How to Make a Soy Candle
Last year, I shared a tutorial for how to make beeswax candles. This year, I’m sharing a similar one for soy candles. I like both types of candles, but I find soy tends to burn a little more evenly in small glass jars. The wax is also a bit cheaper to buy in bulk. Of course nothing beats the smell of beeswax, but soy candles transmit the scent of essential oils extremely well, which gives you all sorts of options for personalizing your candles.
I mentioned on my Instagram that making candles can save you a good chunk of change. All in all, I spent $36 on materials for 6, 8-ounce candles, which comes out to $6 a candle. Once you own the jars - assuming you’ll use them again - the cost goes down to $3.50 a candle. That’s a pretty good deal when you consider that the same candle goes for $25 online. If you plan to reuse your jars, be sure to read the tip at the bottom of the tutorial for the quickest, easiest way to clean them between uses.
As a side note, and for health and safety reasons, I’d caution you from using other types of wax. Paraffin wax is the most popular base for candles, but what you save in money, you pay for in quality. As a byproduct of crude oil, paraffin is known to emit all sorts of yucky chemicals (most notably, toluene and benzene) when burned. For my own home, I only light beeswax or soy candles (using clean burning organic cotton wicks) and even then, I try to open windows during and after use. Candles are lovely and cozy and homey - especially this time of year when the attention shifts from outdoor to indoor living - but nothing beats good, clean, healthy air. Recipe makes 6, 8-ounce candles.
Ingredients (to make 6, 8-ounce candles)
medium-size pot
pint-size glass mason jar
canning ring
about 9 cups unmelted soy wax flakes
essential oils (50 drops per 8-ounce jar)
wooden popsicle stick
newspapers
6, 8-ounce amber jars with lids
strong glue
wooden clothespin
Directions
Create a double boiler by placing two inches of water in a medium-size pot. Place a canning jar ring in the center of the pot and set your glass mason jar on top of the ring.
Add 1.5 cups of unmelted soy wax flakes to the jar (you’ll make one candle at a time this way). If you have a larger and a quart-size wide mouth jar, you can double up and make two, 8 ounce candles at a time.
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to medium-low heat until the wax completely melts.
Meanwhile, place a few layers of newspapers on your workspace to protect it from melted wax, which you’ll pour into the amber jars in step 7.
Once the wax has completely melted, remove the pot from the heat and add the essential oils to the wax. Using a wooden popsicle stick, mix well to incorporate.
Secure a wick to the bottom of the mason jar with a little glue if you have some, then thread the top of the wick through a clothespin. Set the clothespin on top of the jar, centering the wick.
Using tea towels or pot holders, carefully remove the glass jar of melted wax from the pot. With a steady hand, pour the melted wax into the amber jars, leaving about an inch of room at the top. Reposition the clothespin to make sure the wick is centered.
Let the wax harden for about 1-2 hours, then remove the clothespin and trim the wick to 1/2 inch inch in length. Light your candle or seal the lid and store in a cool cabinet for later.
Tip: To clean your jars after using them, put them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then place them in the oven at 200F. Let them warm up until the soy wax melts completely, then remove the baking tray from the oven and carefully wipe the containers clean with a paper towel. You may have to repeat this step a few times to get the jars completely clean, but after a few wipes they should be be good as new.