Newbie here and a little confused...

[flowermama]

Hi everyone!

I'm a total newbie here. I have been lurking and researching for several months now. I started out making candles in July. It was with 100% soy wax from a craft store. I had no idea what I was doing, so I made some really ugly burning candles.:embarasse

I tried Ecosoya Advanced for a while due to how nice it looks, but since the fragrances that work with it are hit and miss, I decided to not continue.

I'm currently using gb 464 and have decided to stick with it for now. I have the wicking down and have a few fragrances that work in it.

My confusion is about my soy candles sweating while they are lit. Once the melt pool reaches a certain size it goes away, but it happens with every candle and every time it is lit.

I have talked to the 2 suppliers I buy from and both say it's normal and I shouldn't worry about it too much.

Aesthetically it bugs me, so I'm not sure what to do. Do I just accept it? Also is it something I should be concerned about safety wise?

My candle recipe:

gb 464 soy wax

6oz candle tin

4-7% fragrance load depending on supplier

eco 10 wick

My process:

Heat wax to 185 degrees using double boiler method

Add fragrance stir a few seconds

Remove from heat and stir for 2 minutes straight

Stir in intervals until wax reaches pour temperature

Pour at 150-160 degrees for a smooth top

I have tried heating wax to 190 degrees, I have tried adjusting fragrance load to as little as 3%, I have tried cooling my candles under a cardboard box. They all still sweat.

I burn and make all my candles at home which is always at around 70 degrees. I have searched this forum high and low for an answer, but can only find information related to soy candles sweating when not lit, usually due to temperature fluctuations. My candles were sweating like this in the summer and still now in the winter. Also this has happened with the ecosoya and gb 464, so I'm assuming it is something I am or am not doing:undecided

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Oh also to add, I have used two different thermometers to make sure I wasn't getting an incorrect reading on temperature. Still the same.

Thanks for taking the time to read this long post. I've been hesitant to post due to possibly asking a stupid question, but this is really bugging me.

Alicia

[Vicky_CO]

I remember that ugly candles wait I post a few in the gallery the other day. LOL

Where are you getting your FO from?

Are all the candles from the same batch of wax?

[flowermama]

Hi Vicky,

I buy my fragrance oils from candlescience and candle cocoon. I've made my candles with wax from two different suppliers, both gb 464. Still the same result.

[rjdaines]

When i was using straight 464 I didn't worry about the occasional sweating, I had bigger issues like frosting. Final gave up on it and went parasoy, I am much happier now.

[Guest OldGlory]

HI flowermama! Welcome to the board.

I have been using 464 for many years, and worked with several soy wax varieties over the last 11 years. I really love 464 and my wholesale clients want soy wax because it's from a natural source. I also prefer burning soy candles in my home.

I don't mind the sweating because it's going to disappear when the surface is melted. Your customers probably won't mind either. People want a candle to smell great when they burn it and to smell great all the way to the bottom, to consume almost all of the wax so it doesn't feel wasteful to them, and to be safe. They probably won't even notice the sweat.

[flowermama]

Thanks OldGlory and others who have responded. I use tins right now with no dye, so frosting is not an issue. Although I did make a 464 candle in a clear glass container with a deep burgundy dye once. I wanted it to frost so I could observe it. It was actually quite pretty, the snowflake like pattern was interesting.

Candlescience just got back to me via email and assured me that the sweating is normal for both the advanced and the 464 I have used. They are lower melt point so more prone to sweat while lit. They recommend trying the 444 since it has a higher melt point. I may do that after the holidays. I will be doing more research here to see what other have to say about that particular wax.

Thanks all and any other suggestions would be welcome! Thanks!

[cybersix]

Don't know the waxes you're mentioning, but keep in mind that soy is pretty greasy by itself, and some heat may cause the sweating. Also, a 7% FO load it looks too much for me, I found that with the majority of the FOs I have I can use a 4% and get a wonderful throw.