e911

I am confused.

Both of those suppliers sell quite an assortment of BOTH soy and paraffin.

I am wanting to do just a 100% soy based candle but after searching here, it looks like everyone has to mix paraffin in with the soy to get a good mix to make tarts.

Well hamburgers. It looks like the Ecosoya isn't that great. With the coupon I got from peak, their shipping is going to be super cheap for me compared to some other places. I just checked candle science and their shipping for 10lbs is more than peak's without the coupon.

Really wanted to use soy, but it appears I may have to use paraffin :-/

Yep, Peak's is an A+ Supplier. I've never had one issue with them. If you're going to make tarts, stick with the 1 oz. A one ounce bottle will make about 3 or 4 clamshells. (Peaks has those too). I'd be really tired of a scent after that many! The only duds i found were Peaks mulberry and cinnaberry.

Peak just sent me a coupon for 25% off shipping.... Sooooo I guess I know where I'm getting my stuff this weekend! HA!

Depending on where you live- check shipping rates

CS is much cheaper for me than Peak so I get my wax from CS and order fragrances from peak.... As far as wax for soy melts you will definitely want the PB and then you can mix some container wax in there of you want but you may be happy with just straight PB- everyone uses different ratios and blends but that is where your "testing" and "experimenting" is going to come into play

I think I can safely say also that this won't be cheaper than buying Yankee- ask me how I know! LOL BUT it is much more fun and rewarding to burn your OWN!

I use a ratio of 60% PB and 40% container and I don't have a specific one I use yet- I am still deciding which one I like best- I have used 464 - 135- 415 and Excel

I also recommend for what little money they are and are so much easier to work with- a presto pot from Walmart or meijer- so worth the $$!

Good luck and happy pouring!

SHHHHHH!! DONT TELL ME ITS NOT GONNA BE CHEAPER!! I refuse to believe it! hahaha! The companies that struck me as being above average for service and quality are:

Peak

Lonestar

Candle Science

Candlewic

Wholesale supplies plus

So hopefully one of them will be cheaper on shipping to Indiana. So much to learn about mixing waxes! Will give me a good project over the winter I suppose But I guess I don't understand why some advertise a tart/votive blend yet it seems to be just a standard wax (or am I missing something here?)

Thanks for the help so far everyone! I am grateful!

It's been a while since I last been on the bb. Hope everyone is well.

What about dyes or color chips? If you go with liquid dye be sure to get a few of the glass eye droppers or caps Peak sells.

Peak is a great supplier. I have been using them for years and have always been very pleased with their products and service. Candlewic is another fine supplier.

Before I forget, welcome aboard!

Thanks!!

To save on expenses for the time being I think I'm going to skip dyes. However, liquid dye was how I was considering going since its so much easier/more economical way to do it.

I don't use peak, but I just looked through their waxes. Ecosoya Pillar Blend looks to me like the best tart type soy wax they have. I know some people use it and mix it, try doing a search here on the forum for Ecosoya PB and see what you come up with.

Who do you use for wax? I was looking at Candle Science as well, but I was trying to do everything from one place.

hmm drat.. It suggested to use a blend or a votive mix but Peak doesn't have a soy votive mix, unless im missing it.

Ok, so I poked around on Peak and came up with this shopping list. I want to start out with a small batch to try my hand at this and try to get the basics under my belt before spending a large amount of money on wax. One thing I don't understand is all of the different waxes. Some make sense others not so much

So here is my shopping list:

1 bottle of Cinnamon & Balsam FO - 2.50

12 Tart Molds - 7.80

2lb sample of GW464 - 4.50

4lb pouring pot (for later use) - 8.99

1 glass top scale w/TARE feature - 34.95

1 metal themometer - 6.28

Grand total: 65.02 before shipping/handling.

Am i missing anything?

oh i got plenty of those already! i use them to clean out my tart warmers lol!

I had planned on only doing soy based candles. Trying to be as eco-friendly as I can, plus I like soy candles better. They seem to be better for some reason (not sure why! ha!) I am mainly going to be doing tarts for myself. If i get good enough at it, then I might sell a few but mainly just doing this as a hobby for myself and break my Yankee addiction ha!

I've come across Candle Science and I like their how to videos, those are really great! Hopefully going to be buying some supplies soon to get started. So far on my list is:

Melting Pot

Spare pan to make the double broiler

digital thermometer

scale (good one)

Tart Molds

Small order of wax

A scent of some sorts.

I think thats all I need. :-/

You can never judge a FO completely by it's OOB (out of bottle) smell.

Most definitely it needs to be put in something to get what it really is supposed to be.

um....most of my 1 oz...if I didn't like them...collect dust... LOL

Some times I revisit them...and I've changed my mind and like them..

hmm well then. Seeing how Peak seems to be the cheapest, I also found this: http://www.wellingtonfragrance.com/Alphabetic-Listing-of-all-Oils-C277.aspx . Has anyone had any experience with these folks?

Welcome to the board, James! I have some ocd tendencies too! lol

thanks! glad to be here!

As Peak Candle Supply actually host this board you could say a few of us have used Peak at one time or another. Most supplier will not sell in anything less than 1 oz samples and yes I have tons of them also. 1 oz is enough to make a few tarts for testing or a couple of small candles. Just sniffing does you no good you have to get in the wax or soap to really know if you like it or not. OOB smell is a lot of times deceptive.

I wasn't aware that Peak owns the board. Interesting. They do seem to be well priced on just about everything I'd need to get started.

So what does everyone do with those 1oz's that just sit around and collect dust? Sell them? Trade Them? I am only going to be making candles, and mostly focusing on tarts (im a huge tart warmer fan). Does the oil take on different characteristics when its in the wax vs out of the container?

(sorry for all of the new person questions! :-/)

So, I have been doing a TON of research into where to order my supplies from. So much so I created a spreadsheet listing the common items I'll need and marking the lowest/highest cost vendors.

A common theme is that Peak tends to be the cheapest, however, has anyone had first hand experience with them? Their website seems to be very nice and well laid out but sometimes looks can be misleading.

The only downside I don't like about Peak so far is they do not have small sample vials of oils to smell before buying larger containers. As I do not have anywhere local to get oils from I am a little concerned with buying a 1oz bottle then find out I do not like the scent. Seems like a lot of wasted money

Thanks everyone for the advice!

What's your name? James

How old are you? 28

Where do you live? Indianapolis Metro

How long have you been making candles/soap/whatever? Candles, and just getting started. Doctor suggested I find a hobby to relieve my stress.

How did you get started making candles/soap/whatever? Spending 200$+ a quarter at yankee for tarts tends to get a little expensive after a while. I am a huge tart warmer fan, I have two in my house! I change them out daily so I tend to go through them alot. I figured there has got to be a cheaper way to do this so I started researching.

Are you married? Any kids? no, and no. I'd be broke if I had either! HA!

If candle making isn't your primary job, what do you do? I work in a 911 center dealing with Fire and EMS related calls for service. Lets just say, it tends to be stressful.

Anything else? I tend to be OCD a bit, so while researching different vendors to get my supplies, I ended up making a spreadsheet and putting the different waxes and basic supplies in the list, then the list flagged who was the cheapest so I knew where I was getting the best deal.:rolleyes2 So ya..slightly OCD