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Is it the wax or the method?

H

HeadEMPTY

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Joined
Jun 15, 2025
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9
My twin and I have been making candles for years and we thought we had our process figured out. But ever since switching to freedom soy wax, sinkholes have become a persistent issue. They form right near the wooden wick, sometimes going all the way to the bottom. We've tried changing pouring temperatures, preheating jars, stirring fragrance oil differently, even coating the wicks before pouring. No matter what we do, the sinkholes keep showing up.

We're wondering if the wax itself is prone to this or if there's something in our method that needs adjusting. Has anyone else had trouble with freedom soy wax? If you've found a reliable way to get smooth tops, we'd love to hear what worked for you.
 
@HeadEMPTY different wax blends can be quite complicated. It's very possible Freedom Soy Wax has a different contraction rate as it cools compared to what you were using, making it more prone to sinkholes, especially around a solid object like a wooden wick
have you considered slowing down the cooling process even more?
Sometimes a very gradual cool, perhaps under a dome or in a warmer room, can help the wax set more evenly
Also, double check if your fragrance load or even the type of fragrance oil itself might be contributing
some oils can affect wax structure. It's a pain, but sometimes a small test batch with no fragrance or a different FO can isolate the problem.
 
I have been making candles for a while. I am so amazed at how each wax differs in behavior. I have tried about 8 different types and now will only keep 4 on hand at all times. Texas is so hot I only make and sell candles in the Spring & Fall. @HeadEMPTY I would try 1 more thing. Pour your wax very slowly into the container and see if that helps. Sometimes it's the rate of the pour.
 
Thanks for the excellent suggestions! We tried a few new things based on your feedback and it appears this wax just has a mind of its own. A test batch with no fragrance had almost no sinkhole so you've helped us put our finger on the issue. Is the best bet to just save the tops with a heat gun after the fact?
 
HeadEMPTY said:
Thanks for the excellent suggestions! We tried a few new things based on your feedback and it appears this wax just has a mind of its own. A test batch with no fragrance had almost no sinkhole so you've helped us put our finger on the issue. Is the best bet to just save the tops with a heat gun after the fact?
Click to expand...
That is what I do. The heat gun is definitely a big helper. Looks are everything. Also try pouring really fast and see the comparison. We all use different equipment and wax and FO's so it is definitely a challenge to pinpoint the exact issue.
 
I find it interesting that you suggest trying a fast pour for comparison after your earlier advice to go slow. When you use your heat gun, are you just trying to get a smooth top surface or do you liquefy the wax deeper to fill the voids?
 
I think the wax makes all the difference in the world but you still need to pour your wax slowly into your container and avoid stirring to much which will introduce air into the wax and will add to the voids. I would have you try Cargills C-3 Soy wax and pour into your container at 155 degrees.
 
Thanks for your input. We've been testing batches every week since mid-June, and we noticed the same air pockets you mentioned in some of our early pours. We've cut back on stirring and started pouring more slowly, which has helped with the surface. I haven't tried Cargill's C-3 yet but I've heard it sticks to glass better and has fewer flaws on top when poured at about 155°F. If Freedom keeps causing problems into October, we'll probably switch and do some side-by-side tests. Have you found that C-3 works well with heavier fragrance loads or do you keep it under 7%?
 
You're the first in this thread to mention going as high as 15%, which is a big jump from the 6-9% range most wax suppliers recommend for C-3. We've been cautious with Freedom soy because anything above 8% has caused frosting and sinkholes in our tests. If your candles are holding up well with that load, it makes me wonder if the wax blend or additives in C-3 are better suited for heavier fragrance. We're planning to start side-by-side tests in early October, so I'll include a batch at 15% and monitor for any surface issues or adhesion problems.

Based on the timeline, we're close to wrapping up our Freedom wax trials. If C-3 performs better, we'll likely make the switch before the holiday batch run.
 
A slow pour is usually best. And I have never gone to 15%. That is overload to me. I have used C-3 and it's ok. Not my favorite. I bought a bottle of FO and it only yielded 6 six candles. The COGS are so high making candles now days. I have several Fall markets and hope to sell most of my candles as I am not as happy making candles anymore for any profit. My area just isn't paying what it costs to produce.
 
Thanks for the different perspectives on C-3 and high fragrance loads. Helpful to hear both the successes and the challenges with it.

It appears that these waxes exhibit significant variability. Our plan is still to run the side by side tests of our Freedom wax versus the C-3 in early October, including a batch with a higher fragrance load.

For those who've done comparison tests, do you have any tips for keeping all the other variables (pour temp, container temp, cooling rate) identical between the batches to ensure a true A/B test?
 
I just try to keep good records for example I make sure my pour temp is right around 155 degrees and that my room temp is about the same for each new pour. Whatever you feel works for you as far as pour temp and container temps just make sure you repeat that same for all pour tests. I have tried the entire trying to preheat my containers say in and oven but I have found for all that extra effort it made no or little difference on end result.
 
Thanks, Dale. We're kicking off our side-by-side trials with the Freedom and C-3 waxes this weekend, so the timing is perfect.
 

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