Soy Candle Making Kit
From LoveToKnow Candles
A soy candle making kit would be a great gift for any candle maker you might be shopping for this year. Though the popularity of soy candles has grown in the past few yeas, a lot of at-home candle makers aren't using soy wax. It's a little harder to find than traditional paraffin wax, but it's fun to work with something a little different from time to time. Here are some tips on where to fins a soy candle making kit or how to make your own.
What Are Soy Candles?
Soy candles are made like any other candle, they just use a different kind of wax. Soy wax was developed in 1991 by Michael Richards, who was looking for a cheaper alternative to beeswax.
People were getting interested in more natural products back then, but beeswax was about 10 times more expensive than paraffin. His wax was made from partially hydrogenated soybean oil, coconut oil and palm oil. Cargill now owns the patent for his method of making soy wax, and it is available from many manufacturers.
What's in a Soy Candle Making Kit?
A common soy candle making kit will include most of the basics that you need to get started, such as:
- soy wax
- wicks
- fragrance
- dye color
- containers to make candles in
If the person you are giving the soy candle making kit to is already a candle maker, this is really all he or she would need to get started making soy candles at home. The only other supplies one might need would be something to melt the wax in and something to stir with.
The great thing about soy wax, though, is that it is completely natural and cleans up with soap and water, so you can wash your implements in the dishwasher and use them for other kitchen uses if you like. Soy wax is also microwavable, making soy candle making a quick and easy craft for anyone to try.
Sources for Soy Candle Making Kits
Make Your Own Soy Candle Making Kit
If you don't like any of the soy candle making kits you can find, you can always make your own kit for that special person on your list. Going back to any of the vendors mentioned above, or just about any good retailer of candle making supplies will give you access to all the basic materials you need.
All of the following are wonderful additions to your soy candle making kit:
- Wax: At least one pound of wax would be best so that a couple of projects can be completed without having to buy more supplies, but of course you could always buy more than that or provide a couple of different kinds of wax.
- Wicks: Any wick that is made for paraffin wax candles will work for soy candles. If a particular kind of wick is recommended by the manufacturer, follow that advice. At least a couple of feet of wick would be helpful, or buy in whatever quantity is available.
- Dye: Look for dye that is specially made for soy candles. It's nice to throw in a couple of different colors.
- Fragrance: Again, there are scents that are made especially for soy candles. Providing two or three different scents is a nice touch.
- Containers: Plain old Mason jars are among the most popular containers for soy wax candles. The wax is pretty soft, so it does better in containers than in pillar candles. The companies that sell soy candle wax and supplies will often have a selection of containers to choose from.
If you're giving your present to someone who has never made candles before or someone who you know is in a hurry, throw in a four-cup glass microwave-safe measuring cup and a wooden spoon for stirring. Let the recipient know the wax can be microwaved, and check out our article on making soy candles for more advice.
Learn More
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© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
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