emilyspoppy

I will often write a review on a fragrance when the feature is available. I'm pretty sure you can do that at Peak. It's one of the reasons I bought a whole pound of "WMH" rather than an ounce. I read the reviews. I also placed an order with CandleScience on the same day. I was going to try their "Honey", but the reviews were bad. To the credit of CS, they have since made it a closeout item and reduced the price quite a bit. It impresses me when an FO supplier allows honest and unrestricted feedback on their products and then is willing to admit they made a mistake in their selection. CS doesn't stock nearly as many FO's as other larger suppliers, but many are unique and most of good quality. Although I don't use soy, they also have a soy throw level feature for those that do. I "found" about several hundred it seems, more FO suppliers after I "found" this board. I've been sweating ever since. I love looking at all of the bottles in my crazy scientist's laboratory. Does anyone know about how to go about selling blood? I visited the local sp*rm bank recently, but my guess is the staff there are still rolling around the floor in hysteria. I'm always trying to buy enough to make the shipping charges effective, but I have to overcome my "bigger is better" attitude and stick to sampling new FO's. Dave

That is a great price on Presto's, but I already have about 10! I'll bet they all cost more than $20 bucks too. I'm not a big fan of the "spout". I find it cumbersome and hard to open with one hand while the other holds the pour pot. On two pounds of wax or less we just pour into pots. When we have up to four pounds (Never more) in a pot we will dip it into the pour pot with a large stainless steel restaurant ladle. I don't think there is a right answer to the best method, but that is, I believe a good price on the pot. Does it have the newer magnetic "break away" control or the older style prong control. My wife likes #2 (new one) and I like #1 (old one). See; Even a disagreement in the same "company"; Not unusual for our "staff", though! (lol) Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

Actually the waxes I use are imported too; From Canada. They are stocked by American sellers, though. Your wax technical issues are way over my head, but if you are buying American fragrance oils you will want to note whether they can be shipped by air. A good supplier will mention this in their data information. If you order some fragrances with a lower flashpoint they will have to be shipped by surface shipping. That might mean it will be some time for you to receive them. Some sellers may not ship to Europe either. I wish you the best of luck! Dave

Right now I just want my enema! I promise to behave. I cannot recall buying a weak Peak (It rhymns!) fragrance! Please moderators! Don't ship me off to "Motivation Platoon" !!! I'll spend a few hours on the quarterdeck, but I do want to stay with the squad. Dave

Wow! I'm getting to post with a Marine! That makes me quite happy for some reason. I feel like polishing some brass or field stripping a weapon! I am assuming that it is you who is in the Corps and not a spouse or relative. Are you a lifer or just in for a standard enlistment? I was discharged a long time ago as a mere Lance Corporal. I served the bulk of a three year deferred enlistment. I was wounded twice, neither of which I am at all proud of and was shipped stateside about 2 months earlier than a standard tour "in country" which was then 13 months. I deployed over as a rifleman in an Infantry Company with the Third Marine Division, but about three weeks after I arrived there as a replacent in a rifle squad, I was re-assigned to the First Division. The Third was pulled out and stationed in Okinawa. They're still there. I miised the "Tet" and "Hue City" battles and found myself in the period where were the politicians were downsizing our presence there. I would like to blame my disaeased brain on combat wounds that I received in "That Crazy Asian War", but Ruby, OOPS! I meant to say Judy; I have checked my High School Yearbook class of 1967 and found the trouble started prior to boot camp. Shame! I was counting on some VA help or disability allotment. I'm stuck in a wheelchair right now, but improving. Some of the doctors wrote up during five recent surgeries that my leg problems were due mostly to wounds I received to my lower legs over 40 years ago. Both of my legs are quite scarred, but they only really began giving me problems a few years ago. It wasn't even my legs they operated on. I wish they had just kept their opinions out of print. Now my insurance company wants me to re-emburse them for payments they made and file claims with VA. I'm fighting it. My daughter and her husband, both Vet's, have supervisory jobs in VA. They are trying to help straighten out this mess for me. I'm not sure where it will end up. You really don't have too much to worry about with me being too "gabby". I just don't care to be classified as a "wax drip". It's almost as bad as being called a "boot" and I'm sure you can recall the other names that went along with that distinction. As I said in another post, I am trying to get an enema, I mean enigma rating. Once I "graduate", I'll be a bit quieter. Not a lurker. . . More of a looker. There are so many obviously talented chandlers on this board, I doubt if I will have that much to offer. By the way; I'm a big fan of Peak! I just got a large order in about two weeks ago. I'm not sure why, but I actually bought a 6" wide and very deep dipping vat along with my other goodies. Many years ago when I lived outside of Dover Air Force base in Delaware, I ENJOYED making and selling hand-dipped tapers in the back yard on sunny days. My wife used to poke fun at me and claim the neighbors thought I was having rehab treatments or something. I did find it theraputic and soothing on my nervous system, though. I also after a decade long search finally found (pretty close) a fragrance that I have really wanted, from Peak; Honey (Actually; "Wild Mountain Honey") plain and simple! No flowery notes to speak of. "Semper-Fi!" Take care and don't let the sand fleas bite! Dave

