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Cissy

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Everything posted by Cissy

  1. Actually, it's much more economical to make tarts in the mini muffin pans, if you looking to make more profit on them. Many people sell them this way, and most customers apparently don't seem to care whether they're in a zip lock bag with no labels, or in cups.......as long as they're highly scented and cheaply priced.
  2. IMO, it would be a total waste of your money! I place my molds on sheets of newspaper .....no spill cleanup, just throw away when I'm through. If you do like me, I put the cooled tarts in the freezer so they'll pop out easier, and the strips would just take up more space on my cookie sheet.
  3. I just put this in wax last week (NG's). It reminds me a lot of cranberry, but sweeter. To me, it's too similar to carry both in my line. I think it could be blended with something else and be a great scent. Just have to use some imagination with this one. Hot throw is great in 4630
  4. Natures Garden has a Cola FO. Just got it this week, and haven't put it in wax yet, but smells good OOB.
  5. How do you get a magnet strip to stay on? I tried this and it won't stay stuck, probably because of the oilyness of the FO. Do you you glue stick or something else? Pilljill.....meant to say I tried the magnet on the ornies (aroma beads), not the cardboard type fresheners.
  6. I agree, it is impossible to make a 'time-released' tart.
  7. I too am looking (further) for a Lavender that doesn't have the camphor smell. Do Peaks and TN's have this smell? I know there are Lavenders out there that don't because I've purchased them, but everyone I've ordered has the camphor scent I just do not like.
  8. I wonder why Candle Science didn't tell me that when I asked. They just said they are not reordering any products that don't sell so well . It seems they are cutting corners like most of us who can't be stocking up on our slower moving products. I was given the impression that the zinc wicks are one of those products that's not moving as well lately. Maybe they just didn't want to say at the time, the real reason or maybe they really did give me the real reason. Guess we'll just have to wait and see which one is correct. I sure do have a lot of zinc wicks (my favorites) I hope I haven't wasted money on.
  9. Thanks again Barbara. I've never ordered from them before, but might have to do a special order....too bad they don't ship USPS for those who want samples.
  10. Thanks, Barb. I've tried a couple Wassail FO's, but ones with spices, etc. This one has no spices or unusual notes in it. It smells just like plain Hawaiian Fruit Punch, good enough to drink.
  11. I won't mention the company's name, since they could be members here, but will say they are out of TX. I purchased a Berry Punch candle and absolutely love this fragrance. I've tried about every fruit and berry FO out there and blended all I have, but can't match it. Anyone tried any great berry punch FO's?
  12. Thanks, Top, now I'm not so afraid to try it. So, it wasn't my imagination that I remembered reading about this before. Whew!...happy to know I'm not hallucinating. Since I have no idea what % to begin with, I'll start with 2% and see if that works.
  13. Now, this has been in the back of my mind and I've wanted to ask this before, but figured I would get insulted (LOL), but I'm gonna ask now, anyway. I have searched in the archives for this and can't find anything, so I'm thinking I must have dreamed it because it doesn't make much sense. Has it ever been mentioned on CT that you could add some glue-stick to your wax to stop the wet spots? Or did I dream this during a nightmare? Actually if this were true, it wouldn't be a nightmare, it would be a heavenly dream. I've thought of trying it myself before asking here, but was afraid it might blow up my candle and burn the house down.
  14. I started making gel candles (wickless, forever candles) before I started candles and tarts. It didn't take me long after wasting a lot of money to switch. If I were you, I wouldn't invest much in gels until you find out if they will sell in your area. They didn't do so well in mine, and I sell in a tourist area many times. I made all of mine with sand, sea shells, palm trees, fish, etc.......all the scenic designs I could think of. They were too beautiful and expensive to burn up with a wick, so I went wickless and added an insert for a tealight. Everyone looked at them and bragged on how beautiful they were, then when I told them the price, they didn't want to spend that much....and my prices were much lower than many others I've seen on websites. Now, with the economy falling, it might be even more difficult to sell them. I finally got rid of them, some at barely above cost, so all my labor was in vain. I wouldn't say it's harder to make gel, if you make the forever (wickless) ones like I did. At least you cut out all the wicking and burn testing as opposed to paraffin or soy candles. It does take more time to actually make them, if you do the scenic designs, and you do spend a lot more money. Gel is more expensive and embeds can get expensive if you add a lot to your candles. IMO, there is too much work involved for what I could sell them for. Occasionally I still make a few for gifts. I really hate working with gel, though, 'cause of picking off the little gel balls off everything when cleaning up. If you decide to do this anyway, I have quite a collection of embeds, sand, inserts, etc. you can purchase at a reduced price. You can PM me.
  15. The suppliers who remain in business most likely will not be reordering supplies that do not sell as well. I've had a couple suppliers tell me this just recently. I'm having to cut corners, too, using up my least favorite FO's first before ordering more new FO's. I've had a big problem not wanting to sell scents if I don't like them a lot myself. I have to keep reminding myself that someone else might like a scent even if I don't care much for it. I am blending continuously, trying to improve some of them.
  16. I don't order from other chandlers because of shipping, but I have purchased from a couple of competitors (after they sent their little "spies" over to asks lots of questions and sometimes buy from me). I figured if they can be sneaky, I will too. Anyway, both times I tried their candles and tarts, I would have been ashamed to sell products with such low scent throw. I would feel that I was cheating the customer out of their hard-earned money. I want my customers to feel like they're getting something for their money besides wax or a flame.
