You may notice some variations in the color of soy candles, especially candles that use 100% soy wax with no other additives. This is called “frosting”. It looks like small, whitish crystals that form on the top of the wax or the sides of the jar. It is similar to how chocolate sometimes forms that white frosted look. I’ve always tried to minimize this as much as possible, but it is very normal for soy wax to do. 100% soy wax candles also tend to frost over time, but this in no way affects how the candle burns.
Two ways to help minimize or eliminate frosting of your soy candles:
- Make sure you don’t pour your soy wax too hot or too cool. This will most likely cause the candle to frost. Pour at 95-110 degrees. I always poured around 110 degrees and usually got nice results.
- Make sure the room temperature isn’t too cold. I live in an old house that gets pretty cold in the winter and I always had more trouble with my candles frosting during that time due to cooling too quickly.
Those are the most likely causes of soy candle frosting. Now, some colors will frost over time and there’s not much you can do about it. I just tried to educate my customers about the character of soy candles so they know what to expect.
Now if your candles do frost after they’ve cooled, you can just take a blow dryer to the tops and just remelt the top layer and let it cool again and that usually fixes it.
If you don’t need 100% soy wax, you can also try kinds that have the natural oils added. One kind I’ve tried is the Millenium Blend Soy Wax by Enchanted Lites. I didn’t have much luck with it though and didn’t like the way it handled, so I just went back to the 100% Soy Container wax by Enchanted Lites. I have read in forums that some people really like the Millenium blend though, so you really just need to test it out yourself because there are so many factors involved as far as climate, humidity.
Thanks so much for this information. I had purchased some old fragrances and colors from a lady selling her candle business (I didn’t know they were old at the time and ended up dumping them), and wondered if that could have some to do with it too. I have explained to my customers about the frosting and that it is one way to tell for sure that it is not a paraffin candle, but I wondered about it changing the colors on me. Could it be due to the old products? I am burning one that did that as we speak and it smells, looks and burns wonderfully so not a loss… just don’t feel like I can sell it. Thanks so much!
Carol, I’m so sorry it took so long for me to reply. I thought that I had already replied to your comment here, but I guess I didn’t!
I would say it probably isn’t the fragrances, but more likely the colors. What brand of dye are they and are they liquid or some other form? Also, when do they change colors? after sitting for awhile or while burning? is it more of a fading of the color?
Hi Again – Wow – Sorry it took me so long – ha ha – You can tell I didn’t see the answer huh? I am still having the problem – They look wonderful when they cool and I get them labeled and then they start to frost – some of them almost immediately. Most end up looking like your picture. It’s a shame too since I have some wonderful combinations. I don’t know what happened because I have made soy wax candles for years, and never had this problem with the same fragrances, wax and dyes. I have tried the little dye buttons, the larger dye blocks but have not tried liquid or powder. I may be getting them too hot to melt. I have been using a roaster because I make so many at once, where I used to do these in just pour pots over double boilers. I will try another batch (small one) and reduce the heat on the wax. Thanks so much for your help – I laughed when I saw the pic at the top because it looks just like my candles.
What temp do you normally heat the wax to?
I think it has been probably at around 150 – so wayyy to hot, huh?
I’ve had a problem with my soy candles frosting and also colors fading. I just started making candles this year and selling them, but when I noticed the color fading I thought, oh my gosh! I’m going to make another batch and try pouring at the temp you suggested and see if that helps. Also have read about a color fading inhibitor? Does that work good? I’m thinking they frosted because of the cold temps we had a while back. Thanks for all the good advice.
what about after the candles cool and there is a gap around the wick? what could be the problem?
Hi Sonceria – I usually just take a thin skewer and run it around the wick a couple of times and that eliminates most of it. Not sure what causes it and it doesn’t happen all of the time, but this does handle it. If you get to the cooled candle and there are gaps still, you can always use a heat gun to lightly melt the top and fill in the gap. It looks fine when it is done.
I am so new at this. I made my 1st batch of candles and heated the soy wax until it melted, about 150* and poured at 140*. I got frosted and clabbered tops but great smell. I asked a question to a video candle maker and was told to get wax to 185*, add FO, and pour at 140*. On my second batch, I heated to 189*, added FO, and poured at 129* I got tunneling, frosted tops and many bubbles. I used a heat gun and more bubbles. So should I assume that I am pouring too hot? What am I doing wrong? Can you help me?