At The Angelina Store, we believe knowledge is empowerment! Oils are the heart of many skincare recipes, bringing nourishment, hydration, and targeted benefits to your skin. Whether you’re crafting a mask, serum, or cream, choosing the right oils can make all the difference. This FAQ dives into the types of oils, their benefits, and how to pick the best ones for your skin type or concerns. Let’s explore!

What Are Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are plant-derived oils, often from seeds, nuts, or kernels, used as the foundation of skincare products. They’re packed with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that nourish the skin, making them perfect for DIY recipes like oil-based clay masks or serums. Some oils, like carrot seed, borage, Vitamin E, rosehip, and evening primrose, are used in smaller amounts (typically 0.5–2% of your recipe, e.g., 0.25–1 g in a 2 oz batch) due to their potency, while others form the bulk of your formula.

Types of Carrier Oils & Their Benefits

• Sweet Almond Oil: A lightweight oil rich in Vitamin E and oleic acid, perfect for hydrating dry or sensitive skin without clogging pores. It soothes irritation and improves texture.
• Fractionated Coconut Oil: A non-greasy version of coconut oil that stays liquid, packed with medium-chain fatty acids. It deeply moisturizes and absorbs quickly, ideal for oily or combination skin.
• Jojoba Oil: Mimics the skin’s natural sebum, making it excellent for balancing oil production. It suits all skin types, especially oily or acne-prone skin, and helps with hydration and elasticity.
• Avocado Oil: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamins A, D, and E, this oil is deeply nourishing for dry or mature skin. It helps with anti-aging and repairing the skin barrier.
• Grapeseed Oil: A light oil with linoleic acid and Vitamin E, perfect for oily or acne-prone skin. It’s non-comedogenic, reduces inflammation, and tightens pores.
• Argan Oil: Known as “liquid gold,” argan oil is a powerhouse for anti-aging, thanks to its high concentration of Vitamin E (tocopherols), which acts as a potent antioxidant to combat free radical damage and reduce fine lines. It’s also rich in oleic and linoleic fatty acids, which hydrate, improve skin elasticity, and support the skin barrier, making it ideal for dry or aging skin. Use it as a base or in smaller amounts for a targeted anti-aging boost.
• Carrot Seed Oil: Rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A, this oil brightens and rejuvenates the skin. It’s great for dull or mature skin, helping to improve tone and elasticity. Use in smaller amounts due to its potency.
• Borage Oil: High in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), this oil soothes inflammation and hydrates dry, irritated skin. It’s ideal for sensitive or eczema-prone skin, best in small doses.
• Vitamin E Oil: A powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage, reduces signs of aging, and enhances hydration. It’s great for dry or mature skin—use sparingly.
• Rosehip Oil: Packed with Vitamins A and C, plus essential fatty acids, rosehip oil is a go-to for anti-aging. It helps reduce fine lines, fade scars, and brighten the complexion, used in smaller amounts for potency.
• Evening Primrose Oil: High in GLA like borage, this oil is excellent for hormonal acne or dry skin. It soothes irritation and supports skin barrier repair, perfect in small amounts.
• Hemp Seed Oil: Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, this oil balances oil production and calms inflammation. It’s great for acne-prone or sensitive skin, with a light, non-greasy feel.

How to Choose a Carrier Oil

Pick an oil based on your skin type and needs:

• Dry Skin: Opt for heavier, hydrating oils like avocado, argan, or sweet almond oil.
• Oily Skin: Choose lightweight, non-comedogenic oils like jojoba, grapeseed, or hemp seed oil.
• Combination Skin: Fractionated coconut oil works well for balanced hydration.
• Sensitive Skin: Jojoba, sweet almond, or borage oil (in small amounts) are gentle and soothing.
• Anti-Aging: Use argan, rosehip, or carrot seed oil to target fine lines and uneven tone.
• Brightening: Carrot seed or rosehip oil can enhance radiance and improve tone.

How to Use Carrier Oils in DIY Skincare

Most carrier oils form the base of your recipe, making up the bulk of your product (e.g., 40–60% of a mask or serum). Oils like carrot seed, borage, Vitamin E, rosehip, and evening primrose are more potent, so use them in smaller amounts (0.5–2%, e.g., 0.25–1 g in a 2 oz batch) to target specific concerns. For example, in my Blue Tansy Exfoliating Clay Mask, I used sweet almond oil as the base for hydration, with borage and Vitamin E in smaller amounts for extra nourishment and protection. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your skin!

