emilyspoppy

What's Cristo?

Crisco vegetable shortening. Folks have been modifying wax with it for decades.

I'm actually ashamed to admit this, but my very first experience with CP soap was a little over a month ago when a very sweet member of this board sent me a few "bars" of it. I've been in love with it since.

I've only used it a couple of times, though, because I don't want it to "go away"!

Now I'm venturing into the world of M&P soap. I don't see my DW and myself taking on the serious project of making and selling CP, though.

I may do like you. If I'm not happy with my own "Homemade" M&P I may "buy out" CP too. It's just that I look at all of those bottles of FO and ask myself; "Is you Crazy . . . buying scented soap at retail?" I hate paying retail. I'm CHEAP!

You should see our Christmas tree! Charlie Brown would be proud. It looks like a toilet bowl brush stuck in a stand! Thrift shops have good buys on holiday decorations at least once a year!

QUOTE; OLD GLORY {Got a pumpkin pie soap?}

Have you tried "Snoopy's Soap Works" yet?

I understand their "PP" soap is very creamy, and pretty "true", but with subtle undertones of "truffles".

Sometimes, however, there are tiny bits of "matter" present that appear similar to "chewed peanuts". I'm not sure if this would be a problem for someone allergic to them.

JMO/HTH

The Red Baron

Several years ago I attended a craft show where a woman was selling black cherry essential oil, pumpkin pie essential oil - I was shocked and she was defiant, lol. Just goes to show you, you can't believe everything you see! They were fragrance oils but she was insistent that they were essential oils. Essential for whom? rofl[/quote

Dear Old Glory;

I think you're mistaken about the "Pumpkin Pie" essential oil. I believe the craft show lady may have been right!

If I remember correctly; The pumpkins have to be harvested by Charlie Brown on Halloween night from the Great Pumpkin Patch near where Snoopy lives.

Snoopy has to pee on each "special" pumpkin that is then processed by gnomes using an ancient form of steam distillation.

This oil, naturally is quite rare and commands a very hefty price tag. If I'm not mistaken, Snoopy has to be fed exclusevly on white truffels for a two week period prior to the big night.

He is not allowed to poop or pee during this period. He's not too happy about the whole proceedure and has been known to bite Charlie and Lucy when approached by them.

Schroeder often plays music to soothe the beagle beast, who suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome as a result of his military service whiile stationed in France during the Great War.

After he's performed his annual ritual, "Ace Snoopy" has been known to take a serious "dump" on Linus' blanket, too!

Lucy, who refuses to kiss a canine, however, gathers up the doggie discharge and sells it to local restaurants as "Truffle Souflee".

She knows, better, but enjoys the deception anyway. I think she also sells Faux Essential Oils at craft shows on a part-time basis.

JMO/HTH

I got on the site okay. I found it ugly and weird thou.You are right Dave. I would never shop for FO's at any place that does not list body safe oils. His "do your own testing" shows he's not in touch with today's buyers. Very bad.

It's quite a shame too! It wouldn't be all that hard to get up to date.

He once wrote me, that he's been in business for over 34 years. From our conversations, I suspect we are about the same age. When I mentioned his "system" wasn't working properly he told me that he "sold by phone" for many years. ???

If you think this site is bad you should have seen the old one that didn't have a "shopping cart". He admitted to me that he designed the site himself after the guy he was using let him down. At first no browser would open his "shoppe". Robin's site is the only one I have problems with that I'm aware of.

What's really annoying to me, though, is he does have some good items.

He told me he is a manufacturer, but I had another supplier's rep tell me that was not so. I don't know the truth, actually.

Until now, I was willing to deal with the quirks of his operation to get what I wanted, but I'm not sure how long I will continue to buy FO there, because I might be making a slight venture into B&B.

No MSDI, No way, Jose!

I suspect that he is a one man show. Several years ago, I was having a problem getting in touch with him for several weeks. I thought he had gone out of business. Finally he contacted me. He told me he had been on a trip. I've never spoken or corresponded with anyone other than him. It makes me wonder how large his operation is. He recently wrote me he has ton's of wax he would like to sell and would be glad to work-up a quote on pallet prices and common carrier shipping. I've never experienced an out-of-stock. I have some of his FO's that are approaching 10 years old and although I've "retired" them, I've kept them around out of curiosity. They appear as sound as when I bought them.

There is a chance he misunderstood my request for data, though. I need to call him and find out for sure. I'll post again, if I learn anything different. I don't like talking to suppliers. I prefer simple on-line ordering.

Another member of the Choir chiming in. I love playing, experimenting and trying new scents. Then my Wife reminds me that what I'm doing cost money, and that we have orders to fill.

UH OH!!! This is beginning to shape up as a "guy thing" !!!

