Tallbabydoll

I don't use soy, but I don't think $5.00 for a 16oz soy candle is high. Especially if it's a container candle. I include the shipping costs for supplies when figuring out my per candle cost. I don't see anyway around that. For example, when I figure I include the cost of the wax+shipping cost, then divide that by the # of lbs of wax to get my per pound cost. I can't really figure out the coloring cost, but everything else is pretty easy. Ex. 1# wax makes 8 votives, 1oz fo per#of wax on average. Wicks 100 for $6.00= $.06each, and about $0.25 each for packaging including cello bag, warning label, my label and ribbon. $1.20 wax $1.00 fo $0.48 wicks $2.00 packaging $4.68 divided by 8 votives=cost of $0.585 each

I'm totally confused by what your trying to explain. A discount per candle? Do you mean a percentage? Each tier hit? Well I'll just explain how I handle those accounts. There's a minimum order of say a box of 24 votives packaged for individual sale. I'd charge $X.XX for the box of 24. The retailer then marks them up and takes their profit when they sell. Doing it this way not only gets my payment up front, but protects me from losses due to employee use, damage from customers, or theft. I've given some for the retailer to burn to help promote sales, but if they want more than that, it comes out of their profits instead of mine. Sometimes I'll restock a scent if it's the only one selling at the same price I get individually, plus a small delivery charge if I have to go out of my way to deliver. I've had them order another full box to avoid the delivery charge. I just cut back on the other scents and increase the one thats selling if the retailer wishes me too.

I don't use soy, but I believe it's more expensive, therefore sell for more generally. I've looked over your few posts, and it appears that you aren't currently making candles, but are looking to start selling. I just wanted to let you know that candle making is VERY expensive and NOT a good way to make money. It takes a lot of time and supplies to test and make a safe buring, quality product. Not to mention all the equipment, packaging, advertising, insurance, etc that is required to go into business. Before you decide to start investing in supplies, I suggent you read all the newbie threads and suggestions, then read some more. Many of us have been doing this for years, and are just now starting into the business aspect of it. Many sell just enough to make it self supporting. Some are in business and making a nice profit, but they have invested the time and effort it requires to get to that point. Not trying to be a damper, just wanted to make you aware of these things. HTH

IMO It seems that most people prefer them colored, so I think having strickly ncolored candles would hinder sales. It doesn't cost much to color, so yes I think it'd hurt the bottom line in the long run. You could always offer them uncolored upon request. Plus not coloring makes it harder to tell the difference between scents for you. Also there'd be no way to be creative in your looks. To me that's the best part, is being creative. JMO

IMO "The customer is always right." You don't know what the bride is thinking. I'd make what she orders, and not worry about the men. If they go without thats not your problem, it's hers. I hope that doesn't sound rude, I don't mean it to be. I'm just saying don't worry yourself needlessly.

Maybe a liece of lace over the top with a piece of ribbon tied around in a bow? It'd be expense, and not really a lid, but it'd offer some protection, which you could sniff through, and I think it'd look beautiful.

You could talk about yourself, how long you've been making candles, discribe your "journey", describe your specialties, and what sets your candles apart from the rest. I think when people are in the market for handmade products they like knowing a little about the creator. Telling them about your "journey" will give them confidence that you've put in the time and effort to produce a quality product. Discribing your speciality techniques gets them interested in the different looks you offer. Sell your skill as well as your product IMHO. Then finish off with your goals and what your hoping to offer in the future. You may get some requests that will show you where you should focus your efforts to expand. HTH

Bad-a$$ chandlers need Big-A$$ wax melters!! Wonder if I should put that on a tight mini T and see if my hunny gets the message...I now he'd read it that way anyways. LOL Enjoy yours and be sure to post pics of all your new creations!

I'm sorry but it's unclear to me what your trying to ask. Could you rephrase the question please?

Welcome to CT and the wonderful world of candlemaking Cathy and Jane. It's so exciting and a wonderful creative outlet. It's the best smelling addiction you'll ever have, and in time you wont miss your disposable income anymore.

For cleaning I just stick it back in the water for 30 seconds (Double boiler) and wipe out with paper towels, quick and easy. For excess wax, depending on the amount, I line a bowl with foil and pour, wait until hard, wrap the excess foil around it and place in a ziplock and label. If it's just a little bit I pour into a votive cup with pin, when solid, I pull on the pin to remove then place in ziplock and label. Or just throw it out if it's something I wont be using again. Or throw it in my tart burner.

