Natasha2106

Sorry, I should of remembered to put that information down. I use a blend of 80/20% IGI4630 GW 464. I use HTP wicks. I normally wait at least 7 days before test burning. I originally started using CDN wicks which I was advised were the better ones to work and I did achieve a better hot throw with them, however, I was finding that they would mushroom all the time. And then noticed on IGI wax, it is recommended to use the HTP, which do burn cleaner and no mushrooms, but am not getting a throw.

Hi all, As a standard when I receive new fragrance oils to test, I always start at 10%, some I get little to no throw, so don't continue with testing them. Have some of you found that sometimes, by using less fo the throw is actually stronger or is this not the case??

Thank you for this info. I've been testing for just over 12 months now and I'm seriously out of money and need to start to get to try to make some money on these, but I'm never 100% happy with the results so I end up starting the testing again. I'm wondering is there every a perfect candle and burn. I have purchased candles from highstreet retailers and found that they soot really bad with some of their fragrances, and I am not wanting this. You said that you find that adding at 82.2 is best, but for parasoy no less than 85. So it really makes a difference even in the slight .2 degrees. I'm worried that I need to try and add at 0.5 intervals and test. Wow, I do have a lot more testing by the looks of this.

omg these look amazing. Such talent!!!

I've been searching on the site and cannot find an answer. I hope someone can give me some advice on this. Does it really make a difference whether I add the fo at 85 degree celcius or 80 degrees? Will adding at just 10 degrees either way will affect the hot throw in a candle or melt?? I use a double boiler to melt my wax and sometimes I find the wax can get over 90 - 95 degrees, so I then remove and wait for it to cool to 85 before adding my fo. I always try to add at 85, but sometimes it is slighter over or just under. Also is it best not to let the wax go over 85 whilst melting? Does this also have an impact on the results of candle? I use my notes on adding fragrances and seem to be getting mixed results, even tho I do the same process. The only variant is sometimes the melting wax gets slighter hotter, and other times my temperature of fo added at is slightly off 85 degrees. I hope this all makes sense. Sometimes its hard to put in writing what I'm trying to get at - lol . thanks all xx

Please, please please can someone give me some advice. I feel like its 1 step forward and then 10 backwards. I currently blend 80/20 4630 & GW464. I'm using a straight edged jar with a width of 3.5 inches and depth of 4.5 inches. I am double wicking. So my frustration at the moment is with the wicks. I originally started using CDN wicks and then read that HTP are the best wicks to use with the IGI wax. So I then started testing with HTP, I love the way the HTP burn, no mushrooming, or sooting, but the fragrance throw is virtually non existant. Where as when I put a CDN wick in the throw is amazing, but then as they burn down the jars do get hot and I find they soot much more the further down the candle they burn and they also mushroom. I can tell people to trim the wicks, but if they don't the jars become messy and sooted, which isn't a good look. Is there anyway I can get the HTP to throw better, is it that they don't burn hot enough?? I'm so frustrated, I've spent thousands of $$$$ on testing over the last 12 months, and I'm working full time as I am not making any money from the candles yet - sorry I lied, I have sold a couple to the girls at work and a couple of packs of melts at a market stall, but I haven't even covered my stall cost yet and have others booked in. I just feel that I'm throwing money after money after money into this and don't seem to be getting anywhere. The couple of markets I've tried were no good so lost more money there, and I need to pay for the website to help with online presence, but just don't have any more money anywhere. My credit card is almost maxed and so need to start selling to be able to get this off the ground and put back into other areas that need completing. I'm just going around and around in circles. Is it I'm just trying to achieve the perfect burn and scent throw and this just doesn't happen?? I have tested hundreds of fragrances and not used them as I don't get the hot throw as I'm looking for. We now have 7 fragrances that throw well, but wicks are hit and miss. Do some of you use HTP and CDN in your candles and just switch between the two kinds depending on how they work, or do you tend to stick to one type? Also, when I try to get a throw using the medium sized jars I cannot get any throw using the HTP wicks - Arrrrggghhhh. Sorry to rant on to you all, but I feel like I am losing an endless battle, but have come this far into it, I cannot and will not give up. But I just don't know how to move on with no funds left!!!! THank you all for listening (or reading) - but please any advice would be amazing!!!! x

