How To Make Gel Candles

Gel candles are gaining immense popularity for their high decorative value. They burn the same way as regular candles do and have similar characteristics of fragrance, density and finish, but are a different material and are made differently as well.

Both wax and gel candles are made from oil but gel contains 5% polymer resin i.e. 95% mineral oil and 5% resin. The resin is a powder but when mixed with oil, it results in the formation of a solid mass. Gel wax is available in three densities: high, medium and low. A higher density gel wax means it can hold more oil and is more fragrant. It is also ideal for suspended decorations as a thicker gel can hold them better when compared to one that is not so thick.  However thicker gel takes longer to melt and is difficult to pour into molds

Making a gel candle is similar to making a regular wax candle. The steps involved i.e. melting and pouring the material into the mold, is the same when making a gel candle. But the equipment you would need and the method of making the candles are slightly different from making regular wax candles. If you were to try and melt the gel in a double boiler, it would take too long. Candle makers have adopted the use of multi cookers. Multi cookers have a separate heating element with a temperature dial, so you can precisely set the right temperate to melt the gel. You don’t need separate pots for water and wax. The gel can be directly placed in the multi cooker melt. Despite the cooker having a temperate dial, use a separate thermometer to be doubly sure that the gel is heated to the right temperature. Do not use a wooden stirrer as it can induce bubbles in the gel. Use hard plastic or metal to stir. The gel material is inflammable so make sure you have a chemical fire extinguisher at hand when you are making gel candles.

Dyes can be used to change the color of the candle. Use dyes which specifically meant for candles. Liquid candle dyes are popularly used as the color does not affect the transparency of the gel. Little amount of it is enough; sometimes a drop may be too much. Avoid using crayons, clothing dye, food colors, soap dyes or any other kind of color dyes as they are not meant for candles and will not burn properly.

Learning how to make gel candles is easy and anyone can do it in little time. There are endless possibilities to creating amazing designs with gel. Suspended decoration makes them very attractive to candle makers and buyers alike. When making the candles, you can insert any thing and it will float. High density gels are better for holding suspended decorations. You can personalize your decorations in several ways or make it especially for someone. Gel candles also last longer as they burn slower compared to wax candles.

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