emilyspoppy

I use an embosser . . . Good heat, but less air flow . . . A good thing !!!

That is my favorite M&P base. I believe that over a several year period I tried virtually every known base on the mainstream market. It performed the best for me. I do mix it with CW's goats milk base for marketing purpose. You can learn a bit more by checking the archives on this subject here on CS. JMO/HTH Dave

Candy; "Ylang Ylang" is a primary mixer for a lot of sophisticated fragrances, I've found. One of my favorites that I developed is; 50% Ylang Ylang 25% Amber 25% Musk I named this simple blend "Midnite Musk" and it became a great seller in both candles and soaps. It's very sensual but actually unisex targeted. It's my wife's favorite fragrance and that's pretty impressive since we stocked well over 150 fragrances at one time or another. When the "Shades of Gray" book hit the stands, I renamed it "Christian". It now sells even better. I actually will be making a two dozen four ounce bar batch of Goat's Milk M&P soap today. I color it with a bit of coconut charcoal dissolved in glycerin and alcohol to give it a light gray color. It's pretty strong so I use it at about 3%. I get the oils from Gemlite. Dave

Regardless of whether you decide to keep it straight or mix it please remember that Tea Tree EO is toxic to felines and may be fatal to them in even slight amounts. I use it straight and it sells well, but I always issue that warning and label it as such. HTH Dave

The advice you've gotten so far is very appropriate for CP soap which is, I believe the product that these very talented soapers primarily produce. Melt & Pour soap has special issues that differ from cold-processed soap when colorants are used. Most decent liquid colorants are stable and non fading when used alone in M&P, but the colors will blend or "migrate" when two or more colors are used. Liquids are easiest to work with, but if you want to mix colors you will need to use "non-bleeding" colorants. "Oxides" are primarily used for this purpose. They can be obtained from most decent soap making suppliers. I get mine from Brambleberry and WSP and other sources. Just make sure that you purchase "Non-Bleeding" colors. Most likely you will need to dissolve the dry colorant in alcohol, water or glycerin before using them. You will need to watch out for clumps and specks of colorant. Each supplier usually will have recommendations for mixing and usage on their site. HTH Dave

Hey, Moonshine! Nice to know you're still a chandler and back on CS. Missed you! Whatever you decide to do I'm sure will work for you in using-up surplus containers. I thought I would add this thought to the mind pool (puddle?), though, for other chandlers trying to sort out Christmas fragrances; I have for years had to "mark down" remaining/unsold seasonal candles to the point where it became really an issue for me. I decided a couple years ago to adjust my marketing on using seasonal fragrances that I can re-label after the holiday event. On January 2nd it seems like no one wants to purchase a Christmas labeled candle anymore. I discontinued a few of my fragrances like "Eggnog" and "Holly Berry", but continue to produce "Christmas Tree", "Town & Country Christmas" and a few others. I just remove the holiday label and put on the new one. "CT" becomes "Fresh Cut Pine" and "T&C Christmas" switches over to "Candle Shop". It's our custom signature fragrance and sells well under both labels all year long now. I keep "Bayberry" and "Frankincense & Myrrh" on the shelf until they sell out, though. They become "special order" candles outside of the holiday season. There are many other great fragrances that can be both holiday specific and year long sellers when renamed. Just something to think about. Best of wishes to you and everyone else who are gearing-up for the best season in the candle making trade. Dave BTW; This is a photo of my granddaughter, Emily, taken when she was just a little tyke. It won 1st place in "Parent's" magazine holiday photo contest the year it was submitted. It was taken by her 16 year old cousin who erased the image from his camera's file shortly after it was taken. Fortunately he sent a digital copy to my daughter through an email just before he erased it. I'm; "Emily's Poppy". She gave me that name while we were watching "Dora the Explorer" during a baby-sitting visit with me. It's not like I'm bragging or anything! (NOT!)

I bought 10 gallons of "Orange Pomander" from a supplier as a closeout FO. You could name it "Spiced Orange", I do. "Orange Clove" could be another name, too. I sell it straight and it does well, but I also mix it 50/50 with "Macintosh Apple" and market it as "Cider House". I actually have a small fall display in my shop focused on apples and cider. I've run out a few times and have faced the wrath of some upset customers. I've sold a few bottles of "Cider House" FO on eBay and have gotten some very good feedbacks and have actually made a few friends as a result.

