Does Coconut Oil Improve the Performance and Appearance of Soy Wax?

We get frequent questions about eliminating wet-spots and reducing frosting in soy candles.  It seems as if even experienced candle makers battle this problem at times, whether it’s due to changes in the weather, variations in cure temperatures, different fragrances or colors – it’s one of the most frustrating things a candle maker can encounter.  It’s also very difficult to trouble-shoot as it’s nearly impossible to control all of the variables.

We have heard anecdotal evidence of a possible remedy for some of the pitfalls of working with soy wax, so we decided to jump into testing mode and see if this remedy might actually work the way everyone says, and we were thrilled with the results.  Read on for more information!

Rumor has it that you can use 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Oil per pound of wax to help reduce or eliminate wet spots and frosting.  But what happens when you actually do this?  Many soy waxes are pretty soft already.  Will adding coconut oil make the wax even softer?  According to the chatter on the web, it can make your wax even softer, which is why you don’t want to use any more than 1/2 teaspoon per pound.

Well, we tried this out to see how it worked using GW464 wax.  The candle looked absolutely beautiful. Creamy looking wax that adhered completely to the glass, and continued to adhere to the glass even with multiple significant changes in temperature caused by our crazy Alabama spring.  However, the wax is pretty soft.  So if your candles are on display and someone touches the surface of the candle it would almost certainly leave a fingerprint or mark on your candle.  We liked the result we got, but we still wanted to try to harden the candle up a bit.

For our next test, we wanted to see if using a bit of stearic acid with the coconut oil would harden up the wax while still retaining the creamy appearance and excellent glass adhesion.  So I made four large candles using GW464, 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil per lb of wax, and 1/8 teaspoon of stearic acid per pound of wax.  Stearic Acid is made from palm oil and is known to raise the melting point of wax and harden it.  I was absolutely delighted with the result of this test.  The candle once again adhered to the glass without a single wet spot and the wax is firm to the touch and does not leave fingerprints or marks on the top of the candle.

But what about the burn?  The candles made both with and without stearic acid burned exactly the way a candle without these additives burned.  We noticed no significant difference in scent throw, melt pool, or burn rate.

I believe I have found my new favorite method of making soy candles.  If you have experienced the frustration of wet spots in your soy candles or frosting, you may want to consider testing by adding coconut oil and stearic acid to see if they make a difference for you.  We make no guarantees about how this might work, but we can say with conviction that it worked during our tests, and we have become believers!

Happy Candle Making!

Fragrances for Lotions & Body Sprays

We have compiled a helpful list of our fragrances that can be used in lotions, body sprays, and other products.  For your particular product we recommend you consult the IFRA for each fragrance.  The IFRA is listed on our website under the fragrance description. Look for a tab marked “IFRA Data” and consult the appropriate category for your formulation to determine what the safe usage rates are for your products.

If you have any questions about our fragrances, please email them to info@communitycandlesupply.com!

Please Note: We add new fragrances often.  We will update this list as new fragrances become available so be sure to check back often! 

Lotion & Body Spray Fragrance Oils

True Rose Yankee Type®

Volcano by Capri Blue Type®

Japanese Cherry Blossom BBW Type®

Lick Me All Over

Lavender

Lavender Linen

Island Lavender

Vanilla Patchouli

Patchouli

Diva Type®

Egyptian Musk/Red Sea Romance

Luxe Linen

Birmingham Belle

Grateful Heart

Honeysuckle

Jasmine

Pink Sugar Type®

Pink Magnolia

Magnolia

Caribbean Coconut

Kudzu

Vanilla Sandalwood

Pearberry BBW Type®

Warm Vanilla Sugar BBW Type®

Sugar Cookie

Oatmeal Milk & Honey

Baby Powder

German Iris

Driftwood

Pomegranate & Blackberry

Peach Nectar

Butt Naked/Tropical Paradise

French Vanilla

Butter Cream

Southern Sweet Tea

Coconut Lime Verbena BBW Type®

Birthday Cake

Small bottle with clear body spray base.
Pair one of these great fragrances with our Body Spray, Foaming Bath Whip, Shower Gel, Melt and Pour Soap, or Multi-base EL-1 Easy Lotion for quick additions to your product line!

