Section 6.
EMBEDS
It is critically important that only non-flammable
items be used as decorative embeds in gel candles! Items such as
seashells, glass figures or marbles, sea glass, stones, ceramic figures
and wax embeds are fine in gel candles. Items such as cinnamon sticks,
silk flowers, plastic figures, some resin figures, potpourri, dried fruit,
etc. are NOT safe to put in gel candles!
Sand is often used in the bottom of the
popular seascape gel candles, but it is important to remember to stop burning
seascapes BEFORE the flame hits the sand at the bottom! We encourage
the use of a wick safety sleeve or "Flame Stopper". This can be any
small metal tube (jewelry supply shops should have something similar) that
fits over the wick and slides down to the point where you want the flame
to stop, and then is crimped with pliers. (Bitter Creek
is in the process of having these developed and will carry them in the
near future!). It is still important to label your product
with instructions on proper use, and make sure to tell your customers how
to burn their candles safely, but remember that many times (unfortunately)
people don't take the time to read caution labels or instructions, and
they don't take our warnings seriously. So we have to be responsible
candlemakers and take steps to ensure the safest products possible for
everyone's benefit!
Another safety method is "double glassing".
This involves using a large container (such as a fish bowl) and placing
a smaller clear glass container inside (such as a standard 3 oz. straight
sided votive glass). Place your decorative embed items or beach scene
in the outer bowl around the votive glass, and fill with clear unscented
gel. Wick the inner glass and fill that with your scented gel.
The inner glass keeps the candle contained and keeps the flame from ever
coming in contact with the decorative embeds, thus making a safe and refillable
candle! Customers can bring these back for refills, or you can make
pre-scented gel chunks and package them in a baggy with a wick and sell
as do-it-yourself refills!
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