Does Soy Wax Hold Fragrance Well?

Soy wax is a vegetable-based wax that is commonly used to make candles, cosmetics, and other household products. It is made from hydrogenated soybean oil and became popular in the 1990s as an alternative to paraffin wax. Some key uses and benefits of soy wax include:

• Candle making – Soy wax burns slower, holds fragrances well, and is considered more environmentally friendly than paraffin wax.
• Skin care – Soy wax is used to make lotions, balms, and moisturizers. It is non-comedogenic and rich in nutrients for skin health.
• Food – Food-grade soy wax can coat fruits and vegetables to extend shelf life. It is also used to make chocolates.

The candle industry in particular has embraced soy wax, with the material making up over 50% of the wax used in candles today. Its popularity stems from consumer demand for natural products coupled with the performance benefits soy wax offers. This article will provide an in-depth look at using soy wax for candles, focusing on its fragrance properties and scent throw.

Soy Wax Overview

Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from soybeans. After harvesting, the soybeans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. The soybean oil is then extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated to produce soy wax [1].

Soy wax is commonly used as an alternative to paraffin wax for candle making, lotions, lip balms, and other products. Compared to paraffin wax which is made from petroleum, soy wax is a renewable and sustainable product [2]. It also has some beneficial properties for skin products since it does not clog pores. The use of soy wax allows manufacturers to create natural, non-toxic products.

Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are scented oils made from a combination of natural and synthetic aromatic ingredients. They are added to products like candles, soaps, and cosmetics to provide a desired scent.https://vcandlesupplies.com/what-is-fragrance-oils/ Fragrance oils are typically composed of essential oils like lavender or lemon, absolutes like rose or jasmine, synthetic aroma chemicals, carrier oils, and fixatives.

The natural ingredients in fragrance oils come from botanical sources like flowers, fruits, leaves, woods, and resins. These provide the true, authentic scents. Synthetic aroma chemicals are used to duplicate, enhance, or complement the natural scents. They help make the fragrance last longer. Carrier oils like jojoba or fractionated coconut oil help dilute and diffuse the fragrance. Fixatives like vanilla absolute or ambrette seeds give the fragrance depth and character.

When added to soy wax, fragrance oils enable candles, tarts, and melts to give off a scented aroma when burned. The fragrance load, composition, and incorporation process impacts how well the soy wax retains and releases the scent. Finding the right balance is important for strongly scented soy wax products.

Fragrance Load in Wax

The fragrance load refers to the maximum amount of fragrance oil that a wax can hold before the scent begins to diminish. Soy wax is unique in its ability to hold high amounts of fragrance oil compared to other waxes like paraffin.

Most soy wax can hold fragrances at 6-11% of the wax weight before losing scent strength. For example, 1 pound of soy wax could hold up to 1.1 ounces of fragrance oil. The exact percentage depends on the type of soy wax and its additives.

100% natural soybean wax like Golden 415 can hold around 6-8% fragrance oils [1]. Soy waxes with proprietary additives like Golden 464 are engineered for higher fragrance loads of 10-11% [2]. The additives help strengthen the wax structure so more fragrance can be held.

In comparison, paraffin wax usually holds 4-7% fragrance oil. The molecular structure of soy wax gives it superior fragrance retention versus paraffin [3]. This makes soy an excellent choice for strongly scented candles.

Soy Wax Fragrance Properties

One of the key properties of soy wax that makes it a popular choice for candle making is its ability to hold and disperse fragrance well. Soy wax has a natural ability to absorb and retain fragrance oils. The wax molecules have small pores that enable fragrance oil molecules to be trapped and held within the wax structure.

This gives soy wax candles excellent hot and cold scent throw capabilities. Hot scent throw refers to the fragrance strength when the candle is lit and melted. Cold scent throw is how well the candle still smells when cooled and solidified. Soy wax performs well for both hot and cold scent throw due to its molecular structure.

Studies have shown that soy wax can hold up to 11% of its weight in fragrance oils, compared to only 8-9% for paraffin wax. This allows soy wax to retain and disperse fragrances stronger and longer than paraffin.

