The 5 Building Blocks of Making Soy Wax Candles

Like everything in life, the more you do something, the more you learn and the better you get at it. The same is true for candle making. Through experience, we have learned what works, what doesn't, and what techniques produce exceptional results. I have written articles previously about different aspects of the candle making process, but I wanted to put it all together so that your results can be exceptional, too.

Follow these 5 Building Blocks of Soy Wax Candle Making and you will be on your way to candle stardom:

1. Believe it or not, the wax you use is the most important part of the process. As my son would say, "No Dah, Dad!" You will find that Soy Wax is much more forgiving and easy to use. Paraffin wax is more difficult. All soy waxes, though, are not the same. 100% soy wax is not ideal for candle making because it can crack when it cools, and syneresis occurs more in 100% soy wax. Syneresis is when the fragrance sweats at the top of the candle. Soy blends work better (soy and other natural vegetable mixed), but some companies blend soy wax and paraffin. If clean burning is important to you, look for all natural soy wax blends. For a hint of where to find a good blend, check out the links in the left margin.

2. Wick choice for your candle is another very important consideration. The size of the wick is not determined by the height of your candle, but by the width of the container. The rule of thumb is the wider the container, the thicker the wick.

Thin wicks absorb less liquid wax, therefore produce less vapor fuel and a smaller flame. A thicker wick absorbs more wax and produces a larger flame. This becomes important when your container is wide. A larger flame produces a more even burn circle out towards the edge of the wide container.

When you purchase your wicks, they should be marked with the recommended container size. If they are not, compare the options that you can find. Containers in excess of 3.5 inches should have the thickest wicks. Containers between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches should have a medium sized wick. And, jars less than 2" need only the thinner wicks. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have thicker wicks in smaller jars, but they will burn off the wax more quickly.

No matter what container or wick size you choose, it is also very important to center the wick as perfectly as possible. My supplier provides a measured "target". I place the candle (this works best with glass jars) on the target so that the perimeter of the candle matches one of the rings. The center dot in the target then matches the exact center of the jar. This is more accurate that eyeballing it. Then, use a popsicle stick with a small hole in the center to hold the wick while you pour and while the wax cures.

3. Most of us burn candles because they smell good, so it is very important to use a quality fragrance oil. Carrier is an ingredient in the fragrance oil that helps the oil to solidify and blend into the wax more efficiently. If the manufacturer uses a carrier of lesser quality, then the blend and burn performance of the wax and wick is directly and negatively affected. If you notice a big price difference in certain fragrances, the type of carrier used may be of lesser quality in the cheaper formula.

4. Colors very often decrease the performance of soy wax candles. You see, colorants and dyes are not combustible, and they often can clog a wick. If you have ever noticed that a wick can get a mushroom shape, too much colorant is the culprit. If you add a lot of color, use a thicker wick.

5. Choose a size and shape of container to give an optimal burn. Glass and Ceramic containers are great to use. The glass should be annealed, though. Annealing is a heating process to remove stress from a material. Most containers that you would get from a craft store or candle supply company are safe.

The ideal shape for a candle is cylindrical, because that matches the burn pattern of the wax. The proportion should be at least as tall as it is wide. And, don't use too tall of a container in proportion to width. As it burns to the bottom, there is less oxygen to fuel the flame, so the flame will start to flutter and mushroom. Position the candle away from drafts so that it will burn evenly.

To summarize, use a quality soy wax blend (no paraffin). Containers designed for candles are the best option. Use thicker wicks for larger soy wax candles. Also, use a thicker wick if you like to use a lot of color. Take notes on the effect of varying amounts of fragrance, color and wick size.

Before you know it, you will be able to produce the exact results that you are looking for. Good luck and have Fun!