obsessed

Hi there, I was hoping someone may be able to tell me if they know of a dupe for MAISON MARGIELA  "Lazy Sunday Morning" .... I have a forum member in Australia looking for it and I'm not familiar with USA candle/soap fragrance suppliers. I looked up a couple (Lonestar & Candle Science) but had no luck. Thankyou x

a couple of pictures of my LOVE candles ... I think they are gorgeous , not cheap looking or thick at all!  They are elegant and so very classy. These are the grey with silver fleck ... they are very christmassy!

On 12/3/2019 at 3:30 PM, Cindel said:

 

Thank you.  That's disappointing to hear.  

 

Welp my vessel search continue. 

On 12/3/2019 at 3:23 PM, Cindel said:

The MST is just hydrogenated coconut oil? 

I was hoping to place an order for their Love containers. 

no  ... https://luxurycandlesupplies.com.au/product-category/wax/   M12 is their Cocosoy with the additive / and the MST is the additive that can be used with your own wax at a 65/35% ratio.   They make A05 Cocosoy , which is a beautiful creamy , high-end soy blend . They have chosen this fabulous wax to make a pre-blended formula , so you don't have to measure out the additive and wax separately.  The MST is getting great reviews so far also with 464 and C3 ... no need to change wicks . I have tried all of their waxes and love them all ... you need to be patient and persevere with heat and pour temps to get the best results. It is worth the effort! 

On 12/1/2019 at 2:29 AM, TallTayl said:

From just a basic, brief research, it looks like hydrogenated coconut oil (the same 92*F we have here) and possibly some Cargill like universal soy additive.
 

The wording is remarkably similar to what the US sellers have been writing. 
 

https://allseasonswaxcompany.com.au/superior-cocosoy-a05

 

no ..no and no

On 12/1/2019 at 11:48 AM, pughaus said:

It seems they "removed the paraffin" from their cocosoy and are now offering it separately as a new miracle additive called "MST"?

Am I reading this correctly?  

the only wax ASW had with paraffin in it was A27 ... a pillar/melts wax.  They have been fine tuning their waxes for the last couple of years and listening to what we want.They removed palm and paraffin when we didn't like it and adjusted formulas to work the way we wanted.  ASW do not re-bag other companies' waxes and sell as their own (as implied in a previous comment). They make all of their waxes and tailor them to what we want ( in Aust. the owner is on first name basis with  many chandlers and is always trying to improve).  Yes, the new additive is a paraffin base ... also including  refined mineral oil. I am so disappointed how a lot of you have just slammed/sniggered at my post, it was meant to be inspirational. I would not have bothered if I had known how many smart remarks it would attract. If you only knew how transparent this company is (honest!) you would also be optimistic. We have had a rough few years with all of the soy problems and this new wax is really great. It's a shame a lot of you don't see this like I do. I have found a company that is having a go, that is listening to what people want and is putting their neck on the line and going the extra mile. I can talk to the owner any time I want , no matter what country he's in and ask him a question. Transparent/honest and dedicated .... what more can you want? 

how disappointed do you think I feel at all of the negative , smart comments made regarding my post?  

On 12/3/2019 at 3:26 PM, candlesinflorida said:

Sorry to be a killjoy-but I purchased the blue/gold Love container and it was cheaper looking in person, than in the photo. The gold paint was sort of chipped and also chunky. Just letting you know.

I have the pale grey with silver leaf flecks on it ... it's gorgeous. the paint is meant to be "chipped"looking. It looks like SILVER LEAF  ... thats' the look. It is not chunky AT ALL . there is a Vogue that is thicker , with flecks on it , maybe that is the one she is thinking of? LOVE jar is elegant and style .. just beautiful for xmas

On 12/3/2019 at 3:20 PM, candlesinflorida said:

I was actually one of the "testers" for these waxes a couple years ago. They had us fill out all sorts of information about the waxes and test them out and make detailed remarks on little cards. Honestly, I was disappointed. I had high hopes but after taking a close look and trying them all, they were NO better than any other wax. Don't believe all the hype.

As for customer service, I have probably ordered over 5k worth of products from them. They ship quickly and have great items, BUT when there have been problems (dented gift boxes, for example in my last shipment) it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to reach someone. Emails go unanswered. When they finally write back, they promise to replace the items in the next order...but then don't answer emails when I place the next order! In the end, I have ended up just taking the loss-twice- on shipments that had small issues. It was just too hard to get my money back and since it was not a lot of money, I let it go. However, this lack of communication made me want to stop ordering from them. If I am going to pay $8 for a candle container, PLUS another $6 to ship it to the USA, I have to trust that they will take care of the customer.