wow, thanks for all your help and advice guys. I was always under the impression that the first burn had to achieve a fmp. I used to buy Glasshouse candles which are around $45AUD, and they say in there guidelines that with the 4inch candle to let it burn for at least 3 -4 hours to achieve a fmp. This is confusing, do we or don't we is the question. My jars are 4in in diameter and I use cdn 6 or cdn 8 wicks, these normally give me a fmp and a good burn as a double wick. Some are too large so I will be testing with cdn 5 and 7 which have now become available here in Oz. i'm a perfectionist and always strive to have it 100%, I'm my own worst critic lol. Thanks guys, I will go back to more testing with alternative wicks and try not to get to fmp on first burn, to ensure it is fmp on second burn. Does this not create a tunnel tho by not having a fmp on first one or two burns?? I will test again and see what results I get. Thanks again guys

Omgoodness, I swear I'm about to throw these candles out in the bin. Just when I think I'm getting somewhere its 2 steps backwards. I have a 4" diameter double wick candle jars. I use a igi 4630 and gw464 mix with 10% FO, the first burn was completely clean and slow burning and achieved a full melt pool and burnt perfect. I stopped the burn after approx 4 hours and there was mushrooming on the wicks, I wanted to rellight without trimming wick as wanted to see what is was like if customer doesn't trim wick, the flame is all over the place, flickering etc and alot of black smoke coming off too. So my question is, do I go smaller on the wick and risk not getting a full melt pool but not having lots of burning off on second burn. i trimmed the wick and it was better, but I'm worried the customers won't trim. i've searched through some threads but struggling to find an answer. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks Natasha

these look amazing !!

I'm in the process of having a label designed for our candle jars and so far have got it down to these two, and I cannot decide between them. These will be printed directly onto the jars in silver metallic. The jars are available in both white and black so the metallic silver really stands out on them. Please be honest, as it is good to get all opinions. thanks

Sorry but need to vent before I explode. I have been using a company here in South Australia - Natural Candle Supply. they have two warehouses and when you put your order in online you have no way of knowing which warehouse your goods are coming from. So when it comes to check out and pay, you have to pay two lots of shipping as it has to be shipped from both warehouses. Not a choice you have, but becuase they carry all items at both warehouses, we have to be slugged with double shipping. So that is my grievance number one!! I ordered some wick stickums from them rather than buying from the other company and paying for a third company shipping, anyway, i have started doing some test candles as we do, and in two separate candles the wick stickums have come away from the jar. I have emailed them stating that the adhesive is not strong enough and that it is coming away from the jar whilst the candle is burning, and they have replied saying that this happens when there is dust or water in the jar. I have since replied confirming that all the jars are cleaned and wiped before every use and the fact that this has never happened before and yet it has started now. No offer of apology or refund, just that it is my error and not cleaning the jar correctly. - ARRRGGHHH how poor. this is number two. So finally I have just placed another order, to get my jars and fragrances for my next run of testing. The order was very large and a significant amount of money, this is a gamble and I am hoping to be selling in the next month, hence why such a large order had to be placed, and they did come in cheaper than the other jar company. So again I was slugged with the double shipping which was over $100 AUD. I phoned their sales and asked as my order was over $1400 AUD and then shipping to be added on top whether they could perhaps offer a discount on shipping. I received a big fat NO, as they are independant couriers services. So i then asked whether they could at least offer a discount on the actual order. Again was told No, we are a discount company and cannot discount anything further. I just want to vent and feel really quite ripped off that they have such poor customer service. I cannot wait until I get the fragrance company / manufacturer I'm in talks to, to make the fragrances directly so I can cut this poor serviced company out of my business!!! thanks for listening all xx

Thank you for this list Candybee. I did look at this before but didn't scroll to the bottom, as I just presumed they were American suppliers. Good to see the list for Australia some of those suppliers I've never heard of or tried, so will give their fragrances a go. As my current supplier is very hit and miss with there fragrances. I tend to find 80% are bad and only 20% good, but it is a very costly experiment.

I won't be trialling this then. Can't believe how much rubbish is out there on the internet.

