Cola Gel Candle

Cola Gel Candle

What to Know Before Making Your Cola Gel Candle

This cola gel candle recipe captures the playful yet refreshing allure of soda. With its bubbly appearance, it’s a standout addition to any homemade clear gel candles collection. If you’re experimenting with gel candle making for the first time or adding to your repertoire, this project is simple, customizable, and most importantly, fun.

What Makes Gel Candles Unique?

Unlike traditional wax candles, clear gel candles use a transparent base that allows light to shine through. Plus, it fosters creative additions—like wax embeds or decorative ice cubes. This makes them a favorite for candle crafters looking to create beautiful and eye-catching pieces. Gel wax is denser than paraffin, so it holds fragrance differently. Use a gel candle fragrance formulated specifically for gel to ensure safety and improve scent quality.

What’s the Best Wick to Use for Gel Candles?

For safe burning, choose a zinc core wick or a specially designated gel-safe wick. This type of wick stands upright in the dense gel wax and burns with a consistent flame. Remember: container choice and wick sizing are both important to achieve a steady burn and minimize bubbles.

Level: Moderate

Yield: 6 Candles

Time: 2 hours

Supplies:

Gel Wax
Pouring Pot
51-32-18z Zinc Core Wicks
Brown Liquid Candle Dye
Gel Safe Fragrance Oil
Wick Stickers
Warning Labels
Scale
Thermometer
10 oz Clear Tumbler Jar

Other Items:

Mixing Spoon
Stovetop

  1. In your pouring pot, weigh out 24 oz. of gel wax.
  2. Melt the wax directly on your burner until it is in a fluid state.
  3. Add 0.72 oz. a gel safe fragrance oil.
  4. Pour the wax into a basic rectangle mold and allow to set up. If you do not have a mold, you can leave the wax unscented, skipping steps 1-3, and simply cut the wax into cubes.
  5. Prepare your tumbler jars by adhering a wick to each glass. We used 51-32-18z wicks.  
  6. Add some of the ice cubes to the jar, filling it completely.  Some of the cubes should be placed so that they will stick out of the top of the jar.
  7. Weigh out and melt 12 oz. of Gel Wax.
  8. Add 2 drops of the brown candle dye and 0.36 oz. of your fragrance oil.
  9. Pour about 3 oz of the wax into each jar. The amount you add can very and is dependent on the amount of ice cubes in each jar.  
  10. Trim the wick to 1/4” and place a warning label on the bottom of the glass.

How to Pour and Customize a Cola Gel Candle

Once your gel wax reaches the recommended temperature, slowly stir in your fragrance oils—keeping your pour temperature in mind to avoid trapping air. For a fun twist, add wax ice cubes or small embeds to mimic the look of a real soda. Pour slowly to help bubbles rise and dissipate naturally. Let the candle cool completely at room temperature before trimming the wick.

Is It Easy to Make a Cola Gel Candle at Home?

Absolutely! One of the best parts of candle crafting is exploring new techniques. With a few supplies—like gel wax, proper wicks, and fragrance oil—anyone can make a homemade gel candle that looks just like a fizzy cola. Just remember to follow safety guidelines and keep your workspace well-ventilated.

Note: The Flaming Candle is not responsible for the performance of any of the recipes provided on our website. Testing is your responsibility. If you plan to resell any recipes we provide, it is your responsibility to adhere to all applicable regulations, including IFRA standards for fragrance usage. Always follow safety guidelines when making candles.

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