Gel Candles
Your premier online guide to gel candles and gel candle making!
Once upon a time, there was a woman that believed that all candles were the same. There really was no difference and if it burned, well, it was all the quality that you needed for the candles. Of course, as all fairy tales have shown, there is always a lesson to be learnt and the woman learned that candles can be very different and there are benefits and traits that are unique to each type of candle.
Although, I would love to go through each and every type of candle that you can find out there, for the purpose of this little article, I would like to stick with one type. That type is gel candles.
If you have never had the pleasure of using a gel candle, or even seeing one, a gel candle usually comes in some type of glass container. Wine glasses, jars, shot glasses, you name it and if it is glass, it is probably made for gel.
Gel wax is an amazing wax that can take custom candles to a whole new level. Unlike many other candles that use paraffin or beeswax, gel wax is completely transparent. That means there is no film or opaqueness to the gel candle when it finally sets. It is simply a blank canvas that can be used to create with.
But how do you create with gel? Well that is really the beauty of it. Gel wax is generally soft and pliable. This makes it an excellent gel to use if you want to add things to the candle. One of the best examples of how to use gel successfully is to look at Gel Fruit Candles. These little candles use gel wax and wax embeds, which are little wax sculptures. You can find embeds of just about everything and you can make anything from a fruit jar to an ocean scene at the bottom of a candle.
Since you can add things with ease to gel candles, it should be no surprise that gel candles hold color and fragrance very well. That’s right, since gel candles start out transparent; any addition of wax dye will work through the wax completely and will create a pure color, one that is not muddied by the opaque hue of regular paraffin wax.
Also, essential oils are amazing with gel wax and a person is often left with a candle that is richly scented and perfect in every sense of the word.
Of course, that isn’t all that makes gel candles beautiful. It is also the ease that you can create candles with gel wax. Just browse through our many how-to’s and recipes and you will see that gel can be used for a multitude of craft ideas and each one comes out looking spectacular.
So now that I have praised gel wax, maybe a little too much, let’s take a stroll through another fairy tale, where candle light flickers along the night time garden path that leads to beauty.
-Sirena Van Schaik, Gel Candles 101 contributor
Dec 19 2011
Have you ever made a gel candle? Do you like gel candles? I have been curious about them, but have not experienced burning them. I can’t imagine a candle that is not made with wax, but I am intrigued how they burn and smell. I found this video on youtube today on making gel candles [...]
Feb 17 2009
Gel candles are simple to make and wonderful to give as gifts. The beauty in them is that you can make them to suite any occasion or taste. By using various glass containers, trinkets added to the candle for décor and varying the scent each candle can be individualized to the recipient. Recipes for making [...]
Feb 15 2009
Gel candle making has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the past few years. It is easier than traditional candle making, requiring few ingredients and some simple instructions. The hardest decisions are ones based on personal taste: what kind of container do you want to use, do you want to add color to your gel [...]
Jan 27 2009
Gel candles have a very liquid look, and are the perfect medium for making pretty ocean scenes, aquariums or even to replicate drinks. You can make a pretty realistic glass of champagne as a gel candle, which is a particular favourite for weddings. Another theme or design you can use for making decorative gel candles [...]
Jan 27 2009
Adding some glitter to a gel candle can really add some sparkle and an interesting look when its suspended in the gel. It’s pretty and a fairly inexpensive addition to your candle craft supplies. The question is, how safe is it? Remember that glitter needs to be as safe as any other embedded item used [...]
Jan 27 2009
There is nothing like planning a wedding to inspire you to be creative, especially when it comes to the small decorative touches for the reception and ceremony. One of the best features of a gel wedding candle is the flexibility to create whatever look you want, and add small embedded items right inside the clear [...]
Jan 27 2009
A new kind of candle is giving crafters a whole new product to play with. Gel candle wax is melted and poured just like old-fashioned solid candle wax, but remains completely clear and somewhat flexible when it cools. Kind of like dessert gelatin. The transparency of gel candle wax makes is terrific for creating very [...]
Jan 27 2009
Candles made with clear candle gel can be made into many different themed items, usually with small little decorations embedded inside them. Lots of aquarium, beach or ocean scenes. They can be quite pretty and unique, compared to traditional solid wax candles. One other look that gel candles are well-suited for are drinks. Candles can [...]
Jan 27 2009
Making fancy gel candles isn’t all that different from making regular wax candles. Other than the gel itself, you will also still need the traditional candle supplies too. Containers used for making gel candles should be thick and solid glass. Candle gel is hotter than wax once it starts burning and can crack thin glass. [...]
Jan 27 2009
Candle making has long been a favorite amongst crafters, and gel candles are no exception. Their clear and fluid look opens up a whole range of designs that traditional candle wax just can’t pull off. And as with pretty much any craft project, there are kits you can buy rather than trying to assemble all [...]