Liz D.

They retain the scent of my soaps just great. You can't smell the scent through the bag; you have to open it to sniff. So I don't think the scent leaches out. Just my experience.

Actually, I'm not worried about that as much as if the bag actually SUCKS the fragrance out of the product into the bag itself, which is what the polythylene bags do. I'm hoping these bags are the polypropylene.

I love your site, btw... lovely pictures... your soaps are just gorgeous.

Liz D.

I have been using them to package my car fresheners. I opened one up recently and noticed there was a LOT of scent left in the bag. I always assumed these were polypro (not the dreaded THY, LOL)... just by how they feel. BUT, am now concerned they aren't. I'm waiting for a response from Hobby Lobby. These bags are the perfect size and the perfect price.

Liz D.

I'm wondering if anyone happens to know if the clear treat bags from Hobby Lobby are polypropylene or polythylene?? These are 3.75" x 6 inches.

Liz D.

I use 100% soy (EZSoy) and have excellent results with BCN's Lavender. It's one of my best sellers. That said, I just got a sample of the Bubbles N Lights Lavender Basil (from BCN as well, they sell BnL's FOs now)... OH MY GOSH IT IS HEAVEN!!!!!! So when I run out of the BCN Lavender, I'm getting the BnL Lavender Basil!!! Heard it throws well, but will test one first with my little sample. I guess I'm in the mood for a Lavender mix. Hope my customers love

it like I do.

HTH!

Liz D.

I use 92 coconut oil and it's always solid except on really hot days in the summer. In the winter it's like a rock. Even 76 coconut should be hard until the temp in the room is in the 70's. When you say yours is not solid, do you mean it's kind of soft or that it's a liquid or ...?

When I say it's a solid, it means I cannot pour it. You have to scoop it. The softest my 76 deg coconut gets is about the consistency of vegetable shortening (Crisco), sometimes a tad bit softer, but never liquid.

FWIW, I tried the 92 deg coconut and I couldn't tell the difference in the final soap product. And I studied those bars! LOL! And used them, of course, as did my testers, and no one could tell the difference. I know others have said they think the 92 deg coconut yields a harder bar, though. The 76 deg coconut oil is so much easier to handle and measure out, so I go with that. If I would have found the 92 deg coconut oil yielded a noticeably harder bar, I definately would prefer that. Maybe a lot of this has to do with climate. I also make candles and my candles need larger wicks than many others since I am assuming the wax is harder here.

HTH!

Liz D.

It must depend on where you live, because I have NEVER had liquid coconut oil here (in Wisconsin). Even in our hot summer months, where it's high 80s, it's solid, although softer, sorta like vegetable shortening. I do keep mine in the basement though, which probably never gets higher than 70 degrees.

Liz D.

It must depend on where you live, because I have NEVER had liquid coconut oil here (in Wisconsin). Even in our hot summer months, where it's high 80s, it's solid, although softer, sorta like vegetable shortening. I do keep mine in the basement though, which probably never gets higher than 70 degrees.

Liz D.

Thank You, but I don't have to have which wax, color or FO just 100% Soy or a Blend

I know different waxes, color or FO will make a difference (I will test that). I'm just looking for overall results to judge from.

OH, LOL... well, I did say it was 100% soy.. I always assume people want to know as much as possible since I'm that way myself.

Liz D.

I use EZSoy and have never gotten any air bubbles whatsoever (only get air bubbles with Ecosoya PB, grrr)... Is it possible that you are stirring really fast or with a stirrer that is causing a lot of air pockets?

Just thinking out loud here.. would love for you to figure it out so you can love EZSoy as much as a lot of us do! Let us know what happens..

Liz D.

For soy or soy blends what wicks do you like and why?

I'm looking for what you have found in certain wicks, in your testing.

Do they..

Burn clean

Burn hot or cool

Self trimmimg

Bend at the tip

Burn heavy scents better

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Please list Wax (either 100% or Blend) & wick then explain what you liked or disliked about it. If you use or have tested more than one kind of wick then list them all with info.

Example: Soy Blend - LX's - Burn clean, self trimming, very little to no mushrooming, must double wick for 4" or larger.

EZSoy (100% soy), color blocks, 1 oz FO pp: ECOs -- burn clean when trimmed properly, sometimes self-trimming, little mushrooming if trimmed to right length and not burned for a very long period of time. Excellent throw with ECOs. LOVE that I can flick off the end of the wick (when cool) -- no need for scissors. Trims right to the perfect length. LOVE MY ECOS!

Liz D.

I've never tried the homogenized no-stir palm oil... is this really the same oil as regular palm oil, only stirred curing it's cooling process? I'd love to not have to melt down the entire 50 lb tub ... wow!

I get my oils from Columbus Foods, btw...

Thanks for any info you can give me!

Liz D.

AJ, I just noticed your soaps (dah!) and gosh, they are also just absolutely gorgeous! You girls are master swirlers. I am going to try the pot method you described next time... it's lovely. I always do my swirling in the mold -- works great but I love to try new methods. I first pour about 1/4 of the paler color in the mold, then 1/4 of darker color, and so on, then take a cake frosting knife and swirl gently.

Liz D.

Brenda, I love how soft your swirling is.. mine is so much more dramatic, I am going to try to cut down on my dye next time I think.

Liz D.

One more thing: How much fragrance oil are you using per lb?

Liz D.

>>I've poured quite a few EZ soy candles now with just fo...no color yet. I'm using a 8oz jj (decorative ones with the fruit shapes embeded in the jar..not sure how to explain). They are 2.5 or 2.75" at the widest, I can't remember exactly. I've used Eco 6, 8, 10, and 12 and can't get a full melt pool with any of them.<<

I make the 8 oz jellies using EZSoy, ECO wicks, and color blocks. I like a strong candle, so I use 1 1/2 oz. of fragrance oil per lb. I love the Eco wicks and have excellent luck with them. Most of my scents require an Eco 10 (a couple I use Eco 8s with). I find the ECOs throw beautifully, and I love how you can just pinch off the wick with your fingers and it breaks off at just the right spot (no scissors needed). They do mushroom a bit on the heavier scents, but it's worth it to me to get that great throw. I've thought of trying CD wicks (heard a lot of good things about them with EZSoy), but not sure I want to start over and test, test, test, when my ECOs have been good to me .

How much FO are you using? Most people who use the standard 1 oz. per lb. use an ECO 8 with good success. I don't know why you are having problems getting a full melt pool? How long are you letting them burn on the first burn? I believe they are 2 1/2 or 2 3/4" wide... I normally let them burn 3 hours on the first burn and my melt pool is about right. If there's a little hangup, most of the time it will catch up on later burns. The only problem I've ever had is with Lilac FO - I had to cut back to 1 oz. per lb with that scent and I still use an ECO 10.

HTH!

Liz D.

I sometimes dip my finger in my soy candle melt pool and rub it on my hands... sounds goofy, but the warm wax feels so good and it melts right in the skin (no flaking). I wouldn't recommend it to customers, though.

Liz D.