jbradshaw

TT - I'm so sorry you're experiencing this! 

I'm also shocked when I see people copying or showing other's work as their own. There is a whole candle company that does this with Disney and I have no idea why they haven't been shut down - but it's sickening to me. How can you be proud of your work when it's not your own creation? 

I have a griddle that I use, but I still find that once I take the pour pots off they cool super quickly. I'm also starting to get cracks/sinkholes in my candle so I think I have a larger airflow/temp issue to address. Thanks for the feedback!

I like Just Scent's Toasted Marshmallow - but I haven't tried any of these others so I can't really compare to anything. 

I'm relatively new to the wax melt arena - I'm confident in how I test candles, but not so much on melts. 

I've read as much as I could find here, and it seems like many here test their FOs in salt in a warmer to see if it throws. Since I'm using FOs that I already use in candles, I know they throw. HOWEVER, I can't figure out an efficient/non wasteful way to test the wax/FO combination. 

Would anyone care to share your methodology for testing scents in wax melts? 

I just can't see trying to keep such a small amount of wax (2.75oz, enough for one clamshell) from cooling immediately in a pour pot. Do you use something else to stir in the FO? 

Thanks!

42 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

So your scale is calibrated? And has fresh batteries? When my batteriesArlo the measurements go off

I suppose the batteries could be running low, but I poured other candles at the same time that are fine. I will replace them when I get home, just to be sure. Do you think it's likely to be the amount of FO per oz?

30 minutes ago, moonshine said:

How much FO are you using?

your temps sound about perfect and you shouldn't have to stir to much with that wax with FO added at that high temp....like TT asked- is this by chance a new box of wax?

I usually do 7% FO, and this was not a new box of wax. My husband did remind me that I usually keep the wax bags in a box, and I had moved it so the bag was resting on the shelf - he thought maybe it was humidity, but that doesn't seem right to me. I was trying to remember if anything happened that kept the wax waiting longer than normal and maybe it cooled more than normal. 

51 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

Are these fragrances you have used successfully in the past?

are you certain on all of the measurements?

One I've used, one I haven't. CS Very Vanilla (used before) and Aztec Sweet Potato and Brown Sugar (never used).

I feel confident in the measurements.

I've never had this happen and from researching I'm finding conflicting info...

is oil separation/pooling on tops of candles caused by pouring too cool? Or mixing in FO too cool? This only happened on the last two I poured, two different FOs. 

It's 464 heated to 185, FO added at 185, cooled to 140(ish) then poured. Maybe I didn't stir as long on the last two? Or the wax cooled too much before pouring or mixing? 

Any advice is appreciated. Also- what do you do with messed up candles like these? 

These were all great points!

I will definitely make sure they agree to be responsible for the product if it's consignment. The shop is soaps, bath bombs, and natural deodorant, but the owner mentioned that they are frequently asked if they have candles (makes sense). Most of the shop is tilted wall shelving/crates, there are two tables - one of which would hold my candles. I love the design and their setup - I'm familiar with them from farmer's markets and their presentation is always great. 

I'd prefer to do wholesale, but I'm open to consignment based on the traffic they'll get fall/holiday season. But that does mean a lot of people picking up and putting down my candles, which is good/worrisome. This has given me a lot to think about - thanks! I'll let you know if it ends up working out  

I feel like I've had a million questions lately - but you all are soooo helpful and I'm just starting this business and want to start as I mean to go on. That is, honestly, legally, profitably  

Was in a shop the other day talking to the owner and mentioned that I make candles...she said they are wanting to get sell scented candles, and had someone who dropped some off but they didn't have a scent at all, and the woman never came back. Anyway, she wanted me to reach out about putting candles in this shop (it sells soap, bath bombs, natural deodorant). 

I know what my wholesale pricing would be and feel it's reasonable, but I don't really know where to go from here...it seems like they would not necessarily be ordering, more like I'd drop off some inventory and if it sells, it sells and I'm paid that way. I say that only because she didn't really ask about pricing or want to see/smell the product. But maybe her daughter does that? (she wasn't in during this conversation). 

I'd be fine with this arrangement as my business is super new, as is their shop (they've been at the local farmer's markets since 2007 but just got the brick and mortar space 5 months ago). Obviously the risk is that I don't sell anything and my inventory just sits. Their shop is in a historic village that gets a TON of traffic October - December. They put on a Halloween festival all of October, and Christmas is huge there - it's known as a popular holiday destination and the village's biggest shop is a year round Holiday decoration store. 

So - advice? Does it seems worth trying out? Any red flags you more experienced sellers can point out that I'm missing? 

To close the loop - Fig Tree sold as 'Rooted' did REALLY well at the fair. I'll probably keep it that for a while and see if it was a fluke since that was my first show. 

Are you using the presto spigot directly into your containers? Or presto into a pour pot with fragrance and pour from there? From the spigot might be too fast, just a thought. 

The thing that was most surprising is that this is an established candle company, who has their product in large retail franchises all over the country. Very odd. 

I will I'll say that they were using metal tealight cups, not that it makes it that much safer. 

This is kind of random...I follow a couple large-ish candle brands on instagram, and one of them just posted a video of someone pouring tea lights, and then just popping the wicks in after the wax was poured. So the wicks are just stuck to the bottom by whatever wax is under them as they cure, and of course the wax on top of the tab, until that burns down. It seems really unsafe to me, but maybe I'm missing something? I've never burned one of their candles all the way down, but now I want to do it and see if their larger candles have unsecured wicks as well. 

Has anyone ever seen this? Is it just a tealight thing? 

I like the middle one - but I wish the pink went straight across the width of the label in a band. I also really like the second two, but I wish the 'Sweet and Southern' text were centered. That's just me though - I love symmetry. 

