frosting. Also avoids wet spots by completely

pulling away from the containers. This wax could also work for tarts and votives since it pulls

away completely.

Cargill Naturewax C-3- 100% soy wax from Elevance. It is resistant to bloom or frosting

and wet spots and is supposed to give an excellent scent throw.

EcoSoya Container 135- This wax is made with 100% soybeans and botanical oils.

Excellent adhesion to containers without preheating, requires only one pour, has an excellent

scent throw with both fragrances and essential oils and a creamy white appearance with some

potential to bloom (white frosting) when using dyes. Gives smooth tops and ships well in all

climates.

Ecosoya Advanced Containers- Made with pure soybeans and carefully selected botanical

oils. Extreme resistance to bloom or frosting. Contracts slightly for a more even appearance.

Smooth tops and consistent color retention.

Ecosoya PB Pillar Blend- Made from pure 100% soybeans and carefully selected botanical

oils. Self releasing from molds. This wax is for Pillars, votives, tarts and any other molded

candles. Very smooth appearance and I personally know it makes beautiful votives. Ships

well in all climates.


Ecosoya Xcel- 100% soy and molecularly blueprinted to control polymorphism (the ability to

appear in many forms. To understand how this applys to wax, read here). It has extreme

resistance to bloom (white frosting) and wet spots, while producing an excellent scent throw

when using fragrances. It is claimed to maintain an even burn pool with consistent color

retention. I have tried this wax awhile ago and didn't like it. To be fair, I plan on testing it

more thoroughly again, but I had issues with it cracking around the sides horribly when I

tried it the first time.

American Soy Wax P 100 Pillar/Votive/Tart blend This is a new pillar/votive blend soy

wax and is even better than the former Enchanted Lites pillar wax. American Soy Organics took

over the Enchanted Lites wax line, but were not able to get the EL votive wax, so they

developed their own. I have used this wax and it works very well and cools to a nice smooth

finish and has good hot throw

100% Midwest Soy (formerly Enchanted Lites)- This is the wax I have used for my

containers since I started several years ago. Excellent jar adhesion and hot and cold throw. It

is 100% soy wax, nothing added or blended. Since it is 100% soy, it can have more issues with

frosting. I've found I have a lot less trouble during the warmer months so room temperature

plays a big part if you are doing everything else correctly.

Millenium Blend (formerly Enchanted Lites Millenium Blend)- A container wax that is a

blend of soy and other natural ingredients (no paraffin) to resist frosting or bloom. Long

burning, good jar adhesion and color retention. This blend does give a nice smooth

appearance and has a smoother appearance than some other soy waxes after it burns as


well. It is a nice wax, but can have a little more trouble with wet spots (pulling away from

the jar in some spots).

Golden Brands 416- A tart/votive soy wax that contains no additives and is natural and

kosher.

Golden Brands 435- This is a soy/cotton blended wax that is also both natural and kosher.

The cotton blend is supposed to help with an easier burn and reduce frosting.

Golden Brands 464- Lower melt point than the 444 wax for better glass adhesion and burn

time. This is a blended soy wax using a soy-based additive and is both natural and kosher.

This soy-based additive enables the soy to be poured at a hotter temperature reducing frosting

and increasing FO load. This wax blends well with paraffin, slack wax, and microcrystalline

waxes.

Golden Brands 444- Higher melt point than the 464 for higher fragrance load/stronger

scent throw. This is a blended soy wax using a soy-based additive and is both natural and

kosher. This soy-based additive enables the soy to be poured at a hotter temperature reducing

frosting and increasing FO load. This wax blends well with paraffin, slack wax, and

microcrystalline waxes.

Golden Brands 415- A pure soy wax that has a higher melt point than 402 allowing for a

higher fragrance load for a stronger scent throw. I have tested this wax and I really like it. It

cooled to a very nice smooth appearance with no frosting.

Golden Brands 402- A pure soy wax that has a lower melt point for better glass adhesion

(less wet spots) and better burn.

KY Soy 115- 100% soybean wax for containers. Fragrance load up to 10% (they state that


tops may require a repour)

KY Soy 125- All natural soybean/cottonseed blend. Fragrance load up to 10%

KY Puresoy- 100% soy wax with no additives. Fragrance load up to 12%. They also state that

tops may require a repour.

Milliard Natural Soy Wax available on Amazon.com- I don't know what type of wax

this is, it may be the same as one of the other brands listed, just with a different name, but I'm

listing it here anyway since it is another choice even though it is more expensive than other

waxes, but it has free shipping for Amazon Prime members. An all natural soy container wax

with Soy based additives which help to reduce frosting & increase fragrance load. Fragrance

load is 12%

Nature's Garden (NG) 100% Soy- This is simply the Golden Foods 415 (see description

above)

Soy 12 0 by Candlewic- This is an all natural soy based wax. Fragrance load is 3% which

seems extremely low. They do suggest adding Palm Stearic or beeswax to it, but it can be used

alone.

