Easy Guide on How to Make Soy Candles at Home in 2025

If you dabble in candle making or want to learn how to make candles, you have many types of candles to choose from — this guide will show you, specifically, how to make soy candles. Soy candles are often touted as being healthier and more eco-friendly than paraffin candles because they're plant-based, non-toxic and release less soot, according to ResearchGate. Learning how to make soy candles from scratch isn't as difficult as you may think, but you're still likely wondering, how do I make soy candles at home? Or, what are the ingredients in soy candles?

We're breaking down how to make soy candles for beginners into an easy, step-by-step process that will make you a pro in no time. Discover how to make soy candles with essential oils so you can customize your creations with different scents. You'll even find tips on how to make soy candles to sell once you get good enough.

Jump to Section

• How To Make Soy Candles For Beginners
• How To Make Soy Candles With Essential Oils
• How To Make Soy Wax Flakes
• How To Make Soy Candles FAQs

How To Make Soy Candles For Beginners

Learning how to make soy candles from scratch is easy, even if you don't have any candle-making experience. Just like measuring out ingredients before cooking a meal, the first step for how to make soy candles is gathering all your supplies.

What Are The Ingredients In Soy Candles?

If you want to know how to make soy candles to sell, you only need a few simple things. The primary ingredient is soy wax, which is derived from hydrogenated soybean oil. Fragrance oils or essential oils add a scent to the candle. If you want a stronger smell, go with synthetic fragrance oils. Essential oils are natural, but their scent is weaker. Other ingredients include a cotton or paper wick and (optional) colorants. 

For an easier option, you can find candle-making kits at your local craft store or online that include all of the necessary ingredients for how to make soy candles in one convenient package. Or, grab some friends and turn it into a memorable outing with candle-making classes in the Bay Area, Baltimore, Austin, Atlanta or a city near you.

Learning how to make soy candles in a group setting is much more fun than doing it at home by yourself. It's also ideal for beginners since you'll have a talented instructor with you throughout every step of the process. Whether the class is just a one-off activity or the start of a new hobby (or perhaps even your own small business), you'll have a blast.

How To Make Soy Candles in 10 Easy Steps

You'll need soy wax flakes or beads, heatproof containers (like glass jars), wicks, a double boiler, a thermometer, measuring utensils, stirring tools and scissors. If you want to add a scent or change the color of the candle, grab some essential oils and/or candle dye, too. Then follow these steps:

1. Heat water in a saucepan and add the wax to a double boiler.
2. Place the double boiler on top, stirring frequently until the wax is fully melted.
3. Get your containers ready by taping a wick inside each one.
4. If you're using essential oils or dye, add them when the wax reaches a temperature of 185 degrees F.
5. Stir again.
6. Keep the wick in the center, either with a specially-made holder like a wick sticker to adhere it to the bottom of the container, or a wick bar.
7. Pour the wax into the jars.
8. Let the candles harden overnight.
9. The next day, if you notice the surface of the candle looks uneven, you can pour a second coating of wax to smooth it out.
10. Finally, it's time to trim the wicks and burn your candles for the first time.

With this guide for how to make soy candles, you'll save time and money, and you can customize the candles to your liking. 

How To Make Soy Candles With Essential Oils

Learning how to make soy candles with essential oils is easy. You'll follow all of the basic steps for how to make soy candles, outlined above, with a few special considerations. Before melting your wax, you'll need to get the total weight of the beads or flakes. This is because the essential oils should be no more than 10% of the mixture, so it's crucial to know exactly how much wax you're working with. 

Once the wax reaches the target temperature of roughly 185 degrees F, stir in the oils. Then, pour the melted wax into your prepared containers and leave them to set overnight. Once the wax is hardened, trim the wicks to ¼-inch, and your candles are ready to go.

Even beginners can quickly master how to make soy candles using essential oils, but there are a few tips to keep in mind for the best results. Make sure the wax isn't too hot when you add the oils because the scent could evaporate. It should be no higher than the target temperature. Also, don't add too much essential oil, as it could prevent the candle from burning properly. The maximum recommended amount is 10% of the wax weight.

Lastly, and most importantly, you want to be safe when learning how to make soy candles. Some essential oils emit toxic compounds when heated, so do thorough research before choosing a scent.

