Soy Candle Wax
After centuries of using only paraffin wax for candle making, craftsmen in history have stumbled on several sources of natural waxes with which to make candles. The green movement might also have contributed to the use of organic material to create candles. The bottom line is that not many people can stand continually washing sooty black residue from candle holders, walls and ceilings, so crafting cleaner-burning candles has become a necessity.
Organic materials such as soy wax and beeswax melt more slowly compared to paraffin. As a result, beeswax and soy candles last fifty percent longer than a paraffin candle. Candles made of beeswax and soy candle wax also emit less sooty smoke compared to candles created using paraffin wax. These factors contributed to the increasing popularity of soy wax and beeswax candles, making them the standard materials for creating high-end, beautifully designed handcrafted candles.
Soy candle wax is beloved to many candle makers who are looking for alternatives to bee’s wax. Bee’s wax is a good candle making ingredient, no doubt about it, but it is rare and costly. Soy wax, on the other hand, is made from soya oil, which was processed by hydrogenation. As the name implies, soy wax is a byproduct of soybeans, the same plant that produces tofu. Soy wax is now available in most craft stores and online hobby shops. Soybean oil is abundant in most soybean-growing regions. Not only did the candle makers find a less expensive alternative to create organic candles, they also found a way to create a thing of beauty from a regular commodity.
Soy candle wax has an extremely low melting point, which makes it the ideal wax for container candles. You can use an old tea pot to hold your soy candle wax and you can light the candle every night while you’re having your tea without worrying about excessive wax spills.
Needless to say, this type of wax is ideal if you’re creating candles for ornament or for creating a romantic, surreal ambiance inside a room. You really don’t want to keep changing the candle sets in your living room while a formal party is in full swing, do you? You can create tiny tea lights using soy wax and watch them last the whole night during your event.
For longer lasting candles, trim the wick or use braided wicks for your candle crafting. The combination of good wick style and low melting soy candle wax will make sure your candles last for a long time.
Soy wax is also highly prized by aromatic candle crafters. Scented soy candle wax emits aromatic scents easier. The raw material holds fragrance oil well, without diluting the fragrance. When you light a lavender-scented soy candle, you will smell the lavender fragrance more poignantly than when you light a lavender-scented paraffin wax candle.
Perhaps the biggest benefit to using soy wax for your candle production is the fact that you don’t even need a double boiler to melt soy wax. You can melt soy over direct heat without worrying about the wax burning.
