J&JHandcrafted

Any updates on this test?

Anyone ever add a small amount of paraffin to improve the HT of your soy wax? I have Freedom Wax (GB 464 beads) and wanted to add some of Flaming Candle’s Problend 550 as it’s the only bulk food grade paraffin I could find. I’ve seen the idea of even small amounts of paraffin for improved hot throw. What would a good starting amount to potentially notice something (holding all other variables constant)? 1%? 5%? 10%? What’s y’all’s experience for those who have tried this?

Please keep us updated! I am currently using C-6 but am considering changing over to something like Freedom soy 80% and WoodenWick's Virgin Coconut Soy 20%. The only pure soy waxes I have tried are GB 464 and ASO's Freedom Soy and the scent throws are just inadequate for me (1 week of cure time is ideal for me, I find anything longer is just unreasonable from a business standpoint for my purposes).

Thank you for the insight, definitely a lot of variables with candle making that makes it fun but also frustrating. In your opinion, which retailer has the best FO for quality as far as concentration/throw go (goal is strong throw without requiring enormous amount of oil (reasonable to me is 6-8%)? I feel like CandleScience and The Flaming Candle seem like ones I can trust most so far. I'm also interested in understanding additives and their effect on the wax and scent throw. For example, my understanding with Vybar is that consists of several sized branched poly alpha olefins with numerous structural conformations that decrease intermolecular interaction, with the purpose of inhibiting crystallization seen with natural waxes. Themes appear to be that the more amorphous a wax, the more likely it will not frost, produce sink holes, have bumpy, have increased glass adherence, etc. Along with that, I've read a patent that aims to increase scent throw by decreasing surface tension of the wax and allow for aromas to escape more easily into the atmosphere ("antifoam agent"). Is there any data compilation of different candle additives and their effects on candles with some reference to what is happening on a molecular level? I just want to know what to expect with additives otherwise this blind experimentation is enough to make most people go crazy I feel like.

That’s unfortunate. I’ve been reading several patents to better understand the chemistry of scented candle making. Any idea why candle wax blends that contain coconut wax seem to have better CT and HT with much less cure time? What about the chemical structure allows for this?

Would love to see how this test goes! How do you like the Freedom Soy overall? I have been using C-6 with great CT and good HT. Just recently purchased a big bag of ASO’s Freedom Soy. Really disappointed as my CT and HT are not nearly as good after a week or so of curing. Thinking of adding Coconut 1 if I can possibly salvage the Freedom...