Sea Salt & Agave

Gain Type®

Vanilla Bean BBW Type®

Vanilla Sandalwood

Zesty Citrus/Ruby Red Grapefruit

Macintosh Apple Yankee Type®

Sandalwood

Seaside Citrus

Almond

Coconut Creme Pie

Green Apple Jolly Rancher Type®

Kentucky Bourbon – Great For Men!

Blooms & Butterflies/Spring & Renewal Febreze Type®

British Parliament-Great for Men or Women

Bluebonnet

NEW! – White Sand Beaches BBW Type®

NEW! – Cotton Candy

NEW! – Tropical Serenity

NEW! – Rainbow Twist

NEW! – Peony & Blush Suede by Jo Malone®

NEW! – Fiji Date & Lemon

NEW & IMPROVED! – Cucumber

NEW & IMPROVED! – Cucumber Melon

NEW & IMPROVED! – Cucumber Mint

NEW & IMPROVED! – Cucumber Sea Salt

 

 

Confused about wicks? Read this.

Which Wick?

We get TONS of questions about wicks pretty much every day.  We know there is a lot of confusion about wicks so we decided to shed some light on this murky subject!  Read on to learn more about wicks and how they work for your container candles.

A container candle that is properly wicked will have certain characteristics.

First, the wick should be centered in the container and trimmed to 1/8-1/4 inch. A wick that is not centered may cause your candle to have excess un-melted wax on one side.  Some people might assume in this case that the wick is not the correct size, however it could simply be that the wick was not centered in the container.  In addition to the base being placed in the center of the container, most wicks need to be stabilized in the candle to ensure that the wick does not sag or move as the candle wax is solidifying. Sagging or slanted wicks will also cause the candle to burn irregularly.

When burned for 2.5-3 hours, the melt pool should reach the outer edges of the container, leaving little to no excess wax. The depth of the melt pool should be roughly 1/4-1/2 inch deep.  If the melt pool being created is deeper than 1/2 inch, then consider testing a smaller size wick.

Excessive mushrooming or smoke may also be an indicator that the wick is too large. However, some fragrances may cause more mushrooming than others  and excessive candle dye or other additives can also cause mushrooming and smoke.

Personal preference is a huge factor when choosing a wick. This is why we recommend testing when you change even one variable in your candles.  Some people prefer a low flame while others like the look of a taller flame.  Some candle makers are alarmed when they see any carbon formation on the tip of the wick, while others don’t mind at all. This is a highly personal process so please, test, test, test!

When we are asked to recommend a wick, we use our own experiences and knowledge to make recommendations, however product testing is critical and the maker is always responsible for their own finished product.

We have personally tested the entire LX series of wicks in both soy wax and paraffin wax. Because of this, we are most comfortable recommending this wick series to those that ask our opinion.  We have included a diagram of our burn results for your use.  Your results may vary depending on fragrance, color and wax used.  This diagram does not substitute for proper testing, and the images may not be actual size. Please note the measurements in the centers of the circles. The manufacturer’s recommendations in addition to our burn test results are posted at CommunityCandleSupply.com.  (Did I mention testing?!).

The LX wick is a uniquely braided cotton coreless, flat wick manufactured with stabilizing threads that ensure an optimum burn profile.  This allows for a very stable and consistent flame, which minimizes or eliminates carbon buildup (mushrooming) while reducing afterglow, smoke and soot.

 

Why is Soy Wax getting more expensive?!

I just got of the phone with my Soy Wax supplier and I am in shock.  Total shock.  Our cost has recently gone up a bit each time we have ordered our Soy Wax over the last six months, and knowing there was a drought in the areas of the South last year, we assumed that the rising cost was related to the drought.  Boy, was I wrong!

