candlesinflorida

I did a search of all my store-bought candles and every single one has "bougie" written below the scent or brand name. I get that it is a french word for candle, but is there a reason that just about every single brand puts that french word on every one of its candles? Is it some sort of industry "habit" or is there some particular other reason anyone knows?

Does anyone know where to get Britto FO? Any suggestions appreciated?

Pricey, right? I have seen those in a retail shop. Meh.

Anyone know which container (and lid) this is? Saw it at a local salon; looks like the old CS tumblers or maybe Genwax? It is heavy.The lid is maybe Wellington? Super nice and matte.

Fantastic -will do! Thanks!!

Comfort blend is making me very UNcomfortable! I am out of my regular wax so I dug up an old bag of Comfort Blend and I can't figure out how to get it into the presto pot! The ice cream scoop is tedious and since I am in Florida, it is too melty to cut it with a metal knife. I have an electric knife but it seems like that will be a huge mess? I have a larger slow cooker-should I try to push it in there with the bag and cut the bag away or turn on the heat and hope the bag doesn't melt? Any advice appreciated!

Oh yeah, they are. That one in the pic is a bigger size than what I have done before (thus the template) and I am keeping it to test all the way until it ends. It is over a foot tall. I bought out a huge supply of glass from a Restoration Hardware sale. I have sold a few, but also using them for branding for myself. They are amazing-scent a whole house. And stay nice and cool on the outside too.

Garyincanada...you just saved me hours of dealing with waxy tape and wooden chopsticks! Thank you SO much! So glad I just saw the bottom of that web page. Look what I have been dealing with!! (Two Big candle in back of little machine). One on the right has 6 wicks and 1 big headache. That is my homemade template on the left. Argghhh.

Those look SO fun...to make...to buy...they are just yummy, for lack of a better word!

The cork lid sure is cute-probably very inexpensive too and can be found and ordered or custom made via etsy.

The nice thing about the black jars is that you can’t see the wax residue on the bottom. Perhaps they have the same residue you have, but no one ever sees it? The candle is only $20 US https://northernlightscandles.com/products/spirit-jar-whiskey-tobacco?variant=36358431058&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpdmz2KKu4gIVCVSGCh2TxAIWEAQYDiABEgKDpfD_BwE

I like this idea! It would be cute to open up the candle, and there is a surprise. Maybe it could have the backstory of how the candle is made...or even a discount code to purchase another online or at a later date. I like the idea of having the info INSIDE because that way, the customer is already committed to the purchase and would want to know more about it, for sure.

I wasn’t suggesting leaving it blank, but I am saying that a label doesn’t need to be overly crowded with information. I am more of a design minimalist. But you know your customers best. So if they are enthusiastic about details like what different top/base notes are in the scent, who made it, etc. then I’d say to put all the detailed info. For others, like when I buy a candle, I just sniff and decide if I like it..regardless of a cute name or what’s in it. As for the warnings, you’d have to consult a lawyer on what he/she thinks absolutely must be on your label. Not sure if any of us here are legal experts or just going with our legal assumptions? Either the customer is using the candle in a dangerous way (their fault) or the candle maker created a dangerous product (chandler’s fault....Whether or not a warning label warned consumer) I do think it is obvious that a candle is flammable and potentially dangerous and can burn down a house, regardless of a label. But I also think any company can be sued, regardless of whether the candlemaker reminded them that it is flammable and dangerous so no label will save an errant chandler. Again, I am not an expert in negligience law-and I DO have those nifty little pics with the X’s on them on my labels and a little written warning about not leaving unattended etc. but I have bought candles that have very little warning info. on them and I don’t think the owners are worried about it. (And of course, I never leave my candles unattended...around pets or small children...etc. etc.)

Yea, I hear ya! But when i think of 5 of them working all together on 150 ounces (w the bigger pots) that isn’t so bad!! I used a laser thermometer and it registered 175. I also found that if I semi-melted the wax first, I could fit 16 ounces in the pitcher. With the bigger pitcher, 33 ounces would be great. Regular pour pots only hold a few pounds, (more than 3, and it is hard to swirl the FO well) so it is not a huge difference. I know the price seems excessive-but the lack of mess and lack of focused effort...could be worth it. Still deciding...

