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No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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Posted by milehighcc (My Page) on Tue, Feb 26, 08 at 14:03
| I've gone out and bought all of the correct equipment and supplies to make candles and they have turned out beautiful ... as have my tarts. One problem ... THE CANDLES HAVE NO THROW! None! My tarts smell great ... candles ... nada!
Recipe:
1 lb. EcoSoya CB 135 Soy Wax
1.8 oz FO
Dye color
7 & 11 ounce tureen jars
6" Cotton Core Wicks (1 in the 7oz, 2 in the 11oz)
I was melting my wax at 155 (according to the suppliers web site) but I'm going to try it hotter. I've also let them "cure" for 3 days. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. I'm about to pull all of my hair out. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| Hello, I have not made candles, but I noticed that you are heating up the recipe to 150F or so. I would think, if you are adding the scent at this temp, then the scent would burn off. Make sure that you are using the correct fragrance for candles, vice my favorite, soap.
Try adding the scent later in your method, which equals a cooler temp of the wax? Others may pipe in with a more accurate diagnosis, but this is my $.02 worth. |
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| Everyone has their own technique and it is kind of the tried and true method. I like easy, and no muss no fuss. I don't heat the wax that hot. I put my wax in the microwave and use the defrost setting. Microwaves vary, so melting times will too. I have found that the soy wax from different suppliers also makes a difference on how fast the wax melts. Set the timer for 5 minutes but continually watch it. As the wax starts to melt stir it, and stir a couple of times during the melting process. When there are only a couple of small chips left that aren't melted, I remove the wax from the microwave and stir the wax until all of the chips are completely melted. Then I immediately add my dye, stir to mix, and then I add my fragrance. I add 1 oz to 1 lb of wax. I use this method for both my melts and candles and they both smell wonderful. I hope this helps. |
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| I could also be the fragrance oils. I use EZ Soy and I have found (from experience) that some fragrance oils just do not perform well in soy wax. Now, I make sure I buy fragrance oils that have reviews and that say they throw well (and strongly) in soy wax. If it isn't given a review that says it has a strong scent throw in soy, then I don't buy it. |
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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I would retry with a different fragrance. When you say "Your candles have no throw" are you referring to cold or hot?
-Jules |
Here is a link that might be useful: Olde Oxford Station
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| I've found that pouring at the lowest temp possible is best to lock in the fragrance. Also, sometimes, certain fragrance just simply don't perform well. We went through a ton of testing to find fragrances we were happy with. |
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RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| I heat wax to about 170-180, add fo as soon as I remove from the heat source. Cool slightly and pour (for containers). You are using WAY to much oil..and it will counter balance the scent throw. Instead of more throw you get NO throw. Try 15 oz of wax and .8 oz of fo... It is a myth that the scent burns off when you pour it into hot oil. Heat wax to 170-180, remove from heat (double boiler method works best....) cheap pour pot ~ spaghetti sauce can or other "1lb" size can, cleaned well..set in an inch and a half of simmering water. (don't use a good pot..you'll never use it again for cooking! LOL) ~add in fragrance oil..stir well... set aside....stir well...set aside..stir well..pour when the wax STARTS to thicken, and to go one step further..has tiny bits of solidifying wax starting in it. (flakes, floaters) Can you tell me what size cotton core wick? |
oh one more thing
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| tarts will smell because you aren't using a flame to melt the wax..you can get the same results from just putting the fragrance oil directly in the tart burner as you do putting with wax...but wicking and combustion is a precise sceince.. |
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| The wax you are using does call for 155 melting point. Be sure to remove the wax from the heat and let it cool to 135 degrees (Eco Soy 135), then add up to 1 oz FO to one pound of wax per spec sheet for this wax from the manufactor. This is some of the best wax you can use for cold pour candlemaking. If the scent you are using came from a reputable supplier and is not a "fragrance oil base", meaning they have cut the FO with a base oil of Jojoba or Olive Oil or something of the sort. Check all FO's with supplier if they are for candle making. If they are diluting your FO with a base oil, this is for applying directly to the skin and not for scenting raw materials. Personally as a candlemaker, I think that you have gotten hold of a FO that is cut with a base oil already and at an ounce per pound that would have been plenty for the common FO use in a cold pour candle, because you are using a high quality wax. Also, FYI; always per dip your candle wick before ancoring to the jar and prior to pour because of two main reasons. 1- the FO will be drawn straight to the wick and soaked up and 2- this prevents pitty in the candle, such as, the inside of the candle is hollow. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Dandysoap
RE: No throw soy candles - FRUSTRATED!
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| Not much to add, because the previous post is spot-on. But the one thing the OP didn't say was what actual FO was being used. I have had better results with some that with others. When you buy them, check to see if they are actually recommended for use in candles. I have had good results with some oils from Majestic Mountain Sage (thesage.com) and Candle Science (candlescience.com). |
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