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I guess it would be appropriate to explain Trappeur's comment; (Ethyl), my wife, Betty and I worked for the same company for about a decade. We enjoyed "acting-up" for our colleagues enough that we became known as "Lucy & Desi". I wrote this in a post on another candle board that Trappeur and I belonged to more years ago than either one of us want's to admit. I told the members of that "other" board that "Lucy" and I had grown so old and unfit over the years that we had morphed into and become known as "Fred & Ethel". Actually "Ethel" and I will be married 40 years next month on September 25th, the day before my 66th birthday. As far as being "lucky" to being married to a "gem"; Ethel will getting quite a few "sympathy" cards next month from those who know us best. "Fred"

A year or so ago, I was "flipping" TV channels when I paused on Nickelodeon, the kid's channel. What caught my attention was the adult speaker telling the kids watching that; "Everybody FARTS". I was stunned! I thought that I somehow had zeroed in on an adult cable comedy channel, but it was actually Nickelodeon. For the next half hour-or-so, I was entertained with cartoons, charts and silly songs about the cause of flatulence tailored in such a way that kids could relate. Yep! "It's OK to FART. Everybody does. When I was a little kid we were allowed to to call "anally expelled" methane gas as "Arts" or "Toots"! Times have changed, I guess. I'm not sure if it's a good thing, though. Watching that show was enlightening. I never again worried that I had made a mistake by not renaming the banana flavored clear glycerin M&P soap that I embedded a little plastic monkey (holding his nose)in. I cannot tell you how many times my wife has nagged me about making more. It's especially popular around Christmas. A lot of mom's buy it to stuff in their kids stockings. Trapp; I wouldn't take a chance at upsetting your new wholesale account. I would ask them how they felt about it and offer some alternatives. I really believe, however, it will be a slow seller without the funny name. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Dave

I wouldn't stray too far from the original concept, otherwise you'll kill the sales on this one. I originally changed the name of "Butt Naked" and it barely sold at all. It was just another pleasant but semi-ordinary fragrance. Once I returned it to "Butt Naked" sales immediately picked-up. In my opinion, there are many more "perverse" people than "prudes" in this world. I personally do not like banana flavored anything, but "Monkey Farts" is a big seller for us. I have not heard of anyone complaining about the name, but if I did, I would consider; 1) "Monkey Burps" 2) "Monkey Breath" Keep it funny! It's a kid favorite. It does better for us in soap than candles, though. HTH Dave

I actually don't know or understand some of the terms used in this thread or what some members are trying to convey, but I personally find that the Facebook groups are; 1) Overly active. These boards really clutter-up my Facebook site and make it slower (than usual) in operation and difficult to keep up with my other interests and friend's postings. 2) MANY of the FB posters reside outside of the USA which make sharing suppliers, sources, trends and prices quite impractical. 3) The boards I belong to are usually quite friendly and despite the number of active posters, there are few rude remarks thrown around, but I often get annoyed at how naïve and amateurish many of the participants can be. I'm no expert, but really some of the stuff I read there makes me want to pull my hair out. SO much misinformation that gets by unchallenged or unquestioned. Yikes! I've learned to be careful with my comments on the FB groups. Not because I'm worried that I might write something wrong, but I cannot stand all of the notices that I wind up getting from FB about who likes or has replied to my posting. I'm just about to the point where I'm going to "retire" from all soap & candle groups on FB. Dave

I'm taking a break from my greeter's job at Walmart to reply to some of you talented folks who know more about this racket than I do. First and foremost; I seriously hope I have not offended my dear friend in any way. I'd rather take a beating from some huge mugger than do that. If she has seen this thread I hope she never let's me know it, but quietly considers the opinions posted here and adjusts her prices accordingly. My first reaction when she told me her wholesale pricing was to place a large order with her, but my sense of fairness kicked-in, because I knew I would always feel that I had taken advantage of her. That's not something a friend would do. There is a possibility that she has already raised her prices and all of this may be irrelevant. I have not spoken with her about it in the past year or so, because I really sense that she resents my nagging and interference in her business. I just wish her wealth and health! I'm not cut from the same fabric as most of you. This is not a labor of love for me. I was drafted by my dear wife for this service. She promised to be my partner and assistant when she urged me into resuming candle production for our existing jewelry shop after a several year hiatus. To date and over a 15 year or so period, She has wicked about two cases of jars, put about 25 (crooked) labels on candles and helped pour wax into a couple hundred jelly jars that I had ready to go from pre-filled pour pots. I cleaned up the spills, though. I honestly don't remember my sweetheart ever making a single bar of soap. She is, however always dragging complicated molds home for me to pour "cute" bars and then figure out how to wrap the damn things! She loves taking custom orders and always promises them the following week-end. Our shop is only opened on Saturdays now since I've become disabled. Which brings me to another point. If you think making candles and soap can be difficult or tiresome, try doing it from a wheelchair in a room with very little floor space to work from. Am I bitching? You bet I am and I know it. It does make me feel a bit better, though as long as I know my wife of 40 years (This September 25th . . . The day before my 66th birthday . . . You can PM me for my PayPal account. Gift payments of any size are gladly encouraged and cheerfully accepted. Please avoid sending flowers, though. At my age any "triggers" which evoke thoughts of funeral parlors should be avoided, according to my cardiologist.) doesn't discover my passcode to the internet and Craft Server site! She refers to CS as the place I hang-out with my candle-making girlfriends. She tells me to remember, though "That what can't get up, can't get out"!!! Well my break time is over. Time to get back to work . . . "Welcome to Walmart! Enjoy you're stay! We have the lowest prices in town!"

