From start to finish, raw materials to finishing touches, Tara and David Brooks want to make sure their candles are sustainably sourced and produced.
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They’ve called their business Soy Alchemi, which seems fitting as the process of candle-making does seem to hold a certain kind of magic.
While candle making may be more technical than it seems, David said it is also quite straightforward – the key is the wick to diameter ratio.
“That’s the trick of making a candle, so it burns evenly and doesn't leave a big rim around the edge,” Tara said.
David and Tara create sample candles to test the wick to diameter ratio; it took them about a month and a half to develop a workable prototype.
Making a candle takes about five hours, and ensuring the wax is evenly melted and not too hot is key to the process.
“Don’t get it too hot because wax will get to a certain temperature and it can explode or bubble and then it will just go boof,” David said, saying he has seen some serious burns happen from wax explosions.
After pouring the candle will need about three days to cure to ensure the core is fully hardened, as it will remain soft for a few days.
The equipment required for candle-making is anything but technical.
Simple jugs, whisks and knives are the tools of the trade.
Even the casts are basic, reused and recycled.
“You can get anything from a milk carton to you can cut off a coke can, put a wick through it and ... just pour it in,” David said.
“As long as it’s a very low temperature when you pour it and your pour it steadily you won’t get any air bubbles in it.”
A cast of choice for David and Tara are discarded Red Bull cans.
David first learnt the art of candle making years ago, starting with paraffin candles.
“At the start I was into … paraffin candles, but then I met Tara and she was a vegan at that stage and she got me into soy and ever since then we've just been using either soy or palm wax,” he said.
Tara adds, “We’re really conscious of where we get our wax, so it is all WWF approved.”
David said when working with paraffin candles he was aware of the amount of chemicals mixed into them, pushing him to begin working with soy.
“Foreign brands will use lead in the wicks so it burns bright; if it's dripless it will have half a cup of turpentine in it,” he said.
“You know that black and the soot you get up the wall? That’s just the turpentine from the wax.
“With a natural candle the only time you’ll get a puff of black smoke is if there is a build up of oil or something on the wick, it’ll poof and thats about it; it won't constantly keep burning black.”
The couple are dedicated to the idea of reducing, reusing and recycling and David will also melt down any left-over candles or wax fragments for customers, giving them a new candle.
If you are interested in finding out more contact soyalchemi@gmail.com or 6343 1328.