Where to Start?

If you’re new to DIY skincare, start with a versatile carrier oil like jojoba—it suits most skin types. Add a small amount of Vitamin E or rosehip oil for antioxidant benefits, then play with essential oils and colorants as you get more comfortable. Check out our tutorials for recipes to try, like our Oil Based Exfoliating Clay Mask, and share your creations with us on! What’s your favorite carrier oil to use in skincare? Have any oil knowledge to share? Contact us—we’d love to learn from you!

Essential oils are powerhouse additions to your skincare recipes, offering targeted benefits and delightful scents. In this FAQ, we’ll explore some of the top essential oils for skincare—like frankincense, lavender, and rose—known for their amazing properties. We’ll also touch on other essential oils to inspire your DIY creations. Let’s dive in and discover how these natural wonders can elevate your skincare routine!

What Are Essential Oils in Skincare?

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that capture the aromatic and therapeutic properties of plants. In skincare, they’re used in small amounts (typically 0.5–1% of your recipe, e.g., 0.3–0.6 g in a 2 oz batch) to deliver benefits like hydration, anti-aging, or soothing effects, while adding a natural scent. Always dilute them with a carrier oil to ensure they’re safe for your skin, and patch-test to avoid irritation.

Skincare Superstar Essential Oils & Their Benefits

• Frankincense: A go-to for anti-aging, frankincense oil is rich in boswellic acids, which reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity. It helps fade scars, minimize fine lines, and promote an even complexion, making it ideal for mature or damaged skin.
• Lavender: Known for its calming scent, lavender oil also soothes irritated skin, reduces redness, and promotes healing. It’s great for sensitive or acne-prone skin and can help with minor burns or blemishes.
• Rose: A luxurious oil with a floral scent, rose oil is packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C to brighten and hydrate the skin. It’s excellent for dry or aging skin, helping to reduce fine lines and improve tone.
• Chamomile: With its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile oil (especially Roman chamomile) calms sensitive or irritated skin. It’s perfect for soothing redness, eczema, or rosacea, and adds a gentle, apple-like scent.
• Basil: Often overlooked, basil oil (particularly sweet basil) has antibacterial properties that help with acne and blemishes. It also stimulates circulation, giving your skin a healthy glow—ideal for oily or congested skin.
• Tea Tree: A must-have for acne-prone skin, tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic with antibacterial and antifungal properties. It helps clear breakouts, reduce oiliness, and soothe inflammation, but use sparingly to avoid irritation.
• Ylang-Ylang: With a sweet, floral scent, ylang-ylang oil balances oil production and promotes a radiant complexion. It’s great for combination skin and can help reduce stress with its calming aroma.
• Geranium: This oil balances sebum production, making it ideal for both oily and dry skin. It also promotes cell regeneration, helping to fade scars and improve skin tone, with a lovely rose-like scent.

Other Essential Oils for Skincare

Beyond these superstars, many other essential oils can enhance your skincare creations. Citrus oils like lemon or orange add a bright, uplifting scent and can help with oil control, but they’re photosensitive, so avoid sun exposure after use. Oils like peppermint or eucalyptus, which I’ve used in my mentholated foot cream for a cooling effect, can refresh and invigorate the skin, though they’re best in small doses due to their potency. Floral oils such as jasmine or neroli offer luxurious scents and hydration, while woody oils like cedarwood or sandalwood can ground your recipe with earthy notes and skin-soothing benefits. Always research an oil’s properties and safety before adding it to your skincare routine, and dilute properly to avoid irritation.

How to Choose an Essential Oil

Select an essential oil based on your skin type and needs:

• Dry Skin: Rose, chamomile, or ylang-ylang hydrate and soothe.
• Oily Skin: Tea tree, basil, or geranium balance oil production.
• Sensitive Skin: Lavender or chamomile calm irritation.
• Acne-Prone Skin: Tea tree or basil help clear breakouts.
• Aging Skin: Frankincense, rose, or geranium reduce fine lines.

