katinka

My list would have to include 5 items. I just can't take it down to 4.

1. CP soap

2. Sugar Scrub

3. Butter

4. Lip Balm

5. Body Spray

I agree, these are the products I have used in my planning for my new B&B line.

Wicking down should make a difference - also remember that some jars show soot more easily so if you don't get it sorted with the wick/fo changes, you might want to look at another jar?

Wow, what a beautiful site - not so bare and not too busy, just the perfect balance!!!! Excellent job!

Like kittykat said, NO shipping at all. That leaves a boat as the only alternative. My advice is to start looking for manufacturers in Europe and co-op and stick to oils with >200F flashpoint for US purchases. In the same boat here and it breaks my heart, but you can't give up now.

Cost x 2 for wholesale (with a minimum order amount) and cost x 3 or 4 for retail - depending on your area and competitor prices. At least a starting point. If she is providing the bears, cost would be time, labour, wax, fragrance, any packaging etc.

HTH

Katinka

I suspect internation surface mail would also involve a plane or two which is probably the reason. Surface mail in the states would be a different thing - international has to cross the water somewhere.

Another bit of food for thought - some of us have ordered samples packs very recently (i.e. within the last week) and those have been shipped out, and about a week later we are now informed that we won't be able to order any oils from them - not even surface mail. This is really frustrating as my currency is about 8:1 dollar, making is very expensive for me even to test oils never mind ordering them. Don't get me wrong - it is my choice and I fully understand that. What I don't understand is that there is (bar one or two) very few suppliers on this site offering any form of comfort or any suggested alternatives whatsoever.

You have to understand we are not blaming the suppliers for the law, but we are somewhat upset that after having spent huge amounts of money (I personally have spent more than $5000 on this business and I don't even do it full time) on a business we hoped at some point would be sustainable, to suddenly hear that something so critical as fragrance might now not be available to us anymore. It's kind of like having a carpet ripped from under you, if you get what I mean?

Having said that, we are a resourceful bunch if nothing else and I firmly believe that we will find a way to overcome this. Maybe fragrance co-ops will be the answer - so we can buy from a big supplier and use a freight forwarder?

To all the others in the same boat as me - just hang in there, we'll find a way!

BUMP!!!

Would really like an answer on the international surface mail question if anyone has it.:undecided

I used honey in CP and added it at trace (not powder, actual honey) - heck did it accelerate quickly!!! I think the tip of heating it so it incorporates better is an excellent one, you might also want to try that.

I'd love to be a distributer for the oils but funding is big problem right now. I think there are only 2 or 3 oils that I actually buy in Canada which is a shame but the variety just isn't here. It's kind of ironic because after being in business for 4 years, this has been my best year yet and now i'm going to have to either raise my prices through the roof to compensate for the ups shipping and lose customers or discontinue 3/4 of the fragrances I sell and lose alot more.

This is a nightmare!!

As far as I understand, the problem if with airmail, not surface mail. I know on another forum it has been suggested that you get a mail forwarder in the US for your FO suppliers to ship to and then the forwarder sends it via surface mail to your address. Don't know if it would work, and it would take time, but maybe it is an option. Otherwise, how close are you to the border? Others have suggested getting a post box close to the canadian border and driving across to fetch their parcels themselves. Don't know if any of this is workable for you, but I feel your pain. At least you can still drive there is you really had to, I would like have to take a couple of boats....(trying to make you smile, did it work?)

HTH

Katinka

My thoughts exactly. Glad to know I'm not the only one who's confused to this "new" policy that I can't seem to find.

I don't think it is so much about being a new policy - I just think FO suppliers are getting concerned about being fined for something they are not allowed to do, like shipping FO via airmail. My understanding is also that even if the flashpoint is higher than 200F, you are still not allowed to ship internationally via USPS, but can ship within the US via surface mail. THAT is why I am so concerned.

And I'm not really keen on supplying all kinds of people who only do this for a hobby (please don't misunderstand me - USA is really big, there's obviously room for all of you, but not here in Germany, e.g.) who don't want to pay a fair price for the supplies (most people here tend to buy only the cheapest things, they don't care for quality) and if, just buy 15 ml of one or two oils and that's it.

I understand your predicament perfectly, things are much the same here. Its not about being nasty, its called self-preservation.

You could find someone on here that lives close to the supplier you use and pay them to ship USPS international. Since most suppliers are not shipping FO's USPS anymore.

Thanks for that Candle Man - I have contacted a mail forwarding service in the States to see if they would be able to help, so lets see!

Great minds think alike!

Congrats - enjoy burning them, the first ones are always the most special (at least for me it was) and yes, you will have lots and lots of candles in a matter of weeks, so be prepared!!!

So, any ideas anyone - I am simply just not going to give up on candles or B&B, I'll die!!!

I've tried alot of her vanillas and for me ULTIMATE VANILLA is the best. You must definitely also try Raspberry Vanilla Creme (cannot keep that in stock) and Hyacinth Chula Orchid for a nice, subtle floral. I also love her Plumeria.

Thanks for the wonderful recipe! I just tried them for the first time and they really are wonderful. Just to check - when the recipe says 1 cup citric acid - is that 250g or ML? I did mine in ML but at the picture tutorial it looks like grams?

TIA!

Katinka:cheesy2:

Excellent!!! Bet all you want to do now is just make that candle...because you know it works, and everytime you light it you feel clever all over again...:highfive:

I had the same question a while ago as I order from South Africa. Becky is really super, she is aware there is a problem and they are trying their best to sort it out. If you prefer not to order on the site, just email her. She gets back to you VERY quickly and always charges what USPS would charge. I have checked on my waybills plenty of times and there has never been a discrepancy.

Just email her - they really are good that way.

AS far as I know most people stick to an average of 1 oz pp, so no, you are not wrong. I think it is more a question of whether the particular oil throws well in soy or not. I personally would never use a FO that requires more than 1 oz, I think it is just a waste of money and there is so many suppliers out there.

Check out the sticky on which oils throw well in soy if you feel that you are not getting a strong scent. Could also be your wax if you are not getting a strong throw.

HTH

Katinka

I think it was CandleMan that once commented somewhere that the way he got thru quiet periods for candles was by adding B&B and soaps and other fragrance items. I think I would simply wither away and die if I had to only focus on candles, but thats just me. If B&B is not an option, what about CP soap and then like you said, other methods of home fragrancing, like scented linen drawer liners, reeds, scented sachets, smelly's and definitely in my opinion room spray (which is so easy to do anyway). For me the primary function of a candle is homefragrance and if you feel the same, expanding on the theme would definitely be worthwile.

HTH

Katinka

Trying to do to many things at the same time can be even more frustrating and I just feel focusing on less things make me do them properly.For me that means doing a max of 3 FO's at the same time and as many others have said, pouring what takes the longest to set up first and so on. You'll probably also find it goes alot faster this way and you get way more done without being so exhausted at the end of it.

Welcome to our board!! This is probably (definitely, in my opinion) the best resource if you are interested in making candles so you should find plenty of good reading! Who knows, may we see a post saying that you have added candles to your line of homecrafts soon!

Just thought I would make someone's day, I know this pic made my day - apparently other people also have problems... (And you won't believe how much they charged for this!! )