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9) How do you make gel candles? What are the ingredients and the equipments on how to do it?

When you melt and stir gel candle wax, it becomes liquid, and as the candles set, they harden, look and feel just like jello! When you purchase gel for candle making, you’ll need to pay attention to the density of the gel product. Gel candle wax comes in three different densities, low, medium and high. If you want to make highly fragrant gel candles, or if you want to suspend items like seashells or marbles within the candle, you will need to purchase a higher density gel.

Gel does not melt as easily as typical candle wax, and it is not recommended that you make gel candles in a double boiler on your stovetop. For gel candles, you’ll want to use a crockpot, or rice cooker type appliance, where the entire basin heats up from a concealed heating element, and you can set the temperature. A thermometer is also required, so that you can keep an eye on the exact temperature of the gel as you melt it, as the gel can heat up to a higher degree than the cooker temperature setting indicates. Stirring gel candles should be used with metal, or plastic spoons, or even knitting needles. Do not use wooden spoons as they will contribute to the air bubbles in the gel that will be visible in the finished candle.

You will need candle wicks to insert into your candles, and a mold or container of some kind to pour your gel candle wax into. Other supplies you’ll want to have on hand are fragrances if you like scented candles, and dyes if you want to color the gel. If you decide to suspend objects inside the candles, make sure that you choose nonflammable objects.