Candlemaking: How To Make Your Own Gel Wax Candle

The first step in making a gel candle is to gather the equipment you'll need. Most of the gear is easy to find, but some of it will need to come from a craft or candle making supply store.

The most important thing to have is, of course, the gel itself. Candle gel comes in three densities. Low density gel is the easiest to work with, but it holds the smallest amount of scent and won't hold up to being tipped. Medium density is slightly thicker and holds more scent. This is the most popular kind of gel. High density is the thickest of all and will hold the most scent. This is the kind to use if you'd like to embed objects in the finished candle. My recommendation would be to start out with the medium density and leave the embeds for later. The gel will come in solid chunks, so a knife is handy for cutting it into smaller pieces for melting.

You'll need a pot to melt the gel in. The easiest thing to use is a metal pouring pot made specifically for candlemaking. These have a spout and a handle. A coffee can or regular pot will work, as long as it can be placed on direct heat. Don't use anything you plan on cooking in ever again. You'll also need a thermometer to measure the temperature of the gel. A regular candy thermometer will work just fine. Many of these have clips on them so they can be clipped to the melting pot while the gel is melting. To stir the gel, use a hard plastic or metal spoon. Wooden spoons can hold debris in the crevices and release it into the gel. They also tend to leave a lot of air bubbles.

Find a container you'd like to use for your candle. This should be fairly heavy glass or ceramic. The best thing to do is to purchase a container from a candle supply store to be sure that it can stand up to the burning candle. As for wicks, the easiest thing to use is a pre-tabbed zinc core wick. Most candlemaking or candle supply websites will have a chart describing what wick sizes to use for different size containers.

If you'd like to color the candle, the easiest thing to use is liquid candle dye. Solid dye blocks can also be used, but are harder to mix with the gel. If you want to scent the candle, you'll need gel safe candle scent. When selecting the scent, make sure that it is gel safe. Any reputable candle supply store will be able to tell you if a scent is gel safe or not. If you'd like to embed items in the finished candle, you'll need those too. You should only use non-flammable objects, such as shells, ceramic, glass, metal, or wax. If you want to use glitter, make sure that it's cosmetic grade glitter. Regular craft glitter isn't fire safe.

Now, on to the fun part. Set up the area you'll be working in by placing newspapers on the counter and floor. Cut the gel into chunks and put them into the melting pot. Clip the candy thermometer to the pot and place the pot on direct heat to melt the gel. Never leave the melting gel unattended. While the gel is melting, you'll need to wick the container. There are two ways to do this. The easiest way is to dip the wick tab into the melted gel and stick it to the bottom of the container. The only problem with this method is that when pouring the candle, the wick may come unstuck. The more reliable way is to use a hot glue gun to glue the wick to the container. Once the gel starts melting, stir it periodically to help it melt evenly.

If you want to embed objects in the gel, you'll need to get them ready now. For any object except wax embeds, dip the item into melted gel first and allow it to cool. This will prevent bubbles from forming when the gel is poured. If you're using wax embeds, chill them in the refrigerator for an hour or so to prevent melting. These will be placed in the gel after it is poured. Once the objects are ready, arrange them in the container. Once again, be sure to use only non-flammable objects unless you want a fire on your hands.

When the gel is fully melted, keep an eye on the temperature. Once it reaches 215 degrees, it's time to add the color. If using liquid gel, dip a toothpick in the dye and swirl it into the melted gel until the desired color is reached. For solid dye blocks, shave a tiny piece off the block and stir it into the gel until well mixed. Remove the gel from the heat and allow it to cool until it reaches about 210 degrees. The gel should be poured between 203 and 210 degrees, and the fragrance will need to be added right before you pour. To determine the amount of fragrance you'll need, use the following ratios. For low density gel, use 1/2 oz per pound of gel. For medium density, use 3/4 oz per pound, and for high density, use 1 oz per pound. Measure the amount of fragrance by weight, not with a liquid measuring cup. Do not use more than the recommended amount of gel or there is a risk of fire.

Now, the gel is ready to be poured into the container. Make sure to use a hot pad or glove when picking up the melting pot. Slowly pour the gel into the container, stopping about 1/2 inch from the top. If you'd like to add wax embeds, allow the gel to cool to about 185 degrees and then add the chilled embeds. Make sure that the wick stays standing straight up while the gel is cooling. Allow the gel to cool completely, and you have a gel candle!

Before burning the candle, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch to prevent smoking. Stop burning the candle when the gel is about 1/2 inch from the bottom of the container. You should only burn the candle on a heatproof surface, and never leave a burning candle unattended. Enjoy your new candle, and have fun coming up with your own projects!