To be honest, gel wax is the most difficult candle wax for me to work with, even though I’ve made hundreds of candles by hand. It takes more time to melt the gel wax, and air bubbles are so easy to be formatted. However, DIY gel candles allow me to make dramatic, colorful, and unique underwater scenes. And I can’t resist the beauty of well-made gel wax candles in clear glass containers. Can you?
Alright, we all love gel wax candles. And, they are great candle gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and more. So, we’ll walk through the tutorial about making beautiful gel candles.
About Gel Wax
Though named wax, it is different from other candle waxes, like soy wax, beeswax, coconut wax, paraffin, etc. Gel wax is made of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. So, it’s more of a gel that can also melt and vaporize like other candle waxes.
Usually, gel wax is clear or transparent, which makes it the best choice to embed items, such as seashells, fish, dried flowers, and more. It’s also the most interesting part that my daughter and I like. We are both eager to find out everything hidden in candles.
What is Needed to Make Gel Candles?
As I mentioned above, making gel candles isn’t as easy as making other wax candles. It’s tricky. So, we need to pay more attention when choosing gel candle making supplies.
Clear gel wax
Generally speaking, you can make gel candles with any gel wax. But you should know that there are 3 types of gel waxes depending on their density, and each can hold a different amount of scent. The higher its density is, the stronger it holds scent and retains shapes. To make container gel candles, we recommend medium-density gel wax.
Fragrances
Technically, you can choose whatever scent you like to make scented candles. But for gel candles, it’s difficult to choose fragrances due to their high melting point. You must consider the safety problem. So, at present, our pro tip is to make unscented gel candles.
However, if you really like scented gel candles, bear in mind that the flashpoint of fragrance oils should be 200°F or higher.
Liquid candle dyes
Only liquid dyes can be used for gel candle making. Other solid dyes will cause problems, such as the cloud effect.
Wicks
Gel candles burn significantly slower and have relatively higher burning temperatures than other wax candles. So, zinc wicks are commonly used for gel wax candles, instead of cotton candle wicks or paper core wicks.
Clear glass containers
It’s fun to choose glassware for gel candles. Round, square, tall, short, or specially shaped. You can choose any shapes you like. Alternatively, you can also reuse mason jars, drinking glasses, and goblets as candle containers. Bear in mind that the glass containers should be heat-resistant. And clear glass will let you look through the beautiful candles.
Decorative items
You can embed various objects in the candles, such as colored sand, seashells, river rocks, dried flowers. For a special day, you can even bury jewelry like a short necklace or a ring in gel candles. But it’s better to wrap it with foil.
In addition to the candle making supplies mentioned above, you’ll also need a pan or pot to melt gel wax, a stirring stick or spoon, a kitchen thermometer, and wick centering devices like chopsticks or other sticks. If you have a professional candle making kit, you can use the tools to make gel candles, too.
How to Make Gel Wax Candles Step by Step?
Step 1: Melt gel wax.
As the saying goes, it takes a hundred years to melt gel wax, but only a second to harden. Gel wax melts more slowly than other waxes. Thus, it’s better to melt it directly in a pan or pot on the stove, instead of with a double boiler. Fill the pan or pot with gel wax, then melt over medium to low heat.
When melting, don’t heat gel wax above 230°F (110°C) as at this temperature gel wax may lose clarity and turn yellow.
Pro tip: To reduce air bubbles formatted in the gel candles, it’s important to pre-dip the wicks and other embed items in the melted gel. You can use a tong to submerge these objects in the gel, then put them on a paper towel for later use.
Maintain the temperature until all gel wax becomes clear liquid and smooth.
Step 2 (optional): Add fragrances and liquid colors.
Once again, it’s suggested to make unscented gel candles if you’re not sure about your fragrance oils.
Add liquid colors at the temperature of 210°F approximately. Remember that only a very small amount of liquid color is needed. Stir the mixture, then keep stirring. You should know that only well-mixed gel wax and colors can present you with clear gel candles without distortion or clouds.
If you plan to embed decorative items in gel candles, it’s better to add a little or no colors.
Step 3: Prepare containers and decorative items.
At first, take a piece of wick which is about 2 inches higher than the top of the container. Stick the wick to the bottom center of the container. You can use glue dots, glue guns or whatever. Next, keep wicks straight and centered with a wick holder device. You can also use two chopsticks or pencils as alternatives.
Then, you can design your containers with decorations. Usually, I like to put some colored sand at the bottom, which looks like a tropical beach. The sand will also help hold other items in the container. In addition, I like to add some colorful dried flowers or mini buds.
To increase the visibility of the décor, place them close to the sides of containers.
Step 4: Pour gel wax
Place the prepared containers on a flat surface and pour the hot gel along the side. To prevent bubbles, pour slowly and gently.
Pro tip: It’s hard to prevent all bubbles in gel candles. You must do it really slow. And, practice makes perfect.
Step 5: Allow the gel candles to harden
Put the gel candles beside a window and don’t move them. Usually, gel candles will harden completely overnight.
Then you can trim the wicks and enjoy your eye-catching scented gel candles.
Like other DIY projects, such as handmade soy candles, beeswax candles, and more, you can make gel candles as easily or as difficult as you like. The only limitation is your imagination. It’s also fun to design a beautiful scene and create it. Don’t hesitate to give your handmade gel candles to friends and neighbors as gifts. They will be very proud of your DIY creativity.
Tips: How to Make Gel Candles without Bubbles?
It’s annoying to have bubbles in gel candles. Here are some tips to follow to reduce or even stop bubbles when making gel candles.
- If you’re using an oven to melt gel wax, make sure to preheat the oven to about 140°F.
- Preheat glass jars to about 160°F.
- Pre-dip wicks and other decorations that you will embed in the gel candles. This process will help you greatly reduce bubbles.
- Stir the mixture of gel wax, fragrance, and liquid dye gently.
- Pour gel candles gently and slowly.
- Tap on the container to release the bubbles.
- Poke the bubbles in the container with toothpicks before the candles solidify.
- Let your gel candles cool slowly. You can put your poured candles in a warm place, such as in the oven after turned off.
Remember, these tips can only reduce bubbles in gel candles. No guarantee to get all bubbles out. The best tip may be practice, practice, and practice.
And don’t forget to share your thoughts about how to make gel candles in the comments below.
