Make Soy Candles For The Holidays
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1-40 hours
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Beginner
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- 0-200
At Christmas time, it is almost mandatory to burn candles to invoke the holiday spirit. During no other holiday do we burn more candles. They add a cozy atmosphere to the home, and are a part of tradition in almost every part of the world. In medieval times it was customary to represent Christ the Lord by a burning candle. Hanukkah is the "feast of lights." Placing lighted candles in the windows at Christmas was brought to America by the Irish. During the English persecution of Ireland, priests hid in woods and caves and were guided to homes to celebrate Mass by a candle burning in the window. Making candles for the holidays is not only fun, it helps us celebrate. This article walks you through the process of making soy candles for Christmas or other December holidays.
Why Soy?
Soy candles have many advantages over traditional beeswax and paraffin candles.
1. Cost
Soy is cheaper than traditional beeswax or paraffin tapers
2. No off Gassing
Soy doesn't produce soot.
3. Sustainability
Soy wax is made from a renewable source.
4. Environmentally-friendly
Soy candles do not increase the CO2 level in the atmosphere.
5. Long Lasting
Soy candles last 50% longer than beeswax or paraffin
6. Easy to Clean
Soy wax cleans easily with soap and water
7. Clean Scent
Soy candles give off a better fragrance.
Making Soy Candles
Soy candles can be made in three easy steps. Soy comes in both blocks and flakes. Using flakes is easier as they melt quicker.
Working with Soy
Soy is easier and safer to work with than beeswax because it has a lower melting point - generally 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. The flash point for soy -- the point where it will burst into flame by itself -- is 600 degrees, while wax has a flash point of only 395 degrees, making soy much safer to work with. Let's go step by step.
Step 1 - Measure Ingredients
Measure out two cups of soy flake into the Pyrex cup. The goal is to have 15 ounces of melted soy wax. There are two methods of doing this - either in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove top. Melt the flakes in a heavy-duty plastic bag placed in boiling water. If using the microwave, watch the soy wax closely and stir it often as it begins to melt.
Step 2 - Add Scents and Colors
When the wax has melted, pour in the fragrance. Add one ounce of fragrance to 15 ounces of wax. Be sure the fragrance is compatible with soy wax. Next, add the dye you have chosen.
Step 3 - Attach Wick
Using super glue, affix the wick to the bottom of the glass container. Wicks come with a small metal disk attached at the bottom to facilitate this process. Ensure the wick is long enough to drape over the side of the container.
Step 4 - Add Melted Wax
Slowly pour in the melted wax with fragrance and dye added. Some people warm the glass container for fear of it breaking from the hot wax. The secret is to pour in the wax slowly. Fill the container to the desired level, and hold the wick in the center of the melted wax until it has hardened sufficiently to keep it there.
Step 5 - Trim the Wick
Trim the wick to five mm length above the top of the wax. A wick that is too long causes the wax to melt too quickly.
At clean-up time, Soy candle-making equipment can be washed with soap and water.
The process of making soy candles is easy. You will be rewarded with a candle that lasts a long time, is friendly to the environment, and comes from a renewable source. Make some today for the holiday season, and celebrate your own "festival of lights".
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![Alden Smith]()
Alden Smith is an award winning author, and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. With a wealth of knowledge to share from his 50 year writing career, he works on topics as diverse as home repair, healthy living, cars, personal finance, and cooking. Alden and his wife Betsy live in Charlotte, MI, where they own a successful consignment shop, Bella Grande. He has recently taken up blues guitar after his wife bought him a Fender Strat with amplifier.![Dawn Hammon]()
Dawn Hammon has thrived in freelance writing and editor roles for nearly a decade. She has lived, worked, and attended school in Oregon for many years. Dawn currently spends her days convincing her children she is still smarter than them while creating new experiences with her husband of 24 years.  Her multiple interests have led her to frequently undergo home improvement projects. She enjoys sharing the hard-earned knowledge that comes with it with the audience of DoItYourself.com. Dawn and her sister make up a power-tool loving duo that teaches classes to local women with the goal of empowering them to tackle their fears and become comfortable with power tools. Tapping into her enthusiasm for saving money and devotion to sustainable practices, Dawn has recently launched a passion project aimed at connecting eco-friendly products and socially-responsible companies with consumers interested in making conscientious purchases, better informing themselves about products on the market, and taking a stand in favor of helping to save the planet. When she is not providing stellar online content for local, national, and international businesses or trolling the internet for organic cotton clothing, you might find her backpacking nearby hills and valleys, traveling to remote parts of the globe, or expanding her vocabulary in a competitive game of Scrabble. Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, which these days she mostly uses to provide therapy for her kids and spouse. Most recently, I worked for a small local professional organizing and estate sale company for four years where I learned a ton about organizing and/or disposing of just about anything. She was raised in a tool-oriented, hands-on, DIY family. Her dad worked in the floor covering business and owned local floor covering businesses, so of course selling floor covering was one of her first jobs. Her brother was a contractor for about 30 years and site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity. I worked with him often, building decks, painting houses, framing in buildings, etc. With her sister, she holds power tool classes to empower women who are scared or have never used them. Not quite homesteaders, she did grow up with a farm, tractors, motorcycles, expansive gardens, hay fields, barns, and lots of repairs to do. Plus she and her family preserved foods, raised cattle and pigs, chopped and hauled firewood, and performed regular maintenance on two households, outbuildings, fencing, etc. As an adult, she has owned two houses. The first one she personally ripped out a galley kitchen and opened it up to the living area, plus updated every door, floor covering, and piece of trim in the place. In her current home, she's tackled everything from installing real hardwood flooring to revamping the landscape.
