sudsnwicks

Good for you! Maybe you could post the link here too, so we can read about it as well.

I like your site, Tess - well done! It is simple (as in easy to navigate), basic (as in no extra unnecessary stuff like a flash intro), and well organized. All the information I need to know is there and also easily found, e.g. things like where you are located and whether your candles are handmade. You'll be surprised how many websites there are out there where such basic information is not easily found. I also like how you tell something about yourself without coming across as too personal. A lot of sites are either too impersonal (I learn nothing useful from their 'about us' page, if there is even one in the first place) or too personal when they tell about themselves. Do you have any other offer/promotion you can list on your home page? If so, you could replace one of the 'free shipping' signs with it.

3 kg for $15 is a good price for a retail (non-bulk) source as it works out to be 14.2 cents per ounce. Mine used to be 20 cents per ounce before the price went up. I didn't factor in the exchange rate as I figured you spend $1 in Canada the same way we spend $1 in US.

As long as you keep it dry, it should last indefinitely. Once moisture / humidity from the air gets in, then it won't work properly anymore.

Could be. The place (a hardware store) I was getting it from used to charge $3.59 (18 oz size). Right after the big announcement that RDL was no longer being produced, they upped the price (for whatever stock they had left) to $4.29. That's a big jump, and all in one shot too, instead of increasing bit by bit.

I got mine yesterday. It is called Pear Spice. And now I see it listed in their catalog. Guess it's new (unless I overlooked it before). DH liked this scent, and he is usually quite picky.

I just got some of this to try out. Made votives with them. Usually I use 4794. What I liked about it (so far) was (1) it is in powder form instead of slabs, so it is easy to use with no hammering needed; (2) mold release seems to be better.

I get my bags from www.cierracandles.com. While I use the ones for individual votives, they do have a size that will fit 4.

I get mine from Glory Bee. They are in Eugene so shipping is fairly economical. I have heard that Agbanga Karite's is good quality, though have not tried theirs yet. They are in WA (Olympia) so shipping shouldn't be too bad for us west coast folks.

No, I wasn't aware of that. It seems to be rather a strict rule, because lots of booths at craft fairs are people who do not have a business - they are just selling things like sweaters they knitted.

You could package them the same way as your bigger candles, just use smaller bags which are appropriately sized for your votives. Shrink wrapping them is another option. I've also seen them being placed in clear gift boxes - these are sold in various sizes for 2, 4, 8, etc candles.

I thought the same thing, because their pillar blend says it's for both votives and pillars.

I selected the 3rd one, because I'm not planning to get any for now, though it's a possibility in the future.

Robin, your method is a good one. I have FO's in all different sizes - 1 oz, 4 oz, and 1 lb. Using your method would make my numbers more consistent. This averaging method is also helpful because FO's ordered at different times would have different costs, depending on what else was ordered together with it.

It is not necessary to have every characteristic to end up with a good soap. For example, castile soap, which is made with all olive oil, wouldn't have some of these characteristics, yet is a wonderful soap. It is my opinion that any basic handmade soap is going to be superior to its store bought counterpart. The chart is just a guideline so that you can add in the ingredients for the characteristics which are important to you.

I would be interested to know too, if the jars need to be heated first. Of course, that's provided it isn't too much trouble for you to try this out.

Thank you for sharing! I had been curious about their new container wax, but didn't want to order it until I had finished my supply of 4786 (got to keep expenses down).

I do not have insurance (yet) either. Just can't afford it at this point. I agree with mountainmadness that it's partly a matter of your own personal comfort level. I sell online, do the occasional show, as well as sell directly to local customers. Right now it is retail only. If I did wholesale or had a retail location, I'd definitely look into getting insurance. There was a thread about insurance here last week. Someone mentioned the company Acuity - apparently they are able to cover both candles and B&B (not all companies will cover both).

I would factor in the shipping. If you order more than just that one FO (which I would hope you do, otherwise it would become a really expensive FO!), then you pro-rate the shipping among the various items ordered.

This link gives a list of which oil does what. http://www.soapnuts.com/indexoils.html Hope you will find it helpful!

Another vote for Spruce Christmas Tree.

I use Midsummer Night and Mountain Lake and both are good. Women like them too.

I put a few drops of FO into the final rinse cycle of my washing machine. It makes my clothes smell very nice.

I used red + brown too, as I couldn't think of anything else. I like the result I got. OOB I thought this smelled a bit plasticky, but this goes away in the wax and it smells very good.

Welcome Mindy! I use the same waxes as Pam, have not tried soy yet. I'm surprised you have a lot of people asking for paraffin, because the trend seems to be the other way round (people wanting soy).