Everything you need to know to make gel candle wax at home and save money.
Gel wax is made from a combination of polymer resin and mineral oil, approximately, 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. Because gel wax is clear, it gives off a lot more luminescent light than other types of candles, and has become a very popular candle making product. At any density, properly made gel wax will resemble Jello in its consistency. The higher the density, the thicker the gel. The different thicknesses of gel work equally well in most projects, though, the most popular tends to be the medium density gel, due to cost. A medium density gel will hold an acceptable amount of fragrance and allow for the embedding of most objects. When making gel wax, the density can be made higher or lower with relatively little change in cost, making more projects possible. There are four density grades to choose from, depending on the project and thickness necessary to complete it.
Making gel wax is a fairly easy task, but it does require complete attention. With easy to follow instructions, and the proper ingredients, anyone can make their own gel wax. The following ingredients and directions are all that is needed for homemade gel wax, to make beautiful gel candle creations.
Ingredients Needed:
-CP9000 Thermoplastic Resin Powder
-White Mineral Oil with a flash point of 375 degrees
Possible Density Grades:
-Low Density Gel
Made with 1lb Mineral Oil and 0.9 oz Resin.
This density holds light fragrance and will only allow for small, light objects to be embedded successfully.
-Medium Density Gel
Made with 1lb Mineral Oil and 1.1 oz Resin.
This density holds a nice amount of fragrance and allows for most embeds, except for extremely heavy objects, successfully.
-High Density Gel
Made with 1lb Mineral Oil and 1.25 oz Resin.
This density holds a lot of fragrance and allows successful embedding of even heavy objects.
-Stand Alone Density Gel
Made with 1lb Mineral Oil and 1.4 oz Resin.
Does not require a container, but needs a stand instead.
Holds the most fragrance and allows for the heaviest successful embeds.
Cooking Directions:
First, choose the desired density grade.
Combine the necessary amounts of resin powder and mineral oil, making sure to mix thoroughly.
Once mixed, let it sit for 1 hour.
When 1 hour has passed, mix well again, removing all lumps.
Heat the mixture, gradually, to a maximum temperature of 220 degrees on your stovetop.
After about 15 minutes, the mixture will begin to turn clear.
After about 30 minutes, the mixture starts to visibly gel.
After 1 hour, the gel starts to get very thick.
At this point, the temperature should be raised to 200-220 degrees, if it isn't there already.
After an hour and a half, you have what looks like gel wax.
After 2 hours, the gel wax is liquid, and ready to cool.
Pour your gel into a cooling container, and allow to harden.
Once finished, seal tightly and store for later use.
