Incendia

Flaming Candle is the only lemon verbena I have ever tried - and it is really nice. Like really nice. In addition to using it stand alone, I've mixed it with a 'floral' to make a just lovely 'lemon blossom' scent.

Lemon is one of my all-time favorite fragrances. They grow lemons in my area. I'm so pleased there are scents that can reproduce the real thing so well.

Locally lemon Eucalyptus and lemon Verbena also grows. It's amazing they are so similar, yet totally unrelated.

Sorry to bump such an old thread, but I'm hanging out in 'search' on a rainy day, looking for other lemon scents to try.

This afternoon, I just got a plain Blueberry from Aztec. Out of the bottle, in hot wax, in cooling wax I have not smelled anything even remotely blueberry-like. I hope when they cool and cure a bit, this will improve.

(Almost all of the other scents in the package seem very pleasing - I don't want to malign them over one difficult scent. ).

I purchased the infrared thermometer mainly to find places in the house where either heat or cold are coming in or escaping in summer and winter. I agree that I don't think it's the best for wax, mainly because of the transparency of the liquid.

As for candy thermometers, I have 4 of them. One bulbous glass one with the clip, and 3 metal Taylors. I really don't like them because they are so hard to read. Also, since I don't sell my candles and don't need to be exact, I rarely take the temperature of the wax anyway. If I did however, I think I would first try one of those digital oven/meat thermometers with the probe at the end of a wire cable. One like Alton Brown uses in his cooking shows. Those are so fast and easy, and with large, easy to read numbers for the geriatric set (like me). And they don't get in the way when stirring, and the only thing to clean is the straight metal probe.

When I used to make cheese, I used another type of thermometer. One with a round dial at the top, and a long thin straight metal probe into the liquid. I think that one clipped on too. That was also very easy to read. I think that only went up into the low 200*F range, which would be acceptable. Those candy thermometers go up to 400*F

My only cherry (Black cherry from FC) was also a disappointment. First thought was cherocol cough medicine or cough drops too. Now I just refer to these cheap-seeming smells as Jello scents. 

4 hours ago, justajesuschick said:

For me-all blueberry scents smell fake in my wax blend. I also cannot find a blackberry (not blackberry sage or other) that has longevity in my wax blend...

Sorry to hear this. I think I have 2 plain blueberries coming in. (I have one blueberry cobbler, but I don't much like 'Bakery') I'd love to find a good, simple blueberry since I grow them. But that's another obsession - a normal household does not need 50+ BB plants, lol. But then, what does 'need' have to do with it?

I'd also like to find a good blackberry, but haven't started looking yet.

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I also think I need more thermometers - any recommendations? I've just been using a candy thermometer but sometimes have trouble with the clip slipping. 

I don't know if it will work with melted wax yet (I saw a lady on YouTube use one for wax), but I just got one of those point and read thermometers. It's still in the box, but it looked like a lot of fun. It was less than $15 from Amazon. It supposedly reads surface temperatures. Not sure how it will deal with liquids however.

3 hours ago, Daisymay66 said:

Thinking of trying out these 2 companies. Any that I gotta have? Thanks bunches!

I have none to report now, but I have some samples coming in from them in a couple days. Come on, Mr. Mailman!

And from a couple other places too, lol.

As I said in another thread, I think I need an intervention. And maybe a map to the poorhouse .

2 hours ago, Tina J said:

For me, I've decided I will never find the perfect strawberry, coconut, or banana.

I've hardly begun looking, but it's helpful to know the fragrances that are more difficult. There are so many really nice ones 'out there', I'd rather not chase some of the more known elusive ones.

I've purchased one coconut, and found it rather weak and 'soapy'. Someone on that thread mentioned it was a difficult scent, so, at this time, I've decided to try other things instead. I did not know both strawberry or banana might be on that list too. I think I've got a strawberry sample coming in Thursday. 

I wasn't going to try any sort of banana because I no longer eat them - and I do miss them. No reason to needlessly torture myself, lol.

Through a series of coincidences, I now have an induction single 'burner'. I'd been thinking of buying one last year for cooking, but besides cast iron, I only had one SS pot that would work, so I decided not to get one. But, recently, without thinking about induction or wax, I got an entire set of newish Emeril cookware at a yard sale for $20. I've been using the two sauce pans (with nice dripless pour spouts) on my gas stovetop/double boiler to melt and pour wax. Since they are relatively new, they are also 'induction ready'.

Even longer story short, I'm now melting my wax in my Emeril pans, directly on the new induction 'burner' ....and just loving it. I put a sheet of paper between the bottom of the pan and the 'burner' top to keep it clean. Some people cook with a paper towel (or silicon mat) between their pans and their stove tops. But I would be cautious about that at really higher temperatures.

 Mine was about $70 on Amazon, and there's an even cheaper one at Costco, though not as nice IMO. It is so much cooler, and imo safer than the double boiler method.  And no water to make things messy nor uncomfortable. And I'm no longer working in the kitchen so my cooking stovetop is now free too. The conductive burner is temperature controlled down to 140*F in 20 degree increments. At $70 I would not have purchased one just for melting wax on my small scale. If I was a candle pro, other things would be better. But for cooking in the summer and keeping the house cooler? you betcha. Being able to melt wax on it is a pleasant bonus.

I'm going to need an intervention....

Just got another small order from FC. I re-ordered the Cedar Saffron, and Lemon Lavender. These are both really nice.

And while I was in the guts of the fragrance section... and because their shipping is reasonable (hear that Peaks????) I ordered a few others.

-Wild mountain honey, oob. OK. I like to use a bit of honey scent to help round out some florals like Orange blossom.

-Baja Cactus Blossom. oob. Nice. Will  probably rename something like 'desert wildflower', or 'Mojave magic'...'Palm oasis'. or

maybe 'On the road to Vegas'. 

-Rose, quick votives made. Surprisingly nice, true rose scent.  Reminiscent of some of the older red hybrids. I like this one.

-Tarocco. oob. Not fair to judge yet, but it seems off from a true orange scent.

-Ocean Mist. oob. Smells lovely. It kept reminding me of something - and it is watermelon. Think I"ll call it 'Day at the Beach'. or 'Beach Party'    

-Balsam fir. Quick votives. Nice, pleasing Christmas tree smell. Not much HT, but then what can I expect with a 15 minute cure, lol.

-Lime Basil Mandarin. Quick votives. Most intriguing of this lot. I like it. Need to pour more of them.

While 'cool' helps harden wax, usually in chemical processes, it's increased warmth that will accelerate things. Don't know if this relates to candles or curing them however.  And variables such as doing something different than you've usually done it, as jjc said, can mess with your results in unknown ways.  

2 hours ago, ehatch1 said:

7) Leather/Sandalwood/Vanilla mix (I have no clue what to name this yet!)

Why not name it after your location - Sierra Vista. It's a pretty name, and seems to go with the SW sound of the scent.

I had never heard of it before CraftWerk's post this morning. It is apparently harder than soy, and has a higher melting point. If they can hydrogenate soy oil and sell it as wax, why not canola/rapeseed? Or peanut or cottonseed oil?

1 hour ago, ehatch1 said:

Incendia, the piñon pine I have is from Wellington.  I've just poured a candle I am patiently waiting to burn... the cold throw is somewhere between earthy pine forest and chopped firewood/campfire.  It has a warm, smokey hint to it.  <3

Thank you. I'm going to check them out too. I have very fond memories of camping in numerous pinyon/juniper areas.

I find so many of the scent names are more eastern-oriented so I'm renaming some. Amish Harvest for example, is now Mrs. Field's Cookies, lol.

1 hour ago, ehatch1 said:

piñon pine

Someone has a 'pinon pine' scent? I'd love to know who.

Thanks all for answering. Interesting. I've been burning far more candles since getting into making them again. Sometimes my living area reminds me of the church of my childhood, lol.

If I had started younger, I might have thought about selling them too, maybe 'on the side'. But that bird has long since flown the coup so now the making is  just for enjoyment. And after reading many older threads here, that would not be an easy way to make money.

I don;'t know anything about rapeseed (canola) wax, but here is an old thread on the subject that might be helpful. It is apparently used more in the UK/Europe than the US. Maybe with the cloud over palm wax, it might become more popular here.