At least three members on "another" board mentioned that a particular "TM" (Not AH/RE) had a throw similar to "Warm Vanilla Sugar" also not from AH/RE.

I'm a chandler and it surprises me that I can sell "WVS" candles based on what I feel is a pretty weak throw. I felt that "WVS" is a nice fragrance, but better suited to B&B than wax. PLEASE NOTE: I have only bought "WVS" from one supplier, whom I have now stopped dealing with.

I "sniffed" The AH/RE "TM" at about the last position in a list of 25 or so FO's. Several of the ones I had previously smelled in that lot were "really seriously powerful." Not only had I prejudged the fragrance thinking it wouldn't be a strong thrower based on inaccurate data, I had no business posting what I did with a real case of CM nose.

I still maintain it was wrong thinking on my part to mention throw. I try never to offer opinions or advice unless I'm comfortable with the subject. It was enough to say that I did not personally detect any "acetone" scent notes OOB.

I still think it's hilarious, though, that a "milkman" is lactose intolerant!

On this subject, I am an expert. My pal, Billy, once pucked on my dining room table. I had sauteed some shrimp in garlic sauce made with butter rather than olive oil and margarine. It didn't take long!

Dave

Do not know your preferred percentage of FO but it is not AT ALL a light thrower.

I'm sorry for my mistake in commenting. I was basing it on what some others have told me about the fragrance and what my impression was OOB.

I'll refrain from commenting on throw in future posts, unless I have tested them in wax myself.

Yup, it became work rather than a nice way to pass time and now I can't think about making candles again. anybody here has been on that situation and bounced back?

Dan

You're "singing to the choir", here!

I have hated making candles for years. I'm stuck, though. Economics dictate I need to keep our shop stocked and open. I do enjoy working with fragrances, however.

You might say, I'm a kinda "Concept/R&D Dude". I wish I could train a monkey or two to clean and wick jars (the worst part) and melt wax and pour. I'm fussier than my DW so, I'll stay stuck with labeling and marketing.

JMO

Depressed Dave

I love Aztec Internationals Toasted Marshmallow.

I received a bottle of AH/RE "TM" yesterday and felt it will be a light to medium thrower as expected, but smelled no "acetone" notes. JMO/HTH

Thanks Suzy for the info on NG "Egg Nog". It's in my shopping cart. I may have not waxed it based on my OOB impression.

I have a best buddy, dairy distributor whom I make ""Eggnog candles for as a gift to his customers at Christmas. I'm always looking for the "BEST" out there. That search is eternal. I've been "punching-up" with "spices and rum" the FO I was previously using. "Billy" even gives away a gallon of his "home-brew" eggnog along with the candle that I named "Billy's Eggnog". He's very proud of it. My wife and daughter's love his concoction. I can take it or leave it. The funniest thing, though, is my pal is severely lactose intolerant. Ain't that a hoot?

Tks!

Dave

I think one of the lessons I'll take from this thread is how subjective choosing FO's can be. It makes complete sense, though.

Why are we shopping? Is it business or pleasure? Are we a chandler only, strictly a soaper or do we make a multitude of scented products.

One of the qualities MOST of us are looking for from a fragrance supplier is stregnth of throw. I'd say that is the biggest issue, but variety of fragrances is very important as is price and service. The "opinions" of members who posted on this board can be very usefull if we can apply that information to the way we shop for fragrances.

What tends to distract us most, however, is we all seem to have one or two fragrances we can't seem to do without regardless of who offers them.

As Will S. wrote; "There's the rub."

By far, the majority of us are always searching out that elusive "smell" we just have to have, or we have one that's "acceptable", but we want to find one that's just a bit "better", a bit "truer", a bit "stronger".

Thus we seem to be perpetually searching for something that even when we find it we'll get bored in time and the prospect of a new "love" will keep us scouring the internet stores hoping to stumble onto that magical elixer that we'll rave over until we move on in our fickle way to start a new quest.

Two days ago I sent in an order to a supplier, I had never puchased from before. Yesterday I placed another order will a "new to me" supplier that didn't even get one mention in this thread.

I know this is beyond foolish and really a waste of my ever-diminishing resources, but I can't seem to stop.

Am I the only one in this leaky barge?

I need to cut back; But, how?

Was this thread really that useful? I hope so. I'll try to keep it in mind myself when I feel the need to "explore".

I'll admit that my motivation to shop with two new suppliers this week was not fragrance driven, but regardless, over twenty FO samples with each wound up in my shopping carts. I just shook my head both times I pushed those "committ to order" buttons.

There will be close to fifty new little bottles of oil that I will have to manage to squeeze onto my already very over-loaded fragrance racks.

