How To Make Gel Candles
There are a few things that you should know before you start learning how to make gel candles. The candle gel, which is actually polymerized mineral oil, comes in three different densities; light, medium, and heavy. I would advise you to stay with the medium and heavy varieties as most people want to make scented gel candles. While the medium and heavy density gels can safely hold up to 6% of an appropriate fragrance oil, the light can only take up to 3%. If you try to add more fragrance than the gel can handle, it can separate and the entire top of your candle can ignite, a hazardous situation in more ways than one! You must also be careful that the fragrance you choose has a flash point of more than 170 degrees F. The easiest way to be sure that your fragrance is safe to use with candle gel, especially when you are just learning how to make gel candles, is to buy your fragrance from a source such as Nature’s Garden where the fragrances are all coded for compatibility.
If you wish to embed anything in your candle, the heavy density gel is the best choice. You must also be very careful not to place any flammable items close to the wick of your candle, though it is possible to use some of these items right up against the walls of the container if the candle is wide enough that they will never come in contact with the flame.
Gel candles are usually made in glass containers so that the transparent quality of the gel can be enjoyed. Very thin glass or glass that is heat sensitive, as some colored glasses are, would definitely be unsuitable for this purpose.
In general, it’s best to have a wick for every three to four inches of the candle’s diameter, although there are instances where this would be impractical. Wicks should never be placed too close to the edge of the container (it’s generally best to leave an inch or so of space between the wick and the glass). A wire core wick is the best choice as it is much less likely to “droop” into the candle if the candle remains in storage for long periods of time. Using a wick tab at the bottom helps to anchor your wick and also prevents the wick from burning down too close to the bottom of your container.
You may use either the solid block type of colorant or a liquid color which is compatible with an oil base. Colorants meant for use in soaps and cosmetics cannot be used. It is not a good idea to use crayon shavings or to use an excessive amount of the solid colorant as this can foul the wick and prevent your candle from burning well.
You may melt your gel wax in a regular pot and use a ladle to fill your containers or purchase a special melter with a spout for pouring from a candle supplies company. You will also need a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your gel wax. The type that is used for candy making is just fine for this purpose. You should never let the gel wax get hotter than 300 degrees F and will usually be pouring at much lower temperatures than that.
Cut your wicks a couple of inches or so longer than the depth of your container. The extra wick will be tied to a skewer or other holder which will be placed across the top of the container. This will keep your wick in position until your gel wax sets. If you don’t want a lot of bubbles in your candle, drop your wicks with the wick tabs attached into your melted wax and let them “steep” until no more bubbles come out of them. I use extra long tweezers to pick the wicks out of the hot gel and place them into their containers.
Once your wicks have been placed in the containers, add your colorant to the gel wax and stir it in completely. Pour just a little into the bottom of each container and let set. Now tie (or in the case of wire core wick, wrap) the extra length of wick to a skewer, pencil, or other holder placed on top of the container. Make sure that the wick is straight and in the position that you wish it to be once the candle is finished. Add your fragrance to the gel wax in the pot and make sure that it is completely mixed in. Pour the gel up to the desired height (usually up to a quarter inch from the top of the container), make any needed adjustments to the wicks, and then sit back and let them cool.
Be very careful while handling the hot gel wax. It is possible to burn yourself quite badly as the gel will cling to your skin instead of running off like water would. Keep children and pets away from your working area to avoid accidents.
The above information is a basic guide on how to make gel candles. I will cover finer points (like how to get more or fewer bubbles in your gel) in future articles.