3 hours ago, Sponiebr said:

Uh huh... Uh hmmm... I KNOW a Trapp when I see one... and THIS is a Trapp! It's too easy... Nope! Not gonna bite. 

No Trappeur, not weed. Jewel-weed, (and no, jewel weed is not "primo" weed...)  like Moonie said it's a poison ivy/eczema/itchy butt treatment. To be completely honest 0:) I'm pretty up on my wild plants and why-for-we-masticaify them,  and when my buddy told me she wanted a jewel weed soap I said "Dude... Isn't that Datura? That's a hallucinogen man..." he, said, y'know, I think you're right... Damn..." I was like "no, no, wait that's jimsonweed I think... yep... It's all good dude." 

Your comment though Trapp has given birth to a PHENOMENALLY BAD, idea though! I may have mentioned that I make soap at my office facility... But... No...no. I actually LIKE my boss, so I'll show some restraint and NOT fill my facility full of the scent of dank-skunk. Damned handy idea though to keep in my black bag of "jokes". 



 

Learn something everyday. Jewel Weed isn't a euphemism for pot (I though it might be.). It's an actual plant what does offer relief for skin irritation.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_capensis

As for Jimson weed, we have that here. It often grows along the railroad tracks. It's very pretty, but not at all like the photos of Jewelweed.  ('Gruesome' warning.... )There was a local kid who brewed up some Jimsonweed pods a number of years ago and killed himself by beating his head against the wall.

Do you burn many? in all rooms? Do you stick with your favorite fragrances, or are you always trying new scents? Do you prefer pillars, tapers, votives, containers? Or are you so sick and tired of wax that by the end of the day, you just don't want to see another drop of the stuff?

Inquiring minds want to know. 

I think I'm living a very sheltered life.

Old time rust lid, followed by old timey black.

Labels, the first one, #5. Any label with a white/light border would be wasted space against a clear jar with light wax inside.

I really like the use of just 'Ace'. Everyone will know what it means, and as you have it, it's more classy.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions, Sniffer and Scented. I'll sign up for some newsletters. I had forgotten - a number of years ago I was getting one from Candle Science and thought it useful.

I'm also thinking I should just get what I want when I want it, and enjoy it now. At the rate I order, I'd only be saving a few dollars.

2 hours ago, Scented said:

On the other spectrum of this though is ... ahh the opportunities and pleasure that opens up. Just be careful that your addiction doesn't force you to buy a new place is all I'm saying. 

LOL, too late. This current home is just that - 10 rooms, not counting halls or bathrooms. And three of them are already dedicated to my addic.... er, hobbies. Candles are not my only addiction, though I prefer to call them passions. And there are also costly outdoor ones.

If something is worth doing... it's worth over-doing.

I notice you are in GA. If she is in the same state, maybe one of these. Or if not, the state of her residence.

Georgia Iced Tea
Georgia High Tea
Tea Party (lol, maybe not)
Southern Tease
Georgia Tease
Georgia Cuppa
Cuppa the South
Southern tea room
Sweet Georgia Tea (my favorite,a play on Sweet Georgia Brown)

Hi, I'm a home candle maker and don't intend to sell anything.  While I don't actually need anything this moment (but getting close), I see things on suppliers' sites that I'll soon need or want to try. While I have enough pleasant scents to last a year, there are many new ones that seem very appealing. Lol, you know the story...  

For small buyers like me, the shipping costs and smaller amounts used bring average prices up, and since I'm not selling anything, there is no recouping costs. So I am wondering if there is a sale season, or if certain companies have fixed, good sales, etc. If there are good sales, would it be worth waiting to order?

Any information or opinions would be helpful.  Thanks.

You might want to look at this thread about the concerns of candle wax burning all the way to the bottom:

http://www.craftserver.com/topic/109965-scary-candle-situation-from-customer/

@birdcharm , where do you get your separate 10mm wick tabs? Candlewic sells 9mm ones, but they want me to fill out the entire form to get shipping changes (no thanks, you don't need all my information)(a pet peeve). A place in Canada has them too, but shipping was $22... As if....

I'm almost out and need to order some new ones soon anyway. Might as well get the taller ones.