I have a good friend that I've known for years who is a member of this board. I first "met" her on another board and told her about this one. I hope she doesn't see this post or if she does she doesn't reply to it "publicly". I love her to death and she is a very gifted, generous and intelligent crafter. However; Every time we communicate she tells me how busy (overwhelmed) she is and how little free time she has for "herself". She not only makes and sells candles & melts, she produces bath & beauty products including CP soap. This information may not be current or completely accurate, but she's told me that she does a few shows and has a small retail set-up in her home that has separate access from her living quarters, but the bulk of her production goes towards her wholesale customers base. She's told me numerous times that she loves making products for resale. So for her this is "A labor of Love". I've asked her if she's happy with her "bottom-line", but she seemed a bit "hazy" when replying. I know that some (most?) of us might exaggerate our sales a bit and complaining about being "overworked" is nothing new for mankind (womankind?) either, but in her case I tend to believe every word she tells me. Which include; She uses fragrances from a number of suppliers. I've asked her whose and she's told me some of her favorite FO's come from sellers like Brambleberry, Sweetcakes and others to mention just some that come to my mind right now. I suggested that some of her supplier's oils are too expensive for someone trying to generate a profit even though they do smell nice. They may be fine for a person making small quantities of soaps for personal use, but not for resellers I really don't think she understood me and I know she didn't agree with me. Virtually every time we talk on the phone she is rushing to complete and ship wholesale CP soap orders. I've asked her how much she prices her bars for and she told me; $2.50 retail and I believe; $1.50 to $2.00 wholesale. When I suggested that her prices were too low (several times) she told me that she felt they were consistent with the competition in her area (several times). She told me the retailers she sells to need to sell them for $5.00 to $6.00 per bar in order to make it worth THEIR while. Since I don't do CP, I actually have no right to "beat-up" my pal over her business strategies, but I still and will continue to believe she's selling her time, her talent, her liability, her income and ultimately herself short. I might be completely wrong. I don't know, but I've been in business a long time at a number of levels and everything I was taught and learned on my own "screams" at me that unless you are willing to make genuine sacrifices for a crafting business, your time might be better served as a greeter at Walmart. (Geez! It seems that I've heard or read that somewhere recently. Oh, Yeah! It was me. You do lose your short-term memory as you become elderly! . . .Now what was the point I was trying to make?)

I contacted WSP when I had my issues and was basically advised that I didn't know how to make M&P soap. The "expert" who told me that had no reply when I told her that it was sweating in the box before I melted it except that I should let it "set-out for a while" to let it dry out and then scrape the dew off of the finished bars before wrapping them. I could sense that the customer rep was somewhat embarrassed. I don't think I was the only complainant she had dealt with over sweating no-sweat soap base. I actually felt a bit sorry for her. She wasn't rude so I gave her a "pass". The claims in their advertising were that their detergent free/low sweat M&P was virtually identical to CP soap and did not need to be wrapped. With knowledge that I had purchased whole cases of product she offered to accept returns (at my expense) of un-opened 2 pound packages. I posted my opinions of the products on their website in the customer review section. My comments were displayed, but they were edited. Nothing I wrote was rude or untrue, however. I was more than slightly disappointed, but I moved on and I have bought from them again. No soap bases, though. If you find a true no-sweat base how about letting us know. I've personally stopped searching. I don't know where else to look. Best of luck! Dave