Soy 125 by Candlewic - This is an all natural soy wax made with soy wax and soybean oil so

that it has a higher fragrance load than the 120. Fragrance load is 5-6% . The addition of Palm

Stearic or Beeswax is also suggested which will give a higher fragrance load.


Fragrance Oils

Fragrance is one of the most important ingredients of your scented soy candles. Without a

good fragrance, you defeat the purpose of using scented candles, and your customers, if you

are selling your candles, will of course be disappointed and not come back!

And even if you are only making them as a hobby and for gifts, don't you want to make the

best smelling candles for yourself or friends and family?

There are so many places online that you can buy fragrance oils

from, but how do I know if they are good?

Well, first of all, I like to look up any reviews about that companies oils and see how other

people are doing using them in their soy candles. Now be sure to see if they work well in soy

specifically because some oils work great in paraffin candles, but may not throw well in soy!

Some suppliers have a section for reviews below the particular wax description, so be sure to

take a look for that. These reviews can also be very helpful if you are having trouble with your

wax because many times people post about what worked for them if they were having some

issues


You should also check to see if the supplier says anything about the oils being uncut or

highly concentrated. It really can be hard to tell if a fragrance will throw well in soy unless it

specifically states that it does or if you've heard others say that it does. This is because even

though the supplier may not have cut the oils (diluting them) when they got them from the

manufacturer, It is really difficult to know how the manufacturer makes the oils and how

concentrated the finished product is.

There are companies like Candle Cocoon that have their oils specially made and boast a very

high concentration.

Since I have used several of the Candle Cocoon oils, I know for a fact that they are very strong

and I can usually use half the amount that I would with some of my other oils.

Also, keep in mind that certain fragrance oils are going to have a lighter scent than

others. For example, Lilac is usually a very strong scent with a strong scent throw when

burning (my mom has a hard time with my lilac candles because of how strong they are! I love

them though :).

Coffee on the other hand, seems like it would be a stronger scent when you smell it out of the


bottle, but I have had to add nearly the maximum amount of straight coffee fragrance oil in

order to get a decent scent throw, and I've tried several black coffee oils from different

companies. It just doesn't throw very strong. So it is best to order sample sizes of different

oils from different companies and try them out in your candles.

Also, if you add too much fragrance oil, even if it isn't a full 10%, you may actually get a

weaker hot throw. This is because too much oil can clog the wick and just not bind well with

the wax. So before you decide to add more fragrance oil if you aren't getting a strong enough

throw, maybe try adding a bit less first. (This is not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes you do

need to add more fragrance, but this is why you need to make sure to do some testing to see

what works best!)

Some fragrance oils are heavier in weight than others. When you buy your oils, you are buying

them by weight, not amount. So if you bought 2oz of Vanilla and 2oz of Melon scent, you will

notice that the Melon fragrance oil probably fills the 2oz size bottle nearly to the top, where

the Vanilla fragrance oil will be less full because Vanilla is a heavier oil and Melon is usually a

pretty light weight oil.

This is why we weigh our fragrance oils into our wax by weight and also why some oils can be

too much for the wick if you add too much oil. The Vanilla is heavier/thicker so it makes sense

that adding more is going to have more of a chance of clogging the wick than if you were to

add more of the Melon fragrance.


Hot scent throw is what every candle maker strives for. A candle can have an awesome cold

throw, but then when you burn it for awhile it may do poorly with the hot throw.

This is why it's so important to buy the right fragrance oils. There's nothing worse than

spending a bunch of money on candle fragrance oils and then finding out they do not have a

good hot throw!

Like I said before, not all oils throw well in soy wax, so you need to make sure you buy

fragrance oils that are made for soy wax and known to throw well in soy.

I am going to list oils from a few different suppliers that I know to give a good hot throw in soy

candle wax. These are oils that I have used and recommend. I have by no means tried all the

oils that these suppliers carry, so that'll be up to you if you want to try some other kinds.

Many candle making suppliers carry 1oz samples of their oils, so it is wise to start with that and

do some testing of your candles before deciding on buying more in bulk.


And remember, just because a fragrance oil from one company throws awesome, that does

not mean the same fragrance from a different company will do the same! Oils will

vary from company to company (though some may use the same manufacturer, so might have

some of the same fragrances).

When I was searching for a good coffee scent, I bought samples from 4 different places and

none of them smelled the same. I thought that the coffee scent from Candlesoylutions in the

list below was the truest black coffee fragrance (I do use the max amount of that one since it is

harder to get any coffee scent to throw strong)

But what about going down to the local craft store and buying

fragrance oils there?

The problem with craft stores is that they don't really cater to candle makers. It's just not a

huge market for them locally, so usually they are going to carry lower quality oils, or oils that

really haven't been proven in soy wax. Not to mention the fact that they are only going to carry

a small supply.

Buying from a reputable candle supply company is always best, since they usually are testing

their fragrances before they sell them, and they are specifically made for candles or even soy

in particular.


Scroll on to the next page to view the fragrance list.....

