Discovering new additives for your candle making is always a treat and today we’re going to talk about a good one. It’s called Vybar and it’s got a few uses that you are really going to love. So, what is Vybar and how can you use it in your candles?
Vybar is a polymer additive that you use to allow your candles to hold more fragrance and it can also create desirable effects with colors, such as increased opacity. It also helps to create harder wax for your candles, so this is definitely a great additive to work with.
In this article we’ll give you a primer on using Vybar on your own, so that you can get some from your supplier and get started. We’ll talk about how you can add it to wax, temperature considerations when adding to soy candles, and more… Let’s look at how to use Vybar in your candle making!
How Do I Add Vybar to Wax?
You can add Vybar during your wax melt, but you will want to be careful about the amount that you add. While Vybar increases your fragrance retention, it can also actually trap the fragrance if too much is used. To use it, simply get your wax to just a little over it’s melting point, add your Vybar, and then you will add your fragrance.
We should note also that some waxes may already have Vybar, so you’ll want to doublecheck with your supplier so that you know exactly the amount that you are using. That said, the amounts that you will add are going to be very small – approximately ¼ up to ½ teaspoon per pound of wax.
You’ll also want to select the type of Vybar which is best-suited for the type of candles that you are making. Vyber is available in a few varities, with the most common being being Vybar 103 and Vybar 260. Vybar 103 is best suited for higher melting-point waxes that you might use in something making votives.
Vyber 206 is better suited for those waxes which have a lower melting point. Be sure to experiment with your fragrance volume when you are using the Vyber, as most users can double or even triple the amounts that they add (though the recommended amount is a half-ounce extra).
Play with a little and you’ll definitely appreciate the difference!
To check the current price and availability of Vybar, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Is Vybar Good for Candles?
Vybar is definitely a great additive and it can do a lot for your candles. One of the best advantages is the improved fragrance capacity, but it also helps to prevent ‘bleeding’ of your essentials oils in your candles. With paraffin wax, Vybar can give you greater opacity to really enhance their looks.
Speaking of the looks, you also get a more uniform distribution of your dyes, so the color of your candles is going to be a lot sharper and more vibrant. Finally, Vybar is often used as an alternative to Stearic acid, in that they both help increase the melting point of your candles and you end up with much harder wax.
This is definitely a great additive for candles and you are going to love it!
What Temperature Do You Add Vybar to Soy Wax?
You can add your Vybar to the Soy wax once it has reached about 10 to 15 degrees above its melting point. One popular practice with fragrance candles is to add your Vybar and when the melted wax hits about 185 degrees Fahrenheit, then you can go ahead and your fragrance and get very good results.
This gives the Vybar a good bit of time to distribute in the wax and then to in turn help you in trapped the fragrance oils more efficiently.
Keep in mind that this is just a general example, however, because Soy wax has a variable melting point that falls between 130 – 200 degrees, so you will need to experiment a little based on the actual wax which you have on supply.
Just be sure to play with the amounts of oils that you use. Waxes like Beeswax and Soy can somewhat dilute the final scent results we get from our candles, so many candlemakers will compensate with purer essential oils.
With the Vybar, you might not necessarily need to do that, so keep in mind that you might have to tweak your recipes a bit.
What Does Vybar 260 Do to Candles?
Vybar 260 can do a few things when it comes to your candles. It is designed to be used with lower melting point waxes, but adding it helps to ensure that your color dyes are more evenly distributed and that your candle becomes more opaque in color.
Further, it greatly enhances the retention and resulting fragrance produced by your selected oils, allowing you to use more oil than you would without the Vybar. A final effect that you will also notice when you use this additive, is that Vybar 260 can help to greatly reduce mottling.
The end result for you is smoother, more fragrant candles, with harder wax an appreciable effect on your selected colors.
Final Thoughts
Today we’ve taken a closer look at the additive known as Vybar and it’s safe to say that you can get some great use out of it. Vybar can give you enhanced color and fragrance, all while making your candles a little more durable in the process.
Don’t forget to try adding a half-ounce more of fragrance and this will give you a good base to draw on as you experiment further with tweaking your home recipes. With a little practice, you’ll be using it all the time.
Finally, don’t forget to select the right Vybar for the melting point of your candles. Vybar 260 is going to be for lower-melting point waxes, which the Vyber 103 will be suited for the higher temperatures. Once you’ve gotten the right variety, we hope that you’ll enjoy experimenting with it. You’re really in for a treat!