Soy Perfect
uses Ecosoya Container Blend waxes. Below
explains how to make soy candles.
EcoSoya™ Container Blend
Waxes
EcoSoya™ Container waxes are all
one-pour soywaxes requiring no additives
that result in a smooth surface. CB-135
and CB-Pure Soy have excellent container
adhesion while CB-Advanced Soy is designed
to contract slightly away from the container.
They have outstanding stability with no
experienced shelf life in or out of candles.
Old or partial candles may be remelted
and the wax reused. EcoSoya™ waxes
should be stored in a cool dry location
away from direct heat, sunlight and moisture.
Temporary extremes in temperatures cold
or hot have no adverse effect. EcoSoya™
waxes may be used frozen and if partially
melted, allow them to cool and re-solidify
before use.
Containers
Containers should be clean and room temperature.
No container preheating is necessary.
Color
Most any dyes work with EcoSoya™;
powder, liquid, chips, blocks, etc. Pigments
do not dissolve in EcoSoya™. When
using powder dyes heat the wax to 190°F,
add the dye and mix until dissolved. Powder
dyes may also be dissolved in fragrance
and then added to the melted wax, be sure
the dye has dissolved completely before
adding. When using powder dyes dissolved
in fragrance, liquid dyes, color blocks,
chips or no dye heat the wax to 155°F.
If you wish to make your candle darker
or “richer” add a little black
dye to the color you are using.
Fragrance
EcoSoya™ Container waxes may be
used with most any fragrance. Maximum
fragrance and essential oil load recommendations:
CB-135 & CB-Pure Soy - 10 to 12%,
CB-Advanced Soy - 6 to 10%. Burn pool
size and depth greatly affect scent throw.
Strive for a full diameter pool with a
depth of ¼ to ½ inch within
a 4-5 hour burn time, (see Wicking). Some
fragrances may react poorly with the wax
causing bleed, objectionable frosting,
or poor flame quality; try a different
fragrance or manufacturer to eliminate
it.
Wicking
EcoSoya™ soy waxes require larger
wick sizes than paraffin and burn more
down than out allowing them to have longer
burning periods. A general rule of thumb
is to have a full burn pool ¼ to
½ inch deep, from side to side
in about the same number of hours as the
number of inches the diameter of the container
is. For Example: An Apothecary jar with
a diameter of 4 inches should achieve
a burn pool depth of ¼ to ½
inch, side to side, within about 4 to
5 hours. Too large of a wick will produce
deeper, quicker burn pools but may also
cause sooting and short burn times. The
following table suggests wick types and
sizes to begin testing with, adjustments
may be needed. Keep wicks trimmed to ¼
inch. If you experience poor flame quality
or stability, try a different type of
wick. Test burning should be done after
the candle has had a chance to sit for
48 hours after puring. Wicks such as paper
cored, cotton cored or metal cored should
be avoided as they tend to cause sooting
and carbon build up.
CONTAINER SIZE INITIAL WICK SUGGESTIONS
TO BEGIN TESTING
Wick sizes and types to try are not limited
to those listed
Diameter:
1 to 2 inches HTP: 52
CD: 5 Eco: 2
RRD: 34 Flat Braid: 18
Square Braid:#4/0
Diameter:
2 to 3 inches HTP: 104 or 105
CD: 12 Eco: 6
RRD: 40 Flat Braid: 30
Square Braid: #1
Diameter:
3 to 4 inches HTP: 1212
CD: 20 Eco: 14
RRD: 50 Flat Braid: 60
Square Braid: #3 or #4
Diameter:
4 inches and larger Typically requires
double wicking. Try using 2 wicks evenly
spaced from the above 2 to 3 inch diameter
table.
Melting
When using liquid, chip and block dyes
or no dye at all, heat the wax to 155°F.
For powder dye use, heat the wax to 190°F,
add the dye and mix until dissolved. Temporary
high temperatures such as 190°F have
no adverse effect as long as the wax is
cooled back down quickly. Higher temperatures
may cause the wax to discolor. Allow the
wax to cool to your desired pour temperature,
add the fragrance and mix well. Be sure
to stir/mix the wax while melting.
