emilyspoppy

At my poor grammar or bad typing? I really have to stop posting when I'm virtually falling asleep. Actually I should stop posting . . . period! "Altitude EFFECTS" OUCH!!!

Thanks so much, Tracey! (She's given me permission to use her first name. She's my friend, too!) I wasn't really ready to introduce soaps in our shop yet, but my wife kept insisting that I set up at least a modest display. I am very encouraged so far. The "Monkey Farts" sale of over 50 bars wasn't even our best selling selection yesterday. I'm not ready to proclaim a profitable venture yet, because it's just to soon to tell. January's sales will be a more accurate indicator for what we should expect from our little shop. I'm hoping for the best, though! It doesn't hurt to hope. It sure would be nice to win one for a change, though. Dave

I have three good sized inter-connected shops that I would be very happy to swap for a shop like yours. I love the floors and the backroom. The store front window makes me drool thinking of what I could do with that. It's very bright and alas that would be a slight concern, however. Make sure you at least consider adding UV inhibitor to your creations. Labels can be replaced, but candles . . . OUCH! You probably already know this, though. My shop is dark. We use track lighting spotlights to focus on our products and displays. When we are closed there are no windows to let in sunlight. It's sort of bittersweet. I'd rather have to add the inhibitor! The very best of luck to you as your store takes on it's identity. It's sort of like creating a wonderful painting. ENJOY the JOURNEY! Dave

I only do M&P, but I've experienced that the fragrances that discolor in CP also affect my soaps. I cannot comment on ricing or acceleration issues, but I've been going more and more with Lonestar's fragrances for my soaps. I really like the fact that they are IFRA (International Fragrance Association) rated. Good pricing and detailed bottle labeling doesn't hurt either. I did a ton of researching and testing before I sold any soap and I use Lonestar's "Monkey Farts" and "Butt Naked". Neither discolored and both have excellent Category 9 (Bar Soap) IFRA ratings. The "MF" is very "banana-ey" if you're looking for that. http://www.lonestarcandlesupply.com/fragranceoils/soapsafe.html For the record, Nature's Garden fragrances are also IFRA rated, but they list a marginal (4%) bar soap rating on "MF". Customer reviews also mention their "MF" is a bit to "citrusy". I've sampled it and OOB, I concur. I smell more grapefruit than banana. I make a kids novelty bar using clear M&P base that I embed a small plastic monkey in. I bought the toys from an eBay seller. (Search; Monkey Party Favors) YES! I state choking hazard warnings on the label and POS material. I'm not trying to brag, what-so-ever, as it may be a fluke and simply a Christmas gift item, but yesterday we sold over 50 bars in our small farmer's market shop. My wife also took orders for more for next Saturday. We price our bar soap at $4.00 each or 3/$10.00 for a four-ounce bar. We may have been able to sell more because we sold out several hours before we closed. I'm off to make more now. For the record; I wished ALL fragrance suppliers, especially PEAK offered IFRA data on their "soap safe" fragrances. It may mean a slight increase in price, but I for one would be willing to pay it. I'm sure there are many chandlers who could care less and some experienced soapers who are not that worried just how safe their "soap safe" fragrances actually are, but I'm a "soap-stupid/soap-newbie" and I can use all of the help I can get when making soap that is safe for me to sell. This is just my opinion, however. Hope this is helpful. Good luck with whatever your choice is! Dave

"Denver office" ??? Maybe the altitude effects their little brains? I 'm situated at sea level so I can't claim that excuse for myself. "Use SOY or palm WAX to grease a frying pan." . . . Confession; I've done that! It didn't taste bad either!

I've been pouring IGI-4630 for years. Despite some problems with inconsistancy with the IGI waxes I've used (varying petrolatum amounts) I have no plans to change. JMO/HTH Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles & Soaps

If I'm able to make a good plan (that works) and I can control my "urges" the period between January/February and June/July is what I shoot for to stock up on staples like wax and jars. JMO/HTH Maybe a supplier or two will jump in here and offer an insight of their sales strategy for the slower sales "off-months" for us. Dave

OH! That requies some comtemplation, but; "Eeeny, Meeny. Miney, Moe! Peak's would be my way to go!" Dave

I believe that Jason & Puma are both right. In my very humble opinion, it would depend on your market and your method of sales. I have a small shop in an Historical Farmer's Market. My best period for Christmas-type candles, in store, lies between Thanksgiving and New Years. I also have a limited mail-order customer base. My best period for Christmas-type candles, via call or write in sales, lies between Halloween and Thanksgiving, With only a few exceptions (Valentines Day & Halloween) the only Holiday that I spend any effort on marketing is Christmas. Even then I create or buy fragrances that can be renamed and relabled aften the "event" passes. HTH/JMO Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles & Soaps

I'm awake and it‘s not too late. I can have a package in the mail Friday AM. Just PM me! C'mon! You should do it! David

Bella, Bella Sabrina. The candles are almost as beautiful as their maker. Nice concept, too! David

It sure beats being called an "ADDICT"!!! Do you remember when you were just a (wax) DRIP? I do. I was never so happy to get an enema (Enigma rating) in my life, except for that one time in the hospital when they threw away my bedpan and I had to wait a week for a replacement. Oh! Vey! I'LL BET THEY STILL TALK ABOUT THAT DAY! I can still send you a list of what I have that you can get some freebies from. I also have an FO modifier/fixer that will allow you to get great results with waxes that have been a problem for you (Like Peaks "Sugar Cookie"). You'll be happy to get that freebie. I promise! Just PM me if interested. Passing out now!