Designing my own candle fragrances is the only fun thing left for me to do after making candles for over thirty years. I HATE wicking jars and melting and pouring and cleaning and labeling and you all know the rest. I'm easily bored and my dear wife who promised to share in the load when we opened our shop over a decade ago has about thrown in her towel too. I am, though, a "FO-HOLIC" of the 1st degree! I can't help myself even though I know that I'm wasting large sums of hard-earned money trying to acquire at lease a sample of every FO in America. I have to stop! I have spent the last four days in my wheelchair (That's another story!) while my wife is away for a week of scrapbooking fun and games, sorting through my rolling racks of fragrances. I have many in five gallon jugs. and seriously thousands in smaller amounts, mostly full pound unused bottles. It's simply ridiculous. Right now I'm on restricted membership. I have to wait my time, but I've been eyeing that marketing forum ever since I arrived here. I'd rather sell on a candle board to chandlers than do the eBay thing. I will even be offerring fragrances that I purchased within the month at a huge price break. Once I get my stock more manageable, I plan to take the path that "Scented" seems to be on. When I do get to sell my overstock, some of my own design included, they will be fresh and full stregnth. Any junk will be hauled off to the local transfer station for recycling. My reputation means more to me than money! My wife doesn't know this yet, but I'm about to journey into B&B when things are sorted out here. Maybe I can get some help from her then! Keep testing, no matter what method you like to use, but keep an eye on your inventory. Try not to be as foolish as I have been. Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

For maximum throw, I use "Fudge Brownie". It's really strong and rich. I usually buy mine from Bitter Creek North. I have tried their chocolate and hot cocoa, but I always revert back to "FB". Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

If I told you the first thoughts that came to mind, I would never get off of probation! Dave

Hello and welcome! I'm new to this board too, but I have made candles for many years. I now make predominately fragrant container candles, but I have worked with most types of candles and waxes over the years. Americans have many choices available to them when it comes to candle-type waxes. There are waxes formulated to "MOTTLE" naturally. These are often the choice for those desiring to make primitive candles with a desireable frosted finish. There are oils however, known as Mottling Oils, which can be added to most waxes to acheive that result. Your best option would be to do an internet search to find a convenient supplier for you. Although not mentioned, if you plan to add fragrance to your mottled candles, there is also an oil on the market known as "Mottle Max". It will only work in wax that is mottled, but it can increase the amount of fragrance oil that your mottled wax will hold. I do know that this product can be obtained from an American supplier, "Bitter Creek North". I would use the highest temperature wax you can find for your hurricane candles. I suggest you do not add Vybar, since it will make the wax quite opaque, unless that is your desire. Vybar will allow your wax in your primative-type tapers to hold more fragrance, but use it sparingly. Too much will lock-up the fragrance and prevent you from acheiving a good "throw". Vybar will also assist with mold release and making the candles more opaque. Since I am unfamiliar with your wax, I would only be guessing about how much micro-crystaline to add. Don't blend your two waxes though. You want the highest melt point you can acheive. Perhaps someone with more experience or willing to take a shot in the dark will offer some advice on amounts to add. It may serve you well if you had a way to contact the supplier or manufacturer of your waxes. We find here that most sellers want to be helpful to end-users. In closing, please let me say that your English is very good! I speak a little French and a bit more Spanish, but Polish is not known to me. Have a great week! Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

Since HD is a registered trademark, I might have to rename it "Burnt Rubber". Sales may be slow, but I'll bet the lids on the jars in our shop get taken off more than a few times! People are weird! A name change can turn a slow seller into an ovenight sensation! I's still working on "Blace Ice". I will have to take Ambien tonight to get any sleep! Dave AKA "Mr. Stinky" (But in a good way, please!)

