Perhaps one of the more popular candles today, gel candles has captured the imagination of candle makers and artists alike. The uniqueness of the candle has allowed makers to go beyond the conventional candles and even elevated the candle making process to a sort of art form. That may be a little bit of an exaggeration but still the popularity of gel candles is undeniable. But making gel candles are not that too difficult. You can showcase your art by making gel candles whose functions really depend on what you want it to be. You can create a gel candle purely for ornamental purposes only or you can combine the aesthetic with the therapeutic. Gel candles like all candles can be made with essential oil components which makes them great for aromatherapy and moments of relaxation.
If you have been making candles before you probably have a couple of equipment already but basically all you need could be found in your own kitchen. A scale, a candle or candy thermometer, glass measuring cup, gel wax, zinc core wicks, a hot glue gun, different glassware depending on your preferences and various liquid dye and fragrances for aromatic kinds of candles. You will have to buy gel wax in your candle store or craft shop. There are three kinds, the low density, medium density and high density waxes. The denser the gel wax, the longer it takes to melt and the larger amount of fragrances it can hold.
Get your glue gun and place a wick in the center of a selected candle container. Melt the gel using a saucepan or pot over medium heat. The melted gel should appear like smooth syrup. You then add the desired color dyes. Keep adding until you reached the target color consistency. The less dye you mix with the gel wax, the more transparent it is when it cools down. It is important to consider this especially when you plan to embed objects inside the candle. Afterwards, the fragrance goes next. Mixing a third of a teaspoon for each gel container is often enough to get a decent scent from the candle. Pour the hot gel mixture into the candle containers slowly and carefully to avoid creating bubbles. Allow the candle to cool and that’s it.
There are, however, a couple of things that you will need to consider when making gel candles. For example, when selecting wicks for gel candle making the best choice are zinc-cored wicks. Cotton and paper-cored wicks tend to sag or lean over when you’re making the candles and when you’re using the candle already.
The containers should never be made from plastic or wood for the obvious reasons that it will melt and burn when you use the candles. This is why glass is the best container for gel candles. Any glass that can withstand heat and has a diameter of 2 and 3 inches will do. The same principle goes with embedded materials. Materials that will burn should never be embedded into the gel but glass marbles, shells, rocks and other non-combustible materials would work fine.
When burning a gel candle, or all candles for that matter, you should trim the wicks to ¼ of an inch. The small wick reduces the soot that is produced from burning the candle. It would be best to place the candles on heat-resistant surfaces as a precautionary measure as well. Showcasing your art by making gel candles should not only be your focus. In the end, you have to enjoy what you have made.