Take the candles back, melt them down, add a little more fo and repour. If they wanted a larger size, charge the price difference. Since your other customers have been happy with your product, I doubt it's the candles. My guess is its the people and they're trying to get something more out of you since your "a little guy". They couldn't pull this with yankme. JMO

No you don't need to treat the picture with anything. Water will make it run, but not wax. I have never used any UA or any other addative and I've never had a problem. I just use straight Hurricane wax and a pic. If you just want to practice til your 'cane wax comes in, you can use pillar wax. It wouldn't work in the long run because the heat from the candle will melt and possibly warp the walls, but it'd work for practice purposes.

I know you said that your looking for a straight vanilla, in which case I'd probably try Peaks French Vanilla. Personally I LOVE Warm Vanilla Sugar, I also really like Pink Sugar, but thats not vanilla lol I just like it in B&B products.

I purchased this, and though I thought it smelled right, it was thin and IMHO had a very weak throw @ 1.5 oz pp in paraffin. This is JMO but I don't recommend it from this supplier. In fact, I thought half the oils I bought from them were weak.

I'm interested in making a linen spray. I've never tried either of these products but have been reading up on it. The base spray ICS has seems much more cost effective than using cyclo alone, but I want a lasting, high quality product. I am currently working at a marriot/rennisance hotel and they are looking for ways to make their rooms smell fresher. Their currently using febreeze and I doubt I'll be able to beat that price, but I want to try. I was hired for full time, then offered a promotion, then when I started training, they decided not only to postpone the promtion til April, but cut me back to 10 hours a week in the mean time. So I am looking for any way possible to bring is some $$.

Ok here's what I do, HTH. I put the pic basically where I want it, snug against the wall, then I hit the outside of the mold with the heat gun to get the area hot again, then make sure the pic is exactly where I want it. I use a skewer and start with the bottom corner (I leave my pics in square/rectangle and use the bottom of the mold and try to line up the bottom of the pic with the bottom of the mold. I've had better luck having them straight this way.) I then take my cold washcloth and start with that corner then run my skewer and wash cloth up that side. I then lightly drag my skewer along the pic to the other bottom corner and repeat. I keep an eye on the otherside, not allowing it to melt as I am working on the other side. Then the middle. When I have a nice layer on the pic, I hold a cold wash cloth over the pic and move to water bath. Most times this works very well for me. I do have to do them over from time to time, but it usually works. HTH

I used candlewic 4041, added steric, and fo and cooled VERY slowly and have had beautiful results with mottles. It also worked for rustic, but I've only successfully made one, which I never burned so I don't know about how well it burned. I used steric to reach that effect as well. HTH.

I also have always embedded my photos using copy paper, so I can't help with the water decals. But you could always try to make one this way since your having so much trouble with the decals. The instructions are on the left to get you started. They are much easier than they look, but may take a little practice to get your picture perfectly placed, so have patience with yourself. Using this technique, you can usually reuse the same pic and wax over and over til it's perfect. Plus there are MANY people on this board who do this and can help you if you need us. Good Luck.:highfive:

What do you mean? Holes in candles are a BAD thing, so I am confused.

Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker both make a great edible body frosting, and it even stays in place pretty well to, well til it starts to melt anyways.

Penney, CHeck out websites that carry B&B supplies like WSP, KangarooBlue, etc. Most of these sites even have recipe pages as well as discriptions of what some of these items are used for. You could always Google, I bet that would help bring up a lot of info. Sorry but I am way to much of a novice in the B&B department to even try to explain things myself, the info would probably be wrong. HTH

On the site they talked about them being used in melters as well. I'm not sure why they show them adding them to the candle in this pic. Not such a great idea as we all know. But a customer would have tried it at some point anyway, and I am sure they probably have. The average consumer is not going to even know to think about how doing this might effect the burn of the candle. I know I wouldn't have thought about it a few years back. I've seen the "chips" before and didn't find them nearly as appealing to the eye. IMHO These are very cute because they are so small.

I saw a post once where someone colored the wax and dipped the bear and poured a matching pillar. The set was lavender now that I think about it. It was cute in my opinion, but haven't tried it myself. Coloring the wax therefore having a colored bear just might be the solution.?

I think they'd be a PITA to make, but a great idea for customers to make custom blends in tart warmers, and they'd melt quickly, therefore scenting the room faster than tarts.