jbradshaw

I stopped using the 8oz straight sided jars that I poured these tests into, and switched almost completely to 8oz tins so I gave up trying to get the right wick on that container. I haven't had a chance to pour in the tin with CF and either of the marshmallows, as I'm getting ready for my first show next month (eek!) and I'm not including that scent (obviously). However, I did take out the 8oz jar I had poured of Crackling Firewood and Toasted marshmallow, and found that now the marshmallow scent is much subtler. This has basically been curing for four months. So - an interesting find for sure, and will inform my tests when I finally get around to it. @Moonstar I pour 464 for candles, and I haven't tried the NG FO - I've never ordered from them so I'm trying to steer clear of yet another supplier I might pour some melts with these combos to see if I can get closer to a scent I love. I tend to prefer candles, but if I could get that perfect blend I'd be fine with melts.

Tuscan Nights? This is the Peak description: Top notes of fresh green vine, citrus & rosemary. Middle notes of ripened melon and an ozonic base with bottom notes of wood/patchouli & lavender. I don't really get any melon - it is very earthy and herbal to me. Most of my friends when they first smell it immediately think there is pine, and I admit I get some of that. The lavender is lovely, not overpowering (although I'd be fine with that, I love lavender). Haven't been to Tuscany so I can't say if it's true to the locale, but I love it.

Trappeur, I'd never heard of anything like Rice Flower and Shea and now I'm dying to try it! I'm not a lover of bakery scents, so mine are totally different from the above... Peak's Tuscan Nights CS Oakmoss and Amber CS Basil and Herb Aztec Citron and Cedarwood Peak's Vanilla Bean Nectarine

Until I find the oil dupes for these and can make them myself...Cozy Night (got it from Target years ago) and BBW Radiant Red Maple But my favorite that I make is with Peak's Tuscan Nights.

Good point! I have done many (MANY) test burns but I don't think I could say I've tested everything a customer could do.

Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful advice. I knew this was the right group to turn to! I love the idea of doing a buy 3 for cheaper price, or doing something with the wick clippers. I think this could also really spark conversation about safely using candles, which would be great. I am also thinking maybe it would make more sense to put the burn time on the main label and the weight on the warning label on the bottom - I could see burn time being more relevant to people than the weight. I was also thinking of getting some reusable shopping bags printed with my logo and selling them at cost - this market is HUGE and very few vendors offer bags, and I'd like to avoid offering plastic or paper and do something more lasting. You can probably tell, I'm very excited but also quite nervous.

I love Tobacco (from aztec) but I live in Utah, and a candle named Tobacco just won't get much traction... The description on the site is "Delectable creamy vanilla and dark brown sugar mix together with smoky tobacco and mahogany woods." Think I could get away with something like just Mahogany Woods or Vanilla Woods?

I have decided to participate in my first craft fair (eek!). It is still months away but I'm prepping now. When it comes to pricing, I find myself in a weird position... There is another local candle maker who will be at this fair, and I'm concerned about pricing. She labels her candles 8oz or 14oz based on the size of the tin, not on the wax weight. I also do an 8oz tin, but the wax weight is closer to 5.5 oz. Our prices will basically be the same per actual wax weight size, but I'm worried it will look like I charge the same price for a smaller candle. Am I over thinking this?

I haven't seen the youtube videos, but I have heard of these things happening. Before I started making candles, I really never considered the melt pool. I burned all sorts of brands of candles, and once I learned what a melt pool was I went back and tested whatever I had at home (that I'd purchased). Honestly, every single one of them had a full melt pool that developed quickly. Granted, it wasn't the first burn for the majority, but it was for a couple of them. I had a couple Yankee Candle, some B&BW, and several capri blue (anthropologie brand, I used to work there) and two from Target. I now understand why it's risky/potentially dangerous to have that full melt pool, but I don't blame customers for thinking that's desirable, because it's what every widely available candle does. I haven't bought many candles from smaller companies, but I think I'm going to, just to see how they perform.

These lists are so great! I'm not sure how i haven't seen this thread before as I am constantly searching for great FOs from Candlescience (they are close to me so shipping is great). I love: (in 464) Lavender Very Vanilla Fig Tree (I think that's the name) Oakmoss and Amber Frasier Fir I have Red Hot but haven't put it in wax yet - but it seems like it will be wonderful.

I'm torn - I've never made melts or tarts before (I'm a hobbyist) but a friend asked if I would make her some. I'd like to use soy, because that's what I use for container candles, but given how popular the Ecosoya pillar blend was, I want to wait and try it. However, at this point I won't be able to make her melts until Christmas! (if anyone has suggestions on another soy wax to use for melts, please let me know!)

