Soy Candle Making Supplies

Most candle makers will eventually be in the market for soy candle making supplies. Candles made using soy candle wax are becoming increasingly popular because they burn cleanly, hold color and scent well and have a long burn time. For some people the fact that they are derived from a petroleum product is important.

Soy candles are definitely here to stay. Here's a rundown of the equipment you need to make them.

The good news is that you can readily make soy candles using very basic candle making equipment. In fact, using soy candle wax can be a good beginner’s project.

Of course you need the wax itself. This is available from several suppliers. The processing is very important in determining the melting and handling characteristics of the soy wax. Most soy wax available will be too soft to reliably make good pillar or taper candles.

Wax suppliers often offer soy wax blended with paraffin or other wax and additives to overcome the softness problem.

This works well, but many chandlers only want to use pure soy wax. If that's the case for you, I'll show you later where you can find pure soy wax that will work in a pillar or taper candle.

One unique characteristic of soy wax is that it is safe to melt in the microwave. This is another reason why soy wax candles are a good beginner’s project - you don't even need a double boiler.

Even though some beginning candle makers don't use a thermometer, I recommend against it. It's much safer and you'll get better results if you use a thermometer to carefully monitor the temperature of the wax - both its melting point and it's pouring temperature.

Of course you need a wick. The main determinant of the size wick will be the diameter of the candle. Most wax suppliers recommend a given style of wick for each of their individual products. When you are just starting out, it's best to follow their recommendations.

Soy candle wax is especially good for making container candles, so I'll assume that's the type of project you're considering. In that case, you'll need a container.

The main requirement is that the container be fireproof and heat resistant. The two are not automatically synonymous. Specifically, glass is fireproof but unless it is heat resistant it may crack when exposed to the heat of the burning candle.

In general, metal and heat resistant glass containers are safe bet. Easily available containers for your first few projects are canning jars.

The only other necessary supplies are any dyes are fragrances you desire (soy wax does hold scent well) and material to hold the wick in place.

As enjoyable as it is to make soy candles, I think you'll enjoy using them even more. Soy wax makes a very clean and smoothly burning candle.

Learn to make beautiful candles at home. Check out:

Home Candle Making Made Easy