Soy Candle Fragrance List

Candle Soylutions

Almost Paradise Cucumber Melon Nutmeg

Apple Pie Evergreen Ocean

Apple Spice Frankincense Orange Spice

Apple Strudel Fresh Linen Pumpkin Pie

Birthday Cake Grape Raspberry

Black Coffee (light throw) Honeysuckle Strawberry

Buttered Rum Leather Sugar Cookie

Carrot Cake Lemon Sunflower

Cherry Almond Lemon Cheesecake Toasted Hazelnut

Chocolate Lemongrass Vanilla

Cinnamon Lilac White Cake

Cinnamon Spice Lilac Blossoms Wild Cherry

Clean Cotton Lime

Clove Love Spell

Clove Pomander Mistletoe


Candle Cocoon

Brewed Jasmine

Cranberry Compote

Crushed Strawberry and

Rhubarb

Melon,Fig and Apricot

Winter Woodlands Whisper

Daydream Believer

Dewdrop

Raspberry Cordial

Brambleberry

Apple Pie

Blueberry

Espresso

Pumpkin Crunch

Natures Garden

Fresh Cut Grass

Leather Jacket


WicksSo next are the wicks. It really depends on what size and

kind of container you will be using for your candles, so

this is where it's up to you to test your candles and what

wicks work best for your specific recipe!

I can only give you a starting point and tell you what

worked best for me in my mason jar candles, votives and

a few other containers.

This is what I'm going to do. I will just list the exact wicks I used for the specific jars that I

used, and that will at least give you a good idea of where to start testing. Also, a bit farther

down, you will find a list of many different types of wicks and sizes. Keep in mind that the size

of wicks you use will depend on the diameter of the jar, how deep the jar is, and your fragrance

and dye.


As a rule with soy candles, for every inch in diameter of the

container, that is how many hours it should take for the

candle to burn all the way to the edge of the jar (or very

close to it). So, for example, a jar that is 3 in diameter

should melt to the edge of the jar in about 3 hours.

For deeper jars, like the 16 oz mason jars, you won't want it to burn all the way to the edge at

first, because the farther down the jar the wick gets, the more heat is trapped and the hotter it

will get inside the jar. So if you use a wick that is cool enough that it does not burn all the way

to the edge at first, but leaves a bit of wax on the sides, then it will eventually melt all the wax

on the sides as it makes it's way down the jar from the trapped heat.

Otherwise, if you start out with too hot of a wick, the jar will get way too hot as it makes it's

way down toward the bottom and could cause the glass to crack, but it also makes it too hot to

touch without burning yourself.

Heavier fragrances may need a hotter wick to burn them, while lighter fragrances may need a

cooler wick. I never had much variation with wicks, though, when it came to different

fragrances of my candles, so I pretty much


used the same wick no matter what the fragrance, with no problems, but it's something to keep

in mind in case you have a fragrance that doesn't seem to be getting a good melt pool. It might

be that you need to wick up (use a hotter wick) for that particular fragrance.

Here are some wick sizes to start you out. You should buy some a bit smaller and some a

bit larger also to test with for each size.

4oz jelly jars : CD 12 or HTP 104

8oz square Mason Jars: CD 16 or 18 , Eco 14, or HTP 105

16oz square Mason Jars: CD 16, Eco 14, or HTP 104 or 105

Votives: GW-28 or P-22

I used to use the HTP wicks which seemed to work best out of all the other wicks I had tried,

but still could not keep them from mushrooming in my container candles, and I knew there

had to be a wick out there that didn't mushroom much. Then I found the CD wicks! I fell in

love. So I really suggest you start with the CD wicks and see how they work for you. Bitter

Creek Candle Supply has a pack where you get 5 of each of all 12 sizes for $9.00.

Now Test, Test, Test!


Climate and elevation can also affect how your candles burn, so what works

for me here in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, may not work for you.

So you must test!

Wick Types and Sizes

There are so many types and sizes of wicks out there, that it can be kind of daunting when you

think about testing your soy candles for the right wick. But in this section I am going to list the

types and sizes of wicks to use with soy wax. . Now just because a certain wick worked well for

me doesn't necessarily mean that it will be perfect for your candles. As I said before, there are

many factors that can affect the size of wick you will need, such as:

Size of container

Type of soy wax

Fragrance oil. Some oils are heavier than others and also the amount of oil you use

can affect the size of wick you will need.

Amount of dye

Elevation. Higher elevations have less oxygen, so you may need a larger wick to get a

hot enough flame to get a good melt pool.

Climate. In cold weather, soy wax is harder, so of course will take a little more heat to


melt. My candles get their melt pool much faster in the summer when my house is warm

than in the winter. This can be a problem though, since I noticed that my candles

sometimes burn too hot in the summer. If you and your customers keep your homes

cool in the summer months though, this shouldn't be a problem. I also suggest testing

your candles in a comfortable room temperature so you can get the best results. It would

be better to have to burn the candle longer in colder weather in order to get a good melt

pool rather than have it burn great in winter and too hot in summer! Humidity could

also affect the way your candles burn.