HEY! Girlfriend! I hope you and Mom and Amber have a superb and wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. Betty and I will be spending a quiet year at home, which is better than the previous three "Turkey-Days" we "enjoyed" in hospitals! The only thing that will stress me out is the thought of so many of my kinsmen (Toms) and Kinswomen (Hens) who be shoved into hot ovens! OUCH!!! Silly old me! Hugs and Kisses and Hugs and some more Kisses! Gobble Gobble!!!!

Karen; You're always sending out freebies to other members. I just climbed into the sack. Took a sleeping pill and getting sleepy already. (I was soaping for the past twelve hours.) If you can hold off on your order until I have the time to snooze some and check on my stock, I can send you some samples of your choosing from my MillCreek stash. Just PM to let me know. I usually don't sleep longer than six hours or so. I have a fair selection on hand. I like their fragrances, in general. EDITED TO ADD; Oh! Just another small point. MillCreek's one of the few companies that do not have a huge per ounce price gap between the eight ounce and sixteen ounce bottle. I therefore often buy eight ouncers from them. I seldon do that with other suppliers. Dave

I doubt if there ever will be a agreement on this subject. I suppose few fragrances are more subjective than good old pine. When I first began making candles many moons ago you could count on one hand the number of fragrances available to home candle crafters. Pine represented one of the fingers on that hand. The middle finger! Since that time, I've been searching in vain for perfection. The one that I like the best, though, is not a true pine fragrance, but it is the "piney" class. "Mistletoe" has evolved as a year long favorite for me, my family and most of my customers. I like several supplier's versions; Candlescience, Peaks, Crafter's Choice and Mill Creek. I keep a bottle of some "Mistletoe" hiding out (in a safe place) so I can sniff it for a quick pick-me-up on an "off-day". Weird? Yep!; But Honest! JMO Dave

Next time you run into her, hand her a spoon! YUMMM!!!

Does she make beeswax votives that contain no fragrance oils?

I agree. They have some other excellent FO's, too. Their "Vanilla Bean Noel" is my favorite vanilla scent. I just hope they don't wind up shutting down and that they get all of their fine FO's back in stock. I'm holding my breath regarding the future of this supplier. JMO DAVE @ CHARLOTTE HALL COUNTRY CANDLES (AND SOAPS)

Mystery solved!

The "Angel Dust" in the photo looks exactly like the wax I have in my stockroom that I bought from CW. I tried "enhancing" it without success. I just made a sticky, nasty mess. I wound up melting it and adding the appropriate FO to pick up the throw. I have then used it straight (enhanced) for votives and added IGI-4630 and poured it as clamshell melts and tarts. My impression was it is a typical votive/pillar blend wax. Nothing really special about it except in my case I was able to pick it up at about the cost of shipping. I even bought some closeout granulated wax from CW that was a color changing wax. It went from a pale green to pink when heated if I remember correctly. It was mostly a curiosity to me. I didn't see much serious potential for it as a granulated wax in our shop. I still have some in stock. It was packaged for home crafters in plastic tubs under Candlewic's "Expressions" label. Although I've never felt an urge to do it, I suppose it would be a simple yet messy proposal to make your own "wax crumbles" as PAgirl89 posted. JMO/HTH

Actually this MIGHT be "granulated wax" that she purchased in bulk. I have a fair quantity of "granulated wax" that I bought from Candlewic on closeout. The colors and fragrances are fairly limited, and based on what I have purchased, are pretty weak throwing. I believe that the wax I have is either seconds or over-runs that CW produces for big users. I feel the "Sand Wax" type candles being marketed in some Wal-Mart's use CW's wax. The wax they make is produced by spraying wax that is already scented and dyed into rotating drums while under pressure. I really feel this product has limited value and it's appeal to some customers would be mostly based on a gimmicky-type of marketing. I can actually imagine some customers finding it desirable to be able to spoon the "dust" into melters, perhaps mixing the fragrances to achieve their own custom blends. As most of us know, you do not need "sand wax" to accomplish this, however. JMO/HTH Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

The only mistake you made was to let her be the first one to hit the delete button.

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale/wholesale-shaving-brushes.html?SearchText=shaving%2Bbrushes&CatId=0&initiative_id=SB_20130807204601&SortType=price_asc&filterCat=66030203,200002544,100001042&groupsort=1 Have fun! A lot of choices! Dave

Peak's owner, Alan is on a family vacation right now, but he posted earlier on the board that pick-ups could be made at the location, but you would need to call ahead. A showroom is coming soon, he added. I hope I'm not confused on the details. It seems the older I get the less clear things are to me. Dave