I love the name Eden! I live in Utah though, so I try to stray away from anything that could be considered religious - Salt Lake is sort of a strange place culturally, and until I'm more familiar with what my customers respond to I'm keeping it secular.

I decided to go with (at least for now) calling it Rooted. I fell down the google rabbit hole and ended up reading an NPR story about how Italian families in America will bury fig trees during the winter so they survive the cold. In the spring, they dig them up and the trees take root again and produce figs. 

Anyway, I'm going to try it - pretty earthy and I'm hoping it will be intriguing enough that people pick it up to see what the scent is. 

Moonstar, fig and rosemary and Fig and vanilla sound lovely! I also have a sample of the Med Fig from CS but haven't used it yet. I'll have to get it in wax once I finish up with this craft fair. 

I love this FO from candlescience - but I don't think it smells like Fig and I was trying to think of a different name that is more evocative of the scent. But I'm coming up dry...

CS's description:

It's a little earthy, a little clean, a little sweet - very sophisticated - you need to try it!

This fragrance is infused with natural essential oils, including grapefruit, patchouli, orange, and lemon.

Note Profile:
Top: Citrus
Middle: Fig
Base: Woody

To me, it's very well blended - no particular note stands out. Slightly sweet, slightly musky...I've been driving myself nuts on this one, literally sitting here taking occasional sniffs to get inspired. Help? 

@Michdj I have a Blackberry Sage from Aztec that is VERY nice in candles. I didn't have Peak's so I don't know how it compares, but I love it. 

3 minutes ago, Belinda said:

How about on the inside of the top so they can see it when they open? 

Perfect!! Thank you! 

Is that so basic? Can you tell I'm very new to this as a business and not just a hobby? 

-Almond Pastry - not exactly the same, but try BB Almond Biscotti

-Amish Harvest- Rustic Escentuals has one by the same name 

-Banana Nut Bread-The one from Candle Science and Cajun are good replacements in my opinion. Also, Banana Walnut Cake from RE.

-Birthday Cake - 

-Black Canyon

-Botanical Orchard and Nectar

-Cedar (it didn't have a lot of wood tones to it, but was refreshing)

-Cinnamon Balsam

-Cookie Cottage - smells identical to RE Grandma's Cupboard (KY)

-Cookies for Santa - BCN has one with the same name, but not sure if they are similar.  If they are not, please delete this rec.

-Fresh Baked Pie Crust

-Freshed Brewed Coffee  - Aztec's Coffee is nice

-Fruit Slices

-Fudge Brownie

-German Chocolate Cake

-Green Clover & Aloe

-Home for the Holidays 

-Lavender

-Leather - Texas Candle Supply, Lonestar were some suggestions

-Lemon Pound Cake -Candle Science version smells very close OOB. Have not put it in wax. - RE Lemon Sugar Bundt Cake

- Lilac - Candle Cocoon had a nice one that wasn't too floral to someone. 

-Mountain Lake

-Ocean

-Olde Towne Bake Shoppe

-Orange Chiffon Cake - RE Orange Chiffon Cake (KY) smells the same to me, both in tarts and OOB

-Paris Twilight

-Patchouli

-Pear Spice

-Pumpkin Honey Chai

-Purely Peppermint - Flamings "North Pole"

-Red Clove

-Rose Bouquet - (It isn't the RB, but a nice replacement, though not soap friendly that I recall, is Briar Rose from Candlewic)

-Sea Salt & Cocoa Bean

-Spiced Cranberry

-Spruce Christmas Tree - Flaming's Spruce, Candle Science's Blue Spruce 

-Sweet Pumpkin Spice

-Tuscan Nights

-Twilight Woods-samples ordered from Cierra and Lonestar

-Vanilla Bean Nectarine

-Vermont Honey Apple BBW type

-Wild Mountain Honey - TT - I use the one from Brambleberry

-Wild Raspberry

-Wildberry Musk

-Winter Wonderland 

added Tuscan Nights and Vanilla Bean Nectarine

I'm trying to figure out where/how to apply a warning label to my clamshells - any advice? Do you just include it on the top label and deal with it looking not so great? Or do you just pop in a card with the warning with each purchase? I'm also not sure how much I have to include with the melts themselves vs the instructions that come with someone's actual warmer. 

9 minutes ago, Jcandleattic said:

Another great example of why/how I will NEVER use only 1 scent from any 1 supplier exclusively and have it be irreplaceable - because of this right here - who would have thought that Peak would have closed, and so abruptly? About 50% of all of my FO's are from Peak, however, I never get so attached to a scent or supplier that I can't replace it. 

Yes, there are several that I absolutely LOVE and that my customers all love too, but with the way I mix my scents and make my inventory, I don't have any "must haves" from a certain place. 

I remember you saying that once before and it makes sense - for me, I haven't sold anything yet, so I'm not necessarily reliant on it, but I will be sad to lose my favorite scent until I can find something similar. Now I'll be sure if I get attached to something I have a couple suppliers I can get something similar from. 

22 minutes ago, Jcandleattic said:

No they are closing for good - see the letter from the owner, Alan, in this thread - 

 

I just saw that, after posting here. I have only been making candles a year so I haven't experienced anything like this and I'm a bit in shock lol. Glad I ordered a pound of Tuscan Nights, but I would have stocked up on that and my other Peak favorites had I known. 

Oh wow - I didn't realize this was happening. I just cemented a line of scents I was going to market with and 2 of them are Peaks - including my personal favorite to burn. Devastating

5 minutes ago, olives said:

 

@jbradshaw You got me hooked on Tuscan Nights from Peaks...I just love it! Now that Peaks has closed, do you have any idea who might have a similar scent?

I think their site is just temporarily down for maintenance, not closed permanently. At least I hope?! I would be devastated if I couldn't get Tuscan Nights, it's my favorite.