The ability for soy wax to absorb, hold, and release fragrance oils steadily as it burns makes it an excellent choice for achieving optimally scented candles.

Comparing to Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is commonly used in candle making and also holds fragrance oils well. Some key differences between soy wax and paraffin wax are:

Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct, while soy wax is made from soybeans, a renewable resource. Therefore, soy wax is often perceived as more natural and environmentally friendly.

However, paraffin wax has some advantages too. It is typically less expensive than soy wax. Paraffin also provides excellent fragrance throw and typically holds scent better over time compared to soy.

While paraffin performs well, some users prefer soy wax due to the renewable source and perception of being more natural. But both can produce highly scented candles when combined with an appropriate fragrance load.

Factors Affecting Fragrance

There are several key factors that affect how well soy wax holds fragrance:

Wax Quality: Higher quality soy wax that is refined and has a low frost point will allow more fragrance to be absorbed and will hold the scent better. Cheaper soy wax blends may not retain fragrance as well.¹

Fragrance Oil Type: Pure essential oils or high quality fragrance oils specifically formulated for soy candles will have stronger scent throw. Generic fragrance oils may not be optimized for soy’s characteristics.²

Candle Design: Proper wicking to allow the ideal melt pool, pouring temperatures, and curing time will maximize scent throw. Container size relative to the wax volume also impacts performance.³

Making Strongly Scented Soy Candles

There are a few techniques candle makers use to create strongly scented soy candles:

Double fragrance – Using double the normal amount of fragrance oil in the candle wax is a common technique. Typically fragrance load is 6-8% of wax weight, but doubling to 12-16% can make a big difference in scent strength. However, some fragrances may not hold well at high concentrations or could accelerate tracing, so testing is key.

Proper wax selection – Soy wax comes in different varieties optimized for scent throw. Waxes like GB 464 and C-3 hold and release fragrance very well. Using these wax blends helps maximize hot and cold scent.

Jar and wax choice – Smaller jar candles allow fragrance to be concentrated, rather than dissipating in a large space. Pairing the right wax and wick to the jar size helps ensure an ideal melt pool for fragrance diffusion.

Curing time – Allowing candles to cure 2-4 weeks after pouring gives time for the fragrance oil to fully bind to the wax, helping boost scent throw over time.

Adding oils like coconut or sunflower oil at 5-10% of the wax blend can also help anchor scent. Ultimately testing different wick, wax, fragrance, and vessel combinations is key to finding the right balance for strong soy wax candles.

Other Soy Wax Uses

While popularly used for candle making, soy wax also has applications in other products as well. Many are selected for its favorable fragrance properties.

Soy wax can be used to make wax melts and tarts. These are small pieces of wax infused with fragrance that are warmed to release their scent. Soy wax is commonly used as it holds fragrance oils better than paraffin wax (according to Evricom). The soy wax allows melts and tarts to retain their scent longer.

In body products like lotions and balms, soy wax is appreciated for its emollient properties. It helps moisturize skin. Additionally, soy wax enables these products to maintain scent longer than formulations with just oils. The wax helps bind the fragrance to the product.

Thanks to soy wax’s good scent throw and skin conditioning effects, it can be used in many aromatic and moisturizing applications beyond candles.

Conclusion

To summarize the key points, soy wax is extremely effective at holding onto fragrance oils and dispersing aromas evenly as candles burn. Its natural molecular structure allows fragrance oils to fully integrate into soy wax, binding tightly within the wax. This gives soy wax candles much stronger scents compared to paraffin wax candles. The natural properties of soy wax provide excellent fragrance retention and an even, consistent aroma throw.

Soy wax holds fragrance very well. With proper wick sizing and fragrance load levels, soy wax candles can fill a room with fragrance for hours. Its ability to fully absorb and retain fragrances makes it one of the best candle waxes for highly scented candles. When blended with other natural waxes, soy can be customized to optimize hot and cold scent throw. Overall, soy wax is a top choice for creating powerfully aromatic candles.