Types of wicks to use with soy candles

Keep in mind that as the wick size goes up, each wick burns a bit hotter than the one before it.

The diameter range given is just a starting point for your testing. So for example, the HTP-31

shows the same diameter suggestion as HTP-41, but HTP-41 burns a bit hotter than the 31. So

if HTP-31 does not burn hot enough in your candles (doesn't burn all the way to the edge, or

gives a shallow melt pool, tunnels, etc.... ) after burning for a couple hours then you would

want to try the next size up, which would be the HTP-41, or maybe even the HTP-52.

All of these wicks already have the metal tab crimped on the bottom of the wick which makes it

much easier to just use a wick sticker or hot glue to secure the wick inside the container.


The wick tabs are important to have because it gives you something to attach the wick to the

container bottom, but more importantly it keeps the flame from burning all the way to the

bottom of the jar. While you do want the wax on the edge of the jar to melt completely, you

don't want the flame melting the wax clear to the bottom. There is always a warning on the

warning labels of any candle you buy in the stores that says you should extinguish your candle

when there is aproximately inch of wax left. If it were to burn all the way, it would cause

the bottom of the container to get extremely hot on the surface it is sitting on which could

make burn marks, or start a fire!

You usually do not want to buy spooled wick since that will create way too much work for you

to put the metal tabs on yourself! I bought a bag of wick tabs one time, thinking I would use

some of the cut off from my wicks so I wouldn't just throw them away. I tried putting a tab on

and I just could not get it to crimp onto the wick very well. I guess you need some really good

pliers and strong hands or something.

Anyway, it's much easier to just buy the pre-tabbed wicks, especially if you are planning on

starting a candle business. There is just too many other things to concern yourself with than

trying to sit there and put wick tabs on!


Zinc Core Wicks

I haven't tried zinc core wicks. I've read mixed things about them in soy wax. A few have said

they were the only wick that worked for them, and others have said they fizzled out after

awhile. Also, in general, zinc core wicks are not recommended for soy, but it's up to you if you

want to try them.

Here is a description from Peak Candle Supply zinc core wicks have a rigid zinc core

that keeps them straight while in melted wax. Zinc core wicks are very popular and very easy to

use. Zinc core wicks tend to "mushroom" more than other wicks do, but proper wick size and

trimming can reduce the mushroom. Zinc core wicks are recommended for use in paraffin

waxes and gel wax.

Swan's Candles says Metal-core wicks are sometimes used in container candles and votives

to keep the wick upright when the surrounding wax liquefies during burning. Today's metal-

core wicks are made with either zinc or tin. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown both zinc-

and tin-core wicks to be safe and non-toxic.

LoneStar Candle Supply says These are the most commonly used wick type for many

types of candles. They may be used for votives, pillars, and in gel candles. The wire core in the

wick helps the wick to remain standing straight while the candle is being poured and when the

candle is lit. They have been widely used since the use of lead core wicks was discontinued long

ago.


CandleandSupplies.net says The standard wick used for all types of container candles.

Works with most waxes (except soy, crystal or palm wax).

44-24-18 2.5( wick length) Tealight/Floater wick w/ container wax

44-24-18 6(wick length) Votives & 1" to 2 1/2" containers

51-32-18 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" containers

60-44-18 3" to 4" containers

62-52-18 4" & larger containers

Paper Core

Paper core wicks tend to burn hotter than other wicks, and they also tend to mushroom more.

LoneStar Candle Supply says Paper core wicks burn very hot, which yields a large melt

pool. Usually used only in large containers.

BitterCreek Candle Supply says Paper core burns the hottest and is good for waxes that

require heavy duty wicks to achieve a good melt pool.

34-24 Votives & 1" to 2" containers

44-24-18 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" containers

51-32-18 3" to 4" containers

60-44-18 4" or larger containers

62-52-18 4" or larger containers - use when hotter wick is needed to achieve complete

melt pool


RRD Wicks

I have tried a couple of these but they mushroomed too much for me. Don't discount them

though as they just might work for your formula.

Peak Candle Supplies says RRD wicks are recommended for viscous waxes such as palm,

soy and veggie waxes as well as single pour waxes. Use for pillars or containers.

A unique round cotton braided wick that gives a slight curl when burning.

Exhibits self-trimming burn characteristics.

Primed with high melt wax (212F), which aids in keeping them straight in the molten wax.

Wicks Unlimited says This is a round wick with a uniquely braided cotton core designed

with tension threads that give the wick a slight, but effective, curl during combustion. The wick

is directional in that capillary action flows more freely in one direction. Due to their intricate

design, the RRD series provides a centered burn pool, self-trimming burn characteristics and a

consistently high rate of fuel flow.

These wicks work well with viscous fuels such as vegetable wax, gels and one pours. They are

effective in containers and especially useful in pillars due to their concentric burn pools.

