njcurley

I would be interested also.

For my 3.75" diameter jars I use a 777 and it is absolutely perfect, but I do not use 464, I use C3.  If I were you I would test a 767, 777 and 790.

Problem solved, I'm ordering the lids from Lonestar...along with a few absolutely necessary FOs.

37 minutes ago, kandlekrazy said:

I would just up the price of my candle by 1.50-2.00

This is what I plan on doing.  If I'm questioned by any current customers I will just explain that supply costs went up.  I don't think anyone will question it tho because my candles are pretty fairly priced to start.

I kind of got s****** on wood lids, not these.  I picked out a wood lid for my jars that was pushing the upper end of my budget for lids but they are beautiful and everyone loves them so it really was worth it at the time.  After months of using them they went from $1.04 per lid to $1.69 per lid!  Out of nowhere, no notice was given before (or I would have ordered a ton of them) and I didn't know until I went to replenish my stock.

Now I have a problem, do I discontinue the lids and go back to plain glass lids or do I keep shelling out and lose the .65 of profit per candle?

Thanks TT.  See, I just need to "talk" it out and I get there eventually.  ROFL.

At least I have the option of the NW and C3, I know they work and they are acceptable.  I guess my problem is I don't want acceptable, I want outstanding and it just might not be out there.

Goodness, I guess I should mention that I already have the C3 and the NW fully tested.

The Millennium is the only one of the three that I have never tried.  I have a list of FOs and wicks that work in both the C3 and NW.  My plan is to test a few different sized wicks with the Millennium to figure out what wick works best.  Once I get the wick down I will take a leap of faith and add a FO that I know already works in the other two waxes.  After a one week cure I will do a regular burn.  If I am still impressed with the Millennium, I will pursue it further.

The only reason I was throwing in the other two as tests is because I wanted compare CT, HT, ease of use and how finicky the waxes were side by side.

Does that sound like a better plan?

3 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

I agree 100% 

whenever possible I prefer to go directly to the source and avoid resellers for the same reasons. 

I also agree.  Sometimes you just have to stick to the big guys for your own safety.

11 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

I ended up liking a blend of C3, 415 and 4630. Weird, right?

 

it is awfully close to your selling season to be switching waxes. It took me a few weeks and 100+ lbs of wax in my mad scramble before my selling season, and I had a longer runway.

 

if the north woods one is OK, (and preferable to the C3) I would save the money of scramble testing and stick with it a little longer. It will save you $ in the end. Or just stick with C3 if you have fully tested it. 

 

I am not sold on the millennium wax, which is also considerably more $$$ than C3.

 

personally, I think anything containing soy is going to be less than stellar. When trans fats were banned by the FDA as of 2016 processing of the soy beans changed enough to completely ruin the burn.

Thanks TT.  That is an interesting blend.  Maybe when it slows down I will start experimenting with my own blend.  Right now I am too chicken.

My plan is to do one test day.  I will do one each of Millennium, C3 and NW using the same containers/wicks/FO.  Whichever one comes out the most to my liking will be the winner for this selling season.  Period, the end.  I don't "hate" either the C3 or the NW (I really disliked 464), I guess I'm just looking perfection, which we all know never happens.

Then when things slow down, I will try the new Eco and a Para/Soy blend or maybe even come up with my own!

OK, as expected you have given me some things to think about.  I am not going to continue with the Northwoods, it is too expensive IMO, the shipping was OK, but not fast and the wax was meh, not bad, better than C3 but not AMAZING which of course is what I am looking for.

I am unhappy enough now with the soy that I want to get it straightened out before the big selling season starts.  Our first big show is the last weekend in September.  I hate being so freaking particular about things.

OK, I'm ordering a 10 lb bag of Millenium to test and also want to try out a para/soy blend.  Any recommendations for that?  That will be it.  I will then make a decision between all the waxes I have tried (minus the Northwoods) and stick with it through the selling season.

Thanks for giving me some things to think about.  I have been pondering a para/soy blend, so maybe I will order samples of that.

Let me know how you like the Millenium.  Flaming is a pretty good supplier, I use them for some fragrances (the Bartlett Pear is a top seller for me).  Their shipping is amazing fast and on par as far as cost and the customer service has been top notch.

ROFL!  Well that wasn't very helpful.  There is a high demand for soy candles in this area and I really want to make it work!  I'm a little OCD and stubborn.

As others have also, I have been struggling with my soy wax.  I started with 464, was not happy with it at all so changed to C3.  The C3 was doing better than the 464, but I still was not completely satisfied (can you tell I am a bit picky yet?) so decided to spend what I consider a lot for wax and tried the Northwoods soy candle blend.  While it is 100% better than the 464 and better than the C3, I don't feel it is worth the high price ($90+ for 50 lbs).  And of course I had to re-test every single candle each time I changed waxes!

So now I am in a pickle as I am starting to run low on wax.  I was hoping the new EcoSoya would be available before I needed to restock but I'm not sure that is going to happen. So what would y'all do?

These are my options:

I've been reading up on Millenium wax and that seems like a pretty good option, but again would mean re-testing yet again.

