Things to ask when buying gel candles at craft fair
How do you know if the person that is selling gel candles at your local craft fair knows what they are doing?
Here are a few questions to ask and things you need to know.
What flash point is the scent in this candle?
If the maker looks at you with a blank face and does not know what you are talking about.. It’s best to walk away and go to the next booth with gel candles.
Having scents with the right flash point is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I can not stress this enough.
Scents used for gel candles need to be a higher flash point then scents for paraffin or soy candles.
The reason is because gel candles burn hotter and slower then the other candles.
Gel candle safe scents need to have a flash point of 170 degrees or higher.
If the candle maker does not know this information, say thanks and walk away.
It’s better to be safe and buy from someone who knows, then to buy one that might not be safe.
What kind of embeds are in these candles?
You want to be sure the embeds are not flammable.
Many times I have seen flammable embeds in gel candles that are not done properly.
i.e. Leaves in Fall scene candles, Candy corn in Halloween themed candles.
If you see an embed touching the wick, or the wick looks like it is “wrapped” around an embed. That’s another sign the maker is only after making $$ and not furnishing a safe candle.
One of the scariest things I have heard from candle makers when asked about their embed placements with the wicks is…
“Oh, This candle is for looks, it’s to pretty to burn.”
Uhm excuse me here but, if a candle has a wick. It WILL be lit sooner or later.
If the candle was not intended to be lit and only as a room decor and freshener. It should not have a wick in it.
It’s just a matter of time it will get lit. (sorry, if you can’t tell. It’s one of my pet peeves)
With that said, Safe gel candles can be made with flammable embeds.
Providing there is a glass partition between the embeds and the wick.
Unfortunately, this is not often the case seen at craft fairs.
Do you have instructions for this gel candle?
Most candle makers will have not only a sticker on the candle on how to care for the candle, but will usually have a list printed out with information about the use of gel candles.
This question does not mean that the maker does or does not know their way around a gel candle. But it will show you just how this maker treats his or her candle business.
