Soy candles are cleaner burning than paraffin wax, don’t give off toxins, and last longer. They also are more affordable to make and are a great choice for DIY projects. To get started making your own, you’ll need a few basic tools and supplies.
Candle Making Kits
If you’re a beginner and don’t want to deal with all the mess of melting the wax on your own, look for a candle-making kit that includes everything you need for a set of candles. These kits come with soy wax flakes, wicks, and candle-making supplies.
The best soy waxes are made from soybeans and are free of synthetic chemicals and other pollutants. They also burn cleaner and more slowly than other waxes, giving you a longer candle life and less soot to clean up.
A good wax is also easy to work with and melts evenly. You can even mix a few different types of waxes together to add additional color and scent to your candles.
How to Melt Soy Wax
First, you’ll need a glass bowl and a heatproof container to melt the soy wax in. You can use a double boiler method to melt the wax, or you can microwave it at one-minute intervals until it’s melted.
After the wax has cooled, add essential oils to flavor and fragrance your candles. I like to use about 4 drops of oil for each cup of melted soy wax.
Next, place the wick in the center of the candle. Twist it around a skewer or pencil and secure it with a wick holder (I found these metal ones on Amazon).
Once the wick is secured, pour the wax into your prepared containers. You can fill them up as much or as little as you want, but leave about 1 inch of space at the top.
How to Scent Your Soy Candles
Adding your favorite aroma to your soy candles is an extra step that makes them truly special. To do this, simply stir in a few drops of fragrance oil to the melted soy wax before pouring.
Fragrance oils are available at most craft stores or online, but I recommend purchasing them in bulk. It’s more cost-effective to buy them in large batches, and it’s more convenient if you’re using a lot of different fragrance oils.
You can choose from a variety of scents for your candles, including vanilla, lemon, grapefruit, mint, and many others. You can also mix scents with other ingredients, such as beeswax or coconut wax.
How to Measure Your Soy Wax Flakes
You need approximately one pound of soy wax flakes for each medium-sized candle. You can use a measuring tape to measure the amount of flakes, but if you have a kitchen scale, it will save you time.
Once the flakes are fully melted, it’s time to pour them into your containers. This may take a few minutes, so you can prep your containers and wicks while you wait.