RRD 29 Small Candles, approx. 2 - 2.25"


RRD 34 Small Containers, approx. 2.25 - 2.5"

RRD 37 Medium Containers, approx. 2.5 - 3"

RRD 40 Medium Containers, approx. 3 - 3.25"

RRD 47 Large Containers, approx. 3.5"

RRD 50 Large Containers, approx. 3.75"

RRD 55 Large Containers, approx. 4 - 4.5"

CD Wicks

I love these wicks. They mushroom very little when you get the right size wick in your candles.

Pretty much self trimming too. I spent a lot of time testing with the HTP wicks and a few other

wicks, but when I finally found these, I fell in love!

LoneStarCandleSupply says The CD series of wicks is a favorite among many seasoned

candlemakers. These wicks are flat braided with a special paper filament woven around them.

This configuration is engineered to promote maximum and consistent burn while insuring a

wick trimming flame posture. The CD series is used in many applications and is especially

compatible with the harder-to-melt viscous waxes of both paraffin and vegetable base. Each

wick has been cut to the specified length, primed with a high melt point wax (212F) and has

been crimped with a 20mm diameter x 10mm tall tab (except CD-22 which has a 20mm

diameter x 6mm tab.)

Natures Garden Candles says Coreless German CD wicking is a flat braided wicking that

allows for a cleaner burn, and are almost self- trimming.


CD-4 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.25" - 1.75" )

CD-5 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.75" - 2.0" )

CD-6 Votives, Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.0" - 2.25" )

CD-7 Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.25" - 2.5" )

CD-8 Pillars & Medium Containers ( 2.5" - 3.0" )



CD-14 Pillars & Large Containers ( 3.5" - 3.75" )

CD-16 Pillars & Large Containers ( 3.75" - 4.0" ) These can also work in the 8 and 16oz jars

CD-18 Pillars & Large Containers ( 4.0" - 4.25" ) I use these now in my 8 oz mason jars

though may get too much of a melt pool in warmer weather, so then the 16 would be

recommened.




Eco Wicks

These wicks are primed with vegetable wax, so if you are wanting to make All Natural candles,

these would be a good wick to use. I have tested the Eco 14 wick in my 8oz mason jars and it

works wonderfully. Hardly any mushrooming and is a good size wick for that size jar.. I also

accidentally used the Eco 12 in one of my 8oz jars and it still burned well and got a decent

melt pool. LOVE these wicks.

Lone Star Candle Supply says This series is designed specifically for natural waxes. The

ECO series is a flat, coreless cotton wick braided with thin paper filaments interwoven for

burn stability. This braiding technique also greatly improves rigidity compared to standard

cotton and paper cored wicks. The specially treated paper threads provide a controlled curling

of the wick making the ECO series self-trimming, which results in minimized mushrooming,

soot and smoke. They have been designed to significantly reduce the "afterglow" and smoke

often seen in paper cored wicks. An important difference to note is that these wicks have been

primed with vegetable wax rather than paraffin wax, enabling you to market your candles as

all natural candles!

Candlescience.com says ECO wick is a specialty flat cotton wick with thin interwoven

paper threads. The treated paper threads combined with a advanced braiding technique give

the ECO series superior stability without the need for a core. This combination enhances the

self-trimming effect and reduces mushrooming, soot and smoke. ECO wicks work very well in

natural waxes and blends as well as low melt point paraffin waxes.

ECO-1 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.25" - 1.5" )

ECO-2 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.5" - 2.0" )


ECO-4 Votives, Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.0" - 2.5" )

ECO-6 Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.5" - 2.75" )

ECO-8 Pillars & Medium Containers ( 2.75" - 3.0" )

ECO-10 Pillars & Medium Containers ( 3.0" - 3.25" )

ECO-12 Pillars & Medium Containers ( 3.25" - 3.5" ) Works well in my 8oz Mason Jars.

ECO-14 Pillars & Large Containers ( 3.5" - 3.75" ) Also works well in my 8oz square Mason

jars.

HTP

I have tested a few HTP wicks and actually started out using them for quite awhile when I was

selling my candles. These still tend to mushroom too much for my taste which is why I

switched to the CD wicks.

So on some sites it says the HTP wicks are a 100% cotton braid, but on other sites it says they

are made with paper fibers in them. I found more sites that said they are made with paper

fibers, so I tend to believe that that is actually the case. See what a couple supply sites have to

say about HTP wicks below.....

PeakCandleSupply says HTP wicks are designed to facilitate complete combustion and

minimize carbon build-up. Utilizing a special 100% cotton braid, they are particularly well

suited for applications involving more viscous waxes, such as single-pour waxes. These wicks


are primed with high melt wax (212 F) and have a round tin base (20 mm in most cases)

attached that helps keep the entire wick assembly standing upright and prevents it from

flopping over as the candle burns towards the bottom.

Candlescience.com says The HTP series takes the burn and self trimming advantages of

a flat cotton wick and adds interwoven paper fibers to increase rigidity. The result is a great all

around wick with the structural strength of a paper core wick but the performance of a flat

wick. Works well in paraffin, gel, and vegetable waxes.