Bite the bullet and get another box of the Northwoods wax and deal with it until the new EcoSoya comes out.

Go back to C3 because of the lower price and just hang on until the new wax comes out and then retest.

I am intrigued with the higher fragrance load that the new wax is supposed to be able to handle and I'm afraid of going to all the work and expense of trying the Millenium (and possibly loving it) and then still having that niggling little doubt in my head that I should try the Eco.

Decisions, decisions.  Help a girl out here.

1 hour ago, TallTayl said:

Some of the issue could be the fragrance. A few of my fragrances need to be wicked up dramatically.

Thought of that too.  I had poured 4 candles, 4 different fragrances so tried to burn all 4, and all 4 tunneled.  I think the jars are just odd.  But I will win this battle!

1 hour ago, birdcharm said:

I'm not personally familiar with Premier wicks (i.e., have never used them), so I had to look these up -- now, from the chart that I found, it would appear that those should work, so maybe the recommendations are off a bit.  How are you supposed to be able to guess at the sizing when a chart shows about eight different sizes for the same candle type & diameter?     Chart page

 

I know!  I actually started using them for my old jars because the Eco 14 was just a bit too big and the next size down was just a bit too small and the Premier 777 is actually perfect for those jars.  Since the diameter of this jar is not that much bigger than the old jars didn't think it would be this much of a problem!  Oh well, live and learn. I poured two new candles last night and used a large wood wick in one and an extra large in the other and fingers crossed that one of the two will work.

 

Thanks Jcandleattic. I always, always, always test. I even randomly test candles just to make sure they are still good. I can't wait to test the jars with the wood wicks I poured last night. They look amazing. 

Is anyone else not so patiently waiting for this new wax?  I am trying so hard to make the wax I have last.  Like others I have been struggling with my soy, I've even shelled out what I consider an unreasonable amount for wax thinking maybe because it was expensive it would be worth it, it was nothing special.

I agree.  I am sitting on pins and needles waiting very (im)patiently for the new wax!

Definite tunneling.  I'm doing new ones now.  I'm just mad at myself for being so stupid.  The wick was too small.  I was just so excited to try our new jars.

OMG in all the years I have made candles this has never, ever happened to me!!!  I am testing new jars (which are amazing) and I could not believe it when I went to check on it.  Have I just been lucky all this time LOL?  It is Northwood Wax (decided to try it while waiting for the new EcoSoya) with a 777 Premier wick and A&F Fierce oil from Aztec.  Trying again tonight with wood wicks.  I think they would look really good in these new jars.

I am usually so good at picking out wicks...kicking myself in the butt...big ole dumbo.

ROFL  Why does that look like something I would do?

Wow!  I think I need to get some goggles.  I hope everyone is doing better.

Quote

10 hours ago, Jcandleattic said:

There is nothing you can do about wet spots. Literally. I mean, you can work very long and very hard on preventing them, but as soon as the atmosphere in which you worked so hard on to prevent them changes, they will come back. 

 

There are several threads about this topic that you can search here on the forum, but quite honestly the only people who notice or care about the wet spots are us chandlers. Literally nobody else cares or even KNOWS what they are. They just assume it is an aesthetic of the candle. After a few years of worrying about them, I finally gave up, and don't try to prevent them anymore. Hasn't hurt a dang thing, and NOT ONE customer has ever brought them up or mentioned them even in the slightest. They simply just do not care. 

What customers do care about is a good smelling good burning candle they feel they get their money's worth for. That's basically about it. 

 

I can confirm what jcandleattic said, today I brought a candle to work to give to a friend.  It is what I consider a "dud", it had a major wet spot and I HATE THEM!  She is a major candle addict (I have converted her from Yankee to me) and is also a major OCD/picky person.  She looked at the candle and asked me what was wrong with it, my response "look at the huge wet spot".  Response:  Whats a wet spot, I don't see anything wrong with this candle.  She then insisted on paying my usual price for the candle.

Hi from Hot, Hot, Hot Tennessee.  I have been lurking and reading for awhile now and figured it was time I thanked you all for you hints, tips and help ROFL.

What's your name? Nicole

How old are you? 46

Where do you live? Beautiful Middle Tennessee.

How long have you been making candles/soap/whatever?  On and off for years.

How did you get started making candles/soap/whatever? This latest 'on' of candlemaking started after spending a small fortune on candles and Hubby asking me why I didn't just make them myself.

Are you married? Any kids? Married to my sweetie for 17+ years, no children.

If candle/Soap making isn't your primary job, what do you do? By day I am a legal assistant, but making candles is my true joy.

Anything else we should know?

A story you've probably heard, a friend and I started making candles for ourselves, family started asking for them, people started asking to buy from us and we have evolved to selling at a local Farmers Market and other craft fairs.  We have only been 'open' for a few months and are slowly developing our brand, scents etc.  We are definitely not doing this the conventional way, but it is working for us.  I have found tons of information on this forum and am in awe of all of you!  I can only hope to achieve the success of everyone  here.

Thanks Candybee!  You got my brain jump started. New oils on the way. Lots of testing in our future.