Many people shy away from gel candles due to the bad press reported in the last 10 years. We have all read the many reports that have stated “My gel candle exploded”. First, to fix this problem, the candles do not explode. The container a candle is in can crack or break creating the sensation of explosion if the container it holds is not designed to withstand the heat of the candle material, be it soy, paraffin or gel wax. If it cracks, the candle material will seep onto the surface the candle sits on and that material, be it wax or gel, can continue to burn. That is why it is always recommended to place a candle on non-flammable surfaces.
Another report we’ve all heard or read is “The gel candle container burned my hands.” Well, any candle holder, regardless of material, can get hot. Therefore, the statement “I burned my hands” will be true if you touch any candle container immediately after blowing it out, regardless of the material of the candle. Even containers designed specifically for candles can get hot if they burn too long. Common sense and safety say that you should never pick up a container of freshly extinguished candles. If you do, you run the risk of getting burned.
There are hundreds of websites that provide instructions for making gel candles at home and sell the supplies to do so. Because they can be so decorative and fun, planning a fun project for a group of friends or with your kids to make your own is very appealing. While making candles is a relatively safe task, you need to be very careful when burning what you’ve made. Gel candles have specific guidelines for blending fragrance with gel material and gel density. For example, air bubbles can cause the gel material to burst. Material that has “jumped” out of the container may fall onto a flammable object. This could cause a fire and again give gel candles a bad reputation. While the candlestick itself may have caused the problem, the real problem was that the candlestick was below average. Also, when people make gel candles at home, they tend to want to use really cute containers. As mentioned above, the container a candle is in should be of a quality that will withstand the heat of the material of the container. As an example, making a cute gel candle to put in champagne glasses to decorate a wedding anniversary party is a bad idea unless you don’t plan on burning the candle.
The guidelines for the safety of gel candles are the same as for the safety of any other candle material. First, you should always trim the wick to ΒΌ” before lighting the candle. Second, never leave a candle burning for more than 2 hours. This gives the melted material and container time to cool. Third, never place a candle turned on near flammable materials such as curtains.
By following some common sense safety tips and being mindful of the quality of what you buy, you can enjoy the beauty of gel candles in your home.
