Many people avoid gel candles due to the bad press reported over the past 10 years. We have all read the numerous reports that have stated “My gel candle exploded”. First, to address this problem, the candles do not explode. The container a candle is in can crack or break creating the sensation of exploding if the container it contains is not designed to withstand the heat of the candle material, be it soy, paraffin wax or gel. If cracked, the candle material will leach to the surface where the candle sits and that material, whether it be 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 container for candles, regardless of the material, can be heated. Therefore, the statement “my hands were burned” will be true if you touch any candle container immediately after putting it out, again regardless of the candle material. Even containers specifically designed for candles can get hot if burned for too long. Common sense and safety say that you should never pick up a candle holder that has recently been extinguished. If you do, you risk getting burned.
There are hundreds of websites that provide instructions for making gel candles at home and sell the supplies to make it. Because they can be so decorative and fun, it’s so tempting to plan a fun project for a group of friends or with your kids to do your own. While candle making is a relatively safe undertaking, you need to be very careful about burning what you have made. Gel candles have specific guidelines for blending fragrance with gel material and gel density. For example, air bubbles can blow up gel material. Material that has “come out” of the container may fall onto a flammable object. This could start a fire and give gel candles a bad name again. While the candle itself may have caused the problem, the real issue was that the candle 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 in which a candle is located must be of a quality to withstand the heat of the material in the container. For example, making a cute gel candle to put in champagne flutes to decorate a wedding anniversary party is a bad idea unless you don’t plan to burn the candle.
The guidelines for gel candle safety are the same as for 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 the container itself time to cool. Third, never place a candle on it. A lit candle near flammable materials such as curtains, and lastly, never place a lit candle on a flammable surface.
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.