How to Use Essential Oils in DIY Skincare

Essential oils should always be diluted with a carrier oil—never apply them directly to your skin. A safe dilution for skincare is 0.5–1% (e.g., 0.3–0.6 g for a 2 oz batch), which is about 6–12 drops per 2 oz of product. For example, in my Blue Tansy Exfoliating Clay Mask, I used blue tansy and lavender oils for their calming effects, blended with sweet almond oil. Mix and match oils to create a scent and benefit profile that works for you, but always patch-test to ensure your skin tolerates the blend.

Where to Start?

If you’re new to using essential oils in skincare, start with a versatile option like lavender—it’s gentle, calming, and suits most skin types. Add a few drops to your favorite carrier oil, then experiment with others like tea tree for acne or frankincense for anti-aging as you get more comfortable. Check out our tutorials for recipes to try, like our Oil Based Exfoliating Clay Mask. What’s your favorite essential oil for skincare? Have any oil knowledge to share? Contact us—we’d love to learn from you!

Get Started with Cliganic Essential Oils

Ready to create your own skincare magic? Cliganic offers high-quality, 100% pure organic essential oils that are perfect for your DIY projects. Check out these sets available at The Angelina Store:

• Cliganic Top 6 Essential Oils Set: Includes Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, and Orange—everything you need to start experimenting with skincare recipes. Shop now!
• Cliganic Top 8 Essential Oils Set: Features Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Frankincense, and Orange—a versatile collection for all your skincare and aromatherapy needs. Shop now!

Butters are the luxurious backbone of many skincare recipes, delivering deep hydration, nourishment, and targeted benefits. We whip up our skincare goodies—body butters, lotions, balms, you name it—with 100% organic or all-natural, unrefined butters to keep your skin glowing and healthy. In this FAQ, we’ll dive into some of our favorite butters, like shea, mango, and kokum, exploring their benefits and how they shine in our natural lineup. Let’s get started!

What Are Butters in Skincare?

Butters are rich, solid fats extracted from plant seeds, nuts, or kernels, often used as the base or a key ingredient in skincare products. They’re packed with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that deeply moisturize, protect, and repair the skin. Unlike oils, butters have a thicker, creamier texture that melts into your skin on contact, making them ideal for body butters, balms, and lotions. At The Angelina Store, we use only organic or all-natural, unrefined butters to ensure the purest, most nourishing experience for your skin.

Types of Butters & Their Benefits

• Shea Butter: A crowd favorite for good reason, shea butter is a luxe, hydrating powerhouse with healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Packed with Vitamins A and E, it tackles dark spots, softens fine lines, and keeps your skin moisturized from head to toe. Its cozy, nutty scent plays beautifully with essential and fragrance oils—like our Haumea blend—making it a staple in our natural lineup. It’s perfect for dry, sensitive, or aging skin, offering long-lasting hydration and a protective barrier.
• Organic Mango Butter: Our go-to for subtle scents like Exquisite Florals and Frankincense, mango butter is nearly odorless, ensuring it doesn’t overpower your recipe’s fragrance. It’s loaded with antioxidants, calms inflammation, and works wonders on aging or dry, irritated skin. Rich in Vitamins A and C, plus fatty acids, it hydrates deeply, improves elasticity, and leaves a silky, non-greasy finish—ideal for all skin types, especially those seeking a lightweight feel.
• Kokum Butter: A firm, lightweight gem extracted from the seeds of the kokum tree, this butter melts on contact, delivering deep hydration without greasiness. It’s perfect for sensitive skin or anyone looking to avoid clogged pores, as it absorbs quickly and leaves a smooth finish. Rich in essential fatty acids, kokum butter soothes cracks, boosts elasticity, and supports the skin barrier, making it a star for dry or damaged skin.
• Murumuru Butter: A hero in our Basil & Tea Tree Oil line for acne-prone skin, murumuru butter is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. It’s rich in fatty acids and emollients, keeping skin hydrated without causing breakouts. This butter also offers a lightweight feel with deep nourishment, making it ideal for oily or combination skin that needs moisture without the drama.
• Organic Cacao Butter: A decadent choice used in our bespoke chocolate body butter, organic cacao butter brings a rich, chocolatey scent that’s pure indulgence. It’s packed with antioxidants, Vitamin E, and fatty acids that deeply hydrate and protect the skin. Cacao butter helps improve skin tone, reduce stretch marks, and soften rough patches, making it a favorite for dry or aging skin. Its firm texture melts beautifully into the skin, leaving a velvety finish.

