Homemade Gel Candles

Materials:

dishwasher-safe container to hold your candle
candlewick for gel candles
fast-setting, clear epoxy or sticky clay
bamboo skewer
marbles
candle gel
candy thermometer
candle colorant
candle-safe fragrance

Steps:

1. Secure the base of the wick in your container with epoxy or sticky clay (figure C). Use a bamboo skewer to secure the wick. (Use a wick that is specially made for gel candles. You can find them preassembled (figure D), or you can put them together yourself.)

2. Place marbles in the containers.

3. Melt the gel. Cut or tear gel into pieces (figure E) and melt in a pan over direct heat on your stove.

4. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature, and don't let it exceed 220 degrees.

5. Color the melted gel with a couple of drops of regular candle colorant (figure F).

6. Stir in a candle-safe fragrance. Make sure it says that it is safe on the label. Use about one tablespoon of fragrance per one pound of gel.

7. Pour the gel into your container, leaving a 1/4-inch space at the top.

8. Straighten and hold the wick in place with a skewer resting across the top of the container (figure F).

9. Allow 10 to 20 minutes for the gel to harden, then clip the wick short. It's ready to burn!

10. When it's time to clean up, simply peel the cooled gel off your utensils and wash as usual.