Most people familiar with soy wax candles have probably experienced frosting at some point. It is not that major of a problem as far as the problems you can have as a candle maker, but still, it will impact the aesthetics of your candles.
The good news is that soy wax frosting does not impact the burning of the candle at all. Your candles will still burn great and have the same scent throw, even with a little frosted wax on the sides or on the surface.
However, if this is a problem that you still want to try and minimize or fix the good news is that you have some options that might help you out.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at what soy wax frosting is, what you can do to fix and even prevent it.
| Table of Contents |
| What Is Soy Wax Frosting? Types of Wax and Frosting How Do You Fix Soy Wax Frosting? How Do You Prevent Soy Wax Frosting? Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion |
What Is Soy Wax Frosting?
What Is Soy Wax Frosting?
Frosting is the natural process in which waxes containing liquid oil begin to crystallize. This crystallization is more likely to happen over time and at different temperatures and temperature fluctuations. Frosting is most common in natural waxes such as soy wax.
It is an example of polymorphism, the crystallization into two or more chemically identical but crystallographically distinct forms. Meaning that no actual chemical change is taking place, although it is changing its form and appearance.
If you are unfamiliar with frosting in soy wax candles it looks similar to the sugar bloom you see in chocolate bars. That is the white crystal-like coloring you see form on the surfaces of chocolate over time.
Types of Wax and Frosting
While frosting is something that happens most often in natural waxes, you can get additives and wax blends that are designed to help mitigate this problem. Most candle supply companies sell a UV inhibitor that you add to your wax at a rate of .25% or .50% to wax that is at least 185°.
Some waxes come from the manufacturer with additives already in them that are designed to limit the amount of frosting that you will get in your candles.
Waxes Designed To Limit Frosting
- Golden Brands 444 Soy Wax
- Golden Brands 464 Soy Wax
- CB-Advanced Soy Wax
- C3 Soy Wax
- C6 Soy Wax
However, it is important that you know these waxes can still frost. The additives are not 100% effective at preventing frosting.
In addition, paraffin wax is not a wax known for the frosting so you can buy paraffin wax blends made specifically for container candles that should not have much of a problem with frosting.
This is actually what most major candle manufacturers do. Many of the major scented candle brands that you see in malls such as Yankee Candle still use paraffin wax in their candles.
They use paraffin wax and paraffin wax blends because they are more stable over time with fewer issues with frosting. They have a strong scent throw without the need for extensive curing that soy wax requires.
However, Paraffin wax can be toxic and is not ideal for all customers.
How Do You Fix Soy Wax Frosting?
Fix soy wax frosting by heating the frosted areas with a heat gun and letting the molten wax fill in any gaps between the wax and the container. Continue heating the rest of the candle with the heat gun so it can cool evenly.
It should be mentioned that this is a temporary fix for frosting and that the frosting will likely return in time.
While not exactly a solution, I must add that it is important to educate your customers on candle wax frosting. It is a natural process that happens with soy wax from time to time and it is not something to look down on.
Hide The Problem
If you do not dye your candles then frosting is very hard to see on normal white wax candles. This isn’t getting rid of frosting, but it does limit the drastic appearance frosting can have on some colored candles.
How Do You Prevent Soy Wax Frosting?
Here are some steps you can follow in the candle making process that will help minimize the potential for problems such as frosting in your candles.
How To Prevent Soy Wax Frosting
- Stir the candle wax more gently
- Pre-heat glass candle containers
- Pour wax at a lower temperature
- Use candle wax additives
- Cool candles at or above room temperature
- Use wire racks for even cooling
- Cure at a steady temperature
- Consume candles soon after curing
Stir the candle wax more gently
Stir the candle wax more gently. When you use a large or bulky spoon and stir the wax in a forceful way you are creating bubbles in the wax by including air in it with agitation. By stirring the wax in a gentle motion minimizing the agitation of the wax as you blend in the fragrance oil you will minimize the inclusion of bubbles in the wax.
Pre-heat glass candle containers
Pre-heat glass candle containers. This will help maximize wax adhesion with the sides of your glass candle containers. This will help prevent a number of issues with your candles including frosting and wet spots. A good method while pouring your candles is to hold your heat gun into the container warming it for several seconds before pouring each candle.
Pour wax at a lower temperature
Pour the wax at a lower temperature to help reduce crystal formation on the sides of the glass. This helps reduce crystal formation because it helps increase adhesion. However, for this to work the glass candle container must be pre-heated, or else you will end up with candles that not only frost but the centers will also have dips in them around the wick.
Use candle wax additives
Use candle wax additives. There are a variety of additives to be had that do everything from minimizing color fade, preventing frosting to increasing fragrance oil load, and improve hot throw. You can buy these additives and play with the ratios yourself, or you can buy wax that already has the additives in them. You don’t have to do everything yourself when science is here to help!
Cool candles at or above room temperature
Cool the candles at or above room temperature. This means the air conditioner off, away from open windows, fans, or other drafts. Temperature is a risk factor when it comes to candle frosting. Drops in temperature and temperature fluctuations can increase the risk of candle frosting and increase the speed and severity of frosting when it happens.
Use wire racks for even cooling
Use wire racks for even cooling. This builds on the idea of needing stability of temperature to help minimize the potential for frosting. If the candles are sitting on a wife rack to cool they will be able to cool evenly which not only reduces the risk for frosting, it also reduces the risk of wet spots. So this should be part of the best practices for candle making in general.
Cure at a steady temperature
One of the best ways to prevent soy was frosting is to let your candles cure at a steady temperature. Keeping the temperature as steady as possible for the first few days after pouring the candles gives the wax the chance to stabilize. The wax begins hardening without any fluctuation and going forward the odds of its frosting go down when confronted with future temperature fluctuations.
Consume candles soon after curing
Frosting has a lot to do with time, because nearly all natural waxes will frost given enough time so it is a good idea to work out a system in which you can get your candles in to the hands of your customers as quickly as possible after they have finished curing. Perhaps limit the amount of stock you keep or by informing your customers of the importance of the curing process if they experience delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does wax tempering help prevent soy wax frosting?
The tempering method of reheating the wax does nothing to prevent frosting going forward. In addition, this method only decreases the throw of your candle because keeping the temperature of the wax elevated for additional time only allows more fragrance oil to evaporate.
Will frosting change the scent of my candle?
Frosting is purely an aesthetic issue and has no impact on the burn or scent of your candle. However, as candle makers we strive to minimize as many problems as we can and learn to accept the ones we cannot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while soy wax candle frosting is not something you want to see, it is not the end of the world. You have several steps you can follow to help minimize the risk when working with soy wax.
If the frosting becomes too much of a problem for you, and for your customers then consider switching to a paraffin container blend. Paraffin doesn’t frost in general so the blend should have a greatly reduced chance at frosting and paraffin has also been known to have a great scent throw.
However, when I advertise my candles as 100% soy wax and a customer then complains about soy wax candle frosting I explain to them that frosting can be a natural part of soy wax and its reaction to fluctuations in temperature, light, and time.
If that explanation is not good enough for them I let them know that perhaps they should look for a paraffin wax blend because as a petroleum byproduct it is not as susceptible to the frosting of natural vegetable-based waxes. Some people have no problem switching over, and others will choose to keep using all-natural soy candle wax.