JustJackie

My answers is becuase I make tarts and don't go through the same thing you guys do... But I use a plastic cup (small) to pour and weight my FO in. When I am done- I toss it in the trash.

I have always called this "spotting"- maybe I am using the wrong term here. The top of my tarts are cooling too quickly and causing dark spots (lots of them) on the top. I have tried just about everything I can think of to correct this. What I REALLY don't understand is that often only some of the tarts in the same pour batch spot and the others come out perfect! It could be the first one spots and the second one doesn't, the first one is perfect and the second one spots... or the first 4 spot, then one good one, then seven more that spot. Same wax, same oil, same temp, same everything! Then the next day i pour and all of them come out perfect! I use 1 lb. soy and 2 oz. of bw. I am starting to wonder if it is the wax? For the first couple months that I made tarts- I NEVER had this problem. Then it is hit or miss... more often it is HIT with the spots! I have used different batches of wax- but always from the same company and the same ratio. One thing I have noticed is that sometimes the BW is white and other times is is yellow. But even when there is that different color in the BW, I still have some that spot and some that don't. I am stumped. Have tried pouring at different temps... have made notes about different humidity conditions in the house... What stumps me the most is that one batch can have all spots except for one random tart. AHHH! Any advice?

I LOVE the idea of a rewards program (ever dollar spent gives you points- earn so many points and get something free kind of thing). Does anyone know if there is something like this out there that you can just plug into a website? Or is this all code (and above my abilities).... TIA!

I make it a lighter color red. I have also seen it as a pale green.

Casey- yeah- you do have to try JS! By some lucky google search, I found this company when I first started out. I am very thankful that I did! Oils rock- customer service rocks- samples rock- sales rock!

I think it will help once I get a good understanding on what those ingredients mean! I have not tested it. I am waiting until I have all the samples that I have ordered before I open any. I wanted to start testing once I got all of them- so I can't comment on the foaming/bubbling. I am really thinking that this is something that would be good first thing to try to make. It will give me an idea of the different oils, which preservative is needed with which product, etc. REALLY understand my product. Btw- I am sooo going to need to print out the terms and initials used from the sticky thread. I find myself needing to go back and look up what everything stands for. Thank you for helping me out! This is definitely a whole new ball game!

Ok! thank you! That was what I was sort of thinking (non-emuls). I wanted to offer a selection of all of my body safe oils and I just didn't see this as being a good idea with a pre-made base. Do you think it would work to make small batches of non-emuls at a time? That way I can still go with my plan of offering any scent? I am going to guess -but I think I have about 95 to 100 scents that are body safe. I don't see all of these as popular choices... but I would still like to offer the option. If this isn't practical, I want to know now so that I can re-think my plans.

I am going to say- simple oil and sugar base. That is what really has me wondering if I am being silly looking at bases of this stuff. I am thinking that I may actually try from scratch- which will give me a better knowledge of what the different oils and sugars do as an end result. I can see this "scratch method" being more expensive for me becuase I will want to test a lot of different kinds! but- hey... that is part of the fun! LOL

Well- I am still waiting to open my samples and begin testing. BUT- I think I found the first (of many) flaw in my plans. Regarding sugar scrubs- my plan was to use a pre-made base (unscented) and let the customer choose the scent that they wanted. I would then make it fresh. BUT, after looking at the sample I got- I realize that I don't think I can do this. I don't see how I could get the right amount of scrub vs. oil from a pre-made batch in order to make little orders. So- would I need to scent the entire base all at once? I know from reading on here that sugar scrubs is one of the easiest products to make from scratch. If I make a scrub from scratch, would I be able to make small batches and add fragrance to that small batch (I am thinking about 8 oz. at a time). I really want to read your feedback. I am thinking that in this case- I should just pass on the pre-made scrubs and go from scrath. I like that this would give me more flex. in choosing oils and ingredients... but I know that I will be doing a lot more testing in this case. Thanks everyone!

Well, my first samples (bses) came in from JS. Now I am nervous to make something! LOL I have resisted the urge to rip everything open and start feeling my lotions, etc. I think I liked it better when I was so super excited! I am going to do a lot more reading on mixing, packaging, and steralizing before I open anything. But on a good note- I got a sample of the carmalized banana... I am in love! LOL Would anyone mind sharing with me some specific things that I should be looking for when I test- I think I have the obvious ones, but I am coming to the experts!!! Price (ha- can't miss that one) The overall feel of the lotion- How quickly it "soaks" in- How well it holds scent- Does it seperate- (how long is a safe testing period for this?) How my skin feels aferwards- What else am I missing? Thanks everyone!