How To Make Soy Wax Flakes

If you're interested in making your own soy candles, you may wonder how to create soy wax flakes. These flakes are a byproduct of the extraction process of soybean oil, which means you can't really make them at home. You can, however, buy them to melt down for candles. Luckily, this makes learning how to make soy candles a beginner-friendly craft, as the primary ingredient is already prepared.

If you're curious about how to make soy wax flakes, even though you can't do it yourself, the process begins with processing soybeans. The beans are thoroughly cleaned, and the oil is separated from the solids through processes like cracking, de-hulling and flaking. Finally, more oil is extracted from the soy flakes, leaving behind pure wax. 

Get started with how to make soy candles by purchasing soy wax flakes online or at a craft store. From there, you can follow the steps for turning the wax into candles. You'll melt the flakes in a double boiler until the wax reaches approximately 185 degrees F, stir in your scent of choice (if using), pour the wax into the prepared containers and leave it to cool and harden.

Even though you can't make the wax flakes yourself, you can still feel proud knowing you set your mind to something and accomplished it. Once you get the hang of how to make soy candles, stock up on soy flakes and your favorite essential oil scent, and make candles that will fill your house with joy and comfort. 

It's worth mentioning that soy wax comes in beads as well as flakes. The quality of your candles will be the same no matter which one you choose, but some people prefer beads for several reasons. Soy wax beads are slightly more convenient than flakes because they're smaller, which makes them easier to store, scoop and measure. They also melt a bit faster.

Flakes, on the other hand, take up more storage space and don't melt quite as quickly. The differences are so small, however, that it isn't essential which one you opt for on your how to make soy candles journey. All that matters is what's easiest for you to find.

How To Make Soy Candles FAQs

What Are The Negatives Of Using Soy Wax To Make Candles?

Soy wax is often praised for its health and environmental benefits. It doesn't produce as much soot as paraffin wax, which minimizes indoor air pollution. Since soy wax is made from plant-based materials, it's also better for the planet. 

Despite these perks, however, there are a few challenges associated with making soy candles for beginners. The first one is a weaker scent throw. Soy wax doesn't absorb fragrance as well as synthetic waxes like paraffin, so the scent may be fainter. Another issue involves the appearance of the candle. Using soy wax can result in an uneven surface, but this has an easy fix. As mentioned above, you can simply pour a second coat of wax over the hardened candle for a smoother finish. Soy wax sometimes also creates "frosting," which is a white, powdery appearance on the candle's surface. There's no way to avoid frosting, but once you light the candle and it starts to burn, the imperfection is less noticeable.

Getting started with how to make soy candles isn't the cheapest hobby. Soy wax is generally more expensive than paraffin wax, so that's something to keep in mind if you plan on learning how to make soy candles to sell. Additionally, soy wax has a lower melting point compared to synthetic waxes. If you live in a warmer climate, your candles may struggle to stay solid.

The final problem concerns blending. Fragrance oils and essential oils don't blend as well with soy wax as they do with paraffin wax, which can impact how the candle performs.

What Are 3-4 Mistakes To Watch For When Making Soy Candles?

When you're learning how to make soy candles, there are a few common mistakes to look out for. These are the most common errors. 

1. Wrong Wax Temperature 

If you pour the wax into the containers while it's still too hot, it can shrink as it cools. This creates a rough, uneven candle surface with imperfections like air bubbles, sinkholes and wet spots. 

2. Incorrect Wick Size

Using a wick that's too small or too large is one of the most common mistakes when making soy candles. A too-small wick can cause tunnelling, which is when the candle burns straight down the center, leaving a ring of solid wax around the edge of the container. If your wick is too wide, it could be a safety hazard due to excessive soot and large flames.

3. Not Mixing Fragrances Properly

Since soy wax already has issues absorbing scents, so it's important to stir your fragrance oil or essential oil fully into the mixture. You also don't want to add the oil when the wax is too hot because it may settle at the bottom of the candle and affect scent throw.

4. Insufficient Curing Time

The term "curing" refers to the process of letting the candle cool and harden overnight. A shortened curing time can cause various issues, including a weaker scent throw and impaired burn quality.

Now that you know how to make soy candles, you'll never go back to store-bought. It's so easy to infuse soy wax with all of your favorite scents and make candles that will take you someplace special when you close your eyes and breathe in their lovely aroma.

For even more fun with candles, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!