Thanks, Annie! You saved my bacon, bucks and sanity! I was considering Etsy. It sounds to me that you are a pretty savvy business woman. Have a great day! Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

I recall "Black Gold" and "Texas Tea" ! Hey, maybe you could get some booze type scent and call it "Tenneesee Tea" (A take-off on "Moonshine".) Being a fragrance designer is worse than being a "crack junkie"; I imagine. I live near a school in a "drug free zone". It's super hard time for even first-time offenders, but; I have awakened abrubtly in the dead of night and headed into my candle room and set up, beakers, flasks and pipettes! Sick! Simply Sick! Have you seen the old "Bride of Frankenstein" movie with Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff? "Hisssss!. . . It's alive!" I have all of my neighbors now terrified to see me coming at them with a little bottle in my hand. Most of the time, they will recoil and put both hands in the air and claim "Sorry! I have a cold. Can't smell a thing!" as they turn and flee. I don't understand why they react like this, and it hurt's my feelings. It's not like I was asking them to pull my finger or do something gross. I have had nightmares where they are all marching down our street, carrying torches and screaming profanities towards our house. "Dave; Sad (and sleepless) in St. Mary's" !! Licorice and Peppermint . . .Hmmmm?

"Black Ice" Sounds like a good fragrance name! HMMMM! I'm envisioning the description now in my diseased brain. I think I'll quit while I seem to be ahead. Thanks! Dave

OOPS! I'm sorry! I had thought this thread was pretty much wrapped up on the topic. Three earlier posts arrived while I was "composing". PLEASE; Accept my apologies! Dave

Dear Tracey; I think I may be doing more reading than typing, at least for a while. I just read a thread in the "Off Topic" forum that I was not able to reply post to due to my restricted membership. It was about being considered a "dummy" if you made a writing or speaking error. Yikes! I wasn't expecting the board to be quite so "unforgiving" to writers like ME. I used to be a reporter/photograper and news editor for a small county-wide weekly newspaper, but I can assure you that I had several staff members proof-reading my output prior to publication. I was quite active on the Bitter Creek board before being hospitalized for over a year. During that period, the board seemed to slow to a virtual stop. I never had anyone complain about my writing style, punctuation or grammar there, but they had a working "spell check" feature that saved me quite a bit of embarassment. (SP?) :rolleyes2 My wife opened a virus infected email on my primary HP PC while I was in the hospital. I have not been able to get it to function properly since returning home. She took it to two "repair" shops and they both said it was "up and running fine", only to hook it up at home to find neither knew what they were talking about. I have half a lfetime's worth of work in that machine, which now just stares silently and coldly at me. A good friend gave me his older version Dell computer that he had replaced with a laptop. He had it really loaded with a bunch of junk, but after an hour or so of deleting files and programs, I had it running pretty well. He didn't have "spell check" on it, though! ("Spider Solataire" was absent too, but that's another story!) When I tried to download the "spell check" version recomended in this board, I have have had nothing but problems with my PC operating properly. I'm trying now to "fix it" and restore it to the period before attempting the download, which, by the way, did not provide me with the "SC" feature. Once the doctor and hospital bills stop arriving, we may go shopping for a new PC. I'm not real happy right now! I'll get over it though! I'll take two 10mg Diazapam (Vallium) with one 16 oz. Gin & Tonic just prior to bed time. I normally would avoid stealing a thread like this, but since it was your's to begin with, I guess it's OK to post this here. I think, at least until I get a working "spell check" feature running, I'll; "Remain silent and thought a dummy, than to speak up and remove all doubt!" One positive note for me today, though! We were warned to expect to receive four to six inches of snow overnight! It just rained all night and the sun is shining beautifully right now! Phew! The older I get the more I hate winter. A half hour drive north of here (Lexington Park area) at Charlotte Hall (Where our shop is.), they did get some snow. I'm not sure how much, though. Dave

