How to make gel candle
If you love burning a beautiful candle and buying one every day seems too expensive, you should try making them yourself. Most people prefer gel candles.
Gel candles are made from 5% polymer resin and 95% mineral oil .The resin used begins in powder form and solidifies when it is exposed to mineral oil. The gel wax can come in a high density that gives you the ability to suspend dense pigments like glitter or others (non-flammable).
In addition, low-density gel is not thick enough to support embeds. The only drawback here is that the denser the gel is, the longer it will take to set and pour.
Gel candles make a beautiful gift for friends, family, or to you. Gel candles can add a touch of elegance to your home decor. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and scents. Gel candles can be found in fruit jars with labels or gift tags, in fancy glass bowls, wine glasses, and mugs .You can even dress up your gel candle jars with ceramic, shades to make them look like a miniature lamp. Many times gel candles come decorated with miniature shapes embedded within them. Wide varieties of scents are available also, from lemon to roses.
We will show you now how to make your own gel candle. When making gel candles, the procedures followed are the same as those used in making wax candles. The same steps are involved, like melting and pouring into the mold etc. However, the method and equipment needed for making gel candles are different than wax.
You will need gel, container (a glass one will work better), zinc wicks (don’t use cotton wicks because they absorb to much gel), fragrance oil, and liquid color dye.
Start by placing some hot glue in the center of the container bottom. Then stick the wick in it and let the glue set. Cut the gel into small pieces so the melting process works faster. Melt it in a stainless steel pot at medium heat. You should get the temperature at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93° Celsius) and you should use a thermometer because overheated gel looses clarity. Maintain the 200 degrees F (93° C) temperature and all the gel should melt nicely.
Now it is about time to add the color dye and fragrance to the melted gel, a little bit at a time until you get the desire colored and fragrance. You can always add more dye to make the color stronger but you cannot take the dye, so be careful not to drop too much.
Now you should heat the container in an oven to 150-160 degrees F (65° – 71° C). This will reduce the appearance of bubbles. It is time to pour the gel into the container. Do this very slowly and carefully. Pull the wick up. Roll it on a stick to keep it straight. Let the candle cool. Trim the wick and you are done.
Fun accessories can be added for your gel candle including glitter, sand, and labels. Sand creates a nice base candle. Glitter makes an otherwise boring candle sparkle beautiful. Labels can add a homemade touch to your candle
One of the benefits of a gel candle is that gel takes longer to burn as compared to wax candles. This means that your gift will last longer. Gel candle making is not only fun, it is easy and can be learned and mastered quickly.
