deanna

Very vanilla from BCN and vanilla and french vanilla from a local supplier.

well, i double wick my apothocaries (but I even tried one zinc 60 - SMOKE!) With the two wicks I have tried 3 different HTP sizes, some ECO (the size for 2" jars - it's all I had), and numerous zincs. The best that I have found is the 44-20. The 44-32 is working but they both smoke! I have a call into the company but they were closed when I called. I will post when I hear from them.

I have tried a couple different vanillas and they are all just a tad off. Can anyone suggest a good vanilla scent and tell me where to get it? Thanks!

Talored concepts has a new container wax that just came out about 2 weeks ago. I ordered 11# of it. I like it a lot but am having a heck of a time trying to wick my 10 and 16 oz apothocary jars...smoking and sooting! I am going to invest in some low smoking zinc wicks I think. It is a one pour, no pitting, great adhesion, strong throws...just smoky! I even tried HTPs and ECOs wicks. Darn wick issues - they are going to be the death of me!

I use Lone Star's 10 and 16 oz apoths and double wick them both. I use bittercreek north's 44-20 in the 10 oz and 44-32 in the 16 oz. I am going to try out the low smoke ones next to see if I can cut down of the smoking I get with the wax I am using. Have you seen that there is going to be a double wick EZ setter out this week? http://www.ezwicksystem.com/default.asp?C=1&S=E3&Document=EZ+Wick+Setter&NID=2 232277 It could be the end to all my double wick misplacements! YAY!

The easiest way to secure a wick to the bottom of a container is to cut a straw in thirds, slide the wick through the straw, put your wick stick-um (the majority choice by people here on the board) onto the tab and then position it in your container, putting pressure on the straw to push the tab into place. It is the cheapest and most efficient way of setting your wick into a container - especially a deep one (the deeper the container, the longer you can cut the straw). If you are using votives cups, buying a wick pin is your best choice, but they can get expensive if you are making numerous votives. Good luck!

I wanted a name that expressed my love for God. I was a teacher in the public schools for 9 years ago, before I got up the nerve to quit and be a business woman and a better wife and mom. Throughout my years teaching I could never share my love of Christ openly with my students. I am blessed to be able to do so now. I was going to be Cornerstone Creations or Capstone Creations but those were both taken. I decided on Pathlight Creations - taken from one of my favorite verses in the Bible, which is also the source of the song, Thy Word, that Amy Grant made popular years ago. Chris and I had that song as part of our wedding which makes it even more special Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Thanks for all your ideas...I can see that the easiest way to go is to figure out a method for measuring out drops consistently and go from there. I love the index card idea. I already have a testing spreadsheet that I designed and use and that can help, too. Thanks all!

Okay, I got my first set of liquid dyes in the mail today! I am so excited! I got a whole set from Lone Star. They have a way to measure out the drops depending on how many pounds of wax you melt, but it is very confusing! My question is this: (I am such a visual person - abstract math and I don't go well together!) If 7 drops = .05% of a color, how many drops = .001%? How many drops = .01%? And that would mean that 14 drops = .1% correct? Someone who is a math genius, or just has these formulas figured out - PLEASE HELP! Here is the webpage if it helps (it's another language to me!) http://www.lonestarcandlesupply.com/dyes.html Thanks!

Thanks for the links, but I really didn't want to have to buy a mold. I was just hoping someone would be able to tell me how to make one with out a mold. Maybe someone will know! Thanks again!

hello! I would love for someone to share with me how to make cinnamon bun (looking) candles - pillar type or votives. I have cut and curl wax so I am good to go there. How do I know what size wick to use? What size do I cut the wax before I roll it? Is there a trick to rolling? How do I get the icing look? Thanks for sharing!

Hello! I have been building up my fo supply (thanks to all you classified adders that have been helping me!) and when my mom came over and smelled them all, she made a comment about how they are almost all foods! She said food candles make her hungry so she usually doesn't buy them - UGH! Do you have any suggestions on non-food fos that are good sellers and popular year round. Is so, I would also like to know where you get them from because one company's gardenia may not smell like another company's gardenia. (Manly scents would be appreciated, too!) As always, thanks!