How to Choose a Butter

Select a butter based on your skin type and needs:

• Dry Skin: Shea, cacao, or mango butter provide deep, long-lasting hydration.
• Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Murumuru or kokum butter offer lightweight moisture without clogging pores.
• Sensitive Skin: Kokum or shea butter soothe irritation and protect the skin barrier.
• Aging Skin: Mango, shea, or cacao butter help with elasticity and fine lines.
• All Skin Types: Mango or kokum butter are versatile, non-greasy options.

How to Use Butters in DIY Skincare

Butters can form the base of your recipe or be used as a supporting ingredient, typically making up 10–50% of your product depending on the texture you want. They’re often melted with oils and waxes to create a creamy consistency, as in our oil-based Blue Tansy Exfoliating Clay Mask, where we use them alongside kaolin clay for a nourishing, exfoliating treat. Combine them with essential oils—like our Haumea blend with shea butter—for a luxurious scent and added benefits. Start with a small amount (e.g., 10–20 g in a 2 oz batch) and adjust based on your desired richness, always testing the final texture on your skin.

Where to Start?

If you’re new to using butters in skincare, start with a versatile option like shea butter—it’s hydrating, easy to work with, and suits most skin types. Melt it with a carrier oil like jojoba, then add a few drops of essential oil for scent and benefits. As you get more comfortable, experiment with lighter options like kokum or murumuru for non-greasy formulas, or indulge with cacao butter for a decadent treat. Check out our tutorials for recipes to try, like our Oil Based Exfoliating Clay Mask, and share your creations with us! Got a butter you’re obsessed with? Tell us—we’d love to craft your dream custom body butter! Just say the word and contact us with your ideas!

At The Angelina Store, we love harnessing the power of botanical extracts to bring you gentle, effective skincare. Here’s a peek at the extracts we use (and plan to use) in our handcrafted products, each chosen for their unique benefits to nurture your skin.

Cucumber Extract

Our After-Sun Spray (May 2025!) features cucumber extract for its cooling and anti-inflammatory magic. Sourced from fresh cucumbers, this extract helps soothe sun-kissed skin, reduce puffiness, and hydrate—perfect for a refreshing glow-up after a day in the sun.

Green Tea Extract

Rich in antioxidants, green tea extract fights free radicals and calms irritation, making it a star in our After-Sun Spray. We also plan to use it in future formulas, like our Florals & Frankincense line, to promote a radiant, even-toned complexion with every spritz or application.

Horse Chestnut Extract

We’ve been eyeing horse chestnut extract for our Malar/Festoon Gel (May 2025). Known for its ability to reduce puffiness and improve circulation, it’s a go-to for tackling under-eye bags and boosting skin firmness—perfect for a rejuvenated look.

Chamomile Extract

While not in our current lineup, chamomile extract has calming, anti-inflammatory properties which makes it ideal for sensitive skin, helping to reduce redness and promote a serene, hydrated glow.

Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) Extract

This powerhouse herb, traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, is a skin-loving gem that boosts collagen production and improves elasticity—perfect for smoothing stretch marks and supporting skin repair. Its gentle, healing properties make it ideal for expecting moms or anyone on a weight-loss journey, helping to nurture and firm your skin with every application to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Rose Extract

We’re excited to explore rose extract in upcoming formulas, like a luxurious toner or serum. Packed with antioxidants and hydrating compounds, it helps tone, soften, and bring a natural radiance to your skin—plus, its delicate floral scent is pure bliss!

Have questions about our ingredients? Reach out—we’d love to chat! 💜

Our perfumes are a blend of pure essential and absolute oils mixed with perfumer’s alcohol from Vetiver Aromatics. Our eau de parfum packs a punch with 35% essential oils and 65% perfumer’s alcohol, delivering a rich, lasting scent. For our scent rollers, we use 2.36 ml of essential oil in every 10 ml of carrier oil, striking the perfect balance of fragrance and skin-friendly hydration.