I learned today that the cost of Soy Wax is going up and will continue to go up, because the FDA has passed regulations requiring the food industry to eliminate all hydrogenated and partially  hydrogenated products by 2018.  What does this mean for candle and soap makers?  It means we are going to see our Soy Wax, Cotton Wax, Soy Shortening, and any other hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated products go up, up, and up.

The manufacturers of these hydrogenated products have relied heavily on business from food service.  Now that these products are close to being eliminated in food service, the manufacturing facilities are having to re-tool their production to comply with FDA regulations and shift emphasis to more profitable products.  This means their costs are going up, which means they will charge more for their products.

At the same time, sales for these manufacturers are shrinking because food service can’t buy these products anymore.  So guess who gets to bear the burden of the price increases?!  You guessed it! The remnant of users of these products are candle makers, soap makers, and any other industrial, non-food customers.  We (and our customers) will absorb the cost of these new government regulations.  I hate to be all gloom and doom, but this is real and it’s starting NOW.

So what good news can I give you?

  • The good news is that the elimination of hydrogenated oils in the food industry means that we will likely be a healthier, and hopefully thinner, society.  In addition, the waxes that you love will still be available so there is no need to panic.
  • Let’s face it, soy candle lovers aren’t going to quit buying your soy candles just because your price increases a little bit.  They LOVE your products.
  • Increases will be gradual, so luckily we will not have to absorb these changes all at once!  Just make sure you are staying tuned.
  • For soap makers, the news is not so bad.  Odds are good that if you are using vegetable shortening, you can easily substitute another oil for that shortening, if you choose.  However, for most soapers shortening is only a small percentage of their oils, so costs will not rise much per bar.

4 Things To Keep In Mind as the impact of these regulations begins to trickle down to us:

  1. There will likely be new blends of waxes commercially available in response to these changes in the industry.  This is exciting!  There may be new things for us to try!  We may even stumble upon something that is BETTER than what we are doing now. The important thing is to keep an open mind.
  2. Be prepared to adjust your prices, and check pricing on your wax regularly so that you can be sure you are charging enough for your products.
  3. Using blended waxes may become a very appealing option.  If this is an option for you, keep tabs on prices of a variety of waxes (not just soy) so that you can take advantages of savings that might be possible by blending waxes.  Right now Soy Wax is still very affordable compared to other waxes, but that situation could change.
  4. Whether you purchase from Community Candle Supply or some other company, please understand that your suppliers do not WANT to raise prices, and sometimes we even make decisions to accept a reduction in profit on some items to be competitive, but there are times that we simply have no choice.

Which Wax?

Which wax is best? Working at a candle supply company, we get asked this question nearly every day.  As with most things in life, there are a numerous factors to consider when answering this question.  If you are trying to decide which wax is best for you, you need to first identify the factors that are important to you.

Will you be making container candles or pillar candles? When making container candles, you want to select a wax that adheres to the glass.  Conversely, if you are making pillar candles, you will want to use a wax that shrinks a bit so that it easily comes out of the mold when it has cooled.

Are you using candle dye in your candles? If you want vibrantly colored candles, it is best to use a paraffin wax such as IGI4633.  You can also use our Golden Wax Soy waxes with candle dye, however it is more difficult to achieve bright colors with soy wax.

Is cost a factor?  Many people choose soy wax over other waxes, simply because the current retail price of soy wax is significantly lower than most other waxes.  Soy wax and all other natural waxes are vulnerable to price fluctuations due to environment factors, such as the recent drought that occurred in the southern US.  We are seeing prices go up now for soy wax due to the poor growing conditions many farmers experienced due to the drought.  But in spite of that, prices for soy wax are still significantly lower than most paraffin waxes.