Hello all, I seem to be working backwards, as I have already posted a couple of questions before actually introducing myself, sorry for this! My name is Natasha, in my 30's, and live in South Australia. I lived in the UK all my life until we moved to SA 3 years ago. It was just myself, hubby and kids who moved with only a very small container of belongings shipped over. We haven't looked back, we love living here in Australia. I decided just a little over 12 months ago to make candles for myself as hubby had been made redundant and I couldn't afford to buy them. After starting to test and make, I suddenly realised how difficult and long process it can be to achieve the correct candle. But had to perservier as I also needed to do something to sell on the side to get us through the unemployed time. However, during the no spending timeframe (on luxuries) I have had an abundance of tester candles around the home to fragrance it. I love the fragrances and have struggled to find suppliers that have consistent quality of FO and stickums etc. I have now finally managed to get it down to 5 FO that work well and are wicked well and give a lovely fragrance. So hope to be selling these at a local market in the next month. It sure has been a long hard process, as I have been working full time and trying to do this on the side. I am married, have two daughters and two dogs. So my life was very busy before making candles came into my life, but not one to shy away from hard work. I lost so much time and money trialling things with useless information from some sites, and talking to some suppliers who tell you one thing, only to purchase a whole amount from them to find it is all rubbish and they just don't give sound advice. Am so pleased I have now come across your site as it has so much valuable information. My brain is buzzing with all the info and reading on here. I am so excited to be getting going with this!!

I No I haven't tried this, but was just curious whether anybody actually did this. It was probably another one of those internet sites with little / no idea of how to make candles. There is some really rubbish info out there. I think they were soaking the wicks to aid scent throw.

I read somewhere on the internet a while ago that some companies soak their wicks in the fragrances, then add them to their candles. I have never tried this, but can't see this being very safe. Has anyone ever tried or do you do this, with any success?

Can anyone shed any light on this issue for me. I was marathon test burning a candle and found that after about 3 hours of burning the scent almost disappeared completely, I just couldn't smell it anymore. The candle was about half way through its burn (as it was only a small one) but any ideas as to why it just stopped the scent?

these look amazing. They will give lovely patterns around the room when lights in them.

These labels are all beautiful, so professional looking. Can I ask - do you sell your candles in boxes or just stand alone as you see them? I'm unsure whether to go down the box route, as it's more designing, costs etc.. And I love the tree on top of the wax, what a lovely added touch. ?

Firstly, I only came across this forum 3 days ago after almost 12 months of testing and $$$$$ spent and still not selling due to not 100% happy with end result. I have 3 fragrances that I'm happy with and ready to move on but would like to have more scents available before officially selling. this forum is so full of info my brain is buzzing, but it has given me new hope that this will work and I will start selling very soon. So thank you all , this site is amazing! I'm confused and hoping you all can offer some advice. I have made some candles and the wicks are working perfectly. I made this and it had cured for one week, which I have done before and took to a friends house. She lit the candle and after about 15 mins we could start to smell the fragrance and it smelt lovely, however about 5/6 hours later it was still burning lovely but I couldn't smell the scent at all. with the first few hours I would keep getting wafts of the scent coming across but after this, all scent stopped. Could this just be that I was used to the scent or could it be something else, as she said that she could no longer smell it either. I use igi4630 and gw464 blend (80/20) at 10%fo added at 85 degrees c. Any ideas what this could be? Thanks natasha

Thanks all for your replies. I have HTP & CDN wicks, but have only ever used CDN wicks in my candles. I think they're easier to find here, I struggle to find the ECO and have never seen the LX wicks at all. I will try the HTP and see how I go from there. thanks natasha

Oh wow, I have just read your reply, and the idea of putting a hole down the middle of a candle and changing the wick to test. Absolute genius!!! the amount of candles I've made, tested and then melted only to test again. Thank you - I shall be doing this from now on.

Hello I am new to this forum and to the candle industry. I just came across this site after 9 very long hard months, testing alone with only mixed messages on the internet. Trialling numerous waxes, companies and fragrances. My question is: I am using a blend of igi paraffin wax and soy. it is more paraffin than soy. And I was told to use a CDN wick in paraffin rather than the HTP wick. Can anyone confirm whether it is ok to use HTP in this blend or is it best to stick to CDN? I have found so much conflicting information on the internet and hope that someone on here will be able to give some advice. Thanks Natasha