Dave

Well, Hubby always tells people he knew he wanted to marry me after he took the first bite of the first meal I ever cooked for him. Chicken Cacciatore, my own sauce with the chicken off the bone, homemade noodles and homemade bread.

OMG! PLEASE send me your address so I can program my GPS. What time is dinner?

I'll bring the wine. How about a nice Riesling with the Cacciatore. I know it's German, but I won't tell the chicken if you don't. Wait a minute, that's a sweet white! I'm also big fan of Lambrusco if you prefer a mellow red.

I can bring a nice bottle of a dry red Chianti too, but I prefer to savor that with liver and fava beans!

{Smacks Lips & makes a scary face!}

David AKA "Hannibal"

It wasn't any trouble at all to tally-up the "survey".

I was surprised a bit, though.

I didn't expect so many replies. I thought more FO suppliers would make the list, due to various discusions on the board. There was quite a gap between the tied first place and the second place suppliers.

I'm very pleased that Alan's company, Peak made such a great showing. I was concerned it might be embarrassing to host a board that bought most of their FO's somewhere else. there may have been some sense of loyalty to Peak, but my instincts tell me that they deserved every mention they received. The members of this board seem very honest and candid.

Some of the comments that went along with the "votes" were interesting, too. I read that distance was a factor for some buyers. This surprised me some. Shipping distance is a factor for me when it comes to wax and jars, but I've never considered distance when ordering FO's.

Several members mentioned poor service as a factor. This I can appreciate, but I remember one member saying that it was a problem when a supplier "substituted" a fragrance when the one they ordered was out of stock. YIKES! Is that actually that company's policy?

One member, whom I wish I was more like, actually stated she get's all of her fragrances from a single supplier. Boy wouldn't that be nice! I know she's not a "hobbiest-only" user, too.

I found that I too suffer from the same condition that many of us on the board seem to be prone to. I'm a true "FO-holic".

So many fragrances to choose from and so little money to spend on getting them all!

it's a weird website but I can get to it. If I had found it on my own, I probably wouldn't order because the site is not very good. The pricing seems weird.

To be honest, I would agree with you, if I wasn't already familiar with his fragrances. I've been using them for about 6 years now.

I "stumbled" onto Gemlite during an eBay search.

I've "sampled" about 2/3 of the listed FO's and purchased his "Tea Tree" EO and a few other chemicals. The low prices on FO's was an attraction to me.

I've found about 20 fragrances (mostly simple/basic) that work and throw very well IMO. I also found some that were problematic and have since avoided them.

The biggest issue is when I asked Mr. Cheng which FO's were skin safe, I was basically told I would need to do my own testing. I am a chandler and do not sell B&B, but I find that reply quite worriesome. I'm sure many on this board would not consider using a supplier who was vague when it came to a discussion of safety matters.

JMO/HTH

Dave

Thanks bunches, ladies!

I use Internet Explorer-8.

The strange thing is, it wasn't working for me on two different computers. Both use IE-8.

This is the only site I'm having a problem with. I now wonder if maybe there is an issue with my ISP. I still have dial-up. PLEASE don't ask why!

I think I'll call their support tech and inquire.

Thanks again!

No further member testing is needed. I do appreciate all of the very quick replies.

Dave

For two years, I have been trying without success to access Gemlite Fragrance's website in order to purchase fragrances.

The owner of the site, Robin Cheng, has written to me that he has a background in computers from U of C at Berkley and also Princeton. He said he designed his own website. He also suggested that my computer's "failure to load element" is due to a problem on my end. He accepts orders by phone and email, but It's not convenient for me.

I would appreciate if some members would try to access his site and let me know if they are successful or not trying to "Enter (his) Shoppe"

http://www.ipmiplc.com/gemlite/

TIA

Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

Lol!!!! Dave you are too funny!!! No worries!! I really do pour between 187 and 188.5! Love the icon dear buddy!!!

"Shaken not stirred" !!!

Thanks so very much everyone for the info on what I hope to be another great supplier for me!! Yum!!! Butterscotch pudding does sound wonderful!!! I will definitely have to try that one next! I have been enjoying this for 6 years and I love finding new suppliers, it is just like Christmas morning! Lol! I will definitely let everyone know the results of these as soon as I get them in wax! Oh!! Tangerine Peach does sound great too! I so love this board! I am learning so much!! Thanks again!!!

I wish you could see my face right now!

I'm so very glad you're here and likiing it too!

:awww:

Delighted Dave

Nah you're fine. I didn't participate, because I would have been one of those who couldn't narrow to three

PHEW! Thanks!

I would have quit the board if I learned that I had offended you in anyway. I think you're simply swell!

Dave

TALLY TIME

As promised I counted up the "hits" on the fragrance suppliers that 45 members of this board chose to mention in 7 pages of posts.

