Soy Wax Melting Safety Tips For Scented Soy Candles

Here is what not to do when you burn your soy candles

Halloween, Christmas and Thanksgiving are coming soon, and more people make, use, and give candles as gifts then any other time of the year. So I just wanted to urge everyone not to forget safety concerns.

Learn how long to burn soy candles, how to trim the candle wicks each time, and how to prevent tunneling which the candle on the left exhibits.  When candle wax burns down to the base of a glass container, there is a risk the glass could shatter from the heat. The spilling wax, and flames could start a fire. (Click here for more safety tips)

When you work with flammable candle wax making candles you must be extremely vigilant, and NEVER get distracted for any reason.

This is just one of the many reasons, I only make candles using soy wax. Although soy candle wax has a higher flash point than paraffin wax, spontaneous combustion will still occur if the wax is allowed to overheat. 

The melting point of soy wax is normally between temperatures of 110°F and 130 °F. While water boils at 212° F, well below flash point’s of soy waxes, or paraffin wax.

Understanding the flash point of  every wax you use is very important. Each one can be different. When any wax reaches it’s given flash point it will burst into flames by itself. You must understand the wax may not bubble or smoke, and when it explodes flaming wax can be thrown in every direction.

Avoid this potential catastrophe! Don’t risk burning down your home, or serious injury. Always use a double boiler, or a candle wax melter when you are making your candles, and follow all candle making instructions, and read any instructions from the candle wax  manufacturer. A word to the wise – if the wax is smoking it’s too hot .

Never melt wax in a microwave! You cannot control the temperature wax is heated up to, and microwaves vary tremendously in output strength. For example, the butter in my microwave peanut brittle recipe burns in one microwave, and does not finish cooking in another microwave because of lower wattage.

Several soy waxes I’ve looked at recently have flash points between 450°F and 600°F.  In comparison, many paraffin waxes list flash points near 395°F.  The melting point of soy wax between temperatures of 110°F and 130 °F

Just one more thing. Never burn candles in front of open windows where curtains may be blown towards them from a breeze. Never burn candles where children or pets are, because they will always do the unexpected.

Let’s have a happy, healthy, wealthy, and joyously prosperous holiday season!

Click and read how you can get your copy of  How to Make Scented Soy Candles, and free bonus books.