dovestudios

Sharon makes amazing tarts. I am downright addicted. I feel lost when I run out! lol They not only smell great, but they are really nice looking. She decorates them and adds small touches that really make them head and shoulders over so many others. My husband on the other hand, gets very frustrated when he comes home from work to a home smelling of freshly baked goodies, only to find I have a new tart on the warmer! lol Donna

I would start with the lowest possible amount and go up from there until you are pleased with the amount. Donna

Those ratios are way to much FO. They are telling you to use between 16% and 33% of your total volume! Where did you find the info on those ratios? You shouldn't need any more than 2% of your total volume in FO for a dry oil spray. Otherwise you are wasting your FO, it may not disperse properly and you may have skin reactions from too much FO being applied to the skin. Note, some FO scents will drop to the bottom of your bottle of cyclo because the ingredients are non totally miscible with cyclo (I find this happens mostly with vanilla based fragrances.) The scent will still be nice and strong, but you will see droplets at the bottom of your bottle. Donna

Here is the link for istockhphoto: http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php It is a wonderful resource for website pics. The images are very inexpensive especailly for the quality! Donna

Even with the best home set up, usually some editing needs to be done. I took one of your pics into photoshop (you can do it with Paint Shop Pro too) and I cropped it, did some adjustments in the contrast and color then removed the background. I also trimmed the fray. There is some glare from the flash, but once you have diffused the flash, that won't be an issue. If you don't already have an image editing program, you may want to consider getting one. It will add value to your photos if you are alble to edit them to look their best. That value will end up back in your pocked via sales. Donna

Here is an outstanding formulary resource: http://www.happi.com/formulary/2005/ Donna

guar gum is a thickener polsorbate 60 is an emulsifier and Potassium Metabisulphite is a mold inhibitor. If it is a lotion for sale, you won't be able to determine how much each of those ingredients are in the product, so your labeling will not comply with FDA regs. If it is a lotion for yourself, go for it, but be sure to preserve it with a broad spectrum preservative. Donna

You will need to apply to the UCC to get a manufacturer ID number. Then you can use a program to generate the actual bar code. Read through this link: http://www.howstuffworks.com/upc.htm it will give you more in depth info. Donna

You are very welcome.

You can add up all the fo prices and shipping prices from each vendor to you per each FO then average it out to find the cost per votive on each particular FO. Or you can add all the FO prices for all vendors on all FO your purchase plus shipping on all orders and divide them by the number of votive fragrances you carry to arrive at the per votive cost. The first option would give you different prices on each of your votives which may be a hassle. The second option would give you a base price to use when on all votives figuring your votive cost per each. Donna

When I am building a site for a client, I give them a list of questions to answer. It makes it easier. You can review the list and use it if it helps you. It is geared toward a soap site, but you can modify it to answer candle questions. Hope this helps! Donna What are your accepted payment methods? How long does it take to process a retail order? Can I change or cancel my order after I have placed it? I don't like using my credit card online, can I call in my order? Do you have a restocking fee if I cancel my order? How do you ship orders (via what carrier?) Can I pick my order up to save on shipping costs? How much does shipping cost? Do you ship internationally? Am I responsible for customs if my order is shipped internationally? What if my order arrives damaged? What if I don't like the soap? Can I return it? What if I am sent the wrong item? What are your hours of operation if I need to call you? Do you have a disclaimer in case I misuse your products or think your products are to treat my disease? Are your prioducts tested for safety? Do you test your products on animals? Can I use your products on my children? What is your privacy policy? Will you give away or sell my info after I order?

Definately aluminum with black sprayers and clear labels. Donna

I don't think there are any glitters with a micron size small enought to go through a sprayer. It seems like the sprayer would become clogged too easily. If the micron size of the spray was fine enough to pass through the sprayer, I would think it would look more like a pigmented spray rather than a spray that actually left glitter on the skin. If you wanted to do a topical glitter, I would be more apt to do a glitter lotion or gel. Donna

I would not put anything into a store without a contract spelling everything out. There are just too many things to consider. For instance, what if a product is damaged or stolen? Who is responsible? How much is the agreed upon amount? If it is not in writing, it is their word against yours. It could be a wonderful thing to have your products in the store, but if done without a good contract, you may be losing more than just product if things go wrong. Donna

I use cosmetic grade soy wax in my lip balm. I love the silky feel of it. It doesn't have the waxy feel that many other waxes have. If you want something for added hardness, you can use Carnauba wax flakes. **Edited to add: I purchase many of my oils, hard butters and waxes at MMS: http://www.thesage.com/catalog/FixedOil.html Not only are their products and service great, there is great information about each product including its sap value (for soap) and its melting point. Donna