It was nice "chatting" with you, Tracey! HEY! This is my 8th post!!!! Hooray! Now I only have to wait another 3 weeks or so! Bummer ! Dave

The Burchmart you stopped at was located in the median at Mechanicsville a few miles south on route 235 from "Berts Diner" a favorite hangout for old car colectors. I designed the interior of the C-store which was built about 1990. I have two colonial-style tables, one of pine and one of oak, I made out of lumber left over from the construction of the store. I would never part with them. They will be part of my will to my two daughters. My wife has two cats, both "fixed" females. Despite the fact that we have three litter boxes in various parts of the house, one of the cats has "claimed" them all for herself. Fortunately she will allow the other cat to use one to urinate in, but that's it! All H*ll breaks loose at leaset once a day and my wife gets the joy of picking up the pile of "tootsie rolls" left by the loser of the battle. I've never been a cat person, but for some reason they have both adapted me as the love of their life. It's sickening! I am always stumbling over them, because they are always rubbing against my legs and such. I wish they would just stop and go sleep it off somewhere. I don't know your SIL, but I will check with Carrie to give me the scoop on her. She know's all of the dealers, both present and past. Take care in Tennessee! Dave

I'm offering a different approach to beginning your journey into making highly fragrant candles. I have been making candles for a long time and I have wasted more money and effort than I would ever like to admit in a public forum such as this. First off I'm an old dude! Very pragmatic and always looking looking for the best and usually easiest way to do things. I've got a bunch of years in management and the first thing out of my mouth to trainees was usuallyl "Work smarter, not harder." If you are only looking to do a few candles for yourself or gifting, pick one container and work with it. Regardless of it's style it should have a removal cover/lid that you can replace on the jar when not in use. It looks to me like you've already started out with a jar that may pose a problem for you. Use a premium wax. Despite whatever you read on any candle board, paraffin is still the easiest wax to get a good performance with for beginners and IMO old-timers too. I have tried every known candle base that I am aware of from animal tallows, bayberry, beeswax, soy, palm and gel and I keep sticking with parrafin. It's my choice, because it is the most consistant and EASIET to use. I started with IGI-4527 because of it's remarkable fragrance loading capabilities, but I got worn out from the mess. I switched to IGI-4630 and will quit making candles if they ever stop selling it. Do it right and it's a true one-pour wax with great cold & hot throw. Many suppliers stock it. I order mine from CandleScience in NC. Expect to pay $90 for a 60 pound case. Buy a slab or two at a time in the beginning. It will cost more per pound, but you are not going into a production phase yet. Until you get some flight time registered, I sugest you settle on an 8 ounce smooth sided/ slightly tapered Jelly jar. They use a size 70 lid and they come in several finishes and styles. The jars and lids are commonly available from many suppliers. They are also about the cheapest and easiest to wick and pour containers out there. Due to their shape and size, "hang" is usually not an issue. I get these from either Fillmore Containers in Lancaster, PA. (I pick them up in bunches); or from CS in NC. It just depends on if I want to travel north to spend some time with my grand-kids. Don't worry about wet spots! If anyone should ask, tell them it's proof of a highly fragrant candle. In a decade not one customer has ever asked about them in our shop. HONEST! Our wick is a propietary item, but before we found it we did well wicking our jars with a #51Z (zinc) wick to begin with. Don't clutter up your mind with a lot of the little details that may drive you crazy and scare you off. Good fragrant candles can be made. Remember keep it simple don't buy stuff you won't need. The stuff you will need will be expensive enough. Start with no more than 10 or 12 DIVERSE BUT BASIC fragrances from quality supplier(s). Try to pay about $1.00 an ounce if you can. You will need a few ounces of each to do good testing. Avoid buying the largest bottles at first. Many suppliers run sales on their one ounce bottles from Time to time. Sample at first. Read reviews! Don't go for the pricey sophisticated smells in the beginning. Learn to make a good candle first. READ / READ / READ everything you can, especially on this forum. Your time will be well spent. Try to pick the best suppliers closest to you. Candle supplies are expensive to ship. Be patient! Cure times are real and unavoidable. TEST TEST TEST then REST REST REST. Make candles when you're fresh and happy to do it. After three decades I can no longer get into that mode except when I am creating new fragrances. I will wake up in the middle of the night and go to work like some mad chemist. It's the only part I still love! If you want to venture into different containers or natural waxes later on, the world is your oyster. Remember though; If you offer multiple sizes of your candle jars it will mean multiple amounts of work and inventory too. Oh! Don't forget to label your work. You will deserve to have bragging rights when you get them right! There's a lot more for you to learn, but I hope you found some of this to be sound and helpful advice. I'm new to this board and my privledges are restricted at this time, but except for wicking, I will try to assist if you ask. At least with questions I may be able to reply to. Good Luck and happy chandlering. :highfive: Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