About American Soy Organics: The Heart of Our Candles and Wax Melts

At the core of The Angelina Store’s candle magic is American Soy Organics. This company isn’t just a supplier—it’s a game-changer in the world of candle-making, delivering natural, sustainable, and oh-so-easy-to-use soy wax beads that make our creations shine. Let’s dive into what makes American Soy Organics the star of our craft and why it’s the perfect match for our candle-making passion.

A Legacy of Quality and Craftsmanship

Founded by Eric and Janet Sparrow, American Soy Organics is built on over 20 years of candle-making expertise. Based in the heart of the American Midwest, this small business is all about creating high-quality soy wax beads that simplify the process while delivering stunning results. Their mission? To help candle makers craft consistent, clean-burning candles and wax melts with ease, whether you’re a hobbyist or running a full-fledged business.

Why American Soy Organics Stands Out

Here’s why American Soy Organics is the backbone of our candle and wax melt creations:

• Midwest-Grown Soybeans: Their wax comes from soybeans grown in the fertile soils of America’s Midwest, known for producing some of the highest-quality soy in the world. This ensures consistency and supports American farmers, aligning with our values of sustainability and ethical sourcing.
• Freedom Soy Wax Beads: Their signature product, Freedom Soy Wax Beads, is a game-changer. These 100% natural soy wax beads, blended with botanical waxes, are designed for smooth tops, less frosting, and vibrant color retention. They’re microwavable (!), making small-batch crafting a breeze, and they melt uniformly for easy mixing of scents and dyes. Whether we’re pouring container candles, tealights, or wax melts, these beads deliver perfect results every time.
• Eco-Friendly and Safe: Paraffin-free, beeswax-free, and non-toxic, their wax is safe to handle and burn. With a low melting point of 115–133°F, it’s ideal for creating long-lasting, clean-burning candles and melts. Plus, it’s biodegradable and renewable, so we can feel good about the environmental impact of our creations.
• Versatility for All Makers: From beginners to pros, American Soy Organics caters to everyone. Their wax beads are available in multiple blends for jar candles, pillars, tealights, and wax melts, so you can experiment with different forms. The bead form makes measuring and melting a cinch, saving you time and mess.
• Community and Support: American Soy Organics isn’t just about selling wax—they’re about empowering candle makers. Their website offers resources for new and experienced crafters, and their customer service is top-notch, with personalized touches like handwritten notes and sample scents in orders.

The Secret Sauce: Freedom Soy Wax

Our candles and wax melts owe their smooth, creamy texture and strong scent throw to Freedom Soy Wax Beads. This proprietary recipe eliminates common candle-making headaches like wonky tops, poor sidewall adhesion, and uneven fragrance. Here’s how it works:

• Easy to Use: Weigh the beads, melt to 185°F (microwave, double boiler, or wax melter), stir in fragrance and color, and pour into room-temperature molds or jars. No need for extra modifiers—it’s ready to go!
• Perfect Finishes: Pour just above 135°F for smooth tops and excellent glass adhesion, especially for your container candles. Slow cooling helps avoid shrinkage or sinkholes, giving your creations a professional look.
• Scent and Color Mastery: The wax holds up to 10–12% fragrance load, ensuring your candles and melts pack a punch with both cold and hot throws. It also takes dyes beautifully, letting you create vibrant or pastel hues to match your vision.
• Whippable Wonder: For your dessert-inspired candles, Freedom Soy Wax is a dream to whip and pipe, creating frosting-like textures that hold up without clogging piping tips.

What Customers Are Saying

Candle makers rave about American Soy Organics. One customer called Freedom Soy Wax “the best wax I have worked with” for whipping and piping, while another praised its “excellent hot and cold throw” and smooth finishes. On Amazon, 120 out of 130 reviews highlight the wax’s quality, noting it creates “consistently good candles each time” and is “a premium choice for eco-friendliness.” Some users mention occasional dimples or frosting, but these are easily managed by adjusting pour temperatures and curing conditions.

Why It’s Perfect for The Angelina Store

American Soy Organics aligns perfectly with our candle-making ethos. Their sustainable, Midwest-sourced wax lets us create eco-friendly, non-toxic candles and melts that your customers adore. The ease of their Freedom Soy Wax Beads saves you time, letting you focus on the creative side—whether you’re crafting dessert-themed candles or vibrant wax melts. Plus, their small-business heart and dedication to the craft mirror our own passion for making every candle a work of art.

