How to Make Soy Candles
Learning how to make soy candles might seem a little difficult at first, but it is actually quite easy and a lot of fun to do! Making homemade candles is a great hobby to start, and you’ll be able to make some great candles for you, your friends, and your family. Not to mention, it can be a great way to relax and express your creativity! You may even be able to turn it into a full time profitable and fun business!
There is a great guide on how to make soy candles and I can’t recommend it enough. Not only does it come with over 300 scent recipes and all the professional tips you need to know for the best results but it will also teach you how to make money with candles. How cool is that? Wouldn’t you love to quit your job and make candles all day for fun and make money too?
Click Here for The Most Comprehensive Candle Making Guide Available Online
Now, if you just want a few basics, then I can teach you that in this article. But if you want professional results, a book is really the best way to go because there is a lot to learn! It’s simple and yet with so many variables you really can transform from just making simple candles as a hobby to running a full scale business if you wanted to. (Wouldn’t you love to quit your job and make candles all day? I sure did!) The price right now is $37 – I don’t know if that will ever go up or go down, but that’s still a heck of a steal when you consider how much that could potentially save you in mistakes…not to mention possibly earn you back!
I personally prefer the online download books because you don’t have to wait for shipping and it to come in the mail. You don’t even have to pay shipping! You can download, read it, go get your supplies later today or tomorrow and start! You can always print the pages, too if you want to have something you can refer to while working.
But if you’re not ready for the Ultimate Guide to Candle Making for Fun and Profit then that’s okay – you can always bookmark this page and come back to it later 
Now, like I said earlier, it’s not really all that hard to learn how to make your own soy candles. Soy is great to use because it is pretty much inexpensive, it doesn’t make a huge mess, it has a low melt point, and you can get it available online or at most craft stores.
You’ll need some basic candle making supplies, and they’re all readily available at most craft shops. If you’re new to this, it’s usually best to start off with something really simple before starting to get concerned about fancy candle molds or making colors and experimenting with fragrances – but you’ll be ready for that in no time, especially if you learn the best techniques in doing it!)
Some of the basic supplies you are going to need are listed below:
Double Boiler Pan – This is a pan that sits on top of another pan you fill with water – that way when you melt the wax in the top pan you won’t have to worry about it burning or scalding because the bottom pan has water in it.
Soy Wax – This comes in blocks or flakes and usually is just a matter of personal preference as to what you decide to use.
Wicks – After you melt the candle, you’ll have to insert a wick into it. Generally you’ll want wicks that are a bit longer than the size of the candle you plan on making. You can get them in all sorts of different lengths – sometimes it is best to choose the longer ones and then cut them so you can either get twice as much use out of them or keep your options pretty much unlimited.
Jar/Container – When you’re first getting started, the easiest thing to do is put them in jars. If you’re into recycling and like to save money, start saving all the glass jars and tins you get from things you buy. You can also buy them pretty inexpensively, I think a case of them is only around $3-6 depending what area you are in and where you buy it.
Pencil – This is so helpful with getting the wick to stay in place. There are other methods, but it’s easy for beginners.
Fragrance – There’s a big difference between what fragrances you decide to use and how much to put in. I suggest if you’re just starting out to stick with something simple like Vanilla and use it per the directions on the bottle. If you go to a craft store you should be able to find someone who can recommend which ones are the best out of what they carry.
Dye – Again, this is something for more advanced candle makers, but it is nice to make your candles pretty. But if you’re just making regular vanilla candles I wouldn’t worry about that too much just yet!
So, now you have a basic idea of what materials are needed, you’re ready to get started!
The first step obviously is to make sure you have everything together in one spot. You may also want to consider having spoons and/or oven mitts handy. I like to wear protective gloves (pretty much like garden gloves that aren’t too restrictive) so if I do spill wax or touch something I won’t get burnt immediately. Once the wax is melted, you are kind of working against the clock so having everything together before hand is a huge saver!
Now you’re ready to melt the wax! Depending on what wax you buy, they could be some special directions that come with it, so make sure you read that because it is different for everybody. Typically though you’ll use enough wax for the candle size you want to make and then melt it using the double boiler. Once it is liquidfied, you’ll be ready to go. Usually I melt on a low to medium heat – I have a weird electric stove from the 1950′s though, so if you’re stove is newer you may need to experiment with the temperature to see what works the best for you. It’s hot, so make sure you are careful, and obviously children should be supervised at all times. (Note: Don’t EVER cook wax without the double boiler pan on your stove – it can potentially burst into flames that way! Also, obviously, don’t leave it unattended either. Hey, candle making should be fun, I don’t want you to get hurt or inadvertently burn your kitchen down!) Using a simple kitchen thermometer can help you know too when to take it off – most soy wax is ready to go around 175-180 degrees.
Once the wax is melted it is time to stir in the fragrance and dyes you want to use, so you’ll want to remove it from the heat and let it cool just a little, around 160-150 degrees or so. Again, read the directions that come with whatever fragrance you are using. They’re all different, and it’s going to depend whether you’re using pure essential oil or a synthetic fragrance on how much you need. Don’t be tempted to put more in than what is recommended – because it won’t make the candle smell more. It will likely just all float up to the drop and drip out because there is a certain degree where too much is too much – it doesn’t mix in with the wax because the wax becomes over saturated.
Now, I like to have the wick already to go when I pour the wax in, so what I do is I will tie the wick around the pencil. Then I pour the wax in about 3/4 of the way to fill the container and then insert the wick. The pencil works great for holding it in place.
Now comes the hard part – waiting for the candle to be ready of course! I generally will wait at least 8 hours before even looking at them, especially if I am making jar candles or using candle molds. Smaller candles generally need to wait about 4-5 hours before being removed from a mold. But waiting longer isn’t going to hurt anything – and it will make sure that you don’t accidently ruin it when you are all done! Don’t be tempted to try something crazy to cool it down faster, like putting it on ice or in the fridge. That can be really bad! (By the way – always make sure if using glass containers they are at room temperature – if they are cold from being left outside for example they could possibly crack when you pour the wax in!)
And that’s pretty much it – you’re ready to use and enjoy your new soy candles. It’s not hard to learn how to make your own soy candles, and you’ll only get better with more and more practice!
And if you want the name of that book I recommend again you can visit it by clicking here. The recipes alone are well worth it – because it is really hard coming up with your own fragrances that aren’t too strong or too weak at first!
Good Luck!
Filed in: Candle Making
About the Author (Author Profile)
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