Pouring
As a generalization we suggest pouring
at 125°F for most applications, this
will vary according to container type
& size, fragrance & dye used and
the effects you want to achieve. Scent
should be added and mixed right before
pouring or at higher temperatures if desired.
You can pour as low as 100° F if the
wax is kept in motion (constant mixing)
up until pouring. Lower pour temperatures
help to eliminate possible frosting while
producing a smooth top and good adhesion.
There is a difference in cooling rates
for different container configurations.
Cooling too quickly or too slowly can
cause concaving and/or frosting. Large
jars such as the apothecary configurations
cool slower and require lower pour temperatures,
about 125° F or lower. Tall thin jars
such as an 8 ounce jamming jar cool fast
requiring a higher pour temperature, about
155° F. If you experience difficulties
with your pour temperature try a lower
or higher temperature in increments of
10°F.
Candle Cooling
Cool undisturbed candles at room temperature
(about 70°F). The containers should
be about 1/2 inch apart to allow air circulation
for even cooling. The container should
remain open during cooling, at least 24
hrs, (large candles, 2 lbs and greater
may require longer times). Slower cooling
will encourage container adhesion, while
quicker cooling will encourage container
pull-away. Candles should be allowed to
sit undisturbed for 48 hours before test
burning.
General Candle Making
Making a candle is a process of combining
wax with dye, fragrance, container configuration
and wick. All these components can have
a dramatic effect on the wax and how the
candle performs. Dyes and fragrances can
react poorly with each other and cause
problems with wicking. They can also react
with the wax to produce undesirable effects
in the wax.
Choose a container that you want to use
for your candle. Pick and mix a dye with
the wax that gives you the desired look,
use a wick you think will burn well, (see
Wicking). Then choose a fragrance and
add it to the container, wax, dye and
wick combination. Check the look and scent
throw (both cold and hot) of the candle.
If the look is off then you may need another
type or manufacturer of dye or fragrance.
If the scent throw is poor, try a different
type of wick or a different type or manufacturer
of fragrance. Fragrances vary from company
to company; one company's vanilla may
be different from another company’s
vanillas.
Test Burn:Now check wicking. Test burn
the candle for burn pool diameter and
“mushrooming” after it has
setup (cured or dried) for 48 hours. Mushrooming
is when carbon and/or other substances
build up on the end of the wick interfering
with combustion. Mushrooming can cause
sooting and off odors. Try different wicks
until you have your desired burn pool
diameter and a good clean flame. A general
rule of thumb is to have a full burn pool
¼ to ½ inch deep, from side
to side in about the same number of hours
as the number of inches the diameter of
the container.
Every combination of container, wax,
dye, fragrance and wick must be tested
for burn quality.
General Troubleshooting
If you experience a problem with your
candle, try the following steps to isolate
the cause. Whatever the issue may be it’s
important that you test for only one variable
at a time. This enables you to isolate
the cause of your problem. Variables include
but are not limited to the container,
wax, dye, fragrance, wick, pour temperature
and even environmental conditions such
as cooling temperature.
First make a candle in the container with
only the wick (no dye or fragrance). If
it looks good then the wax is performing
normally.
Then one at a time change a variable.
Try adding the dye without fragrance to
the container, wax and wick. If it looks
good and burns well the dye is compatible
with the wax.
Try adding the fragrance without dye to
the container, wax and wick. If it looks
good and burns well the fragrance is compatible
with the wax.
Try the dye and fragrance together with
the container, wax and wick. If it looks
good and burns well the dye/fragrance
combination is compatible with the wax.
If you are experiencing burn problems,
try a different type or size of wick.
Other variables to try are different pouring
and cooling temperatures and even different
containers.
Be sure all equipment and materials are
contaminant free. This can be a lot of
work but you will find the cause of your
problem. Be sure to record all your testing
and results. When you do find the cause,
substitute a different type or manufacturer
of that component until you achieve your
desired results.
The above suggestions are only suggestions,
your results may vary. Testing and experimenting
are the only way to achieve the effects
and results you desire. Be sure to follow
all safety precautions and directions
recommended by the manufacturer of the
tools, materials and equipment you use.
We welcome your comments and suggestion.
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