How Much Does 1 Lb Of Soy Wax Make?
Soy wax is a type of vegetable wax made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It is commonly used for candle making, soap making, lip balms, lotions, and other cosmetic applications. Soy wax is valued in candle making because it is a clean-burning, renewable, and biodegradable wax. It also holds fragrance oils well and produces candles with excellent scent throw.
Soy wax comes in flake and pellet form. The amount of volume the soy wax takes up depends on if it is compressed into pellet form or in loose flake form. Knowing how much volume a certain weight of soy wax makes can be important for estimating the container size needed for a candle or how much wax is required for a batch of lip balm. This guide will provide the typical volume soy wax makes per pound and tips on stretching your soy wax.
Calculating Soy Wax Amounts
To calculate the volume of soy wax from a given weight, you need to know the density of soy wax. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. For soy wax, the density typically ranges from 0.85 to 0.95 grams per milliliter (g/mL) depending on the precise formulation.
The most commonly used density value for soy wax is 0.9 g/mL. Using this density, you can calculate the volume from a given weight using the following formula:
Volume (mL) = Weight (g) / Density (g/mL)
For example, 1 pound (454 g) of soy wax with a density of 0.9 g/mL would occupy a volume of:
Volume = 454 g / 0.9 g/mL = 504 mL
So 1 pound of soy wax with a density of 0.9 g/mL makes 504 mL of volume. Keep in mind the volume may be slightly more or less depending on the exact density, which can vary between batches. But 0.9 g/mL is a reasonable average to use for most volume calculations involving soy wax.
To find the volume in other units like cups, ounces, etc you would simply convert the milliliter volume result to the desired units. This allows you to easily calculate soy wax amounts for any recipe or application where you need to know the volume.
How Much Volume Does 1 lb of Soy Wax Make?
Soy wax typically has a density ranging from 0.85 to 0.95 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). This means that 1 pound (454 grams) of soy wax will take up a volume between approximately 479 and 535 cubic centimeters (cm3).
To put it another way, 1 pound of soy wax will make between 15.2 and 17.8 fluid ounces in volume. This converts to a range of 0.95 to 1.11 cups.
So in summary, 1 pound of soy wax will make approximately 0.95 to 1.11 cups or 15 to 18 fluid ounces in volume.
The exact volume will depend on the specific density of the soy wax, which can vary slightly between different brands and types. But this gives a reasonable estimate of how much space 1 pound of soy wax will take up.
Typical Soy Wax Uses and Amounts Needed
Soy wax is a versatile material used for a variety of DIY projects. Here are some of the most common uses and how much soy wax is required for each:
Making Candles
Candles are one of the most popular soy wax projects. The amount of wax needed depends on the size of the candle container. Small votive or tealight candles require around 1-2 oz of wax. Standard 8 oz jars need 6-8 oz of wax. Large pillars, tapers, and containers can use over 1 lb of wax (source).
Making Wax Melts
Wax melts require about 1 oz of soy wax per melt. A standard wax melt mold holds around 1-2 oz. So a 1 lb block of soy wax makes approximately 16-32 melts (source).
Making Lip Balm
Lip balm recipes call for approximately 1 tsp of soy wax per tube, or around 1/3 oz. A 1 lb block makes around 48 x 0.15 oz lip balm tubes.
Making Lotions and Creams
Soy wax can be used to thicken body butters, lotions, and creams. Only a small amount is needed – usually 1-2 tsp per 8 oz batch.
Making Candles
The amount of soy wax needed to make candles depends on the size and shape of the candle container. Here are some general guidelines for how much wax is required for different candle sizes:
Tealight or votive candles: These small candles use around 1-2 ounces of wax each. A standard bag of soy wax flakes contains 55-60 pounds, which is enough wax to make over 1,000 tealights or votives.
4 ounce jar candle: A 4 oz candle jar holds approximately 3-4 ounces of wax. You’ll need 1 pound of soy wax to make 12-16 small 4 oz candles.
8 ounce jar candle: An 8 oz candle jar holds around 6-7 ounces of wax. 1 pound of soy wax will make 5-6 standard 8 oz jar candles.
16 ounce large jar candle: A 16 oz candle jar requires 14-15 ounces of wax to fill it. You can make about 3 large 16 oz candles from 1 pound of soy wax.
Pillar candles: Pillar candles require around 1 ounce of wax per inch of candle height. So a 3-inch pillar would use about 3 ounces of wax. You can make 15-20 3-inch pillar candles from 1 pound of soy wax.
See this soy wax candle cost calculator for more precise measurements: https://soycandlemakingtime.com/how-to-price-soy-candles-part-1/
Making Wax Melts
Wax melts require a smaller amount of soy wax compared to candles. A standard wax melt uses approximately 1-2 ounces of soy wax per melt. With 16 ounces in a pound, this means you can make 8-16 wax melts from 1 pound of soy wax. Wax melt clamshells and molds often hold about 2 ounces of wax.
