How to Make Candles With Liquid Potpourri
Gel candles are popular, long-burning home decorations that create ambiance and fragrance the air. You can use liquid potpourri to scent these easily made candles. Purchase candle gel online, at craft stores, or through mail order catalogs. Most of these stores will also sell the solid dye blocks for coloring the gel candles that you can scent with liquid potpourri. In an afternoon, you can master the art of fragranced gel candle-making and create an inventory of gel candles for gift-giving and home use.
Things You'll Need
- Low-density candle gel
- Metal base candlewick, such as Gel wick
- Glass measuring cup
- Glass candle container such as a small canning jar or jelly jar
- Double boiler pan
- Metal spoon
- Water
- 1 ounce liquid potpourri (avoid heavily colored varieties)
- Dye block
- Knife
- Scissors
- Cooking thermometer
Instructions
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1
Fill the candle container with water and then pour the water into the glass measuring cup to see how many ounces of candle gel you need to melt to fill your candle container.
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2
Fill the double boiler pan's bottom portion with water and set it on the stove. Place your measured amount of candle gel into the top portion of the double boiler pan. Heat the candle gel until it melts. Candle gel melts very slowly. Use a cooking thermometer to monitor the temperature to around 221 degrees F. The candle gel should not bubble or boil or smoke.
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3
Add one ounce of liquid potpourri to the candle gel in the double boiler pan. Fragrances and oils used in gel candles need to have a flashpoint of 170 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. A flashpoint is the temperature at which the fragrance will ignite. Because gel burns hotter than wax, the fragrance must be able to take the heat. Also, make sure that you use a non-polar fragrance. Candle gel is a non-polar formula. This means for the fragrance not to separate from the candle gel, the fragrance must also have a non-polar molecular structure. Some suppliers use a mineral oil test to determine polarity, but some have found this test unreliable. If you thoroughly mix your fragrance and avoid easily combustible pooling of fragrance, the candle will usually burn safely. If you're unsure of the polarity of the liquid potpourri, contact the customer service department of the brand of liquid potpourri you are using.
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4
Dip the metal base of the candle wick into the melted candle gel and then place in the center of the bottom of the candle container. Press firmly and allow the candle gel to cool so the metal base of the wick adheres to the glass container.
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5
Cut off a small piece of dye from the solid dye block. The dye has a waxy feel to it. Use the metal spoon to stir the dye into the melted candle gel.
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6
Pour the tinted, liquid potpourri-fragranced candle gel into the candle container and allow to cool. Trim the wick ¼-inch to ½-inch above the set candle gel.
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Tips & Warnings
If your candle gel starts to solidify while you are working with it, take a moment to heat it thoroughly and then continue working. Glitter and other embedded items can be added to your candle. Wait a few minutes after you've poured the candle gel before inserting the items with a skewer. If you add the items right away, they'll sink to the bottom. Other ideas for candle containers are wine glasses, champagne glasses, votive containers, canning/jelly jars, root beer/beer mugs, etc.
Use caution while heating the candle gel in the double boiler pan. Candle gel can catch on fire if it gets too hot. If the gel is issuing a black smoke, it is too hot and it is in grave danger of igniting.