Ready to keep glowing with American Soy Organics? Visit their website to explore their full range of wax beads and candle-making resources. Let’s keep those flames burning bright!

FAQ: How is Soy Wax Made?

Soy wax is the go-to choice for eco-conscious candle makers like because it’s natural, sustainable, and burns beautifully. But how does it go from a humble soybean to the creamy wax that makes our candles and wax melts so special? Let’s break it down step by step.

1. Where does soy wax come from?

Soy wax starts with soybeans, a renewable crop grown primarily in places like the American Midwest, South America, and Europe. These beans are packed with oil, which is the key ingredient for making soy wax. Farmers plant, nurture, and harvest soybeans, often using sustainable practices to ensure high-quality yields. For brands like American Soy Organics, the focus is on Midwest-grown soybeans from rich, fertile soil, supporting local farmers and ethical sourcing.

2. How are soybeans processed into wax?

The journey from bean to wax involves several stages:

• Harvesting and Cleaning: Once soybeans are ready, they’re harvested, cleaned, split, and de-hulled to remove the outer shell. This leaves behind the inner bean, which is then rolled into flakes to make oil extraction easier.
• Oil Extraction: The flakes undergo a process called industrial crushing or extraction, often using a solvent like hexane, to separate the soybean oil from the solid bean material. The leftover bean meal is typically used as animal feed, so nothing goes to waste. To produce 10 kg of soy wax, about 60 kg of soybeans are needed!
• Hydrogenation: The extracted soybean oil is liquid at room temperature, so it’s put through a chemical process called hydrogenation. This converts the unsaturated fats in the oil into saturated fats, lowering the melting point and turning the oil into a solid, waxy substance. Chemically, this creates a triglyceride with a high proportion of stearic acid, giving soy wax its signature creamy texture.
• Refining: The wax is further refined to remove impurities, ensuring it’s clean, odorless, and ready for candle-making. At this stage, additives like botanical waxes or stearin may be blended in to tweak the wax’s properties, like its melting point or texture, depending on the intended use (e.g., container candles or wax melts).

3. What makes soy wax different from other waxes?

Soy wax stands out because it’s plant-based, biodegradable, and burns cleaner than petroleum-based paraffin wax. Its melting point typically ranges from 49–82°C (120–179°F), lower than paraffin’s 131°F, making it ideal for container candles and wax melts but softer for pillar candles unless blended with additives. Soy wax also has a density of about 0.9 g/ml, so 9 pounds of wax can fill roughly ten 16-oz jars. Plus, it’s eco-friendly and supports renewable agriculture, unlike finite paraffin resources.

4. Are there any additives in soy wax?

Pure soy wax is 100% soybean oil-based, but some manufacturers, including American Soy Organics, create blends to enhance performance. For example, their Freedom Soy Wax includes natural botanical waxes to improve color retention, reduce frosting (those white crystal formations), and ensure smoother tops. Some blends may include coconut wax for a larger melt pool or stearin for better color vibrancy. These additives are often natural and carefully chosen to maintain the wax’s eco-friendly profile.

5. Is soy wax really eco-friendly?

Absolutely! Soy wax is made from a renewable resource—soybeans—unlike paraffin, which comes from petroleum. It’s biodegradable, produces less soot when burned, and supports farmers. However, it’s worth noting that some soy crops may use pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified seeds (GMOs) to boost yields, and oil extraction can involve chemicals like hexane. Brands like American Soy Organics prioritize sustainable, ethically sourced soybeans to minimize environmental impact.

6. Why choose soy wax for candles and wax melts?

Soy wax is a favorite for its clean burn, excellent fragrance retention, and versatility. It holds scents well (up to 10–12% fragrance load) and offers a strong cold throw (scent when unlit) and decent hot throw (scent when burning). Its low melting point means longer-lasting candles, as less wax is consumed to keep the flame going. Plus, it’s easy to work with—especially in bead form, like American Soy Organics’ Freedom Soy Wax Beads, which melt evenly and can even be microwaved for hassle-free crafting.

