How To Make Gel Candles - Easy Tips

Gel wax is actually mineral oil that has had a special polymer resin added to it to thicken it to produce a clear slow burning wax-like substance. This is very popular for making container candles in clear glassware as the gel is translucent and can be used to display small decorations within the candle itself.

Gel wax is available in three densities which have different applications. Low density gel is the most liquid and as such is the easiest to melt and pour. However, it isn't thick enough to hold embeds (decorations that are visible through the wax) and can only support a relatively low fragrance load (3% is usual). Medium density gel, not surprisingly, is the most popular version. It does a reasonable job of supporting light embeds such as glitter or small beads and it will hold up to 5% fragrance load. Despite it's greater viscosity, it is still relatively easy to melt and pour. High density gel is ideal for more substantial embeds and it has the additional advantage that it will support a fragrance load of up to 7%. As you would expect, this gel has a pretty high melting point and it's a lot more difficult to pour.

If you are using gel wax to make candles, you need to be aware that it doesn't melt like regular wax. It doesn't reach a certain temperature and then suddenly melt, but instead, as it gets hotter, it gets thinner gradually and it needs a much higher temperature for it to turn into a manageable liquid for pouring. You will need to use a direct heat to melt it rather than a double boiler which would do the job but take forever.

If you are just getting started in candle making, you will probably want to use zinc core wicks for your container candles, whether they be gel or some other sort of wax. Zinc core wicks are good for their rigidity and to make your life even easier you should use pre-tabbed and pre-primed wicks. You can get wicks just for gel candles which are primed with gel wax instead of the standard paraffin wax. This means that you won't get the slight clouding effect that you may get with wicks primed with paraffin wax.

Because gel wax is not a solid and even at room temperature will be in a viscous state, it is only suitable to make container candles. You will not be able to make molded candles or any type of candle which needs to stand on its own. That said, you can still get your variety with the containers that you use. As gel candles will burn at a higher temperature than standard paraffin wax, you will need to bear this in mind when choosing a container - round, bowl type containers are good as they dissipate the heat more easily. However, whatever type of of container you decide on, it should be heat resistant and robust. No type of candle should be left to burn unattended, but this is particularly important for gel candles as they can reach such a high temperature.

By: Julie Sinclair

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Julie Sinclair is a candle making enthusiast who enjoys helping others to get started in this amazing hobby. For more great information on how to make gel candles, visit www.candlemakingtoptips.com