I love their scents - every one I've tried in 464 throws great. HOWEVER, every order I receive has at least one leak It doesn't deter me from buying, but it's annoying. Tuscan Nights is absolutely amazing, as is Birds of Paradise (if you like fruity, which I don't), and Eucalyptus Mint.

Peaks: Tuscan Nights, Birds of Paradise (I hated this scent but it had a great throw), Eucalyptus Mint Just Scents: Vanilla Bean Marshmallow, Wood Sage and Sea Salt

I don't consider myself expert enough to diagnose wicking based on a photo, I just know that when I used that wick, wax and container, mine were quite overwicked. Super hot containers, deep melt pools.

I also found the ECO 12 too large for that tin - it was OK on a vanilla scent but anything else it burned too hot. ECO 10 was a bit too small, in my opinion, but I only tried it twice because I didn't want to waste too much time when I was planning on trying CD wicks anyway. I use 464 and those tins, and find a CD12 is perfect for most FOs (at 6%).

I use the 8oz tins and 464, a CD12 is usually perfect for me with a 6% fragrance load. Only one that has given me trouble is a Rosemary Pepper FO, but others have reported weak throw so I'm just writing that off.

I'm local(ish) to them - so I've been wanting to put an order in as I could pick it up and save on the shipping. This has given me a great place to start on an order!

Is Birds of Paradise the fruity one? I'm trying to remember... If it is - I poured it straight and hated it (as did others). I did a little blend test with that and JS wood sage and sea salt and it mellowed it out, but I haven't tried putting it in wax yet - it's just on paper strips in a jar right now.

I've poured 464 anywhere between 135 (as CS directions recommend) and 150 (as members here have recommended) and get very smooth tops.

I'm glad I found this thread - a friend asked me to make her tarts and I was just hunting for what wax I need. It looks like the new wax was pushed out until April - I think I'll wait for that so I can learn right off the bat with the new formula. This is posted on Brambleberry: This product will be discontinued by the manufacturer once supplies run out. A new version of this wax will be available in April 2017. The Ecosoya 120 and Ecosoya 130 waxes have improved scent throw, increased stability and allow for richer color. You’ll love the candles and wax melts you can create with the new and improved formula!

For now, I would consider myself a hobbyist. If I were able to create some nice, consistent candles I would love to start a business, but I've only been doing this about 8 months. I started making candles after my daughter was born. My husband actually suggested it because he knows I love candles and I felt like I needed a new hobby and couldn't get back to working out just yet. Mainly, I enjoy making things with my hands, and candles qualify so I don't have real goals other than to enjoy myself and dream about starting a business. I have been doing container candles so far, and loving that (even though wicking is SO CHALLENGING). A friend asked if I could make her some tarts, which I've never done. I might try that if I get around to doing the research and figuring out what supplies I'd need.

Kandlekrazy I'll have to try the firewood from flaming! Moonstat, it wasn't the CF it was Peaks fireside that was a little cologne-y CF continues to be perfection (to me) and definitely a true firewood smell. I don't really have bakery scents but I'll have to try out a chocolate or caramel bc I know people just love them.

I had posted about this as part of another thread, but for those searching in the future I thought it might be easier to have this separately. Hopefully others will post what they have experienced going after this particular scent. It is so nostalgic for me - I'd love to be able to recreate it. I'm trying to get that campfire smell, with a hint of toasting marshmallows. My mixes: WSP Crackling Firewood, in an 8oz jar, ECO 12 WSP Crackling Firewood + JS Toasted Marshmallow (2:1), in an 8oz jar, ECO 12 WSP Crackling Firewood + JS Vanilla Bean Marshmallow (2:1), in an 8oz jar, ECO 12 Peaks Fireside, in an 8oz tin, ECO 12 All these were in 464, at 6%. The CF + Vanilla Bean Marshmallow was the nicest, but the marshmallow is so strong that I'd have to change the ratios to favor the CF even more than I already did. Good cold and hot throw. I worried the ECO 12 would be too large/hot and towards the end of the candle the jar was quite hot. But, it wasn't problematic until then so perhaps a shallower jar? CF and Toasted Marshmallow I still haven't burned - the marshmallow is so overpowering already that I know it won't be the scent I'm looking for. I'll still burn it at some point though because it's nice. Fireside smelled too much like cologne - my husband loves it though. I don't think I'll try to combine it with marshmallow, I think it would be weird. CF on it's own was definitely overwicked with the ECO 12. Next up I'm going to try: CF + VBN in a tin with the ECO 12, and in a jar with a CD 8, 10, and 12. Probably will change the blend as well, even though I know that is more than one variable to test. Jo

I believe I have a cedarwood - also a lemongrass, lavender, vanilla, eucalyptus...I can't think of many other straight scents I have that aren't a complex blend.

I think I'm going to start a thread for these tests and results in case there are others that would be interested. Isnt it it so surprising how powerful that marhshmallow is?!