I think there was a post about wicks going bad posted a last week or the week before. People were talking about how they use the wick stickums over hot glue because the hot glue can't tolerate the hot wax...it makes the glue melt causing the wick to slide or get ruined. Some have had luck with the high temp hot glue, but most swear by the wick stickums - I think BCN sells them. I haven't tried them yet...still trying to find time to test burn my candles down to the bottom without setting my house on fire from all the candles I have half burned! I would not suggest that you change the wick size, just the way you stick the wick, if everything else is going well. As for the veiny look - I get something like that from IGI's Harmony wax. I like it, though...it adds character.

what other types of scents do you usually have to wick up or down on?

I was not aware that lotions go bad or get moldy. What preservatives should I look for when buying a lotion base? What is a reliable brand that you use that makes for long lasting lotion? Thanks!

Hello! I am still debating whether to take on lotion making in addition to candlemaking. I have a couple questions... I want to buy a lotion base. What ingredients should the base NOT contain? Basically, what types of ingredients are not good to have in a lotion? I want to make sure the base I buy is high quality with nothing that can be harmful to your skin. What are essential oils? Do I use them in lotions or do I use regular fragrance oils? What sells better...soy lotion or non-soy lotion? What do you think customers will pay on average for a 2-3 oz. bottle of lotion (travel size)? Thanks! I appreciate all your time in reading and responding to this. I am going to keep searching for more answers myself, too.

your sales tickets for your retail location/craft booth? I am trying to decide what kind of sales form to use (size? duplicates? triplicates? format?). So far I have seen the kind that have a place for names and addresses of the customer. I don't need all that. Any suggestions would be great! I am looking for inexpensive. If you have designed your own, can you email me a copy please so I can see what you use. My email is tcherdee2000@hotmail.com Thanks!

I did a search and didn't come up with anything so I thought I would post and hope for opinions... Has anyone tried Ky's perfect blend? I have tried Cargill's c3, ecosoya, and EZ soy and got frustrated with certain aspects of each. I would love opinions on this wax from those of you that tried it. I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

heat is not affecting my candle making - lack of money for supplies is!

pm'ed you!

The thing that I have learned the most about is how not to get taken advantage of. This is my second business - the first one never came to fruition. But it taught me numerous things: 1. Don't pay an attorney to get your Fed. Tax ID # - you can do it over the phone after filling out a form online on the IRS website. It is very easy - and very FREE! 2. Decide whether you want to be a sole proprietorship or an LLC. This is important! Entrepreneur online is a great resource. It can answer a lot of questions about that. Office Depot online is a great info source, too believe it or not! They have a whole business section. An accountant can help you, too...which leads me to #3. 3. Get a good accountant - one that is knowledgable about the runnings of a business. He/She can answer a lot of questions about businesses, but remember, some charge you for their time so get most of your answer off the internet first from a reputable website to save yourself some $$. 4. Keep track of EVERYTHING! Find a good organized way of managing your receipts (anything business related that you buy counts), tracking your mileage and your cell phone (if used for business). Your accountant can even show you more ways to make the deductions add up. MOST IMPORTANT! (should be #1 I guess...) 5. Take care of the insurance issue BEFORE you take care of anything else. Tell them you are THINKING of starting a candle making business. A lot of people here can help you with insurance issues - there is a lot in the archive section, too. If you plan on opening a retail location that is a different story! I would be happy to go into details relating to licenses and inspections and the DREADED lease process! I hoped this helped a little! I would be happy to share more of what I know! Let me know!

I ordered avery label sheets off of ebay from a woman named Tracie (traciw@cox.net). I got 40 sheets (960) for $13.99 which is pretty good from the research I did. I am sure she has more she can sell you. She works with you on shipping, too. I did priority for only $3.85 because I needed them quick. The labels are 1.67" but she may have smaller. Email her to find out!

k - another ?: what companies have the best bases in your opinion?

how hard is it to make lotion? The reason I ask is because from some of the sites it doesn't look difficult at all. I would like to supplement my candle sales with lotion, too, but don't want to get in over my head. on a scale from one to 10...how hard does it have to be? Thanks!

I cured the sinkhole problem with the c3 by not pouring up to the neck but stopping a little below it. When I used hex jars and poured up to the neck I got sink holes like crazy. Now when I do use the c3 I use wide neck apothecary jars and pour below the neck. Even with 16 oz jars there was no pitting. Try it...it may work for you!