Fruatrated!!!!

[mystic sowles]

I am having hot throw scent issues with every wax I try. I have tried various melt temps, various pour temps etc. I do specialty wax melts from various molds. I had success with my chocolate covered strawberries but since then everything else has had great cold scent but poor hot scent. I was using NG pillar of bliss, used all there suggestions-- no luck. I switched to CS eco soya pb and have been totally disappointed. Frosting, terrible scent throws both cold and hot. I tried blending with paraffin at different percentages and still no Good Results. I have spent so much money already and I love creating the candle melts but I cant get scent throws right. Any suggestions anyone willing to email wirh me for more help? I have tried asking local candle makers and you would of thought I asked gor their first born child. They were rude and quite disrespectful. I need to do this for many reasons and I dont want to give up but if I dont start having any success I will have to. So anyone willing to help please PM me.

Blessings

Penny

[ChandlerWicks]

Hey There, Penny,

Try 50/50 4625 and 4627. order from Peak, they have 2lb samples. Order some 1ozers from there of Wild Mountain Honey, BlackBerry Sage. or check this board for some of the recommended fOs from Peak. Definitely buy WMH. Heat both waxes up to at least 190, hold at that temp for a few minutes so the waxes/heat incorporate or whatever you want to call it. Meld, mingle.  Heat up your metal pour pot on a pan on the stove at low temp, just enough to warm it up. if using glass, microwave pouring thing. Set on scale, tare out, measure in wax, tare out, measure in 8% or 10% FO, (i use 8%) stir, stir, pour into molds. Pouring temp shouldn't affect HT or CT, just looks or melting mold material. I mix in Eco Soya PB also, I like the depth, richness soy gives to bakery FOs.

PM me if you have problems. You'll be able to melt within 24 hours and have hT! . Tracey

Edited April 24, 2014 by ChandlerWicks

[Guest OldGlory]

Penny, I hope you will consider using other people to test HT for you. You could have 'candlemaker's nose' - meaning that you've lost sensitivity for smelling your fragrances. I had it BAD for a number of years. I would give away candles to my friends because I thought they were duds - and I kept hearing, 'that candle was great! have any more freebies?' I even had a customer complain - that my candle was too strong. Something was very wrong!

So, I started reading about it and it is REAL.

Don't give testers to people who smoke or have other 'scent issues' going on in their homes because you won't get a true response. You might also have allergies and that is causing you to not smell things like you normally would. Give your testers some guidelines to follow when they test - maybe test in a small room, give them a scale - like 1-10, 1 being 'can barely smell it' to 10 being 'it was so strong I had to leave the room'. And give the same candle (meaning you poured 2 candles exactly the same size, same wick, from the same batch) to 2 different testers. If the person you want to test for you has a cold, postpone the test until his/her cold is completely gone. Just because you can't smell the HT doesn't mean it's not throwing well. Maybe it's you. There are lots of factors that could be effecting your ability to smell your candles!

[justajesuschick]

We have all been there. I can speak for myself when I say that I seriously underestimated how much testing would cost and take. I have been through thousands of dollars and as many hours. Once you find what works for you, it will be worth it but it can be painful until you get there (well, it was for me).

 

To help with solutions and options, can you share what type of equipment you use, combinations of waxes you have tried and your system (heating temps, FO adding temp, etc)? That is a great first step. It could be that a simple change could make a big difference.

 

I am happy to try and help.

[justajesuschick]

Hey There, Penny,

Try 50/50 4625 and 4627. order from Peak, they have 2lb samples. Heat both waxes up to at least 190, hold at that temp for a few minutes so the waxes/heat incorporate or whatever you want to call it. Meld, mingle.  Heat up your metal pour pot on a pan on the stove at low temp, just enough to warm it up. if using glass, microwave pouring thing. Set on scale, tare out, measure in wax, tare out, measure in 8% or 10% FO, (i use 8%) stir, stir, pour into molds. Pouring temp shouldn't affect HT or CT, just looks or melting mold material. Tracey

 

This is OUTSTANDING advice! Every bit.

[ChandlerWicks]

This is OUTSTANDING advice! Every bit.

Why thanks, Darling!

[mystic sowles]

To answer real quick a couple of you, I use a double boiler method using a pour pot. Yes I use 4 different people as testers, since I have chronic sinusitis and cant smell much.

Penny

[Guest OldGlory]

Hope you get it figured out, Penny.

[moonshine]

I think most of us have been where you are now- don't be too hard on yourself

It takes a lot of time to have success and success costs lots of $$- there are so many waxes out there and coming up with the one that works for you takes time

Everyone has made great suggestions - I have never used pillar of bliss but correct me of I am wrong that's it's exclusive to NG? My suggestion is not to go that route unless the supplier they use can be bought from directly- NG is only one company and if you spend tons of money and time perfecting it and something goes wrong with their business then your going to be bummed

Use waxes that can be purchased many different places

The PB you said you tried IMO is not good alone- try mixing it with a soy container wax if your wanting to stick with soy- 135-415-464 and excel do wonderful with PB using 1.5 ounces of FO per pound of wax

If you want to go paraffin try chandlerwicks suggestion

I have never used the double broiler methods- to me it sounds like way more work and to much room for error with boiling water and all

Presto pots are cheap at Walmart - use a candy thermometer and make sure your heating soy to at least 180-185 and pouring your FO around 170- also soy needs a good 5-7 day cure to be strong- paraffin from what I have read does not

If your interested In a parasoy try clarus 3022- they will send you 10 pounds free to try but for melts you need to mix with a pillar blend - PB for instance or even any paraffin pillar

What types of fragrances are you using and from where?