So sorry to hear of your experience there, mine is the complete opposite. I actually get to facetime the owner of the company with any problems and could not speak more highly of both their products and their customer service! If you were an early tester, I can assure you there has been a lot of fine tuning with their waxes. I too had difficulty early on, but the owner took all criticism on board and still does. All of their waxes are now fantastic , as long as you learn how to use them. They like low , slow heat to max of about 78c and pour best when cloudy. LCS are so transparent and honest with all of their products, you will not get any bullSunshine from them. Their waxes are used to produce many big retail candles for obvious reasons and they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. I am certain it will only be a matter of time before you will be able to source them in the USA . 

On 10/31/2019 at 5:44 AM, Kerven said:

I wonder what the additive could be... I hope it's not the same thing(s) I've been working on for the last year. Is this the reformulated A05 wax?

AllSeasons waxes look nice. If only we had them in the US...

A05 is still available , but the combo is called M12 Ulitmate soy wax . You can also buy the additive on it's own , it works with other waxes too. It came out today .... Keep your eyes out for ASW - they are lovely! Can't wait to try it ... will let you know how it goes!

I am so excited to hear a new wax is being released in Australia in December that has everyone going crazy! I just thought i  would mention it on here ,  as there have been so many problems with soy over the last few years. Those that have received it to try are screaming its' praises, with an amazing hot and cold throw  and beautiful ,creamy smooth set. It is a coconut soy base with a new additive ... which also will apparently be sold separately if needed. It will be available from AllSeasons Wax Co. (ASW) and  distributed from their fabulous "Luxury candle supplies"  in Melbourne Australia.  I am not affiliated with them at all, but love their waxes .... am using their A05 Cocosoy at the moment. They are constantly developing new waxes and improving their products wherever they can. If you can find it in the USA give it a go .... you won't be disappointed! Their customer service is out of this world and I constantly get help and advice from the man who is making this wax and owns the business - how amazing to have full transparency and honesty - where do you get that these days?! He posted my friend a box of wax for us to try - and she is blown away by it ( I haven't been able to get to her place yet!)  If you can look on Facebook , there are a lot of posts coming up on it on "Candlemakers' world" ... LCS also has headquarters in London , so keep an eye out in Usa! Michael Skoullos is a bloody legend! https://luxurycandlesupplies.com.au/  check them out x

On 1/20/2018 at 6:32 AM, lenarenee said:

Well, I'm one who won't buy candles a second time that look bad after they're burned. That goes for a pitted appearance, or black soot on the rims.  In fact, I bought 5 candles from a local candle maker, burned one and found it left a pitted appearance - and the remaining four are left untouched. (should give them away so they won't be wasted).  

 

However I don't think I am a typical candle buyer because I don't buy candles for the scent unless it's Thanksgiving/Christmas and that was never a habit until the crackling wicks came out.  My idea of a perfect candle is unscented, uncolored, big crackle, glass container - and since I've never seen one anywhere for sale I have to learn to make my own!    

hi lenarenee ... did you find a suitable wax?  Only smooth setter time after time I can think of is Advanced ... but my last batch was a dud . It needed to be wicked up and wouldn't burn well, it was bought last year. I would be interested to hear your results.

 I did end up mixing 30% Advanced with a cocosoy I had ... that was a good setter too

On 2/4/2018 at 10:44 AM, TallTayl said:

I keep a heat gun in one hand and the pour pot in the other when it gets that stiff. 

Hi TT ... when pouring slushy , at what point do I stop stirring the pot? I usually add fragrance when poured into pot, stir 2 mins then pour. If I stir 2 mins and let it cool , do I stir in between these times , or even right before pouring? 

Hi Trappeur ,  I would think about the season of which the "Painted night sky " comes to mind. When I think of it , I think of a beautiful summers' evening of orange , gold and red. I 'm with you in thinking of warm , rich scents. Possibly with you coming into summer those fragrances may need to be toned down , especially if it gets hot where you live. In saying that , going with a spiced more Persian fragrance may be nice? I wouldn't want anything really sweet and warm in summer, but a middle eastern flavour would work I think x

On 11/6/2018 at 1:08 PM, bfroberts said:

The mushrooming with zinc wicks is significantly reduced with a proper cure time and keeping the FO load at 6%.  I don't get any more mushrooming with zinc wicks than with any others in 6006.

what cure time do you recommend with 6006? I usually do a min of 2 weeks with soy. Also, what benefit do zinc wicks have? I haven't seen any here, wicks containing more than 0.06% lead were banned in 2002 apparently. we have CDN and HTP  and some "generic" types !

On 11/14/2018 at 1:33 AM, bfroberts said:

I'd try pouring a little cooler.  

ETA:  Oops, just realized this was already answered.

