Soy Candle Wax Is This the Best Wax Yet?
Candles have been used for hundreds of years. They’re old technology, but even technology as old as this can continue to grow. Just to prove that there’s always something new under the sun, there’s a new candle wax on the scene.
For centuries, the main fuel for candles was tallow. While tallow did burn, tallow doesn’t make a good candle. They create a lot of smoke when they burn and they also give off a stench . That is why paraffin took over once it became available.
These days, however, some people object to using paraffin because it is a petroleum product. Because of this, there’s been so much interest in developing a good alternative to paraffin. Soy candle wax is the result.
Soy beans are a good source of oil. However, soybean oil isn’t solid so it’s not suitable for making candles. But if you change the chemistry of an oil you can change its consistency.
Hydrogen atoms are part of oil molecules. How many hydrogen atoms an oil contains determines when it becomes a liquid or solid. If you add hydrogen to a liquid oil, it becomes solid.
Of course I’m not a chemist so I can’t really explain how it’s done, and various soy wax manufacturers treat the soybean oil in different ways, but the only thing important to us is the outcome: soy candle wax.
Pure soy wax is soft. It works great in container candles, but isn’t very good for making tapers or pillar candles. You can adjust the rigidity of the soil wax by blending in paraffin and additives. doing that greatly increases the range of candles that can be made.
But many people want to use 100% soy wax for environmental reasons, 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. The most common ones are jars such as canning jars or apothecary jars filled with wax. Other styles of candles are removed from the mold when the wax hardens. With container candles, the candle remains in its “mold”.
There’s a lot more to learn about soy wax and how to use it. One the best sites I’ve found to get more information is:
And of course if you’re curious about soy candle wax you’ll probably be interested in how to make a candle with. You can pick up some soy candle making tips 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 reveals insider secrets on 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 guarantee your success.
Candle making is a wonderful hobby. Get Home Candle Making Made Easy today and get started.
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