Before listing the rankings, however, I will need to do a bit of explaining.

The thread asked for each member to list their three MOST used fragrance suppliers. Most members did this, however there were more than a few who could not restain themselves from "ties" or mentioning more than three suppliers. This made a "hard count" difficult to do.

I decided to be fair to those members who posted within the parameters that only the first three suppliers mentioned by any member would be counted in the "hard" count, but I did, in fairness to the suppliers also mentioned, provide a "soft" count and they were considered as "also used" suppliers I have therefore posted two numbers for each supplier mentioned in the thread. The first number after the supplier name is the "hard count number" while the latter is a "also mentioned" count.

Bitter Creek owned compannies are listed in three seperate entries as they were mentioned in the thread.

I would like to thank everyone who participated. I would also like to mention that I hope "scented" was not upset by an apparant "take-over" of her forum. It was not my intention to organize a formal "survey" when I asked for contributions from members to assist me in searching out a new supplier or two.

I hope that the forum moderator's abscence is only due to her belief that this thread really holds no validity with who has the best fragrances, service or price. If that is the case, she and I are in total agreement.

DISCLAIMER; Any mistakes in calculations are unintentional. This "survey" was not conducted using scientific methods or accepted accounting methods, therefore the "results" have no validity nor represent the opinion of myself or other members of the board which includes the moderator(s) and owner(s) of Craft Server or their affiliates and employees.

RESULTS

FIRST PLACE (TIE)

Peak 23 / 3

Candlescience 23 / 3

SECOND PLACE :wave:

Natures Garden 16 / 1

THIRD PLACE :highfive:

Aroma Haven/Rustic Essentials 13 / 7

RUNNERS UP (Not in order)

The Candle Source 5 / 2

Gemlite 1 / 0

Save-On-Scents 2 / 2

Candle Soylations 1 / 0

Community Candle Supply 1 / 2

Bitter Creek 4 / 0

Bittercreek North 6 / 1

Bittercreek South 2 / 1

Candlewic 3 / 3

Lonestar 1 / 1

Daystar 0 / 3

Aztec 2 / 3

Just Scents 2 / 4

Cajun 3 / 2

Indiana Candle Supplies 2 / 2

Fragrance Buddy 0 / 1

Moonworks 3 / 6

Candle Cocoon 3 / 1

Sweetcakes 3 / 0

Brambleberry 3 / 1

Majestic Mountain Sage 2 / 0

Candles & Supplies 1 / 2

Backwoods 1 / 0

SGS 1 / 1

EEB 0 / 1

Gen Wax 1 / 0

The Scent Works 3 / 0

Millcreek 2 / 2

Tyler Candle 1 / 0

Southwest Candle Supplies 0 / 1

Olive Tree 1 / 0

Tennessee Candle Supplies 0 / 1

SEE! I told ya' CM was really, really nice! I'll bet she's a great cook, too!

I enjoy good eats better than good candles!

Wow!!! I am really impressed with the selection at Candlewic! This is my first time ordering from them and it was hold to hold myself back! Lol! I was looking for Vera Wang Glam Princess type and that is what led me to them! I ordered samples of Freshwater Cucumber, White Tea and Ginger, and Awaphui and Seaberry! I am sure I missed some real goodies but I was trying to be a good girl and not go crazy!! Lol!!!

I've never bought a weak FO from them. I think their fragrance list is a bit challenging to operate, but worth the trouble. I've only bought one FO from them, that I wouldn't buy again. "Pumpkin Spice" was strong, but not what I was looking for.

Over the years I've bought quite a few closeout FO's from them through eBay sales. Everyone of them sold well for me. I asked, the Owner Bill Binder, what criteria they use to decide when to discontinue a fragrance. I was told it has to be sold at a rate of at least 100 pounds in a year or it's moved out.

It's been some time since I've noticed any CW FO's being discontinued. They've added some new ones, though.

I plan to buy more from them in the future.

LOL!!!!!! Dave you just made me laugh out loud!! You are right, Dr. No wore a lab coat too! In our wonderful chats that we had I have come to believe that your files are never ending! Lol! (((((HUGS)))))

Yes, Ms. Angie! My "files are never ending".

Unfortunately they are stored in a very old, rusty and decrepid cabinet . . . my diseased brain!

((((Back at ya'))))

Hi Moonshine! I had thought that I replied to this already but I don't see it. I use ez soy and I heat to 195 and then add fragrance at between 187 to 188.5 and it always works very well for me! The fo really bonds with the wax and produces a wonderful throw. Try it! I think you will be pleased! Best of luck!

OH NO! I hope I have not perpetrated a new myth! { 188.5 }

I'm strictly a "Para-Boy".

I was only busting on my buddy, "Mish Moneypennee" !

Jim's Cousin, Dave