Totally great points. Regarding the wax, it looks like they design it for a particular wax they sell with it, although CS sells it alone without wax. So...I was looking at some old posts here about wax and FO temps and when the FO will "burn off" or dissipate if the FO is added when the wax is too hot. And it sounds like maybe my fear of FO dissipation was a little overblown. I think the machine wants you to add at 175-which is higher than I normally do...but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I didn't check the pour temp...but you COULD let it cool additionally before you pour. I did NOT find a big FO residue scent and I went through about 5 different fragrances today without cleaning it out. (I get lazy). It seems like the best part of the machine is that it really keeps it moving consistently as it blends, and keeps it moving as it cools. I have to say - I loved-loved-loved- not having to stir or stand over the process. I got so much done while that little machine churned away! I am envisioning a whole little army of chandler machines now...doing my work for me! I am just wondering if you (or anyone here) thinks it is crazy useless to buy a bunch-OR if there is something "better" out there on the market with similar functions?

Btw, if anyone wants to run anything by me, I am happy to give constructive criticism. I live in Miami, where design is a little more colorful and flashy than other locales, but I have also lived in Pennsylvania and Los Angeles...so I have a pretty good sense of different styles. Not a marketing expert, but I did work in tv for 20 years and have strong visual/presentation thoughts. Just message me if you want w photos-I love looking at candles lol.

Great minds must think alike! ...Or maybe we just have similar style

That is a good looking candle!

I was just too intrigued - I bought a “chandler & me” from CS. It is a magnetic stirrer/hot plate (maybe it is an inversion heater? Not quite sure) made for candle-making. The good: it is actually quite fantastic. The process is pretty effortless-and it creates a perfect candle. When I say perfect, I mean...beautiful glossy tops, consistent FO throughout the candle, no frosting, no sinkholes..just no issues and I tried many diff FOs with it. (Just tried soy 444 and 464 so far). It is such a clean process, no wax slurping on my counters, I can set aside all my random pouring, stirring and temp-taking utensils. Takes such a small space too! (See my counter pic to see what a mess things are!) And it is a no-brainer...you can do other things while it does the stirring work! The bad: it is tiny...can only do small batches at a time and costs about $65 each. ($62 with quantity of 5 or more) It isn’t totally fast...but it does the process the right way, slowly stirring (with a whirlpool - which seems to be key) and consistent heat source. However, I emailed the company (they are in Australia) and they said they are coming out with a much larger pot in two months. I think they said it can handle 33 ounces of wax and you will have to run it through two melting cycles; the current pot can handle just about 10 easily, 1 pound is pushing it. So-for those of you who have moved from presto pots to melters, what do you think about spending $620 on ten of these? Not sure on the timing, but 10 machines could probably do 15 candles in under ten minutes (without my full attention) and with bigger pots, (mo money...mo candles) of course, that would improve. Thoughts? Esp interested in whether people have used similar magnetic stirrers/hot plate combos or professional type agitators? Edit to add quantity needs: My candle-making needs are changing. I do batches of 20-70 at a time for special orders (making 10-20 a day with presto pot) and occasionally just do a few at a time for small orders or gifts. Hoping to have more of the large batch orders at a time, but not planning to do 200 at a time or anything like that.

Thanks-this just reminded me that crafter’s choice at WSP was a version I tried long ago and really liked. Will buy it again!

Oh that is all so fantastic! I was planning to just do natural -no color-which makes things easier. Do you really notice when the scent “switches” to the next layer, or it all sort of blends together? Btw-many times I “accidentally” create a layered candle when I forget to label the first pour or my shoddy temporarily label falls off and I forget which scent is which and get all confused! Those are the candles I keep for home use

Just started experimenting with this, and I thought I have seen it before but can’t recall where. Has anyone done layered scents, maybe two or more different layers of diff fragrances?

I have tried versions from Candle Science, Fragrance Buddy and Northwood. They are each a little different. Anyone have a different one they use and love?

Well, I sure hope there aren’t terrible effects. But I do think that a level of skepticism is wise. Often, health issues take years to develop. Could take over a decade. And the home candle making business us a relatively new phenomenon (less than 20 years) so it might be too early to conclude that there are zero health effects. Plus, some people have predispositions to developing cancers...and so little, in general, is known about environmental causes and cancer. Who would fund all that research...the petroleum companies? Not! Good point about the pesticides. in any case, I try to put aside the thoughts of risk and enjoy the process anyway...just impt issues to keep in mind, on the back burner. (Literally!)

I usually just put them in there after they have cooled. I have tried letting them cool inside the cardboard dividers, but most of the spaces are not perfectly level.