Best Soy Wax for Candle Making: Ultimate Guide (2023)
In this post, we’ll provide a comprehensive review of the best soy wax for candle making based on quality, value, reviews and personal experience so you can buy the best soy wax for your candles.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. These are products I’ve personally used, as well as are recommended by other crafters and DIYers.
Soy candles offer a variety of advantages, including a longer burn-time without the appearance of black soot, and are made from natural materials which makes them highly desirable. From modern pillar candles to classic tea lights, this natural wax offers the flexibility you need to make unique candles.
With numerous soy wax options available, it can be difficult to pick the ideal one for your candle-making adventure.
In this post, we’ll provide you with all the information you need + review the best soy waxes for candle making to help you determine which soy wax to purchase to make the best candles.
If you’re interested in making your own candles. Here are some other posts you may find helpful:
- 7 Best Candle Making Kits For Beautiful, Aromatic Candles (2023)
- Ultimate Candle Making Supplies List: Everything You Need To Make Aesthetic Candles At Home
If you’re in a hurry, here is the best soy wax for candle making.
Choice
Candlemaker’s Store Natural Soy 444 Wax Flakes
Sox wax is easy use & makes beautiful container candles or wax tarts.
beginners
American Soy Organics Freedom Soy Wax Beads
Perfect for those new to candle making, this soy wax melts effortlessly in the microwave or with a double burner.
Value
Hearts and Crafts Soy Wax
This natural soy wax is crafted with 100% natural plant ingredients and is entirely biodegradable, Creates fragrant, bubble & frosting free candles
scented candles
Golden Brand Natural Soy Wax 464
Favorite soy wax and best seller for creating scented candles. This wax produces an excellent scent throw while burning.
What Is Soy Wax, And What Are Its Types?
Soy wax is a great way to go green, as it is derived from naturally-occurring soybeans. The U.S., one of the top corn and soybean producers in the world, makes this sustainable option easily accessible for anyone who wishes to make an eco-friendly switch in their products or lifestyle habits.
Let us delve further into the different types of soy waxes.
Soy Wax 415
415 is the purest form of soy wax. It is 100% pure soy without any additives. Some of the critical factors of soy wax 415 include:
- The high melting point of 120 to 125°F
- Accommodates up to 12% fragrance load versus the typical 8-10%, making it an ideal choice for those wanting extra fragrant candles.
- Can easily be combined with other soy waxes.
- It works best to create container candles.
Soy Wax 444
The second variety of soy wax is Soy 444. Like the 415, this option still has a naturally derived base but with added components to make its application simpler during candle making.
Under normal circumstances, pure soy wax should be poured at 110°F for optimal results; otherwise, it will appear cloudy and negate your desired aesthetic outcome.
However, you can pour Soy 444 at 135°F which prevents it from becoming solid as soon as it’s in the jar enabling you to avoid any frosting on your candles!
Key factors:
- The melting point is 120 to 125°F.
- The best pouring temperature is between 125 to 145°F
- No clouding gives a smooth and creamy look
- Works best for container candles
- It can be mixed with paraffin but not with beeswax
Soy Wax 464
Soy Wax 464 is 100% soy-based and contains additional additives to reduce frosting and increase fragrance load. It also has a lower pouring temperature of 115 to 120° Fahrenheit than 444, allowing for a smoother candle finish with the same benefits.
The primary advantage of Soy Wax 464 over its counterpart 444 is that it has a slightly lower melting point, making it easier to work with when creating candles.
So which wax is better: 444 or 464?
When it comes to wax, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While 444 has a higher melting point and is more suited for higher fragrance load, 464 offers improved burn properties as well as better glass adhesion which helps prevent wet spots.
Key factors:
- Melting point temperature of 115 to 120°F
- Pouring temperature is between 130 to 145°F
- It has a fragrance load of 8 to 10%
- 464 works great with paraffin and microcrystalline wax but not with beeswax.
- It gives a smooth and creamy look
- Works best for container candles
Which Soy Wax Type Is Best For Candle Making?