When making soy wax melts, it’s important to use the proper wax-to-fragrance oil ratio. A typical ratio is 1 ounce of fragrance oil per 1 pound of soy wax. So if using 1 pound of soy wax, you would add 1 ounce of fragrance oil total, divided between however many individual melts you make. Too much fragrance oil can make the melts overly aromatic and prone to sweating.
Here are some examples of soy wax melt amounts from popular sellers:
– Maple Hill Farm in Wisconsin sells 2.7 oz soy wax melts, which would use about 2 oz of wax per melt (source).
– Simpli Nature sells approximately 2 oz soy wax melts in clamshell containers that work in wax warmers (source).
– Home Again Studios sells 2.7 oz soy wax melts, using up to 2 oz of soy wax per melt (source).
So in summary, a typical soy wax melt uses about 1-2 ounces of soy wax per melt. This means 1 lb of soy wax makes approximately 8-16 melts.
Making Lip Balm
When making lip balm, the amount of soy wax needed will depend on the size of the lip balm tubes. A standard lip balm tube holds around 0.15 oz. To fill 100 lip balm tubes, you would need about 15 oz of soy wax.
Most lip balm recipes call for using 20-25% beeswax or soy wax, with the rest being carrier and essential oils. So for a 0.15 oz tube, you would use around 0.03 to 0.04 oz of soy wax per tube. For 100 tubes, that’s about 3 to 4 oz of soy wax.
Some key factors that determine soy wax needed for lip balm:
- Tube size – standard is around 0.15 oz but could be smaller or larger
- Number of tubes – batch size you are making
- Wax percentage – 20-25% is typical
When first starting out, it’s a good idea to make small test batches with 1 lb of soy wax. This will allow you to experiment with different wax percentages and tube sizes. Most lip balm recipes yield around 100 tubes per 1 lb of soy wax.
For commercial production, lip balm supply companies offer bulk pricing discounts at higher volumes. Their lip balm tubes also tend to be more affordably priced compared to retail tube packaging.
Making Lotions and Creams
Soy wax is commonly used to make lotions and creams. The wax helps thicken the lotion and makes it more creamy and spreadable. Most recipes call for using 10-25% soy wax in lotions and creams.
For example, to make an 8 oz lotion you would use 1-2 oz of soy wax. A 16 oz batch would use about 2-4 oz wax. The exact amount can vary depending on your preference for thickness.
Some artisans recommend using closer to 25% wax if you want a thicker whipped butter-like texture. For lighter lotions, 10% wax is enough. When using soy wax in lotions, it’s best to melt it first and combine it with the oil portion before adding to the water phase.
Soy wax helps nourish skin in lotions too. It’s a natural humectant to hold moisture in. Overall, the wax gives lotions a silky feel without being greasy. It’s an excellent plant-based ingredient for natural skin care recipes.
Sources:
Soy Lotion
https://www.naturesgardencandles.com/personal-care/lotions-butters/bases/unscented-bases/natural-soy-body-butter
Tips for Stretching Soy Wax
Here are some tips to help make your soy wax go further when making candle, wax melts, lip balms, lotions, and other DIY projects:
Mix with other waxes: Consider mixing soy wax with cheaper waxes like paraffin or beeswax. A mix of 30-50% soy with these waxes can help stretch your supply.
Reuse wax scraps: Save all leftover wax bits and pieces after pouring candles or melts. Melt these down again and strain out the wick and other debris to use the wax again.
Use wax melts in candles: Leftover wax melts can be chopped up and added to candle wax to stretch it farther. The melt wax doesn’t need to be the same color or scent.
Reduce fragrance oils: You can stretch soy wax by slightly reducing the amount of fragrance oil used. Too little and the scent won’t throw, but a small reduction likely won’t be noticeable.
Use minimal dye: Similarly, minimizing the amount of dye used or skipping it altogether will help wax go further. Consider using eco-friendly plant based dyes.
Reuse containers and wicks: Clean and reuse old candle jars, tins, and wicks whenever possible. This will greatly reduce waste and material costs.
Conclusions
In summary, one pound of soy wax will make approximately 15-17 fluid ounces in volume, or about 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 cups. This amount is suitable for making several small candles, a batch of wax melts, or a few tubes of lip balm. For large candles, multiple pounds of wax are usually needed. When making lotions, creams or balms, only 1-2 ounces of wax per batch is required.
To calculate how much soy wax you’ll need for a project, consider the container sizes and desired number of items. Allow for extra wax as you learn to account for spillage and testing. Buying soy wax in bulk 5-10 lb bags can help lower costs per pound. And you can stretch your wax further by blending with other waxes or oils. With some planning and these tips, you’ll be able to create an array of soy wax products while efficiently using your materials.