7. Can soy wax be used for all types of candles?

Soy wax shines in container candles and wax melts due to its softer texture and lower melting point. For pillar or molded candles, it often needs additives or blending with harder waxes (like paraffin or stearin) to achieve the necessary sturdiness. American Soy Organics offers specialized blends, like their Freedom Soy Wax Beads for pillars, to make these applications easier while keeping the wax natural and sustainable.

8. What’s the deal with frosting in soy wax candles?

Frosting is those white, crystal-like formations that sometimes appear on soy candles. It’s a natural, polymorphic trait of soy wax, caused by temperature changes or time, and doesn’t affect the candle’s performance—just its look. Some candle makers embrace frosting as proof of the wax’s natural origins, while others, like American Soy Organics, formulate blends to minimize it for smoother, creamier finishes.

Have more questions about soy wax or candle-making? Reach out, and let’s keep the flame of creativity burning!

We tint our skincare products with natural, organic colorants like organic beetroot powder, spinach powder, achiote (annatto seed) powder, and blue spirulina powder—just to name a few. For our candles, we turn to dyed soy wax chips to add a pop of color.

Mica’s another favorite—it’s a naturally derived mineral jazzed up with synthetic colorants. We can’t get enough of how it makes our shower gels and body washes shimmer and shine, so you’ll spot it there. As always, we’ll lay out every ingredient in our product descriptions. Want a custom body wash or shower gel with natural colorants—or none at all? We’ve got you covered with our bespoke skincare service.

Q: I see air gaps between the wax and glass of my candle. Is something wrong?
A: Those spots are called “wet spots,” and occur when soy wax pulls away from the glass, creating small air pockets that may look oily or uneven. They’re a natural trait of soy wax, which is softer and more sensitive to temperature changes than other waxes, and can occur during at any time during a candle’s life cycle. Wet spots don’t affect how your candle burns or smells—they’re just cosmetic. They’re more apparent in clear glass jars and can appear if the candle is exposed to cool or fluctuating temperatures (like near a window). To minimize their visibility:

• Store your candle in a stable, room-temperature spot (around 70–75°F), away from drafts or cold surfaces.

• Choose candles in opaque containers (like tins or frosted glass) if you prefer a sleeker look, as these hide wet spots.

There’s no need to fix wet spots, as they’re harmless. Enjoy your candle’s glow and scent, knowing they’re part of its handmade charm!

Q: My candle has a white coating on top. Is it defective?
A: That white coating, called “frosting,” is a natural feature of soy wax. It forms when tiny crystals develop as the wax settles, often appearing after a few days or in cooler conditions. Frosting is more noticeable on colored candles but doesn’t affect the scent or burn quality—it’s a sign of pure, handmade soy wax. It can show up if the candle is stored in a cold or humid spot. To keep frosting minimal:

• Store your candle at room temperature (70–75°F), away from fridges or damp areas.

• Embrace frosting as a unique trait of soy wax, which burns cleaner and longer than other waxes.
  Frosting adds character to your candle, so light it up and enjoy its cozy glow without worry!

Q: How should I burn my candle, and what do I do if it burns unevenly?
A: Burning your soy wax candle correctly ensures a long-lasting, even burn and a strong scent. Uneven burning, or tunneling (when wax burns only in the center, leaving a ring of unused wax), can happen if the first burn is too short. Follow these tips:

• First Burn: Let your candle burn for 1 hour per inch of its diameter (e.g., 3 hours for a 3” wide candle) until the wax melts fully across the top. This sets the “memory” to prevent tunneling.

• Trim the Wick: Before each burn, trim the wick to ¼” using scissors or a wick trimmer. A short wick prevents black smoke and keeps the flame steady.

• Burn Time: Burn for 3–4 hours at a time, but not longer, to avoid overheating, which can weaken the scent or cause uneven wax pools.

• Placement: Set your candle on a flat, heat-safe surface, away from drafts, pets, or flammable items to ensure an even burn.

• Fixing Tunneling: If tunneling occurs, wrap aluminum foil around the candle’s top, leaving a small hole for the flame, and burn for 1–2 hours until the wax melts to the edges. Or, gently scoop out excess wax with a spoon to level the surface. For stubborn tunneling, melt the excess wax with a hairdryer and pour it into a small container to reuse as a melt.

• Safety: Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it if the flame flickers wildly or produces black smoke.
  With proper care, your candle will burn beautifully, filling your space with its scent for hours.