Gel Candle Making
Candle-making is a growingly popular activity all over the world. There are various types of candles that you can make, and one of the newest types is the gel candle. They are beautiful to look at, and they take a long time to burn compared to usual.
Gel candle making supplies are fresh from those used in making other wax candles or soy candles, but not to worry, you do not have to pay much to get hold of these supplies.
We need the following items to make gel candles: gel, zinc wicks, liquid color dye, fragrance oils, and embeds. You also have the option of buying gel candle-making kits. All the items you’ll need are included in these kits. You can purchase such kits from your local craft stores, or you can buy from candle-making kit sellers online and have them mail the items to you. The latter is a popular way of purchasing candle-making kits online.
How to Make Gel Candles
1. Choose non-flammable products if you did not purchase your candle-making supplies as part of a candle-making kit. Remember that you will use heat to make it, so you need to take precautions. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy.
2. Do not replace zinc wicks with cotton wicks because the latter can absorb the gel. These will not burn well with your gel candle. You can also use glue to secure your wick to the bottom of the container, ensuring that it stays in the center. Do not trim the wick yet; leave it long enough to reach outside the container.
3. Cut the gel into small strips. It will aid in melting the gel faster. You can use a double boiler or multiple cookers to dissolve the gel. Control the temperature, do not leave it too high, or the candle will lose its gloss.
4. Stirring the gel candle wax with wooden spoons can cause bubbles in the mixture. You don’t want your candle to have any bubbles in it.
5. Pour the liquid dye into the mixture once the gel has smoothed out. You do not need to stir a lot of the liquid color dye. A small drop is all that is required to add color to your gel candle. Gel candles absorb hues faster than other candle waxes. You can also skip pouring the dye altogether and keep your candle clear.
6. Scents, and fragrance oils, can be mixed into the gel mixture to make scented gel candles. They are available in a wide range of densities, including low, medium, and high. The more fragrance it can hold, the higher the density is. It also continues to hold for embeds. However, keep in mind that a higher-density gel candle will cause a thicker gel. As a result, melting the gel will take longer.
7. Make sure the container you’ll be pouring the gel into is ready to go. Containers, preferably made of glass, are used to display the design of any decorative embeds. You can also make use of vases and wine glasses.
8. Heat the mixture in the microwave for about a minute before pouring it into the container. Add the embeds before pouring the mixture into the container if you want the embeds to be at the bottom. Embeds are great additions to your candles. The embeds you use can include glitter, crystals, seashells, or marbles.
9. Trim the wick to your desired length after pouring the candle and adding the embeds.
Gel candles are considered more decorative candles. However, you’ll appreciate its beauty. Even more, when lit because the transparent gel emits a beautiful glow.
