Three Types of Gel for Making Gel Candles
Making gel candles is a lot like making melt and pour soap, with a few extra safety precautions. We’ll address those safety issues in the future, but for now let’s take a look at the three different types of gel that can be used in candle making.
Low Density Gel (LP)
Low Density candle gel is perfect for simple candles. You’ll get few bubbles with LP gel, it’s easy to work with, and holds a small amount of scent. You won’t be very successful embedding objects in low density gel, as it just isn’t strong enough to keep them in place. The candles in the photo here were made with low density candle gel.
Medium Density Gel (MP)
Medium Density gel has more bubbles than low density gel, and is a bit thicker. It’s still pretty easy to work with but you have to work a bit faster once it’s melted. MP gel holds more scent, and this is the one you want if you’re putting embedded objects in the bottom of your candle.
High Density Gel (HP)
High Density gel is thick and bubbly. This is the stuff you’d use to suspend objects in the candle, or if you want a lot of scent. It can be tricky to work with because it sets up quickly and it’s hard to control the bubbles in the finished candle. If you’ve ever seen gel candles that look like little aquariums with embedded fish “floating” in them, you’ve seen high density gel in action.
For the beginner, it’s best to make a few very basic gel candles with low density gel first, just to get used to the process and overcome any fears you might have in working with gel. Once you get the hang of it, move on to more involved candles like this one, using a higher density gel.
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