Gel wax refers to a group of polymer-enhanced candle waxes that offer excellent scent throw and decorative appeal. By blending standard waxes with synthetic plasticizers, gel waxes strike a unique consistency ideal for vividly colored and beautifully fragrant jar candles, helping drive the candle industry’s rapid growth. Understanding production methods and working properties helps unlock optimal decorative possibilities when making quality gel wax candles.
What is Gel Wax?
By definition, gel wax comprises a primary paraffin or vegetable wax base blended with concentrated amounts of viscosity-boosting polymers, typically clear transparent polyamide resins. Added at up to 20%, resin content transforms standard wax into an opaque thixotropic gel trapping and delivering fragrances better while suspending decorative items beautifully within the candle matrix thanks to increased density and surface adhesion properties.
Where Does Gel Wax Come From?
With the global infrastructure already in place for making commodity waxes and specialty polymers, large petrochemical producers manufacture performance-enhancing gel wax additives at a mass scale leveraging established supply chains to deliver blended gel wax products to consumers through retail and hobby candle-making channels.
How is Gel Wax Made?
By introducing measured amounts of finely powdered polyamide or related copolymers into molten paraffin, vegetable, or beeswax and then homogeneously mixing, candlemakers dissolve resin particles to swell and thicken the wax blend into an opaque thixotropic gel matrix able to trap abundant fragrance oils for even dispersion and longer cold scent throw. Careful chemical tuning imparts desired viscosity, density, and post-pour malleability.
What are Gel Candles?
Utilizing key enhancements like optimized fragrance delivery, surface adhesion, and viscosity from modern polymer science, today’s decorative gel candles immerse consumers in delightfully captivating aromatic and visual feasts. Elaborate designs swirling with vivid dyes and embedded botanicals suspension float throughout crystal clear jars. Striking depth, clarity, and creative embellishments characterize gel candles currently exciting hobbyist candle makers exploring this delectably fragrant art form.
Is Gel Good for Candles?
Superior fragrance delivery and decorative versatility make gel wax ideal for container candles. By trapping abundant scent oils in the thixotropic matrix, gel wax ensures candles infuse spaces with a stronger aroma while burning after uncovering cold tops. Increased gel adhesion also permits suspending crystals and dried botanicals beautifully inside crystal clear vessels without settling over time on store shelves. Vivid colors and intricate designs paintable throughout the medium open new directions for innovative candle makers.
Benefits of Gel Wax Candles
- Intensified Scent Delivery – Thick resin viscosity carries high fragrance loads.
- Enhanced Cold Throw – Gel network retains 3-5 times more trapped cold scent.
- Improved Surface Adhesion – A dense matrix secures embellishments uniformly in suspension throughout candles.
- Vivid Color Depth – Opaque medium allows deep vibrant dye saturation.
- Creative Versatility – Paintable viscosity and carved surface hold intricate artisanal designs.
Best Gel Wax for Candles
Leading gel wax manufacturers like Candle Science, Flaming Candle, and Nurture Soap Supply candles carefully balance primary wax selection with proprietary additives designed to optimize viscosity, density, appearance, and fragrance throw based on exacting testing. Trying sample kits finds ideal gel viscosity, hardness, and clarity combos for individual creative applications from layered carved to painted visual styles.
Gel Candles DIY
After selecting gel wax providing desired rigidity when cool, melt wax gently to 160°F in a double boiler, exercising caution not to overheat. Then combine abundant liquid dye drops into the base achieving vibrant colors. Next add concentrated fragrance up to 2 full ounces per pound of wax, stirring thoroughly until fully incorporated. Carefully pour thick gel wax into decorative glass containers securing creative embellishments in suspension. Allow adequate drying time before burning.
Why is Gel Wax Used for Candles?
- Maximizes Fragrance – Viscous matrix carries and disperses extraordinarily high scent levels.
- Enhances Definition – Ultra-vivid dyes saturate translucent bases for artisanal styles.
- Provides Creative Versatility – Paintable gel consistency sets up carved lines and embedded objects beautifully.
- Improves Adhesion – Thick wax securely grips container sides and suspended particles evenly.
- Amplifies Throw – Abundant trapped oils permeate spaces even without burning.
How to Use Gel for Candles
Standard gel waxes only require melting to 160°F before introducing desired amounts of liquid dye and fragrance oils based on artistic visions. Stir thoroughly until achieving even distribution. Carefully pour thick colorful wax into containers, allowing time for carved designs to set up overnight before burning. Spark creative flair by suspending crystals or dried flowers. Let candles cure for 2 weeks to maximize cold throw aroma heights through candle tops when unburned.
Why is Gel Wax Expensive?
Ingredient costs contribute significantly to gel candle pricing economics. Specialty synthetic resins to transform standard waxes into optimized gels also command premiums, especially types sanctioned for human contact. Coupled with extra steps in melting base waxes before introducing polymers and additives, labor factors add up. Yet abundant scent and elaborate decorative options offset costs for hobbyist makers exploring this fascinating candle style.
Gel Candle Recipe
This vividly-hued botanical gel jar candle uses an easy 80:20 wax-to-polymer ratio for superb scent carry and decorative flare. Makes one 8 oz candle.
- 6.4 oz gel wax flakes
- 1.6 oz gel wax polymer granules
- 2 oz essential oil blend
- Assorted liquid dyes
- Decorative botanicals
Directions:
Melt gel wax completely then add polymer powder, stirring until fully dissolved. Separate colored portions then mix in oils. Arrange botanicals in containers before pouring wax. Allow to completely cure for 2 weeks before burning.
Environmental Impact
As petro-products, polyamide gel resins ultimately carry ecological impacts from non-renewable resource extraction, incurring CO2 emissions over full production lifecycles. Yet utilizing existing paraffin production byproduct streams as base wax feedstocks while seeking bio-derived polymer options helps mitigate additional environmental burdens associated with candle gel innovation now captivating consumer imaginations.
Conclusion
Blending existing waxes with commodity polymers unlocks a new versatile candle category absent just years ago, as leading manufacturers continue optimizing elaborate decorative and scent throw capabilities through clever ingredients innovations. Despite production trade-offs, alluring performance captivates artsy candle enthusiasts still evolving this unique sensory artform.