Both times I purchased fragrance oils on ebay, they smelled like cigarette smoke...yup the oils not just the bottles... YUK! It was two different suppliers too. I don't remember who they were though. I was so sad. I would rather pay more and have the assurance that what I am getting is good stuff from reputable suppilers. Donna

Here is an article that may help: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/398_cosm.html ...specifically this quote: "Although companies are not required to substantiate performance claims or conduct safety testing, if safety has not been substantiated, the product's label must read "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined." Edited to add this link also: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-206.html ...and this quote: "Manufacturers are not required to register their cosmetic establishments, file data on ingredients, or report cosmetic-related injuries to FDA. However, companies are encouraged to register their establishments and file Cosmetic Product Ingredient Statements with FDA's Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program (VCRP)." Hope this helps! Donna

I am a contributor at istockphoto. Unless you are printing more than 500,000 *the istockphoto print limit per image* you don't have anything to worry about. Here is the section in the user agreement on what is allowed: c) Permitted Uses. Subject to the restrictions described under Prohibited Uses below, the following are “Permitted Uses” of Content: advertising and promotional projects, including printed materials, product packaging, presentations, film and video presentations, commercials, catalogues, brochures, promotional greeting cards and promotional postcards (ie. not for resale or license); entertainment applications, such as books and book covers, magazines, newspapers, editorials, newsletters, and video, broadcast and theatrical presentations; on–line or electronic publications, including web pages to a maximum of 800 x 600 pixels; prints, posters (i.e. a hardcopy) and other reproductions for personal use or promotional purposes specified in (1) above, but not for resale, license or other distribution; and any other uses approved in writing by iStockphoto. If there is any doubt that a proposed use is a Permitted Use, you should contact iStockphoto’s Client Relations for guidance. Hope this helps! Donna

I look at it this way, you want to keep it as fresh as possible while you have it stored as a raw material in your possesion, because once you prepare it and sell it/give it away, the conditions of storage will most likely not be optimal. Most consumers don't store their products in the fridge. More often than not, a product will get stored in a moist warm bathroom or the glove box of a car. So taking extra steps while the item is still a raw ingredient in your possesion will help to keep it fresh for longer periods of time in your consumer's hands. I don't know if you have ever gotten a bath and body product that quickly went rancid after you purchased it. I have and it was frustrating to have purchased it then to have it go stinky and rancid shortly thereafter. When you get a butter, you don't know how long it was stored in a warehouse before it got to you. I always like to err on the side of caution to help insure that those I make products for will get a fresh product that will stay fresh for a while. Donna

You would need to warm it to mix it in. It may be a pain to do, but if you need to store it for more than a few months, then it will pay off in the end. I would warm it, mix in the antioxidant, then portion it into smaller containers or bags so I could just grab what I needed later rather than needing to chip off the block each time I needed some. That way you take care of the oxidation issue and add some convenience. Plus, when you think about it, each time you open the original container, you introduce more oxigen, so portioning it would help with that issue too. I hate when my butters go rancid I too have a fridge dedicated to oils and butters in my basement. I love that fridge! lol Donna

Heat, light and oxygen are what you want to avoid because they will cause oxidation, so be sure it is in an airtight container. If you can add some antioxidant to it, that will help even more. You can add ROE or Natural Vitamin E Tocopherol for longer shelf life. You can also put it in the freezer for longer storage periods. Donna

I looked at the ingredients of the millcreek spray base and alcohol is the second ingredient. I would not heat it. The alcohol is acting as both a mild emulsifier as well as a preservative. If you heat it, the alcohol will evaporate, comprimising your preservation system as well as throwing off the ingredients list. Aside from that, it is not safe to heat alcohol IMO. Your best bet would be to use polysorbate 20 in equal amounts to the fragrance oil. Donna

I always try to use the INCI from my suppliers: http://www.soapies-supplies.com/shop/INCI-Charts-p-7.html Donna

The proper INCI is like this: Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil and Tiare (Gardenia Tahitensis) flower Donna

The only thing I can think of is if she had just shaved her legs then put the butter on. I sting if I put anything with fragrance oils on my skin after I have shaved. I also can't use any frgrance oil on my face in any product or it stings. Oddly I am ok with essential oils on my face and if I have just shaved my legs. For the friend, it sounds like a coincidence. Maybe she had just had a double latte and her heart was starting to jump just as she applied the product. I hope it all turns out well for you. You get get very far with a little concern and a refund, but some people enjoy the attention they get while complaining. Donna