HTP-31 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.5" - 2.0" )

HTP-41 Votives, Small Containers ( 1 2 diameter )

HTP-52 Votives, Small Containers ( 1 2 diameter )

HTP-62 Medium Containers ( 2" - 3" diameter )

HTP-73 Medium Containers ( 2 3 diameter )

HTP-83 Medium Containers ( 2 1/2 3 1/2 diameter )

HTP-93 Medium Containers ( 2 1/2 3 1/2 diameter)

HTP-104 Medium Containers ( 2 1/2 3 1/2 diameter ) I used this size for my 4oz jars.

HTP-105 Large Containers ( 3 4 diameter )I used this size for my 8 and 16oz mason

jars

HTP-126 Large Containers ( 3 4 diameter)

HTP-1212 Large Containers ( 3 4 diameter )

HTP-1312 Large Containers ( 3 4 diameter)


LX

Peak Candle Supplies says LX wicks have a unique flat braid that minimizes carbon

buildup.

A coreless wick to reduce carbon buildup.

Manufactured with stabilizing threads which make for a more consistent burn and

reduces carbon buildup.

Primed with high melt wax (212F), which aids in keeping them straight in the molten

wax

Lone Star Candle Supply says Flat braided cotton wicks, chemically treated with a high

melt point wax (212F). These wicks are designed to reduce "mushrooming" (build up of

carbon at the tip of the wick), reduce smoke and soot, and when used properly these wicks are

virtually self-trimming. Can be used in virtually any application.

Candlescience.com says LX wick is a specially braided flat wick which maintains a slight

curl when burning. The curl moves the tip of the wick into the hottest part of the flame, which

helps to minimize or eliminate carbon buildup (mushrooming), reduce smoking, and provide a

'self-trimming' effect, which creates a very stable and consistent flame.


LX-8 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.25" - 1.5" )

LX-10 Votives & Small Containers ( 1.5" - 2.0" )

LX-12 Votives, Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.0" - 2.25" )

LX-14 Pillars & Small Containers ( 2.25" - 2.5" )

LX-16 Pillars & Medium Containers ( 2.5" - 3.0" )



LX-21 Pillars & Large Containers ( 3.5" - 3.75" )







Wooden wicks

I have done some testing with wooden wicks, and I

have to say, I really, really like them! I bought some

medium and large wood wicks from Natures Garden

Candle and Soap Supplies and have tested both in

my 8oz mason jars. I love that they give off a light

burning wood smell when you first light them.

You don't have to trim them before each

burn, but I found that they did tend to burn more

nicely when I did trim them. And, when you blow it out it isn't near as smokey as a regular wick

candle.

When I tested the medium wick, I could hear a faint crackle while it burned, which is one

reason why people enjoy wood wick candles.

Wood Candle Wick.com says their wicks are grown and manufactured in the USA.

and Our wooden wick has a fast burn pool formation for excellent hot throw. Wooden wick

allows for quick and easy lighting. No smoking during burn cycle (When wooden wick sized

properly.) Little to no afterglow. Wooden candle wick for use in all fuels; Paraffin, Soy,

Mottling, Palm, Gel


Lone Star Candle Supply says Wooden wicks are relatively new to the candle making

industry. Generally, there are two types of wooden wicks - hard wood wicks and soft wood

wicks. You may have seen hard wood wicks available but they don't even compare to the

superiority of the soft wood wicks. Our soft wood wicks offer the unique sounds of a wood

burning fire as they crackle and pop while they burn....Wooden wicks are for use in

containers, and should not be used in pillars or votives. Wooden wicks can be used in paraffin

or soy. When using our wooden wicks in pure soy, we recommend using the large or extra

large wick. This is to make sure the melt pool is wide enough since pure soy wax tends to hold

in the heat, as well as fragrance.

Small Small Containers ( Up to 3" )

Medium Medium Containers ( 3" - 3.75" )

Large Medium & Large Containers ( 3.5" - 4.25" ) The large wick I bought from

Natures Garden was just right for my 8oz square mason jars.

Extra Large Large Containers (4" 4.75")


Jars and Containers

I have mainly used Mason jars or other canning jars, but I've also bought pretty glasses and

other containers from Goodwill and other places. If you will be using glass containers, you do

need to make sure it is a somewhat thick glass though because you don't want it breaking on

you from the heat.

So with that in mind, you can find some great cups and jars at second hand stores or craft

stores. I also like to use the Libbey glass bowls that you can find at Michaels or Joannes for

$1.00. I never did quite get the perfect wicking for those though, so I'll let you do the testing.

They do make beautiful container candles.

You can also use

Metal tins

Clay or ceramic flower pots

Coffee cups

Baby food jars (these are excellent for baby showers!)

Teacups

Aluminum bread pans (See my wax loaf recipe! You could put 2 or 3 wicks in these and use regular soy container wax to make a multi-wick candle)


Wick Stickers

Wick stickers are just what they sound like. They go on the wick tab so that the wick will stick

to the bottom of your container and stay put while the candle cools.

