Soy Candle Wax Blog

Candle making instructions are really simple and uncomplicated, but a little practice and experience will help make the hobby more enjoyable. Beginning candle makers can benefit from the experiences of veteran candle makers. Listed below are 5 top tips that experienced candle makers have found to be helpful.

1. Use a double boiler to melt the wax. Candle wax is sensitive to heat and needs to be evenly and gently heated to avoid breaking down. A double boiler keeps the heat even across the surface of the melting pot, eliminating hot spots. It also makes it easier to keep the wax at its recommended working temperature while you add dyes and/or fragrance oil.
2. Heat glass containers before pouring in the wax. Heat glass containers in the oven to about 150 degrees F. before pouring wax into it. This will keep the glass from cracking when hot wax is added and will also help the wax adhere to the inside of the container, avoiding unsightly frosty or wet looking spots. Use an oven mitt or light gloves when removing the glassware from the oven.
3. Use wicks that have tabs attached to aid in centering the wick in the container. Candle wicks are available that have a small metal disk attached, making it easy to set the wick in the center of the container. Using a hot glue gun, put a liberal amount of glue on the bottom of the tab and place it in the center on the bottom of the container. A firm straw or thin walled aluminum tubing can aid in pressing the tab to the bottom. Simply place the straw or tube over the wick, running the wick up the center of the straw, and press the tab firmly to the bottom of the container.
4. Pour the wax into the container slowly. After the wax has been heated to the required temperature and the dye and fragrance oil have been thoroughly mixed in, slowly pour the wax into the container. Using an aluminum melting pot with a spout does away with the need to dip the wax out of the pot to pour into the candle container. If you don’t have this type of melting pot, a pyrex measuring cup can be used. Just be sure to warm up the cup first so that the wax won’t harden on it when you dip out the wax. Pour slowly to avoid trapping bubbles in the wax. The candle should sit on a level surface as it cools.
5. Hold the wick tightly centered in the container. Take a wooden stick, such as a popsicle stick, and put a hole in the center large enough to thread the end of the wick through. Rest the stick on the top of the container, pull the wick up so that it is tight, and clip the wick to the stick using a spring type clothespin or something similar such as an alligator clip. As the wax cools, it contracts and will form a small sink hole in the middle of the candle. If the wick is not held tightly in the middle it will tend to be pulled crooked.

Many more tips will probably be discovered with experience, but hopefully these five tips will help beginning candle makers create beautiful, fragrant soy container candles on the first try.