After reviewing the various performance, burn quality, and fragrance load characteristics of all three types of waxes, it is clear that soy 444 is the best type of soy wax.
Soy 444 has higher melting and pouring temperatures, longer burn time, and better glass adhesion compared to other soy wax types.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t work with either 415 or 464; just be aware that they may not produce you your desired results compared to soy 444.
Considerations When Choosing Soy Wax
Type of candle
The main thing to consider is the type of candle you want to make.
Wax melts and tarts
Whether you’re a novice or experienced in the craft of candle-making, wax melts are highly sought after and provide infinite opportunities for creativity. Not to mention they’re incredibly easy to make!
Without needing wicks, using soy wax can be intimidating at first; however, selecting your scent is undoubtedly the most difficult part. To ensure that tarts retain their shape when molded/packaged and melt easily without effort, use wax with an elevated melting point than what’s generally used in container candles.
Related Post: 7 Best Wax Melts To Make Your Home Smell Amazing (2023)
Pillar candles
Crafting pillar candles can be more complicated than standard candle-making, but they boast the further advantage of being utilized as ornamental pieces. As opposed to container wax, pillar wax must stand alone when it is exposed to extreme temperatures and burning; for this reason, its melting point should measure no less than 135°F or higher.
Price
Soy wax is typically more expensive than other types of wax, so it’s important to factor in your budget when selecting the best option for you.
Melting Point
Depending on what type of candles you’re making, melting points can vary greatly – from a lower melting point (under 120F) to a higher melting point (over 140F). The higher the melting point, the more heat-resistant your wax will be and the longer it will last.
Fragrance Throw
For candle makers, the fragrance of a burning candle is their utmost priority. Referred to as the ‘fragrance throw,’ how strong and expansive it fills up a room depends on various elements – one of these elements being your wax type.
Getting a strong fragrance throw with soy wax flakes can be a little trickier than with paraffin, but it’s very achievable when you start with a great wax.
Related post: Ultimate Wick Guide: How to Choose the Right Wick for Your Candles
Appearance
Soy candles are becoming increasingly popular due to their semi-matte opaque finish. The main difference between soy wax and its paraffin counterpart is that the former typically has a bumpy or cratered surface after burning, which some may find aesthetically pleasing as it serves as an assurance of using naturally sourced products.
Soy wax has the advantageous characteristic of easily and efficiently adhering to the walls of a glass container after it hardens.
This is especially relevant for those who use transparent containers in their candle-making process. Additionally, this type of wax may frost over time – though particular varieties do so less noticeably.
Frosting does not influence the performance or quality of soy candles; however, it can impact its aesthetic appeal, making suitable knowledge important when deciding which type to buy!
Best Soy Wax For Candle Making
The Candlemaker’s Store Natural Soy 444 Wax Flakes
This 10 lb. bag container makes perfect container candles that can be easily recycled and reused time after time. This wax mixture (contains 2% universal soy wax additive) has a melting point ranging from 121-125 enabling it to hold up to 15% fragrance while producing a powerful hot throw.
This soy wax’s low melting point makes it easy to create beautifully scented container candles. It can also be combined with 416 Soy Wax to make candle tarts.
What I like: What I don’t like:American Soy Organics Freedom Soy Wax
Perfect for those new to candle making, this soy wax melts effortlessly in the microwave.
Derived from high-quality soybeans grown in the American Midwest, each 10 lb. 2 Bag package provides an ample amount of product to make beautiful candles.
Not only does it contain 100% organic ingredients so that you won’t have to worry about any nasty side effects, but its soft and smooth texture also makes melting your natural waxes easily.
Heat your wax to 120 degrees. If you’d like to make a scented candle, raise the temperature to 180 degrees and mix in your essential oils or fragrances. Then, lower your temperature to 120 degrees to create your molded candles.
What I like: What I don’t like:Hearts and Crafts Soy Wax
This natural soy wax is crafted with 100% natural plant ingredients and is entirely biodegradable, free of any hazardous effects.
The low melting point of 120 degrees of this soy wax allows beginners to melt swiftly and reshape the soy wax into any candle shape they want.
