It’s been a while since I have shared a craft and this one is probably better suited for the winter months, but it is fun and easy to make homemade soy candles if you haven’t tried them before. I purchased my soy flakes, dyes, fragrances, a packet of glitter, and wicks from Bitter Creek Candle Supply, Inc. Bitter Creek does carry different types of soy flakes. I used the EZSoy Container Wax Flakes.
Here are the steps:
1. Add soy flakes to microwavable glass dish. I use a Pyrex measuring cup. When you heat the flakes, the melt down to about half of what you add so if you put in 2 cups, you are left with 1 cup liquid and so on.
2. For the 4 cups I was using, I started off at 1 minute and then continued at 30 second intervals until completely melted. I did not need to stir. I used full power, but each microwave is different. Mine is 1100 watts.
I used 4 oz. jelly jars for most candles that I made so they could easily be transported with lids and rings when done as gifts.
3. I was doing this project with my oldest daughter so she wanted a little glitter added. It’s a nice thought, but soy candles do not harden clear so the glitter was not very stunning when they were done. Soy candles have a white color when set and not colored.
4. The dye I used came in color blocks. They have a paraffin wax base. To remove, I just used a vegetable peeler to shave off small pieces and then stirred with a spoon. As long as the liquid is hot, you can still add and melt the dye well.
5. I enjoy a little fragrance and since my scents are a few years old, I added 1/2 tsp. fragrance oil to each candle my daughter and I made. Mix fragrance in well.
6. I then placed the wick in my melted wax. The wicks I used had a tab already in place (silver part on bottom). You can buy wick stickums to fasten the wick tab to your container too. Allow candles to set up over the next few hours.
Making soy wax candles is an economical way to add fragrance to your home and many appreciate them as gifts. I really love candles, specially the new led ones from https://glowdecoration.com, they are amazing !!! You may experience some “frosting”, which is white spots forming in the candle and this is due to usually to too high of temps. Other than appearance, frosting does not cause any issues.
If you spill the soy wax, just clean the area with warm soapy water. It washes easily off utensils in the dishwasher, but I don’t know how it is to remove if you get it on clothing.
The EZ Soy comes in 10 lb. or larger for purchase. Bitter Creek also has instructions on how to make other products like baths salts, body butter, and more here.
The only debate I have with soy candles is the soybean oil. 90% of the soybeans grown in the USA or GMO soybeans. I am not sure if Bitter Creeks sources their soy flakes from non-GMO or if they are GMO.
EZ Soy™ is manufactured in the USA from kosher soybeans. Soy waxes produce little to no black soot when made and burned properly. EZ Soy™ will hold up to a 10% fragrance load however we have had the best hot scent throw results using 6%.
Disclosure: I purchased these products for my own fun. The thoughts and feelings expressed are my own. No compensation was received for this post.