Hi ... do you mind me asking if you use 6006 straight? I saw previously you use it. I am thinking of giving it a go, as this summer is killing me! I made some testers last night and this morning they are swimming in oil (some Advanced I've been having trouble wicking!)  I  like 464 and hav been using a beautiful cocosoy blend , but they are all way too soft for our recent heatwave. Thankyou

you have to remember a power burn is not an ideal burn in any circumstance. Did you trim the wick during that time? I would be surprised if you could get a small, steady flame and no mushrooming in a 10 hour continuous burn. If you find that magic wick , you will do very well! Good luck! Luxury Candle supplies (Australian comp. do wicks that are really good at self-trimming and work really nicely with their own waxes All Season Wax)

On 12/2/2018 at 12:58 AM, StanfordP said:

I LOVE coconut wax! 🥰 It’s like a miracle wax. It doesn’t crack or sink, it hardens faster, and holds fragrance better. It’s also a purely sustainable product. The agricultural impact of soy (farming, irrigation, land waste) negates any environmental benefit of using soy wax. 

 

Its tough to wick, which is why I blend it with soy. In pure form, coconut has a melting point of around 96 degrees. So, you gotta wick down. All the way down. 

 

Anyway, I could go on and on. It’s not cheap, which I blend with soy. But, my candles are beeeeau-ti-ful!

 

EDIT: I’d recommend buying a 10# bag of coconut wax and experimenting. Start with 5% and go up from there until you’re satisfied. I’d you can get a formula that uses less than 15% coconut wax, your cost per ounce of wax will only be affected by a few pennies. Worth the cost for the huge jump in quality. But you gotta experiment! And you’ll want to wick down, too. Good luck! 👍

this thread is so interesting! I am intrigued in the type of coconut wax you use. As I mentioned earlier , my All Seasons Cocosoy blend does not like the heat ... it's been a killer summer, with tomorrow in the 40's! (Australia) Even in the high 20"s my candles are sweating at the markets undercover. I find adding coconut wax has the opposite effect with me ... it softens the wax. I would love a harder cocosoy wax blend , as they make a beautiful creamy, expensive looking candle. Do you live in a cold climate by any chance? If not , why would your coconut wax be harder? Wouldn't it be the same? Also , Isee that Nature wax makes a blend .. have you tried it? I use ti use C3, but didn't like the bubbles. Does it bubble as much with the addition of coconut? Sorry for all the questions!!!

thankyou

On 2/6/2018 at 1:40 PM, TallTayl said:

Craters. Sinkholes. Cavities. Whatever you call them, they form in all kinds of waxes.

 

Often, just pouring "cloudy" or "slushy" helps minimize them. 

Sometimes heating your containers helps. 

 

During a recent test pour of several different vessels of varying sizes and materials, something hit me upside the head like a V8: those big, thick,really warm ceramic vessels always cool perfectly! The tins and smaller vessels left cold developed major cavities even when the wax poured practically setting up.

 

As I poked the craters to excavate the issues, I noticed all were pretty low in the container. This told me the cold bench surface of my igloo shop solidified the wax too quickly. 

 

So today, I put than observation to a non-scientific test. I set half of the waiting containers to warm up on my wax melter which was set at 100 just to keep it at the ready for another project. 

 

Then I forced myself to pour the waxes while still very clear. I didn't wait for the waxes too cool more than a few minutes while stirring before pouring. I poured those beasts hot.  Each pre-warmed container was covered with a paper towel to keep drafts out, then left alone. After less than an hour they were solid. Not a crater sign anywhere on them yet. For science I will poke at them tomorrow when they are good and cold, but methinks we have a solution to a big problem here. Slooooooow the cool. 

 

The unwarmed containers left on the cold bench to cool developed craters. Even coconut wax beads that are supposedly foolproof! 

Also .... extremely late to this thread , but it intrigues me. I find pouring 464 hot works well for me , contrary to manufacturer recommendations ( I usually heat to 90c/add fragrance / stir then pour.) As long as room temp is around 20-22c all good. If it's really hot or humid, which is now where I live , the tops can be lumpy. I find your comments make sense with candle sinkholes ect . When I attempted a marble jar , the marble was sooo cold , the set was awful. Also when I made in my kitchen I sat them on Caesarstone tops ... ice cold, I had problems in winter. My question is , how does "rapid cool" compare to slow cool? I have read a bit on rapid cooling and know also in large manufacturing this is done ( in some factories). Rapid cool is supposed to prevent fragrance burn off , does slow cool then lose fragrance in comparison? 

On 12/7/2018 at 1:30 AM, TallTayl said:

@obsessed I set up a wire rack like this one 

 

 

Mine broke down to two shelf height. A box fan like this is on the bottom pointing upward.

 

 

the wax pots sit above the fan to cool rapidly from the bottom. I stir frequently to move the heat around. Pour my container waxes at about 105.