Jennifer; I'd recognize you even behind those Foster Grants. I guess you can see where I wound up! I'm glad though that it's not me you're telling that my "wick is too small". Forum Moderator; Sorry! I couldn't control myself. I had to steal this old thread to; 1.) Let "Flicker" know I'm still around. 2.) Get my 8 posts in so I can get off of probation. (I'm not too fond of being called a "drip" either. I'm going for an enema, OOPS! I mean enigma. (Will I be able to edit my posts then. . . I HOPE! 30 days is a long time to be extra careful. I promise I won't boost any active threads. Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles :embarasse

YEP! That's the market. It is in the National Historical Registry. It was originally a largely Amish market. But that has changed over the years. The market is owned by Ben Burrough's and managed by Carrie Keegan. Carrie is one of my wife's and my best friends. I hired her then husband (Now divorced) when I was working at the Burch Oil Company in Hollywood, Maryland. I was the Retail Division Manager for the company. I was responsible for all of their retail sites. (Burchmarts and gasoline stations. We had 15 in operation when I left for health reasons. My wife still works there as a data entry auditor. She has been there over 25 years now. I've known Ben B. for about 25 years also. I have two adjoining shops, about in the middle of Building "H". Our main shop is named; "Betty's Boutique". We sell jewelry & candles and some other "interesting" goods and services. Whats your SIL's first name and what does she sell? I'm friendly with quite a few of the regular venders. I have no retailer enemies that I'm aware of. By the way; Tennessee is or was the world's leading producer of phosphates and nitrates. No "poop" involved. (lol) Dave :smiley2:

Thanks for the welcome and nice words, too! I'm going to try and behave myself on this board, at least for a while. Those of you who know me, probably are terrified that I bring my warped sense of humor here now! Yikes! Fear not, though! Few "books" are planned. I do have to get to the "Enigma" level soon though! My first wife once called me a "drip"! It was 40 years ago and I'm still pi**ed off about it! I live in Great Mills, St. Mary's County. We have had a shop at Charlotte Hall Farmer's Market for over 10 years now. We also do some wholesaling, but I am not ambitious enough to start a website. I love creating fragrances, but hate making candles. It used to be fun, but those days are behind me now. Later on I'll let members know what else I do and sell in our "double-wide" permanant shop. Some of you may remember, but I don't want to shock anyone else yet! I hope to be a good member. ("MS. USMC"; "Semper Fi" ! I hope things are better at "Camp Swampy" than when I was there.) I've also been to "The Volunteer State". You do know that "More fertilizer comes from there than any other place in the world!" (Quote from the movie "Sand's of Iwo Jima") I found it lovelier, though than even "The Free State's", Silver Springs where I have also spent some time! Thanks again! Looking forward to making many new buddies! :highfive: Dave

I've had so much trouble with palm wax over years of attempts and testing, (Although I personally like the look and throw.) I now only use it periodically for votives. I use a paper core wick with these. By the way this is my first post on this board. I was (am) a pretty active member of the Bitter Creek board for years but have moved to this site. I'm not too happy being a "drip" though. I've gotta get some posts going. I do recognize a few of you from the BC Board. I'm a 63 year old married dude (man) living in Southern Maryland who's been making candles for a little over 30 years now. I will have to admit, though, that I learn something everytime I check in on a candle board. This looks like a great and active site. I hope this is the beginning of a great journey. Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles