CaliZona

Thanks for all the compliments. I just made the bottom three this last week(White Tea Ginger, Patchouli Red Currant and Black Raspberry Vanilla). I really like the swirls you can get from a slab mold, even though it's just a cardboard box. I have about 5 more scents on my "Must Do" list. So I don't see this addiction ending anytime soon.

Last April I thought I'd make myself a batch of soap. After a lot of studying and gathering all my supplies, I made my first batch and now I can't stop! Back Row:Lemon Verbena, Pure Grace, Drakkar Middle Row: Love Spell, Green Tea & Green Clover Aloe, Sweet Pea Middle: Mango Papaya Front Row: Oatmeal Milk & Honey, White Tea Ginger, Patchouli & Red Currant, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Asian Sandalwood [ATTACH]6998[/ATTACH]

I too, like Geek made myself a data sheet in MS Word. I have had to change it from time to time, but no big deal. I print them out about 20 sheets at a time and put them in a 3 ring binder. A basic candle test sheet sample can be found on www.candlecauldron.com. When I test a new candle, I hand write the info on a seperate data sheet. I also put little stickers on each candle sample including F/O scent, wax type, wick type and date made for quick reference. After I've done a burn, I go back to my data sheet and write down my results, such as color, frosting, throw,wicking and burn quality. I'd be lost with out my sheets. When I'm studying and taking note on Candle Tech, I have a spiral notebook with dividers separating different information like containers, wicking sizes, F/O and wax types supplies and tons of other stuff. My DH laughs at me and says that it looks like I'm studying for final exams when I'm studying and taking my notes on CT. I've learned so much on CT and thanks to all the wonderful people who ask questions and those who share information. For my People Candle Testers, I make a spread sheet in Excel listing all the candles scents and ask questions like, how was the throw, F/O scent, wicking, burn/time, mushrooming, melt pool and if they liked it,loved it or hated it. I give them a paper copy with their candles so they can fill it out right away after burning a candle. Cause sometimes they forget what was what. That's about it! Have fun and keep notes!

I poured 2 more 464 tester candles Thursday. These probably we not the best containers to use, but they were all I had. 10 oz. glass 3.25" dia. House temp around 80^ Peaks Tuscan Nights 8.5%. Heated to 180. F/O at 175, red color block. Poured 150. Peaks Moonlight Path 8.5% Heated to 180. F/O at 175. Violet color block. Poured 155. Once my candles set up, I cool them in my Coleman cooler over night. Both candles set up nice, no mottling. Both candles have frosting 1/3 up the candle from base. Kind of hard to see in pics. Tops looks smooth, light frosting around rim of Tuscan Nights and slight crystallization on Moonlight Path. Don't see any wet spots. Cold throw is very strong! Will burn candles in a couple days to test hot throw.

Here is how the candles set up after 4-5 hour burn.

J.S. Dream Sickle/Hyacinth Chula Orchid (pictured in previous posts) Cured 4 day's. I burned my candles for 4-5 hours. The cold and hot throw is very good. Burned very well. No soot or bad mushrooming. Trimmed wicks every couple hours.

I got a picture of the mottling too. This is the same Hyacinth Chula Orchid as pictured above. Never had a candle set up like this before, so I took a picture. This might be what your talking about KFTS. Sure was ugly when it was happening. Funny that the Dream sickle didn't do this at all. Soy is a fickle thing.

Hmmmm, well I kinda aim the gun from the center out toward the glass and not directly on the wick. Kinda hard to explain. This is a LX wick and it's a pretty heavily primed with wax and that helps. I should also say that I'm using a embossing heat gun. Not sure if that makes a difference. HTH

Here is a pic after I hit it with the heat gun. Looks much better. But, you can see oil oozing. Must say, the cold throw is really good on both these candles.

Thank you Geek. I usually make a few tarts with each batch of wax just to see how the wax/scent throws without wick burning. I only make these for myself for testing purposes. I usually have to freeze them for a few minutes and they pop out. I shrink wrap them and test after they have cured for a few days.

This is my first post with pics. Hope this works! J.S. Dream sickle 8.5%. Heated 180^ added F/O 175^ and poured at 145^ colored w/color block orange. J.S. Hyacinth Chula Orchid 8.5%. Heated to 180^ added F/O 175^ and poured 135^ colored w/color block violet. Containers: 10 oz. hurricane, 3 oz. flower pot votive and tarts. Forgot to add: Cold throw with both scents is very good. I'll give a couple days to cure and burn. Dream Sickle: Set up real nice. Touch of frosting on hurricane side, none on top. No frosting on flower pot. Tarts are smooth on top, but frosting on bottom. Hyacinth Chula Orchid: Hurricane set up real rough on top. Frosting on top and sides. Flower Pot top bumpy. Tarts are very frosted. Edit: Since the Hyacinth top looked so bad, I hit it with the heat gun for 20-30 seconds and it looks smoother, but seems to be oozing a bit and I did find a few air bubbles.

Very creative and nicely done!

I used Peaks Green Clover Aloe in a 50/50 blend at 9% and it was awesome. If your using a pure soy I'd definitley go with 9%. HTH

I've never tried Millcreeks, but I love Peaks Mango Papaya! Used 9% in Soy CBA and CB-135. HTH