Soy Candles FAQ

What is a soy candle?

A soy candle is made from soybean wax. Wax of soybeans are a non-toxic, naturally-occurring, biodegradable, renewable sustainable resource. A 100% soy candle burns cleaner, cooler, slower, and more evenly than traditional petroleum-based and/or paraffin-based wax candles.

How do you make your soy candles?

Each and every soy candle is carefully created and hand-poured to ensure quality. We pride ourselves in paying special attention to each detail, and bringing you the finest quality, 100% pure and natural, luxury soy candle on the market.

How long should I burn my soy candle?

Our soy candles are created to burn cleaner, longer and with less soot. In order to do so, we recommend that they be burned for no less than 1 hour at a time. The optimal burn time is anywhere for 2 to 4 hours at a time. Doing so allows both the candle fragrance to distribute throughout a room, and it allows the soy wax to heat evenly to the sides of the candle, so that it burns down evenly and with minimal residue.

How to store soy candles?

Soy wax will soften and start to melt in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Store your candles in a cool, dry place, and away from direct and indirect sunlight. Soy candles discolor and fade when they are exposed to intense light for extended time periods. Do not display your soy candles in sunlight, fluorescent lighting or other strong illumination.

Do your soy candles smell good? I've tried others that didn't smell very strong?

Yes, our soy candles are drenched in the maximum amount of fragrance that our soy wax will allow. You may find one scent to be stronger than another, but this is due to the nature of that particular scent and not the strength of the fragrance oil itself. We thoroughly test hundreds of samples to bring you the finest quality fragrances available.

What is the best way to care for no smoke?

Always keep your wick trimmed to a 1/4". If your wick is too long, your candle may smoke.

What goes into your soy candles?

We use 100% pure soy wax, 100% pure essential oils. The aroma oils are infused with the pure soy wax for a more even burn. We only use 100% cotton wicks.

Are soy candles soot-free?

No candle is 100% soot-free, however, because we use no artificial additives or dyes, and are made using 100% soybean wax. In addition we use cotton and paper wicks (which are lead free), to provide an extremely clean and low-soot burn.

Will my soy candle produce black soot?

If burned properly, soy wax candles are virtually soot free. Soy wax in and of itself is soot free!

However, natural cotton wicks will smoke if not burned properly, or if the wicks are never trimmed. Remember to trim any mushrooms that may develop or if the wick(s) begin to smoke! Please follow the burning instructions located on the bottom of your soy candles container.

Where should I burn my soy candle?

It is best to burn your soy candle on a stable, protected, hard surface away from drafts and material that could catch fire. Place your soy candle away from sunlight, fluorescent lighting and sources of heat.

Should I trim the wick of my soy candle before lighting?

Yes. With the exception of the first time you burn it, you should always trim the wick. Trimming the wick prior to burning your soy candle makes for a safer burn. It also cuts down on soot, and promotes a longer candle life. An easy way to trim your candle prior to burning is to simply pinch off the tip of the wick between your thumb and index finger with a napkin or by using a wick trimmer. Of course, you should always make sure the wick is cool to the touch before attempting to trim it and that the wax has hardened.

Flame too small and/or not getting a good scent throw?

Soy Candles Have a Memory! When burning your soy candle for the very first time, it is extremely important that you give it a "memory burn". You should burn the soy candle for at least 1 hour for each inch of its diameter (also called a 'full melt pool'). For example: a candle 3" in diameter should be burned for three hours to establish its "memory". This allows your soy candle to establish a full melt pool increasing the scent throw of the candle. If a soy candle isn't given a proper memory burn (meaning if your candle is burned for too short a period of time), it will burn down the center (Tunnel Burn) and a good scent throw will not be achieved.

Do your soy candles come in different colors?

All soy candles come natural and dye free unless otherwise ordered. Candle dyes, though beautiful, are highly toxic and release a number of known toxins and carcinogens into the air while a candle is burning. If you absolutely must have dye, we are happy to accommodate your request.