Blended waxes are also a terrific option. Some candle makers will blend their own waxes, making a custom blend of wax that is unique to their business.  This is a wonderful option because you can take advantage of the characteristics of each type of wax.  Incorporating soy wax will help keep the cost down, and your wax will benefit from its clean-burning characteristics.  Using some paraffin in your wax will aid in hot and cold throw, glass adhesion, and help your candle hold vibrant color.  Incorporating a small amount of stearic acid into your blend will help raise the melting point of your wax, which can help protect it from the damaging effects of sitting in the heat (for example, when shipping candles or at summer time markets).

These are a few of the important things to consider before purchasing a wax.  Hopefully, this helps shed some light on the advantages of different waxes.  Be sure to read the product descriptions for whichever wax you choose, and remember to take the time to test every product for yourself.

 

 

So you want to make a container candle?!

Welcome to candle making!  Whether you are making candles for yourself or intending to sell them to others, candle making is a fun hobby and a creative outlet.  By making candles at home, you decrease the cost of the candles you love, have endless options of fragrance and color, and you can make personalized gifts for friends and family.

Materials Needed:

Beginner Candle Making Instructions:

  1. Protect your work surface with newspaper or something similar.
  2. Use the glue gun to place a small amount of glue on the bottom of the wick(s) and glue it to the center of each glass container. You can use a dowel or pencil to center the wick while the glue is hot.
  3. An 8 oz jelly jar holds approximately 5.4 oz by weight of wax each. Melt approximately 5.4 oz wax in a double boiler by placing the wax inside the included pouring pot and then placing it into a larger pot that has 1-2 inches of water in it. Heat the wax to 185 degrees F. NOTE: Be careful to prevent any water from getting into your wax!
  4. Once your wax has reached 180-185 degrees F, remove from heat and add candle dye if desired, stirring thoroughly but gently until melted. It may be necessary to slightly increase the temperature back to 180-185 degrees F to completely melt the dye.  We recommend chipping off small pieces of block dye and adding them slowly until you achieve the desired shade. Some people use the tip of a knife to break off a small chunk of dye, or you may also use a vegetable peeler to “shave” off a pinch of dye.
  5. Once dye has fully melted in the wax, add fragrance. Many candle makers use roughly 1 oz of fragrance per pound of wax (NOTE: the included wax can hold up to 1.5 oz of fragrance per pound of wax, so it is possible to scent more heavily if desired). So to make one 5.4 oz candle, add .5-.75 ounces of fragrance. (As you gain experience, you will want to begin weighing all of your ingredients. This will help you more precisely determine the amount of fragrance needed.)
  6. Slightly warm the glass containers that you will be pouring into by warming with a blow dryer (Some candle makers skip this step.)
  7. Once the wax cools to 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit, pour the wax slowly into the glass container. Stop pouring when the wax level meets the base of the neck of the jar. (Some waxes require different pouring temperatures, so be sure to read the product descriptions for your wax, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different temperatures.)
  8. Use a TruWik wick holder and center the wick within the grooved “teeth” of the device, and pull gently upward on the wick. Confirm that the wick is centered in the jar. Adjust if necessary. (Some people use wick bars, inexpensive hair combs, clothespins, chopsticks, or even pencils to center wicks.  You can conduct a YouTube search for these methods.)glass with wick and TruWik wick holder
  9. Allow the candle to cool for at least 24-48 hours. Trim the wick to 1/4 inch and make sure you trim the wick each time you light your candle for cleanest burn and best burn time.  Many candles are most fragrant after they have cured at least 48 hours, while some combinations of wax and fragrance may require longer cure-times.
  10. It may be necessary to slightly heat the top of the candle to smooth out the surface. You can do this with a hot hair dryer or a heat gun, but be sure to move your heat source continuously to avoid melting the wax coating on the wick.
  11. Be sure to place a warning label on the bottom of the container.

NOTE:  Never dispose of your wax down the sink or toilet. All waxes, including soy wax will clog your pipes.  To clean your tools, heat any wax with a hot hair dryer and wipe clean.  Once you have removed all wax, you can clean as your normally would with soap and water. It is recommended that items used to prepare candles be dedicated to candle-making and NOT be used in food preparation.