Gel candles are made of 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin, giving them a jelly-like consistency. They can be transparent or translucent, come in various shapes and sizes, and have different scents. Gel candles can be bought or made at home, but patience is required. The gel used to make candles can be ordered in low, medium or high density, depending on the desired fragrance level. High density gel is required for candles with glitter or embellishments. All embellishments should be non-flammable and used for decorative purposes only. Careful consideration should be made when purchasing or making gel candles to ensure safety.
A gel candle is a candle made from a material that is 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. When the oil is mixed with the polymer resin, which is a powder, it becomes more solid, making the consistency similar to finger jelly. When you press down on the gel, it should feel firm but give way and bounce back when the pressure is released. A gel candle can be transparent or any translucent color. They come in various shapes and sizes and numerous different scents. They can also be made with decorative scenes inside the gel.
Gel candles can be bought in stores or made at home. When making this type of candle at home, be careful to follow the instructions carefully. Patience is required in making these types of candles because gel tends to take longer to melt and is more difficult to pour than paraffin wax, the main ingredient used in wax candles. However, they can be fun to make and have a tendency to burn longer than regular wax candles.
The gel used to make a candle can be ordered in three different ways: low density, medium density or high density. The type of density to use is based on the level of fragrance the candlestick wishes to put into the candle. The stronger the fragrance, the higher the gel density needed.
High density gel is also required for any gel candle containing glitter or embellishments. These candles can be found with all sorts of objects inside to represent the scent they give off. For example, the candle might have wax strawberries inside to mimic the strawberry scent the candle gives off and make the candle seem more appealing to the consumer. A candle with a scent that represents summer can come with sand and seashells inside or have blue marbles on the bottom that resemble water with a glass goldfish.
All embellishments found in gel candles should be non-flammable items and used for decorative purposes only. Glass marbles, ceramic items, shells, stones, or wax decorations are safe for use in these candles. Items such as dried fruit, silk flowers, and plastic items are unsafe and should not be found inside gel candles. If sand is placed in the bottom of the candle, the candle wick must be extinguished before it reaches the sand.
These candles are said to be unsafe to burn indoors for fear they will explode. However, the gel itself was never deemed dangerous because it wasn’t the gel itself, but rather the container that was exploding. Careful consideration should be made when purchasing any candle from a retailer by examining the container and making sure it is made from safe materials. The same consideration must be made when deciding to make these beautiful candles at home.
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