Do soy candles burn faster???

19 years ago

I lite a soy candle I bought at a craft show, and in just a short period of time, it almost burned down to nothing. Did I get a bad one, or what? Won't buy anymore regardless how safe they are for breathing. My other candles seem to last much longer

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Comments (16)

Hazel_SC
19 years ago
As I understood them to work they were supposed to burn cleaner and at least as long as "regular" candles.

Hazel
GardenGirl_IA
19 years ago
I think they burn faster too. I really like them though.
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I have been making and selling candles for ten years now. When I started, I was using parafin but within a year I switched to soy. That was about the time they had introduced soy. I use a crock pot. My husband drilled a hole near the bottom, on the side, and put a spicot on it. I melt the wax in the crock pot. I have it set on the dial where it wil heat the wax to 150 degrees. I then pour the amount of melted wax that I want (let's say 14oz) into a glass measuring cup. I then add the scent. Usually about 1oz. It also depends on how strong the scent is, so take a wiff while your stirring. That will be about how strong it will be when the candle is burning. Then I add the coloring. I've tried different ways to color and I liked the liquid color the best but now I don't use any coloring. My label for my jars are the color the candle would be. As soon as I have added the sent and color, I pour it right into the jars.(I use 8oz mason jars) I don't heat my jars first but I do have my wicks already 'glued' into the jars before I pour in the wax. I put a dab of hot glue on the wick tab and attach it to the bottom of the jar. That way it stays centered and in place while the wax is cooling. The 14oz that I mentioned above plus the scent will fill two 8oz jars just right. Once the wax cools, I cut off the wick and put on the lid. I have not had any problems with the scent of my candles. I have repeat buyers. My question to you is what kind of wick do you use. I use a hemp core wick that is already tabbed and dipped in wax to stiffen it. It sounds as if you might be using a zinc core wick. The zinc core wicks will cause alot of the same problems you're having. I tried to use up the zinc core wicks that I had left over from when I made parafin candles and they do not work in soy wax. I was trying to save myself some money but that didn't work. I buy my supplies from Bitter Creek Candle Supply. A link to their site below. I would recommend them to anyone. They have alot of helpful ideas and they do have live help on their site. I don't know what time of day but they usually have someone on there everyday. You can also call them on the phone and there is always someone available. They love talking about candles. I hope this has helped you. Keep trying, you'll get the hang of it. Cindy Here is a link that might be useful: Bitter Creek Candle Supply
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Ina Plassa_travis
19 years ago
depends very much on the candlemaker-

the softer the wax, the faster it's going to burn...and I've found a lot of those soy candles are just short of mushy.
LibbyLiz
19 years ago
I've had soy candles that lasted a very long time. Maybe it was just the scent I didn't like & wanted to get rid of that made it seem to take forever to burn them? LOL
iowajewel
19 years ago
My favorite are soy ones.....and they are wonderful! Made locally, they are really scented and last a long time. My favorite one is cinnamon buns!!!!
Makes my house smell like a bakery!
Julie
Carlena
18 years ago
Hello, I'm new to this site(and i'm glad i found it) - so bare with me....I make "SOY" Candles & have since February of this year. I got rid of all my paraffin candles & burn strictly soy. I just opened my own business here at home & have my own website(i sell more then candles) - Soy is so much healthier for a person & I would love to share a story that one of my customers told me: she had to have someone come in her home(a professional)as her walls were turning black, he went up in her attic & her insulation & even the wood was black, needless to say it was from burning Paraffin candles - - he told her that it is worse in the winter time as Paraffin goes 'up' due to the cold & sticks; I couldn't believe my ears when she was telling me this story & always love to pass it on - as I have burned so many other candles - never soy(pretty scary) - the guy told her to burn nothing but Soy candles from now on....they had to do alot of work inside there house to get it back to normal. I love Home Interior candles(had 2 parties a yr)& since I'm a Seller & a Buyer on Ebay I sold them all on there. Well, I dont mean to 'scare' anyone on candles, that is not my intention....

Soy wax is derived from vegetables, 100% non-toxic, emits little to no soot, cleans up with soap & hot water, burns cool & 25% to 50% longer, burns completely, releases fragrances naturally, faster and longer, supports the American Farmer & is a renewable resource, & is environmentally safe!

For the past 10 yrs I have always wanted to make candles & when I came across 'Soy' I just had to do it - if some of you have never purchased a Soy candle just try one, you will definitely see the difference - and I agree, someone else mentioned that the homemade ones are much more better then the boughten ones.

Thanks for letting me tell my story! ~Carlena~
luv2cre8
18 years ago
Hi Carlena and Welcome!
I had bought a soy candle and your right it does burn alot cleaner but it did seem to burn quicker. I didn't time it so I can't say possitively that it did. I have also made my own paraffin candles, how do you make soy candles? You can't just by it at Michaels can you?
Terri_PacNW
18 years ago
I too make soy candles, I've been doing it for about 5 years.
My soy candles burn about 10 hours for every ounce of wax.

Unfortunately with the massive influx of soy candles hitting the market, the consumer isn't always getting the truth.
All soy waxes are not the same.

Oh and to the person who wants to know about Michaels wax.
It's very expensive and not the best quality.
I'd suggest that you find a few supplier close to you and try a few out, since you have already worked with paraffin.
pattico_gw
18 years ago
I got some from a lady at the KT...she makes them...the ones she sent burn much longer than any I've bought at the stores...and smell ten times better...

patti
lizql
18 years ago
I don't burn mine. I put mine over a warmer. They last forever and so does the scent.
marylmi
18 years ago
I bought a "Oatmeal Raisin Cookie" soy candle at JoAnn Fabric about a month ago and I am still using it. It is in a glass jar. I love the smell of it, makes everyone think I'm baking! :)
jessica3073
16 years ago
I love making soy candles; however the soy wax I bought is too soft and doesnt burn long. Does anyone have any suggestions on a better type or brand of soy wax? I use NatureWax C-3, made out of vegetable.

Also, will having a thicker wick slow down burn of wax?

Thank you Carlena for your story. :0P
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Jessica, in my opinion the best soy wax is made by Enchanted Lites. I use the "original" container blend. This company is a part of the Bean Pod Co. (I've tested alot of straight soys, blends and a few veggies, even the C-3.)

A thicker wick? Do you mean dipped thicker or a "larger" wick?

Wicking is really the key to a proper burn.
All wicking is not the same, and it takes time to figure out the perfect wicking for the container and the wax..Also adding in the fragrance oil used and dyes(if using).
Hence why it takes lots of time to get it spot on.

I make double wicked soy candles that burn over 100 hours. THEY BURN FOREVER. It's all in the consumption rate of the wax in relation to the burn of the wick. I can take the same amount of wax and fragrance oil "recipe" and put it in a different shaped jar with one wick and the burn time is changed...
suz59330
16 years ago
I use a candle warmer instead burning my soy candles. They last and last and last.... and the fragrance remains just as strong from beginning to finish.
jaybird
15 years ago
Terri_pacnw's soy candles are wonderful!!!!!
Tina
3 years ago
Hello I started making soy candles (I never tried other waxes). I did a test burn of a 150g 2 wicks candle in a glass container in 2-3hours increments and it took 21 hours for it to only have 1/2inch of wax left. I dont know if that's fast or not...

Do soy candles burn faster???

Comments (16)

Hazel_SC

GardenGirl_IA

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Ina Plassa_travis

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