Michdj

I have a big wholesale trade show on Sunday/Monday and my glass just came in today. So I'm busting it trying to get 8 new fragrances ready for pre-orders... Blackberry Sage, Oakmoss and Amber, Ocean, Cherry Limeade (my mix), Lavender Vanilla, Mango Papaya, Sunflower and Coconut Lime Verbena. Can you tell I'm ready for Spring?

I know I shouldn't care, but I guess I'm too OCD to overlook it. We have a big wholesale show this weekend, and the status jars kind of scream UGLY with wet spots. Especially big, huge, honkin', half-the-side-of-the-glass wet spots. IMO they just shouldn't be there. Hmph.

I actually pour them and insulate them with Styrofoam custom boxes, so they come out of there looking beautiful. I find that when I take them to the basement to store them (maybe a 10 degree cooler change in temp) they will pull away in parts. Sooooo frustrating! I guess it's just the temperature changes and the fact that the glass is thinner near the top. Every time I drag them out to sell them I have to hit them with the heat gun to get rid of the nasty wet spots. Thanks for the advice!

What's your name? Michelle

How old are you? 42

Where do you live? O'Fallon, MO (suburb of St Louis)

How long have you been making candles/soap/whatever? Candles - 10 years in June. Bath/body/lotion - about 5 months

How did you get started making candles/soap/whatever? I saw a web site with mini-flower-pot candles and thought they would be cute to make for favors for our wedding. And... that was that!

Are you married? Any kids? Married to a wonderful man, and I have three kids: 18yo son (previous marriage), 8yo son, and 7yo daughter (16 months apart!)

If candle/Soap making isn't your primary job, what do you do? I worked for an investment firm for 12 years before I quit in 2012. Went "full-time" with the candle biz last March!

Anything else we should know? I'm a rabid Saints fan (although a StL native), I play World of Warcraft (even though it's a young nerd's game, not an old nerd like me), I'm back at school for my MBA, and my goal in life is to make the world's best bubble bar.

Hey y'all - does anyone here use 21oz Status jars for their candles? I'm asking because I have the worst time with 4627 pulling away from the sides of these. Plus they're not a size that provides a crowd-pleasing price point. I'm wondering if I should just chuck them. Anybody have good luck with them? Or not?

I think I'm just cranky and stressed. (Although still a little shocked.)

Looks like he reports directly to the president. Oh well. Maybe it will all blow over.

So, my main supplier for Status jars is EAP, because they're the cheapest with the true Libbey glass. The last time I ordered from them they only taped the bottom of the boxes once, and the tape ripped open and when the jars arrived at my house the fedex guy handed them to me with one flap flapping in the breeze. I'm lucky they arrived in one piece.

So I noted this on my next order - like "please double-tape the bottoms because they arrived with the bottoms opened last time."

I placed on order on January 2nd - when they were open after the holidays - and they didn't ship them until today - which is a huge problem for me, since I have a show on Saturday. (Dummy me didn't know they'd be closed over the holiday - I learned my lesson.)

So I called and asked if maybe they'd overlooked my order, since they'd been reopened since January 2nd? And the first thing the guy says? "Maybe you should order from somewhere else."

WHAT? I couldn't believe it. I realize I'm not Yankme Candle Company but I've probably ordered $2500 in glass in 6 months from them. I really like their prices and their web site.

Part of me thinks I should have just kept my mouth shut. But firing me as a customer? Wow. I didn't call them screaming. I wasn't rude.

I'm just in shock.

-michelle

ETA: Maybe I shouldn't be so upset. I don't know. I really like them. Bah.

I love your photo setup. And the soap is beautiful! Nice work!

Did someone say Missouri?

You know Candybee, I didn't think about curing. I use 4627 and never even give a passing thought to the cure process since I usually get amazing throw right away. You're brilliant!

So I was planning to add lavender vanilla to my lineup this year, and I poured it yesterday to test. I poured CS lavender at 70% with BCN Very Vanilla at 30%. I would swear that the vanilla ate my lavender! I hardly smell the lavender at all. Has anyone experienced this phenomenon?

I'm wondering if it's a little like the weird olfactory issues I had with Orange and Chili Pepper, where half my family only smelled oranges, and the other half only smelled chili peppers (myself included). Any thoughts?

My plan is to use candelilla in lip balm but I'm so busy with candles right now I haven't had time to play. I didn't know that rice bran wax even existed! But I love rice bran oil in lotions. Yum!

Is this thread more focused on B/B or soap? Because I can't imagine waiting to get an order to make candles. I keep a certain level of inventory on hand at all times. Of course, they don't "go bad" like b/b products can.

Ressing this thread to ask if everyone uses t-perf shrink wrap, or if anyone uses the single-perf shrink wrap that SKS offers?

It went great! Unbeknownst to me, he was ready to purchase. Woot! It turned out to be a small-ish order, but I'm sure it will grow with time! Yay another wholesale account!

Measure your FO in a Pyrex cup and microwave it. I have a weak microwave and will do 30 seconds for 5 or 6 ounces. I never used to heat my oils and they tended to blob in the wax. Also - make sure you aren't adding them at too high a percentage. I have that problem with some of my oils and I really have to watch it. HTH!

-michelle

Hey Candybee - my Sweet Pea is pink!

Try Peak for key lime! Add a little vanilla and you're on your way! Merry Christmas!

Soooo... let's say I didn't have a presentation suitcase and as tomorrow is Christmas Eve, will probably not be able to procure one so quickly. Any other ideas? Help!

VS is water soluble so it's not supposed to "combine" with the oil; however, it does work (enough). I just used it today in a lotion and it left behind no scent. I use the one from NG.

The Herbarie. http://www.theherbarie.com/

Thanks for the clean up!!

Thanks for the well wishes! Hmm... suitcase. I have a feeling tomorrow morning will be a time of panic and rehearsal!

Hi all, I have a meeting Thursday morning (ugh) to pitch to a buyer for a new, local-focused (but large) grocery/sundry store in a posh part of town. He said, "Bring samples."

I run a line of 18oz, 12oz, and 8oz status jars plus votives, tea lights and melts. Should I have a certain setup for the meeting? Short tiers? Some sort of display? Or just pull them out of the box?

Help!!!

-Michelle

CS Hansel and Gretel's House (a complete misnomer) has a cinnamon graham cracker scent. Yum!