What Is The Best Temperature To Add Fragrance To Soy Wax?

Adding fragrance at the proper temperature is crucial when making soy candles to ensure optimal fragrance retention and performance. Choosing the right temp prevents fragrance fading and maximizes scent throw. This article will examine the ideal temperature range for adding fragrance to soy wax, why temperature is so important, and how to test and adjust to find the optimal temp for your specific wax and fragrance oils.

Background on Soy Wax

Soy wax is a vegetarian wax made from hydrogenated soybean oil. It is commonly used to make candles, soaps, lip balms, and other cosmetics. Soy wax is made by extracting oil from soybeans and modifying it to increase melting point, hardness, and opacity.

According to Soy Wax Properties – Soy Wax Candles Australia, soybean oil is extracted from soybeans and then undergoes hydrogenation, which is a process of chemically converting unsaturated fat into saturated fat by adding hydrogen. This increases the melting point and makes the wax harder. The level of hydrogenation determines the melting point, hardness, and opacity of the final soy wax.

Compared to paraffin wax, soy wax is considered more environmentally friendly since it comes from a renewable resource. It is also biodegradable. Key properties of soy wax include a low melting point, smooth texture, and the ability to hold fragrance oils well.

Fragrance Oils Used

There are two main types of fragrance oils that are commonly used with soy wax in candle making:

Natural Fragrance Oils – These fragrance oils use essential oils, absolutes, resins, and other natural ingredients derived from plants, fruits, flowers, etc. They tend to provide a truer, more authentic scent. However, because they use more natural ingredients, the fragrance may not be as strong or last as long.

Synthetic Fragrance Oils – These fragrance oils use synthetic aroma chemicals to create the scents. This allows for stronger scents that will last longer in soy wax. Synthetic fragrance oils also tend to be more cost effective. However, some prefer natural fragrance for a more authentic scent. A blend of natural and synthetic fragrance oils is commonly used.

When selecting a fragrance oil for soy wax, it’s important to choose one intended for candle making. The fragrance oil should have a flash point above 170°F to ensure proper scent release. Testing different fragrance oils is the best way to find which work well in soy wax.

Fragrance Load Recommendations

When making soy candles, it’s important to use the right amount of fragrance oil to ensure proper scent throw and burn performance. The general recommendation for fragrance load in soy wax candles is between 5-10% of the weight of the wax used.

According to https://www.scandinaviancandle.com/blogs/faq/how-much-fragrance-oil-to-use-in-your-candle, a fragrance load of 6-8% is ideal for soy wax. This provides enough fragrance for scent throw while minimizing effects on wax crystallization and burn.

Other sources like https://allseasonswaxcompany.com.au/blog/fragance-oil-and-soy-candles-complete-guide recommend 6-8% as well. Too little fragrance may lead to poor scent throw, while too much can cause issues like soot or tunneling.

Testing different fragrance loads between 5-10% is recommended to find the optimal percentage for a particular soy wax and fragrance oil blend. But generally, 6-8% is a safe starting point according to most recommendations.

Importance of Proper Temp

Adding fragrance at the proper temperature is crucial for maximizing scent throw and retention in soy candles. If added at too low of a temperature, the fragrance oil may not incorporate fully into the wax and the scent throw will be weak. According to BrambleBerry, “Most fragrances should be added between 175-185° F. Make sure your wax has been removed from the heat source before adding fragrance oils.”

Conversely, if the fragrance is added at too high of a temperature, the heat can cause some of the fragrance oils to evaporate away or burn off. As NewHobbyBox explains, “The ideal temperature to melt soy wax for candles is between 170°F and 180°F (77°C and 82°C). This range ensures a smooth, even melt.” Staying within this optimal temperature window will allow the fragrance oil to properly bind with the wax for maximum hot and cold scent throw.

Temp Effects on Fragrance

Fragrance oils contain many different chemical components that can be affected by the heating temperature of the wax (source). The most important temperature to pay attention to is the flashpoint. The flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which the fragrance oil will ignite if exposed to an open flame (source).

Fragrance oils used for candle making typically have flashpoints between 140-200°F. This means they should not combust or evaporate when added to melted wax, which is usually around 180-200°F (source). If wax is heated above a fragrance’s flashpoint, some of the more volatile compounds may evaporate off, altering the scent.

Therefore, it’s recommended to add fragrance oil at a temperature below its flashpoint, so the fragrance remains true when the candle is burned. But the wax needs to be hot enough that the fragrance incorporates fully and doesn’t solidify right away.

Recommended Temperature Range

Most experts recommend adding fragrance oils to soy wax at temperatures between 185-190°F (85-88°C) https://newhobbybox.com/soy-wax-temperature/. This temperature range allows the fragrance oil to properly bind with the melted wax, ensuring even scent dispersion and retention as the candle cools and cures. Temperatures below 185°F may not fully incorporate the fragrance, while temperatures above 190°F can start to burn off some of the fragrance notes.

An ideal target is to add fragrance around 185-187°F if adding at higher percentages like 6-10%, and up to 190°F for lighter scent loads under 5% https://northwoodcandlesupply.com/blogs/news/how-hot-should-candle-wax-be-when-i-add-fragrance-oils. This allows the soy wax to properly bind the fragrance, avoiding issues like poor hot and cold throw. Overall, keeping the wax within the 185-190°F range is widely considered the sweet spot for adding most fragrance oils into soy wax.

How to Test & Adjust

Since each type of soy wax has different properties and characteristics, testing is key to finding the optimal temperature for your specific wax blend. Here are some tips for testing and adjusting the temperature to add fragrance to your soy wax:

• Start by following the manufacturer’s recommendations for fragrance temperature. For example, Golden Brands 464 soy wax specifies 185°F.
• Make small test candles, using 1-2 oz of wax. Vary the temperature in 5-10 degree increments above and below the recommended temp.
• Evaluate how well the fragrance sticks after cure. Lower temps may result in the fragrance not binding as well. Higher temps can cause the fragrance to burn off.
• Consider the flashpoint of the specific fragrance oil. Some may require slightly lower temps. Florals and citruses are more volatile.
• Test both blended and unblended waxes. Blends react differently than 100% soy wax.
• Test multiple wicks as well, since wax pool temperature can impact fragrance retention.
• Keep detailed notes! This will allow you to find the optimal range for your wax and fragrance oils.

With testing, you can dial in the ideal temperature to add fragrance to your specific soy wax. This will maximize fragrance retention and performance.

Additional Considerations

Other factors that influence scent throw include the candle vessel, wick size, room size, and individual scent sensitivity. A wider vessel with a larger wax pool will allow more fragrance to emit as the wax melts. Using the proper wick size for the vessel is also key – too small of a wick may not pool out the wax enough for full scent release. The aroma will be stronger in a smaller enclosed room versus a large open one. Personal scent sensitivity also varies, with some people detecting fragrances more strongly than others.

Summary

In summary, the optimal temperature to add fragrance oil to soy wax is between 185-190°F. This temperature range allows for proper binding and throw with most fragrance oils, without causing the fragrance to burn off. Key points to remember are:

• Soy wax has a lower melting point than other waxes, so lower temperatures are needed.
• Adding fragrance below 185°F can result in poor binding and scent throw.
• Temperatures above 190°F risk burning off top notes and losing fragrance strength.
• Testing different temps with your particular fragrance is recommended to find the ideal.
• Stir thoroughly after adding fragrance and allow time to fully incorporate before pouring.

Following these best practices will help achieve optimal hot and cold scent throw when making soy candles with fragrance oil.