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Soy Candle Making Supplies |
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Making a candle is a process of combing 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 and cause problems with wicking. They can also react with the wax to
produce undesirable effects.
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. Confirm that the combination looks the way you want it to. 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 not good you may need another type of wick or a different type or
manufacturer of fragrance. Fragrances vary from company to company; for
example, one company may have hundreds of different vanillas that are different
from another company’s vanillas.
Now check your wicking. Test burn the candle for burn pool diameter and
“mushrooming”. Mushrooming is when carbon and/or other substances build up on
the end of the wick interfering with combustion. Mushrooming can cause sooting
and bad odors. Try different wicks until you have your desired burn pool
diameter and a good clean flame. The burn pool should be about ¼ to ½ inch
deep.
We recommend that the
wax be heated to 190 before adding dye liquid or dye block, flake, or powder.
When using liquid dyes or no dye at all, heat the wax to 165° F. EcoSoya waxes
can be melted in the microwave, if desired.
Allow the wax to cool to your desired pour temperature, add the fragrance and
mix well.
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.
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 contamination 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 the results
you desire. |
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