Do your soy candles come in pillars?

Soy wax candles, as a rule, do not come in pillars or other free-form candle shapes. Soy wax is a soft and creamy wax and will not hold its shape when burned because it melts at such a low temperature. Each soy candle is designed to burn clean and evenly, distributing the fragrance throughout the air.

What if I spill my soy candle? How do I clean it up?

If attempting to clean the item yourself, it is important to allow the wax to completely harden. Once hard, gently chip away the larger pieces of wax from the fabric. After much of the wax has been removed, run hot water through the fabric. Also clean up wax with very warm soapy water using a mild detergent. Otherwise, consult the laundering instructions provided by the manufacturer of the tablecloth or other fabric.

If I wanted to use my empty candle jar for storage, how can I remove the metal wick base?

Once all wax is removed, simply pour in enough rubbing alcohol to cover the base and allow the jar to sit for a few days. The rubbing alcohol should soften the glue and release the base. It is important that you allow the rubbing alcohol time to work and that you don’t pry at the base with your hand or any object.

Can I refill my jar candle when it is empty?

Glass weakens as it accumulates bumps and scratches from use so we do not recommend refilling jars for re-use as a candle. They make terrific catch-alls and holders for all kinds of items around your home: buttons, nails, cotton balls, plants or pencils.

Why is there is wet oil on top of my container candle?

This is called "Soy Sweat". Since soybean wax has a lower melting point than paraffin wax, it can release excess moisture that it cannot hold (usually due to extreme temperature changes due to shipping).You can leave it or wipe it out with a tissue or paper towel.

Sweat from soy candles will NOT affect the burn quality and will generally not show up again after your first burn. For optimum performance of soy candles, please store in a cool area out of in-direct and direct sunlight. Since our soy candles are highly scented they are more likely to sweat when warmed during shipping. It is recommended that you blot the top with a paper towel to prevent spillage.

What makes the candles turn yellow?

We don't use any additives in our soy candles; several factors will cause your candle to turn yellow after time. We strongly recommend displaying your candles in areas that do not have fluorescent lighting, direct sunlight or other strong lighting. Some oils have the ability to turn yellow very easy.

Why is there sometimes frost in soy candles?

Soy wax is a natural substance that has its own natural traits. Natural wax often produces a frosted look similar to "mottling" or what some call "star-bursts" or "cauliflower". The natural vegetable base is much like chocolate and reacts like chocolate when warmed and cooled. This is a natural characteristic and should not be considered a flaw. We want to keep the pureness of soybean wax therefore our soy candles do not contain chemicals to prohibit this effect.

Why is there what appears to be wet spots in the soy candle?

The soy wax isn't making contact with the glass in some parts of the container and appears as a wet spot. This is normal. Because we do not use additives or preservatives in the soy wax, it remains in as near a natural state as possible when we pour the soy candles. You may notice some wet looking spots on your soy candle. This is simply where the soy wax has adhered to the glass surface. This is caused by temperature variations and is simply due to the expansion and contraction of the soy wax. You will notice that they change as the soy candle is burned and even when your room conditions change.

This characteristic is normal and does not affect the quality, consistency or performance of the soy candle when burned properly.

Some change color after time. Is this normal?

Yes. Each fragrances type is made from different essential oils with different plant and essence material in each. These different materials cause each oil to be a different color, making it possible that each set ordered at different times will be slightly different in color also. Each fragrance essential oil infused with soy wax can produce a slight variation in wax color from candle to candle. Be assured that this is a normal characteristic in natural soy candles. It will not affect the quality, consistency or performance of the candle when properly burned.

Is it safe for me to burn soy candles if I am an allergy?

SenOdos uses natural and pure ingredients with no artificial additives or dyes, there is a much lower potential for aggravating allergies in people and animals. We recommend that if you know of a potential allergy you may have to one or any of our ingredients or fragrance types, you should consult with your doctor or allergist before purchasing or burning any candle.

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