These are a must in my opinion.

Other ways to stick your wicks to the jar:

Hot glue: Personally, I think hot glue would be too messy, but if that's what you have

and you don't want to buy the wick stickers, then this will work.

Glue dots: You can buy these at the store, so these would be more convenient if you

don't want to buy the wick stickers online. Not sure if they would stick as strong as the

wick stickers though.

Wax: You can also just pour a little melted wax around the base of the wick and let it

harden before pouring the rest of the wax into your candle. Personally, I think this

would just be more time consuming than it's worth, and might be a little harder to

make sure the wick is centered. Also, when the candle burns down to the bottom, the

wick ends up coming loose and moving around.

Save yourself some time and hassle and get some wick stickers or glue dots for your wicks.

They don't cost much at all, so it really doesn't add much to the cost of the candle (seriously,

like I'm talking pennies here).


I have tried two different kinds of wick stickers and the ones that worked best for me are the

Wixaffix from Candlesoylutions.com. They also carry the regular Wick Stickers, but those

didn't do very well for me as far as sticking strength. The Wixaffix usually stick very well.

Tip: Make sure your jars are clean and dry. If the Wixaffix or Wick Stickers aren't sticking well

for you, your jars may be too cold. To remedy this, I just set the jar with the wick in it into my

pot of warm water that I used to melt the wax (with the stove turned off) and let it heat up the

bottom of my jar a little.

Then I pull it out, wipe off the water on the outside of the jar (there shouldn't be any water

inside the jar) and push my wick down in the center of the jar again, and this time it will stay

stuck. This has always worked for me with the Wixaffix stickers, but kind of hit and miss with

the Wick Stickers. Or if you want to heat up more jars at a time, just stick them in the oven on

the lowest heat setting just until they are warm, not hot.


Dye

You may or may not want to use candle dye to color your candles. It

is simpler if you don't color your candles, and there are several soy

candle companies out there that don't, and they seem to be doing

quite well. So it's really up to you. Soy wax has a natural creamy

white color when it's cooled, so they still look beautiful uncolored.

The other upside to not coloring your candles is that you don't have to deal with frosting or

discoloration over time. At the same time, the color of a candle can be an important selling

point, so if you plan to sell them, that is something to consider.

Now, the good thing is, the cost of dye to color your candles is not much, especially if you use

the liquid dyes. If you want a more natural dye then a good choice is dye

chips shaped like butterflies called Flutterdyes. You can get these at

Candlecocoon.com or Candlesoylutions.com, both companies I highly

recommend.

I like using the liquid dyes because it is much easier to measure your colors and

keep track of how much you use so you can write it down and use the exact amount of drops to

get the same color each time since you use droppers.

With dye chips or Flutterdyes, you would have to break off part of it and so the colors may


vary a bit more if you end up not breaking off quite as much as you did the first time or putting

in a bit more than you did the first time. It's just not as exact of a measurement. The nice

thing though about Flutterdyes or dye chips is that they aren't messy and you don't have to

worry about getting it on your hands or wherever else if you accidentally drop some!

Really, though, it all comes down to your preference, so try them both and decide which type

fits best for you!

The recipes in this book use liquid dye, but if you are using Flutter Dyes or dye chips, just

use the directions that come with those for the amounts to put in.

Tip: If you are testing a color to get the right shade, start with just a couple drops (per pound

of wax) and mix well. Then, using your rubber spatula or whatever you use to mix with, drip a

few drops of the colored wax on a small piece of wax paper and set it in the fridge for a minute

or two. Now you can decide if you need to add more dye and just keep testing the color on wax

paper until you get it how you want it.


P.S. Some have said that you can use Crayola crayons to color your candles. This is not

recommended because the wax that the crayons are made out of is not made for burning in

a candle and will most likely cause problems with your candles burn. In fact, I actually tested

this out and only used of a crayon to color 8oz of wax. I tried burning it and it did not last

very long the first time and never got a very big melt pool. The second burn only lasted around

5min. Before the wick fizzled out and wouldn't stay lit.

Dye is cheap, so you might as well use actual candle dye.


Supply List and Other Useful Info

Tools Where to Buy

Starter Soy Candle Making Kits Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you, Ebay, Amazon.com

100% Soy wax Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Soy Votive wax Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

1lb or 4lb Metal Pour Pot Candlesoylutions, Amazon.com or Visit my directory

Liquid dye (Optional) Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Long chip clips, clothesline clips or wick

bars

Ikea(chip clips), Fred Meyer, Target, Walmart or

Amazon.com

Fragrance Oils Candlesoylutions, Candle Cocoon are ones I recommend or Visit

my directory

Wicks Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Wick stickers or hot glue gun Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Warning labels Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Glass Mason jars or other canning type jar Candlesoylutions or Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Votive Molds w/ wick pins Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Metal tart molds Candlesoylutions

Plastic tealight cups Visit my directory for a supplier closest to you

Timer Walmart, Fred Meyer, etc... or Amazon.com

Digital scale or other kitchen scale Candlesoylutions, Walmart, Fred Meyer, etc... or Amazon.com

Cooking pot (not non-stick) Goodwill,Walmart, Fred Meyer, etc... Amazon.com

Rubber spatula heat resistant Pampered Chef, Walmart, Goodwill, etc.... Amazon.com


Color Mixing Chart

You can certainly buy dyes in various colors so you don't have to mix them, but sometimes you

want to make a color a little different and so you'll want to know what adding certain colors to

a premixed color might do, or you might want to mix basic colors yourself in case the

premixed color isn't quite what you want, so I've included a color mixing chart below.

