All About Handmade Soy Candles

If you love to burn candles, you might be interested in creating your own handmade soy candles. It's fun and easy, and the difference between soy wax and ordinary candles will make you a convert fast. Soy candles are made from hydrogenated soybean oil, a byproduct of many types of food processing. By comparison, petroleum is made from a waste product of crude oil. Soy wax is a natural ingredient, and entirely biodegradable, unlike paraffin. Handmade soy candles also burn much more cleanly than paraffin, preventing soot accumulation on household objects and improving air quality. Also, if you've ever experienced the frustration of trying to remove wax when it's spilled, you'll be happy to find that most soy waxes clean up with just soap and water.

The low melting point of soy wax makes it safer than paraffin, which can burn you. Since soy melts at such a low temperature, there's no risk of a nasty burn. This is a big advantage, because it makes handmade soy candles safer to use around pets and kids, and the creation process is a lot easier. Soy candles may also burn longer than a paraffin candle, offsetting the slightly higher cost of soy wax. Learning to create your own handmade soy candles is fun, ecologically friendly, safe, and easy. There's no reason not to give it a try.

Check your local craft store for the supplies you'll need. Most stores will carry candlemaking supplies, but if yours doesn't, you can also look online. You'll find many suppliers offering the right things to make your own soy candles. To get started, you'll need an ordinary jar, a pound of soy wax, an ounce of any fragrance oil you might want, and a wick that will work with soy based wax. These are all fairly inexpensive and easy to obtain. Check for the best quality, and be sure that your soy wax is unadulterated. Some stiffer soy waxes are actually a soy/paraffin blend. This improves the wax's handling qualities, but removes many of the benefits that soy wax has to offer.

Once you have your supplies, the process of creating your own handmade soy candles is easy. Just melt the wax in a double boiler, or even the microwave. Mix any scents you want to experiment with in a separate container, so that you won't accidentally spoil an entire batch of wax. The usual rule is an ounce of oil per pound of wax, but you may want your candles to be more or less scented, or your oils may be a little different. Be willing to play with the process to find out what works best for you. Once you have a scent you like, mix it into the warm wax, place the wick in the jar, and pour your candle. Once the wax has set up, you'll be ready to burn.

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