Wax overload... help.. where to start...

[Colleen]

Hi everyone. I'm just starting out making candles and am trying to get all my research together before I start pouring. I've read all the newbie tips and done searches on each wax type I've considered and atm i've got a huge headache trying to decide which to order (I keep thinking I know then change).

Originally I was going to use EcoSoya. Then recent soy candle experiences (overloaded scented candles and frosting, mostly the chemical FO scent) has turned me off Soy. So, I think ok... lets go with the ICG 4630 Harmony Blend wax.

Do people REALLY care if it's soy or not?? Or does the scent/presentation matter more than the ingredients? Living in Houston, the refinery issues & petrolium are issues on people's minds after the hurricanes here. Enough to affect candle buying habits??? no idea.

Any other alternatives blends that anyone would recommend trying?

I'm going to be using containers - 10 and 16oz keepsake jars from BCS which is really close to me. I also want to try the 1.5 oz hex jars for sample fragrance jars.

Want: Clean burning, easy to use, good hot and cold throw, nice appearance, something that mixes with FOs easily so you don't have to add so much it smells like a chemical fragrance bomb just exploded in your room. Many of the Soys I've purchased lately have so much chemical fragrance smell they make my head hurt.

Would like: more natural ingredients such as soy

Don't want: sooting, smoking (like my Yankee candle does... yucky when it gets low and the entire jar is black), and the frosting on top of the soys do just doesn't appeal to me.

Any suggestions or opinions would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm anxious to order and get started and I'm driving my hubby crazy!

[DolphinLVR]

Colleen,

You are going to recieve alot of opinions on the type of wax. Me personally, I use Calwax CB10 for my votives/pillars. It is a parafin/soy blend, in my opinion, it burns clean and has great hot/cold throw. You only need to add about 6% FO per pound and no other additives. I have heard that their CB-30 is a good wax for containers as well. You can find Calwax at http://www.swanscandles.com/Checkout4Pro/waxcan.htm

Best of luck in your wax search! I know I tried several different ones before I settled on one, then had just recently switched to this wax.

HTH

Jeff

[Colleen]

I just found this on another post by Vicky CO... Very informative info that I wasn't aware of... Guess my paraffin vs soy delimma isn't as much of an issue.

• Paraffin support our local oil and gas industry paraffin is a by product of oil refining so us using it up actually helps out environment because of the candle industry that wax is not being discarded in to our land fills.
  
• Paraffin is biodegradable it just take long to degrade than soy.
  
• Paraffin candle can and do burn as long as soy. Soy only burns longer than straight paraffin.
  
• You need to step away from the heath issues there is not any scientific facts to support it.
  
• Soy produces a white soot which is just a damaging to walls and other things in your home.
  
• Paraffin is also nontoxic you give the impression soy is the only wax that is nontoxic.
  
• Actually in the production of soy wax we are using up a lot of oil and gas. Which is very bad for our environment.

Thanks for the info on Calwax. I hadn't looked at that one yet

[candleessence]

I use palm wax which is vegetable, similiar to soy but different surface effect-it can be difficult to work with. i use this wax b/c I love the look. The only factor I see people caring about (and get asked very often) is if there is any metal in the wicks. You could try some of the pre- blended wax available, I believe alot of them are soy/paraffin mix. A good wick/wax combo should eliminate many sooting issues. Just gotta test, test and test Re: Vicky in CO post: AMEN:D