What Is Soy Candle Wax and Where Does It Come From?
As you well know, candles are nothing new. They’re old technology, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue to improve. One of the recent changes in the world of candle making has been the development of soy candle wax.
For centuries, the main fuel for candles was tallow. While tallow did burn, tallow doesn’t make a good candle. They smoke and they smell badly. For these reasons, paraffin rapidly overtook tallow as a candle material choice once it was developed.
However, paraffin is a residual of the petroleum refining process. That’s why people have been interested and coming up with a renewable, naturally occurring wax suitable for candle making. Soy candle wax resulted from this search.
Soy beans are a good source of oil. However, soybean oil is liquid at room temperature so when it’s original form it isn’t appropriate for candle making. But that can be changed.
Whether a fat is liquid or solid at room temperature depends on its degree of saturation. Fat molecules contain hydrogen atoms and a fat is “saturated” if it’s holding the maximum possible. It’s possible to saturate an unsaturated fat by adding hydrogen. That changes the oil from liquid to solid.
Now that description admittedly simplifies the situation, and various soy wax manufacturers treat the soybean oil in different ways, but all we need to know is the outcome: soy candle wax.
Pure soy wax is soft. It works great in container candles, but isn’t very good for making some other sorts of candles. Candle makers often adjust the rigidity of the soil wax by blending in paraffin and additives. doing that greatly increases the range of applications the wax is suitable for.
But many people want to use 100% soy wax, in which case they will probably get the best results if they stick to container candles. I’m sure you’ve seen and probably even have used container candles. These are candles in which the melted wax is poured into a nonflammable container with the wick positioned in the center. The candles never remove from the container, but rather is burned within it.
Of course there is a lot more to know about soy candle wax. One the best places to get details on it is:
And of course if you’re interested in soy candle wax you’ll probably be interested in how to use it. You can learn about the insiders techniques at: How to Make Soy Candles.
Better yet, I suggest you take a look at the e-book Home Candle Making Made Easy.
That book covers all aspects of candle making from selecting what type of wax to use for specific situations, what additives to use and when, the best way to scent candles, and so much more… Getting the information this book will make you an expert candle maker in the shortest possible time.
Candle making is a wonderful hobby. Get Home Candle Making Made Easy today and get started.
Stop paying high prices for scented candles. Learn how to make your own gourmet scented candles with palm wax. There is no other candle wax on the face of the planet capable of producing beautiful Jack Frost-like crystals or billowy feathers, making them especially appropriate during the holidays. Glass jar candles seem to glow from within. Finally, make scented candles in the fragrances that you like. FREE BONUS: Learn how to make clamshell soy wax tart chunks.
