Condo Blues: Mom’s Homemade Soy Candles

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Mom’s Homemade Soy Candles

My Mom has an addictive new hobby – making scented soy candles. Since I love burning candles and Mom usually gives her creations as gifts to people like say, me, this is one addiction that I wholeheartedly encourage

Might be a Danish thing (Danes burn so many candles that as a nation Denmark consumes more candles per capita than any other country on earth – no lie) might be an inner pyromaniac thing. Either way I find that burning a scented soy candle is a festive way to get rid of cooking smells after dinner without resorting to icky fake flower scented sprays that are full of questionable chemicals. Feh.

Mom’s dealer, source of inspiration came from her favorite candle store The Swan Creek Candle Company. It’s a little candle shop that sells the most fragrant soy candles with lead free wicks. She promises to take me there when I visit her but we end up not going for one reason or another. I forgive her because she gives me candles. Yes, I let her to buy my love because I"m nice like that.


The one thing Mom wasn’t so thrilled with was the price. Soy candles are a bit more expensive than paraffin wax candles. However, while you’re paying a bit more upfront for a soy candle, it pays you back because soy candles burn a lot longer and cleaner than paraffin wax candles. And it probably goes without saying that soy wax is made from a naturally renewable source unlike paraffin which is a petroleum based product.

Still the giant jar candles that she prefers are a tad spendy. So she decided to make her own. Who does this sound like? Yes, I know, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Mom bought a couple of kitschy glasses from Goodwill and a Bulk Wax Refill Kit from Swan Creek. The soy wax in the refill kit is made to melt in the microwave, so I suppose you could do this project with the kiddos as long as you supervise them around the hot wax. Mom put the cotton wicks in her glass containers, melted the scented wax in the microwave, and poured in the wax into the glasses to the desired level. She let the wax set for 24 hours. Then her candles are ready to light!

Or ready to give as a Christmas gift. Hint, hint.


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12 comments :

Gourmet Candles Distributor said...

Nothing like a good scented candle to spruce up your holidays or where you live!

2sisters said...

Love scented candles!!! This is a great idea!

Kirsten said...

As a fellow Dane....love it!

Erika Jean said...

Ha! I've actually been there. My last name is Swan, so When ever we drove from Cincinnati -> Michigan to visit family we'd always say "We'll stop there one day"... I finally did with one of my friends a couple of years ago. Cute little place! The sell antiques as well I believe. We also got some bread sticks at a near by pizza place - I remember them being very good!! yummmm

Anyway, I never really heard of "soy" candles, so thanks for sharing this post! Sounds like fun, I may have to try this myself...

PS. We got solar panels!

Gypsy Heart said...

I love candles ~ soy particularly. :-)

power saving products said...

Your mom's candles are perfect for gifts and giveaways.

Eugen Caitaz said...

It's very good idea!!! I like all what is handmade!

Unknown said...

Fabulous! I would love to try making soy candles, thanks for the inspiration!

Robj98168 said...

Just a candle making hint- find an old crock pot (from a thrift store as cheap as $5) to melt your wax in- From my professional candle stick maker friend.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

It's true. Soy candles are sooo much better than parrafin. Thanks for sharing the source as a tip.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com

Sarah said...

What a great idea, I LOVE candles, but have never tried making my own.

Dawn said...

I did these this christmas and will definitely be doing them again!

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