I know what you meant! I understood your meaning and didn't think anything of it!

yeah- not going to lie- it was a bit harsh LOL I just realized something- I joined this group last year but lost my password. So, I created a new name- so while my join date may look like a newbie... I really am not. My actual timeline is this- continue to beg my husband to work on my new website. the one that I have now works- but reflects that it was a "sell to friends" kind of site. Now that things are picking up- I want a more professional look. Purchase electric tart burners to add to the tealight ones that I ahve and start selling those. During this time- I am going to be testing the B&B products. Starting with the bubble bath. since I love taking baths- this will be easy for me. LOL Anyhow- now you know a little bit more about me! I should have added in my original post that right now I am reading up on how to steralize everything. This might have lended me some credibility LOL

Oh thanks! I got this excited when I started to make tarts too. In fact, there are probably some of my original posts in the candle making section that show my "trend to get excited" Yeah- I will try not to take it personally. I understand why someone might have thought that I was a newbie just playing around. Just part of my personallity to get hyper and share things with others. I was so pleased to get so much encouragement here that i wanted to post. It isn't often that you find people in the same buisness sharing and supporting each other!

Thank! I will PM you

Oh no- not at all!

Thanks! I actually did already know that. In fact- that is what gave me the final push to start b&b. Once I realized that most of my oils are safe I figured- why not! I really like that Becky (JS)started putting that pink heart on her oil lables that are bath and body safe. I am going to have to do a lot of looking at my oils and listing which ones are safe and which ones are not. Blah- I am putting that off. More fun things out there to do first! (Please read- that does not mean that I am not going to do it! I am going to make sure which oils I can use. sorry- had to say it after some of the other posts so far,)

Not quite sure what went wrong in my post- but YIKES! Ummmm... no intention of selling without testing. I completly understand that this is the backbone of any product that is a quality product. I understand that and practice it. I took it for granted that you would know that I KNOW testing is essential. As for my other line- I sell tarts. While I am not making TONS of money off it- I have a steady internet base of customers. B&B is something that I have wanted to branch off into for a while now- after posting on here, reading about it and having such nice reponses from others on here- I decided to try it. I am excited and was trying to learn more. Yeah- I am not to the point where I need to purchase lables.. but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't be looking at what needs to go on them. I already explained why I was looking at packaging. As for sampling so many things at one time- here is my thinking. I had to pay the shipping fees already- so I got about 4 different samples (different products) from 4 different suppliers. Instead of only ordering one at a time, I was trying to save on the shipping fees. Maybe I am missing a better way of testing samples- I would love to hear a way that would be more beneficial for me. And- yeah- I can afford the samples. I have every intention of testing myself and then going to a friend for her opinion. I hope that I have better explained myself and don't get any more flames. Like I said, I am up for ALL suggestions. Sorry for upsetting anyone who thought I was going to throw something together and sell it. I just wanted to share that I was excited to actually taking my first steps towards something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. Wow- I had no idea that my happy post would turn out to be all of this!

Good advice! I have been ordering samples of the different types of lotion, bubble bath, gel, etc. to see what I like and from which supplier. I got some fizzies- but that will be the LAST thing that I try to make! LOL So- it looks like I am getting a lot of stuff- but it is a lot of the same stuff... only from different suppliers. Does that make sense? I already make and sell tarts- so I have my scents already.... way too many scents! The hard part for me will be deciding what scent I want to test in. LOL question about packaging- I was just going to order a few sample jars for me to use for my testers and to see which jars I [personally like. But if you don't think I should worry about that yet- what can I store my testing batches in? You .02cents are not crappy- and I really appreciate ANYTHING you can pass along!

Oh- I doubt it! I have lots of testing and what not to do before I add this to my line.

Well- I guess when I decide to do something- I do it! LOL I have ordered samples from 4 places. Lots of different types just to get an idea of what everything is, feels like, etc. I am sad though- I really wanted to sample the KY line... but they only sell samples of 2 out of the 5 things I want to try! And the shipping would be insane for the 2 items that they do have!!! I put an ISO post on the board so maybe I will get lucky. I have two friends who are going to help me test and give me their thughts- AND they are chipping in a few dollars. Yippeee! That will help to cover the cost of all these samples. Currently still trying to make a final decision on jars. I need to do a little bit more reading on this still. New research for today is to figure out lables! YIKES! A lot of stuff has to go on these and I don't know anything about how to lable a bottle that may get wet. So overall- I am busy but loving it! I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has given me advice and help so far. I don't think my husband REALLY realizes just what new project I am getting us into now! LOL

I was wondering if you color your lotions, bath, etc... I can see the reasons to both yes and no for this. Just wondering what you all do! (have I asked enough questions today?)

Wait- where are the recipies! I swear I discover something new on this board everyday!

Yep! When making tarts was just a hobby- I was happy with that. But now that I am a SAHM and this is my "extra" goodie money- I want it all! LOL If nothing else- I LOVE bubble bath and it is silly for me to buy bubble bath when I can make my own. Almost all of my scents are body safe... then once I started looking at bubble bath I started thinking about the other things I can make too! LOL by the way- my poor kitchen looks like a bomb went off in it right now! LOL

VERY good point. I have been so busy looking at everything that I am not keeping track of what secfically I want to focus on. Thank you for pointing that out to me- it will help me to narrow things down. I love working with JS so I was really hoping that her body line was as awesome as her oils!

Thank you! I already have this site bookmarked! LOL I am confused though- when I go to this site I only see what I would describe as finished products. I think I may be missing something.