candlesinflorida

What (who) is RA and GW?

GREAT advice. Thank you!

I will just respond to this bc I have used many of them. Lab and Co really do smell "better" than most others. They just smell more complex and not only are they crazy strong, but you can really smell different notes within the fragrances. I am assuming that they really do use special (i.e. higher quality/more expensive) ingredients. With that said, I don't love all of their fragrances and neither do my customers. They are a little too unique lol! I would like to have the quality (and complexity) of Lab and Co, but with my own choices of fragrances. As far as candle science and AFI, they have crazy strong fragrances as well...but again, I think Lab and Co. (in general) has (1) better complexity and (perhaps) (2) better ingredients. For me, those 2 things ARE worth paying more.

Thanks for the info busy bee! Have you dealt with premier fragrances and/or how do you know that is the company Lab&Co uses? I have been using AFI, which I love, but I will definitely check out premier if their minimum is 10 lbs like AFI.

Looking for the best quality black candle dye (and any suggestions on how to use dye much appreciated-I have never colored my candles, but want to try!)

New year...new candle making possibilities... I have been using the candle science chandler machines, so perhaps I have been a little spoiled. I just love the fact that they do all the continual mixing while I can work on other things. However, they have problems, particularly when you use them a lot. In fact, one started smoking last week. So I am thinking that it is time to move up to a "real" machine and wondering if anyone has any experience with either wax melters or some sort of stirring device? Has anyone tried a magnetic stirrer or an official candle machine like the big boys/girls use?

Thanks everyone-this is super helpful. I am going to re-read everything and make some decisions.

I like the way you think! Go high-end or go home lol! Agree!!

Obsessed, I apologize for making you feel disappointed! I know it is frustrating when you are excited about something and everyone is like, “nah!” Maybe I will try their wax again if it is different from what I tested, it is just a hefty investment w the shipping. Please let us know if it is avail in the US. As for the container, it is subjective. It is chunky paint, to me. I have the Gio with the embedded flakes and it is so much nicer. But again, these are subjective comments about a glass container. And I do appreciate LCS selection-unparalleled actually!

Just wondering how consignment workec out for you-and did you end up going with a 90/10 split?

I know consignment has a lot of negatives...I get why. With that said, I agreed to do consignment for two friends I have known and like. One owns a salon and the other has a store. I already agreed to consignment so I def don’t want to revisit that issue, but just wondering what percentage I should state. I want to take the highest percentage I can. Any suggestions? 70/30? 60/40? 80/20?? 50/50 doesn’t seem right bc that is basically wholesale pricing and that involves way more risk for the store.

LOVE many of their other vessels (pun intended) but again, shipping outside AU is prohibitive. Edit to add: the GORGIO SPECKLES are really gorgeous and a similar concept w the metallic speckles, but way nicer.

I have used an immersion blender dozens of times, and also a heated bowl/kitchenaid mixer. I would like to say that they were better than hand-mixing, because it seemed like they would have some sort of scientific advantage LOL! But alas, the candles were the same as if I had just occasionally stirred. With the immersion, you have to be careful not to lift it up and get air in. I still have some candles labeled "heat mixer" from the experiments...they are no better or worse with cold throw or hot throw.

Sorry to be a killjoy-but I purchased the blue/gold Love container and it was cheaper looking in person, than in the photo. The gold paint was sort of chipped and also chunky. Just letting you know.

I was actually one of the "testers" for these waxes a couple years ago. They had us fill out all sorts of information about the waxes and test them out and make detailed remarks on little cards. Honestly, I was disappointed. I had high hopes but after taking a close look and trying them all, they were NO better than any other wax. Don't believe all the hype. As for customer service, I have probably ordered over 5k worth of products from them. They ship quickly and have great items, BUT when there have been problems (dented gift boxes, for example in my last shipment) it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to reach someone. Emails go unanswered. When they finally write back, they promise to replace the items in the next order...but then don't answer emails when I place the next order! In the end, I have ended up just taking the loss-twice- on shipments that had small issues. It was just too hard to get my money back and since it was not a lot of money, I let it go. However, this lack of communication made me want to stop ordering from them. If I am going to pay $8 for a candle container, PLUS another $6 to ship it to the USA, I have to trust that they will take care of the customer.

Yes! Like a chunky sandpaper coating! I never in my life thought I would say, "Awwww I really miss a wick that was discontinued"....but it is true.

Makes sense. I just want to do an embed that is the same as uncolored soy wax. It doesn't need any FO. Although I think for my needs, I would rather have an imprint from a stamp. I will probably get a metal soap stamp but I just want to be sure it can work before I invest. I imagine the soy wax has to be "firm" enough not to smush and to hold the image. I am wondering if adding stearic will held the wax harden up more to take the impression.

I know this thread is old, but I think there were a couples things left unanswered...and I am very curious about the potential answers. 1- regarding volatile compounds, they can stay in the space forever? 2-the storage locker is not a bad idea, especially if the candles and all the supplies can be stored there, instead of your kitchen! But don't the storage locker places have a rule against working or conducting business inside the lockers?? I would think artists would be renting them all the time to use as studios, no? And I would also think there would be rules about flammable materials, heat and chemicals, etc. I have never rented a storage locker in my life so I have no idea!

I think I must have used a different wooden wick-I think I bought them at Northwood and they had a "coating" on them. Is the woodenwick company the same as lab&co?

Do you mean the kind of stamps that are used to stamp envelope seals? What about a soap stamp? And did you find beeswax worked much better than pillar wax for the embeds?

Ok. I posted about Coconut Wax in a Brand new topic, but I am wondering if the problem I have is similar. My easy beads arrived in a big lump and now I am even more concerned. The OP here also reminded me of a BIG problem with a recent order. I didn’t post it earlier bc I am slightly embarrassed lol. See attached photo-but trigger warning...it is BAD. 90%soy (444) 10%easy beads and I blamed the tins for possibly having a bad sealant. I still think the tins are at fault but wondering if the coconut wax possibly was involved in this trouble.

Just got two cases and the “easy beads” have turned to “difficult lumps”. It looks like maybe ups left the boxes in the sun/heat and everything melted. I can deal with that, but the boxes also seem a little extra “sweaty” inside. It is mostly on the inside, so I don’t think rain got in. I just think the heat got to the beads. Are these ok to use? I tried some samples and it is hard to tell. One thing I do know is that it is really hard to keep digging at them, but not sure if I have any recourse with the seller since it is (the end of) summer.

Yikes.

Since the tried and true wood wick company apparently went out of business, any current wood wick supplier favorites?

Interested to hear about how a dupe turns out. I have bought Lab and Co and they ARE incredible-but ouch, the price. And like all FO it is ridiculously hard to know what the scents will be like, and if you will like them, until you get them. But spending so much on a little sample size, makes me inclined NOT to buy much from them. Fyi I also have had some problems w their shipping although they took care of things nicely (once they were finally reachable lol). edit to add-while I love two of the scents I purchased from them, the others I thought were not my cup of tea. And I have not gotten too much enthusiasm from customers. Will have to check the fragrance boards to see if there are suggestions!