Adding more dye will give you a darker color, less dye will give you a lighter color. And since

soy wax is a creamy white wax when cooled, it acts as white would. So in order to get, say, a

nice red color, you'll need to add a good amount of red dye or else it will end up pink.

And remember, adding too much dye can clog your wick, so use the least amount to get

the desired color. Concentrated liquid dyes are probably going to have a maximum amount of

30 drops per pound of wax or 0.2% dye load.

With the Flutter Dyes, you can use as much as 14-30 per pound of wax.


Blue + Red= Purple

Red + Green

(or Red+Yellow+Blue)=

Note: It is much easier just to buy the

Brown candle dye and then you can

adjust it if you want by adding a little

more red, yellow or green depending on

the kind of brown you want.

Brown (you'll need to experiment with

the amounts of each to get whatever color

of brown you want. Too much red will

make it more of a reddish brown, too

much green-greenish brown, too much

yellow-puke brown.... you get the idea!)

Blue + Yellow= Green

Red + Yellow= Orange

Black For making any color darker (except

yellow, it will just turn muddy!)


Measurement Conversions

1lb = 16oz

1 fluid ounce= Approximately 2 tablespoons

1.6oz to 1lb of wax= 10% fragrance load

1oz to 1lb of wax= 6% fragrance load

.5oz to 1lb of wax= 3% fragrance load

Burn Times

Teaghlights 7-8 hours

Votives Approx. 15 hours

4oz jelly jars 20-25 hours

8oz mason jars 45-55 hours

16oz mason jars 85 +


Soy Candle Recipes

Now on to the fun stuff! Here are several recipes for different types of soy candles. Once you

learn the basics of making soy candles, you can start experimenting on your own with more

unique creations.

Some basic things to remember when making your candles:

Never use a gas stove for melting your wax. The open flame from the stove can cause

wax fumes to ignite, as well as being more of a danger if something spills.

Always use a double boiler or a wax melting pot inside a cooking pot that has some

water in it when melting wax on an electric stove.

Take wax melting pot off of the stove before pouring your fragrance oil for safety (should

be putting it on the scale when you do this anyway).

Set a timer so you don't forget about your wax melting on the stove.

Use wax paper on your work area for easy cleanup.


Soy Jar/Container Candles

What you'll need:

1. Scale, digital preferred

2. Candy thermometer

3. High temp resistant Rubber Spatula for stirring and

scraping wax out when pouring.

4. Metal pour pot

5. Metal cooking pot

6. 1 lb Soy Container wax

7. 1 oz candle Fragrance Oil

8. Candle wax dye

9. Two 8oz Mason Jars or other canning type jars

10. 2 Candle wicks for soy wax such as HTP 105 or CD 16 or 18 or Eco wick 14

11.Wick Stickers to stick the wicks to the bottom of the jars

12. 2 long chip clips to keep the wick centered in the jar while the soy candles are cooling.


Directions:

1. Gather your candle supplies and put some wax paper down on the counter

2. Put your jars on the wax paper

3. Put wick stickers on the bottom of the metal wick tab

4. Center wick and place one in each jar pressing firmly so that the wick sticker will

adhere to the jar properly. Sometimes it wont if the jar is too cold so you may

need to warm the jar up a bit first.

5. Put your Pour Pot on the scale and 0 it out. Pour 1 lb of wax into the pour pot.

6. Set your cooking pot on the stove and pour water into it so that it is about an inch

or so deep.

7. Set your Pour pot with the wax in it, inside the cooking pot and turn stove to

medium low. (I turn my stove to 3)

8. Set your candy thermometer in the pour pot. Set a timer for about 10min. So you

dont forget about the wax and keep an eye on the thermometer.

9. When the thermometer reaches 180 F. (82.2 C), take the pour pot out and set it

on the scale again and 0 it out.

10. Next (while your pour pot with wax is on the scale) add your one ounce of

fragrance oil (by weight) and stir well.

11. Now add the dye before the wax cools below 165 F (73.8 C). If it has already

cooled too much, just set the pour pot back into the pan of water and heat it back

up to 170-180 F (76.6-82.2 C)


12. Stir the dye well and then let the wax sit and cool.

the soy candle making book

Documents

candle wax

party materials

melting wax

soy candle

cons of soy wax

businessthe information

use of recommended

heat source