What’s the best way for melting soy wax? In a double boiler setup or in the microwave?

Soy wax is so versatile that you can melt it in the microwave, use a double boiler setup or a Presto Pot. Melting in the microwave is ok, but it is much harder to gauge the temperature. You don’t want to get the wax too hot, so you’ll need to keep checking it with a candy thermometer.

I like to melt soy wax in a double boiler setup using a pour pot and setting it in a pan that has about an inch of water in it. This the way the wax heats evenly and you can keep the candy thermometer in it and keep an eye on the temperature. Some do not recommend melting soy wax using a gas stove because of the open flame, but I’ve had many people in our soy candle making group say that it is perfectly fine. Just be sure to use caution no matter what type of stove you use.

If you are only making one soy candle, then the microwave may be fine. If you are melting more soy wax than that or are making candles to sell, then you should be using the double boiler method or Presto Pot.

Now for the wonderful  Presto Pot.  This is excellent for melting soy wax for larger batches of candles, and it is used by many professional chandlers. Soy wax works great in these because it is easy to clean out with hot water and soap.  You’ll need to add a spigot to the Presto Pot in order to use it for melting soy wax for candle making. Then you can just melt unscented, uncolored wax in the pot (Do not use fragrance oil and dye in the Presto Pot), and then pour the amount of wax you need through the spigot, into your pour pot. Then you can add fragrance oil and dye to the melted wax in the pour pot.

You can get a Presto Pot on Amazon, or at your local Walmart, Target or other similar store.

Here is a link to instructions on adding a spigot to your Presto Pot, courtesy of Peak Candle Supplies:

www.candletech.com/candle-making/tips-and-tricks/do-it-yourself-wax-melter/

What’s your favorite way to melt your soy wax? Leave a comment below!