Mei-Mei

Thanks! I did spray lightly with PAM because that usually helps my votives slide right out with no trouble at all. Since this is the first order I placed for palm wax from GreenLeaf I'm wondering if they sent me container wax accidentally. I don't know, but I'm going to try emailing Brenda as you suggested.

Working with Greenleaf's palm pillar wax for the first time. I followed the instructions and added palm stearic to make some votives, and the darn things refused to release from the votive holders. So I scooped out the wax and tried again. They are presently curing, but they look as though they are clinging tightly to the votive holder sides and like I'm going to have hard time again. This is frustrating. Any tips to get this stuff to release????

Tuscan Nights grew on me after a time. It's what I would call a spicy, masculine scent. It's super strong, so you really don't need much of it.

I got it today and I'm very excited. It has a beautiful creamy texture. I can't wait to work with it. What I find really remarkable is that I made a request for a free sample quite a few weeks ago, and then last week I placed an order for some Palm Wax. My free sample was packaged with the palm wax, meaning someone at Greenleaf is paying very close attention to the orders. They had to notice that the same person who placed an order was one of the people who requested a free sample. I LOVE attention to detail like that. I have a free sample (Maduro) and I purchased some FO (Satin Sheets). Both are really strong OOB. Thanks Brenda!

I'm in love with Peak's Moonlight Path and it threw very well at 1 oz pp in 4630. Love that scent.

One of the reasons I didn't want to mention a company name is because I think this can happen to any chandler with any company. I think it's odd how so many different people can get different results even using similar formulations. It really must be because of a full moon or something! ETA--JS has fabulous customer service and I would encourage anyone to try a sample pack of Becky's oils and see what your personal experience with them is. I like the little Tootsie Rolls she sends me too!

I can see the frog perfectly! It's too cute.

Even though the latest one is a little hard to read, I really like the direction you're going in with it. I thought the keyhole was a little too 'busy.'

I hope you're all proud of yourself. Every time I come to this site I learn of a new wonderful FO company that everyone is raving about and my wallet just falls open on its own! And it's not as though I'm a professional chandler (yet). This is just my remarkably time consuming, expensive, oh-so-satisfying hobby. Sigh. If anybody wants me I'll be spending the rest of the evening ordering FO's. Hopefully my fiance won't bury me alive with a wick in my mouth.

Sometimes soy wax will develop a 'sinkhole' (cracks) like that.

Oooooh, Manolo's...getting out the credit card!

Exactly! A lot of people love the 'country' or 'cottage' style candles and fragrances. Those aren't my style at all. And where I live (New Orleans) most folks would probably be more inclined to buy a sophisticated Diptyque rather than a Country Apple Pie. Merely a matter of geography. But neither the sophisticated or cottage style spender should be called 'stupid.' After all, there is a market out there for them, right?

-cough cough-

If the soot and mushrooms are setting off my smoke alarms than you have serious candle problems! You have to be very careful because that same soot is getting into your lungs. That much smoke can't be good. What parrafin/soy blend are you using, and in what size container? Container size is one of the things you use to determine wick size.

I didn't really know where to post this, but I was wondering if anyone else had a similar problem. There is a certain FO company that everyone raves about (I don't want to mention the name of the company). I have ordered from them many times. They have fabulous customer service and a wonderful selection. But I can't make their scents throw in my candles! I feel like such a fool because everyone goes on and on about how wonderful the scents are, and I keep ordering because I guess I'm a glutton for punishment (:rolleyes2 ) but it's just not working for me. I guess I could try the scents in B and B, but I'm really disappointed that they don't throw in candles. I've tweaked everything possible, and I can get all sorts of other scent brands to throw. Just. Not. These. Grrrrrrrrr........

I'm new to this too, but what I've found is that a candle is a system. Wax, wick and scent work in conjunction to produce a wonderful candle. So dumping more scent into the wax won't do anything necessarily other than frustrate you. If I were you, I decide what sort of candle I wanted to make, pick a wax, and then test, test, TEST with different wicks in combination with a good quality FO. Also, record your results for every candle. Change one thing with the next batch. For instance, you have Wax A, Wick B and Fragrance Oil C. You love the fragrance, but it doesn't smell strongly enough. Experiment with another wick. Don't change two components because you'll never determine what the problem is. Good luck. I'm loving making candles, but it is a lot of testing!

Those are lovely. You are really talented. When I first read your post I thought it said they were scented Vanilla Doo-Doo.

I don't think it's stupid to spend $52.00 on a candle. People work hard and do what they please with their money. I love the Diptyque candles and consider them a little treat to myself. Of course, I can make my own candles now!

I like this wax a lot because the hot and cold throw are wonderful. But I am having trouble with sooting. I'm still working on it though.:smiley2:

Great, I'll try both those techniques and see what happens.:smiley2:

Can someone give me some tips on how to pour blended layers? I'm getting either two distinct layers or the two colors mixed together. Is there a 'pour point' I should be looking for on the second layer (i.e. 10 degrees above MP)? Or is it something I just have to 'eye'? TIA.

That sounds like comfort blend. It's the consistency of thick Vaseline and it's really, REALLY MESSY.

I checked the bottom of my votives and they come from Anchor Hocking. They have a website here. Good luck!

I know this isn't very helpful, as you probably need a lot of them, but I just bought some from Walmart for .44 each. If it's an emergency and you just need a few you could go there.

I think you're having the same problem I asked about earlier today. Check out this thread (especially the pictures).