And let us know what your temps are from heating to adding FO and pouring- are you curing them and your percentages your using

It can be frustrating but keep at it- you sound like you love the craft and it is so rewarding when you finally get the "one" that works for you

What are your testers reporting? And what type of warmers are being used?

Like JAJC suggested give us as much info as you can so we can try and help out more

[mystic sowles]

I am finally able to use my laptop and boy did I FUBAR the topic.  I was using my smart phone, and I don't they are as smart as they say they are.  They seem to mess up words alot, constantly proof reading to fix them, but yesterday I did not proof read.  My apologies for the typo's.  I want to Thank you all  for your responses!! Chandlerwicks I am going to contact you with some questions I have.

[mystic sowles]

I tried to edit my previous post but it wouldn't let me.  Can you suggest what model number Presto Pot to use.  I have looked at Presto Pots in my local Walmart and they several different versions.  I am not sure what to use.  Also, I don't melt large amounts of wax at a time because I only have a few molds and my largest mold holds 8 oz. But I use the formula based on the company I get my wax from for the FO's.  All the FO's I use have the same formula. I rarely do a 1 lb of wax at a time.  If I am doing containers then I do, but I don't do that many containers.  Any suggestions for methods of melting smaller amounts of wax other then the double boiler method?

Also, will container wax prohibit or make it hard to remove from molds?  I have used palm container wax in candy molds, it wasn't bad removing them as long as I put them in the freezer for a few minutes. Also, the temps are getting warmer here in NY now, how do you all sell your candle products in the summer?  I want to  make some citronella ones and target the local camp sites, however, I'm not sure how they will hold up in the heat.  Suggestions on wax that will hold up in heat and give a good scent throw.  Since that seems to be my biggest issues.  One thing I meant to tell you all, is when I pour the melted wax I put the wax in paper cups to help me control my pours because I have a tremor in my hands which effects my ability to use my hands normally.  Could that be an issue? I don't have any problems with how the molds look, its just ST.

Edited April 25, 2014 by mystic sowles

[justajesuschick]

The Presto will be ideal for you. Others can help with which model as the model I have is no longer made.

 

You can add as much wax as you want to the Presto. Use what you need, scent it in your pour pot and then unplug, lid and the rest of the wax will harden and wait for you to use it again.

 

p.s. If you look back at my posts from 2 years ago I was not certain how I would ever use as much wax as can fill a Presto. Now I fill and drain a turkey fryer that holds 35 or so pounds of wax over and over!

[moonshine]

http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Presto-Kitchen-Kettle-Multi-Cooker-Steamer/14321003?type=search

This is what I use- I usually do 2-3 pound batches but it holds much more than that

It has a thermostat but use a thermoter as well- and watch it close because anything under a pound heats fast

Your molds will not matter as far as scent throw goes- it's your wax combo and temperatures and FO that make that difference

As far as container wax -it is too soft to use in most molds - clamshell molds people have success with getting them out- the pillar/votive wax helps to shrink it away from the mold so it pops out easier

For the heat waxes with a higher melt point may be something you want to consider- I use soy and have not had an issue but if they sat outside on a 90 degree day they would probably start to melt

Talk to chandlerwicks about the paraffin- that may be a good route for you to go

[mystic sowles]

moonshine thank you for the link, at least now I know which type to consider.  How do you pour the wax out?  Picking it up and pouring?  I'm not sure if that will be a safe route for me with my hand tremors.  It's an option I will look into.

 

Now back to the temps for the wax-I have been told by CS and NG that temps can vary due to location but that they advise to use the temps they gave me.  Now with that said--if the temps they gave me are not working what should I do?  I've tried adjusting by lowering temps a few degrees-no luck, I also tried increasing a few degrees-no luck.  I know different waxes require different temps, I can't tell you how much FO's I have wasted doing tests and FO's aren't cheap, neither is wax.

 

Penny

[moonshine]

I do pick mine up and pour right into my pour pots- I heat exact batches at a time

Not recommended though as it is probably a disaster waiting to happen....but I have done it this way for years

Most people use a ladle and weigh what they need in the pour pot- that is probably a better option for you or I did see on the classies here a presto with spigot for sale - might want to see if it's still available

I am thinking based off what your doing it's your wax that just isn't working for you - I have never used pillar of bliss so I can't help there but PB alone should give you some scent throw but I personally do not like it alone- I add soy container wax

At what temp are you adding your FO and what % are you using?

Edited April 25, 2014 by moonshine

[ChandlerWicks]

http://www.candlemaking.com/presto-pot-wax-melter.html

 

Pic of the Presto Pot I use.

[mystic sowles]

Moonshine, the NG wax I was melting at 195  adding the FO and pouring at 180--Recommended by NG. Didnt work so NG told me increase my FO from 6% to 8-10%.  Still no good. CS-Melting at 185 and they just said to add FO stir for 2 min and pour at desired temp.  Well for me after stirring for 2 min it would drop to about 170 and I would pour at that temp.   Did the same with FO's when I didn't get any scent.  Still No luck.   I was getting alot of frosting.  It looked horrible.  See:

 

Penny

[moonshine]

CS- is that the PB you got your talking about?

Heat PB to 180-185 and add FO at 170 and pour at 140

If you can get a small sample of 135-415 or excel add that to the PB with a ratio of 60/40. - 60 being the container and 40 being the PB

See if that helps you

[coconut]

Penny, one thing I did not hear mentioned-are you running the air conditioner?  A/C can make a huge difference in how your scent travels. I have seen it virtually eliminate the scent, or spread it all through the house.  I have read this in other threads too.