 

if the wax is poured cool enough the containers can sit on an ordinary countertop usually to finish cooling, or on an upper shelf of this type of rack.

 

cooling from the top forms a skin over the top of my candles which guarantees cavities in my waxes. 

You are so generous with your hep and recommendsations ... thnkyou a illion times over! So sorry for my typing ... it is 2am and I have been out for our xmas practise for our belly-dancing hafla!! LL Dinner & drinks ensued lalalalalalalalalalaaaa aye! ehehehehe get your shimmies on girls and embrace sisterhood xoxoxo  shimmy

On 10/20/2018 at 12:14 AM, TallTayl said:

Thanks kerven.  I had hoped you would share some of the research you’ve completed. 

 

Seems that each time I see candles that did not turn out (namely syneresis in commercially popular wax) it comes down to one of two things, temps or blending, sometimes a combo of both. When I read instructions on FB groups to add the FO at flashpoint it makes me sad and anxious at the same time. Lower FP FO won’t combine properly and higher FP FO raises waxes to temps higher than manufacturers recommend. Only manufacruters know how their product is engineered.

 

ive written before how rate of cooling changes the game. A pot of wax on a bench in a 95*f garage left to cool to pouring temp is not going to look the same as one poured in a 60* basement, of course.  But tools like a fan really can close the gap. the bottom fan technique has worked very well for my operation. I can get pots of wax (and shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc)  into pouring temp range quickly and repeatably. They must be stirred to clear the edges of the pots, plus stirring cools things more quickly and evenly. Soy, beeswax, etc. blends look shiny and smooth when made this way and tend to not frost or morph nearly as much as those allowed to cool slowly. The stirring combined with rapid cool somewhat mimics commercial votation which is how margarine and some veg oils are commercially prepared. It all made sense once I gave it a try. It solved a LOT of my soy problems immediately.

Hi TT .... can you elaborate how to set up bottom cooling?  I think this may be something you have told me before. Does the fan not play up with the wax? I have a ceiling fan in my workroom and it is summer here now. I am pouring early morning or evening now to combat this. Also , just wondered if you are rapid cooling before pouring , or when setting? thankyou! 

On 4/16/2018 at 8:21 AM, Pam W said:

Those candles are a perfect example of the excitement you experience when you de-mold your creation.....there is no way that one will find a candle like this on the store shelf.........so whatever comes out of you mold, take pride in the fact that you have created a ''one of a kind'' candle .

@Flickerthey look amazing! I am really inspired now to try something different. Living in Australia , I haven't been able to source mottling wax. I have a small feather palm wax and also ASW A27 , which is a palm, soy ,parrafin blend I think.  Would adding stearic to either , have a rustic effect? If so , how much do I add?  I also just saw chunk candles tonight ... WOW!!! Your photos are very inspirational

#Stanford

hahahha they were scouting for distributors here last year too , as freight was a killer. They have some good waxes and also have just introduced a beesoy blend that is getting good reviews. I use the cocosoy and love it , but summer is here and it is sweating if i do an outdoor market. They do a 100% pure soy that has a higher melt point , so I might have to try adding some of that. Too close to xmas at the moment to be stuffing around! They also sell an awesome little candlemaker ... it only does 450ml (one litre pot coming next year) .... but it's great for testers and tealights ect. It's called "Chandler & me" . 

If you have All seasons wax over there now , they make a lovely cocosoy blend. It is a softer wax , so is not so great in the summer heat, but i makes a beautiful creamy opaque candle. Also , remember coconut wax and coconut "oil" are not the same thing.

Hey Moonstar , I live in Australia and there is an awesome company here making all of their own waxes. They are called LUXURY CANDLE SUPPLY and the wax may also be listed under ALL SEASONS WAX. I am currently trialling their Cocosoy blend (A05) - it's so beautiful and creamy. They have also just released a new beeswax/soy blend and make a 100% pure soy wax with NO ADDITIVES that is killing it in the throw category (when cured min. 2 weeks). Their advice with most is to heat low and slow to around 70c , then pour when cloudy. I know they have just opened a place in London and so hope it will be available to you guys soon. I know that a very large USA company recently made their xmas candles using a blend of his waxes - they are changing the industry. If you go online maybe you can checkout their range ... and their glassware is beautiful! 

Remember also that when adding fragrance oil , you have a maximum suggested loading from the manufacturer ( ie; 464 add max. 12% oil). Your wax can only hold a certain amount of oil before it leaches to the top of your candle , causing sweating and oil slicks. Also , heating your oil to 250f may have adversely altered your wax . I am no scientist , but I know different waxes I have used can be ruined by extreme heat.  Count your losses and ditch it. use it for summer nightime BBQ candles , but don't sell it. You may be sorry