  17. I'll have to try the mineral oil, also. Maybe the FO will last longer in it than the DPG. Most customers like a long-lasting scent they don't have to change every few hours. BTW, I believe most chandlers use the glass bottles for their oils, but they cost more than the HDPE bottles like we get our FO samples in. Do you guys see anyone sellling in their own labeled HDPE bottles? I know they don't look as professional and won't hold the scent as long, but most customers will use them up quickly anyway.....and we don't have to fill them up too far in advance (unless wholesaling and letting them sit under flourescent lights.) What are your opinions on selling in the HDPE bottles? One advantage is being able to sell FO bottles at a little lower price. ETA: Does anyone know where to find inserts that will fit in the top of the 1 oz. HDPE bottles.....can't remember what they're called, but have seen those that fit some of the glass/amber bottles. These allow customers to shake a few drops at a time in their warmers. It would also prevent them from spilling as much everywhere when opening bottles to smell. ...... Just thinkin' ahead if I decide to sell the FO's.
  18. Sharon, try using the same amount of FO per lb of oil, mineral oil, DPG or whatever you mix with, that you use per lb of wax and compare. That's the only way to truly compare the two. You can make up less than a lbs worth. I made up 1/4th lb oil and 1/4th the amt FO I normally use in 1 lb of wax. If you have to use more FO in the oil than in the wax, then you really aren't saving that much $$$ unless you charge more for the oils in comparison to your tarts. For those who've been selling tarts, this is an important test because your regular customers who are use to buying your tarts will also be comparing the two when they buy your oils, and they will be back buying the best quality/price of the two. You also have to factor in the cost of your bottles/labels. You will save on labor, of course, and labor is time and time is money, unless you have plenty of time. I don't have enough of either (LOL) I've considered just selling the uncut refresher oils, but am hesitant to do so, because customers will just keep adding too much FO over and over to the same wax, or using them straight in their warmers, which is a bad idea. Also, when they find out they can buy FO's at Walmart or Michael's, etc. they might just start buying from them......or when they find out they can buy directly on-line, they will try that too until they figure out they are getting FO's they don't like and paying shipping also, for a scent they don't like (as we chandlers do quite freqently). While they are figuring this out, we are losing sales.
  19. I ordered the DPG and used the same bottle of FO, same warmer, and same ratio as I do in my wax tarts, just to compare and see if the scent would last as long as it does in wax.......and it doesn't last as long. I can't figure out why, but it just doesn't. The FO just seems to last longer when you put it in wax.
  20. I wouldn't throw the case of pillar wax out. A case can make a lot of tarts. You should be able to blend it with a softer wax and make tarts with it. Make a small batch with one of your least favorite FO's so you want waste good FO if it doesn't work. I'm sure it will, though, since it doesn't have a bad smell to it. Try mixing it 70% pillar with 30% 415 and see if it's the consistency and firmness you want for your tarts. Adjust, if necessary.
  21. Thanks, Beverly. That explains it. Guess it just goes to show, you generally get what you pay for. Wish more consumers understood this so they wouldn't waste their money buying unscented candles/tarts elsewhere (LOL)
  22. Well, I've never ordered directly from a manufacturer, so can't compare the strength of their FO's. I have ordered some WYW FO's, and even though many of their (WYW) scents aren't my favorite scents because they are rather unique, I am impressed with the strength of their FO's and have wondered many times how or why they are more concentrated and stronger than many other FO's and have wished many, many times they would carry more 'common' everyday scents (without some of the unique base notes) that the majority of my customers seem to prefer. I have no idea why there is a difference in the concentration or strength. They are more expensive, but I for one would prefer higher strength even at a higher price. I would prefer having more control over getting the best possible hot throw without worrying about FO overload that affects the burn or safety of the candle. Now I have to confess that I've never ordered from Peaks (yet) because I'm on the east coast, trying to save on shipping, so please don't throw me off the board for admitting this.(LOL) I still plan to try Peak's sometime soon, just haven't got around to it yet.
  23. A 24 watt warmer or tealight warmers burn the scent off too quickly. Try them in a lower watt warmer and you will see a difference. They won't smell as strong, but will last longer. See if they are strong enough in a lower watt warmer. ETA: First of all, no one should claim that their tarts will last for however many days they claim. I always tell my customers approximately how many hours they will last. You don't know if the customer is going to burn them continuously or just a few hours a day. Plus, every scent is different. Some simply just last longer than others. You can buy the same scent, i.e. an apple FO from 5 different companies and none of them will always last the same length of time, even with the same % per lb. in the same wax. Different quality/composition from different companies.
  24. Judy, the ones you use w/indented oval bottoms, who sells these, if you don't mind sharing. Do these have the separate lids or the hinged lids? TIA
  25. :grin2: I remember when I was small, my mother had a treadle machine (we just called it a peddle machine-LOL). My brother who was a tinkerer, decided to put an electric motor on it, got it going so fast, he blew it up and it never worked again. Hehehe! That's when she bought herself an electric machine. The treadle ended up in the dumpster and she never let him touch her new one. ETA: An idea for practicing is to make pillow cases. You won't need a pattern, they're easy to make....just measure one you have and cut the material to size. Pillow cases you can always use. I change my pillow cases more often than my bedsheets, so always need extra ones.
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