Soy candles have plenty of great benefits. They are made from natural soy wax, which is derived from the soybean. Soy wax is also a renewable resource and biodegradable, and you will not get the level of black soot you get with a petroleum-based paraffin candle. However, soy wax has some quirks that sometimes make your candle look a little ugly. You may have noticed some of these natural occurrences and thought something was wrong with your candle. Let’s explore and explain.

Frosting

Have you ever noticed a white powdery look to the top or sides of your candle? This is called frosting and it is a natural occurrence in soy wax. Frosting occurs when tiny crystals grow on the surface of the wax, and it cannot be fully controlled. The good news is that frosting does not affect the performance of your candle.

Wet Spots

Let me tell you, wet spots really frustrate those of us who make soy candles. The name is a little deceptive as they are not actually “wet”. The spots are where the wax has pulled away from the jar while cooling. Soy wax may cool at different speeds within the same jar. Those areas that cool a little faster may show “wet spots”. Again, this does not affect the performance of your soy candle. Your candle will still burn nicely. It just drives candle makers crazy because we want an aesthetically pleasing candle as well as a quality burn and scent experience. The next time you are in a store that sells candles, take a look, you will likely see wet spots in candles from major retailers.

Rough or Bumpy Tops

Soy wax may burn clean, burn it does not always burn pretty. It is not unusual for soy candles to have a rough top after burning. This is another natural occurrence with soy wax. This occurs because the hot wax is cooling at different rates of speed. This is a good indication that you have a soy wax candle and not a candle mixed with other waxes or additives. 

So there it is, the ugly truths about soy candles. Although soy candles have some quicks, the benefits of soy wax outweigh the aesthetics. Soy is such a great product to work with, and I take pride in offering soy products to my customers.