When using this wax, your candles will be fragrant, bubble free and frosting free.
Golden Brands Wax Brand Natural Soy Wax 464
Golden Brands 464 is our most popular soy wax with candle makers all over the globe. This natural wax creates candles that have a silky, opaque look and includes additives made of soybeans to reduce frosting and boost a stronger scent throw.
Golden Brands Natural Soy Wax is the ideal way to attain a superb and sleek finish, as it comes in grated pieces with an incredibly high melting point. That remarkable melting point makes this soy wax perfect for constructing candles contained within glass or jars without any difficulty.
Not only is this wax grated and highly malleable, but it also produces smooth candles with no cracks or bubbles. This makes it an ideal option for jar-based or tin-based projects of any shape.
What I like: What I don’t like:Soy Wax Benefits
Clean Burn, No Soot
Do you want your candles to burn cleanly with no leftover soot and harmful vapors? If yes, then carefully selecting the right type of soy wax is one of the most important steps that will ensure this.
Most modern-era soy waxes offer a better-burning quality than their predecessors. Nonetheless, there are still some low-grade options out there that can produce unpleasant smoke during use. Also, be mindful about black soot attributed to candles as well – premium grade soy wax ensures that little or none is produced upon reaching its melting point!
100% Natural Ingredients
In this age of sustainability, consumers are searching for products with 100% natural ingredients and processes, from skyscrapers to candles.
When crafting your soy wax items, you must abstain from adding synthetic additives or any other harmful components that can detrimentally affect the environment – as well as cause frosting and bubbles on your candle.
Paraffin is widely used as an additive in low-grade soy products; therefore, you must take note to check that your chosen wax does not contain any of these impurities. Pay close attention to what’s on the ingredients list and always select a product with all 100% natural components
Ease of Usability
If you’re just starting out with candle-making, it is important to remember that soy wax products with a lower melting point will make your journey much simpler.
You can easily melt them in a skillet and then shape them into whatever design suits your fancy! This helps ensure maximum ease of use when creating beautiful candles.
Easy Clean-up
Cleaning up after crafting your own candles should be a breeze. Soy wax is relatively easy to clean off all surfaces, from countertops to mixers, bowls and even melting pots. All you have to do is wait until the soy wax has completely cooled before wiping it away with a damp cloth or paper towel.
Furthermore, since soy wax melts at a lower temperature, it is much easier to clean up any spilled wax or dispose of unused material without worrying about it freezing your candle-making tools and equipment.
FAQ
Why is a soy wax candle better?
Making the switch to soy wax not only benefits us but also our environment. This sustainable substance is free of toxins that are known to be hazardous for humans and won’t pollute the air as paraffin candles do. Soy wax melts at a lower temperature than other types which will ultimately lengthen its burning life compared to paraffin or beeswax alternatives.
Related Posts: Soy Wax vs Paraffin Wax: Which is better & What’s the difference?
100% soy wax toxic?
Soy Wax is a safe, natural and non-toxic resource. It can be composed of either soya oil or mixtures of other non-soy elements (which may include animal products). With that being said, soy wax emits no hazardous toxins while burning – making it the ideal choice for an eco-friendly candle.
Is Soy Wax Better Than Coconut Wax For Candles?
Coconut wax is superior when it comes to scent throw, and also burns at a slower rate than soy wax. Thus, coconut candles will last longer than their soy counterparts.
Can I Use Soy Wax In Silicone Molds?
While soy wax certainly can be used for silicone molds, it’s most effective when used in glass or tin candle jars.
Is Soy Wax Better Than Beeswax?
Although soy wax is generally the superior choice for oil retention, cost, and safety due to its non-toxic qualities; beeswax still takes the cake when it comes to burn temperature and natural fragrance.
Related Posts: 5 Best Beeswax for Candle Making: Tried & Tested (2023)
Wrap-up
I hope this list of the best soy wax for candle making has been helpful. I also recommend exploring other soy wax resources to learn more about its performance, melting and pouring temperatures, as well as how they interact with additives.
If you’re interested in making your own candles. Here are some other posts you may find helpful:
