White stuff

Dear Robin,
I started working with soy about 4 years ago and I noticed this particular problem early on. I have a testing center where everything I do is tested and logged. I went back to my notes to be sure, but this is my explanation of 'white stuff.'

Because we are working with 'a natural product', everything we add is going to affect that product.

So, in keeping with that thought, every color we add is different.
Every scent we add is different.
Every time we make a candle and the temp, humidity level in the room and the barometric pressure is not the same we are faced with a difference to contend with.

I purposely changed all of these factors to see what my end product would be. When I came upon a scenario that worked, I made special note of it. Any change in the environment of the 'natural product' was producing a different effect. ie: tin containers versus glass containers, glass containers of different thickness, etc. In some of the tin containers the candle would be creamy and stay true to it's color while others would get a distinctive white look.

I called the 'white stuff' a separation. But only certain colors blended with certain fragrances would create this phenomenon.

Finally the end result was that certain color dyes used, certain fragrances and how much of each fragrance used, if and whether they were blended and the container used made all the difference. It seemed, from my notes, that the molecules wanted to break apart and separate rather than binding.

Rather than fighting this problem. I decided to work with it. I started re-naming the candles that do that, such as a drink, Rasberry Sangria or a flower, Blended Day Lily.

I hope this helps some. There are some things we simply do not know, yet. We just have to try to work with it. I will continue researching and will do my best to get some answers.

Later,
Carol
beth's soy candle co. LLC
bethssoy@ticon.net

Robin,
You are not alone. We see it too and it is also sporadic with us as well. Was told it was the paraffin on the wicks I was using at the time but that wouldn't account for the huge quantity of this white stuff in many candles. But in fairness, I eliminated the paraffin dipped wicks and I still saw the same old white stuff. I next eliminated the paraffin based dye and use liquid dye. Same thing different day.
Anyone else out there have any ideas for curing (no pun intrended) this problem?
Brian Bock
The Candlelier