Gel Candle Making Instructions

Make gel candles at home to give away as gifts or to sell.

Gel candles burn longer than paraffin and soy candles. The wax contains resin powder and mineral oil, and many craft stores sell it in different grades. The gel wax allows you to create a wide variety of candles, including realistic-looking ones that resemble pie filling or glasses of soda. If desired, you can allow the gel to cool to create bubbles in the candle.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. gel wax
• Pouring pot
• Glass container
• Tabbed zinc wicks
• Hot glue gun
• 1 oz. fragrance oil
• Liquid candle dye
• Pencils
• Embellishments

Instructions

1. Remove the gel wax from the container. Cut it into small pieces to allow it to melt faster.

2. Place the gel into a candle pouring pot. Place the pouring pot over medium heat.

3. Place a candle thermometer in the gel. Maintain a temperature around 200 degrees F.

4. Warm the glass container in the oven. Set the oven to the lowest setting, and heat the glass container for 10 minutes. This will prevent the glass from cracking when you pour in the hot wax.

5. Secure a tabbed wick in the center of the glass container with a hot glue gun.

6. Add 1 oz. of fragrance oil for each pound of gel wax. Stir the melted wax to mix in the fragrance oil.

7. Add a liquid candle dye to the wax. Add a small amount of candle dye at a time because you will not be able to remove any extra dye that you add.

8. Pour the wax into the glass container. Pour it slowly, and hold onto the wick to keep it from slipping down into the wax.

9. Center the wick by placing two pencils in the shape of an "X" across the top of the container to keep the wick in place.

10. Add embellishments to the gel candle. You can add anything that is not flammable such as glass stones or seashells.

11. Trim the wick to 1/4 of an inch. Allow the wax to cool completely before you light it.

Tips & Warnings

• Allowing the gel to cool down to 175 to 180 degrees F will give you more bubbles in your candle.

• It is recommended that you crimp your wick if you use embeds at the bottom of the candle. This prevents the flame from reaching the bottom of the candle so that the embeds do not become burned or charred.

• Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand to extinguish a gel fire. Never use water because it will spread the fire.

• You do not want the temperature of the gel to exceed 230 degrees F because it will begin to scorch and turn yellow.

• Do not burn the last inch of a gel candle.

• Always place warning labels on candles you plan to sell and instruct others on proper usage.

References

• Pioneer Thinking: How to Make Gel Candles
• Gel Candle Making: Learn To Make Gel Candles The Safe Way!
• Super Weddings: How to Make Gel Candles