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Gary in Canada
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Posts posted by Gary in Canada
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22 hours ago, lisabeth13 said:
@Gary in Canada Hi Gary! I just moved to Canada myself from the U.S. I'm pretty bummed about the high shipping charges and not as many options here. My parents are still state side so I may just have things shipped to their house and pick it up when I go there. I am curious though, I saw you mentioned in another thread, a FO supplier in Canada called New Direction Aromatics... have you tried that one out? We don't live too far from there so would it be worth checking out? I see they supply to Lush? Although, I'm sure Lush has custom scents made just for them too.
Welcome to Canada Lisa...as far as suppliers go..we have a couple that are very good, although the variety of products are limited. Canwax in Huntsville ON are very good..they have a good range of wicks, and waxes, and their FO's that I have tried are very good also. They do seem to "be out of stock" too often on popular products, but overall, I would recommend them. Another good supplier is Village Craft and Candle in St. Mary's ON...they have a limited selection of wicks and wax...but they are good for containers and their FO's are also good quality...although expensive (in my opinion).
I've bought a lot of Essential Oils, and fragrance oils from New Directions, and they have also been good..But they seem to cater to the soap crowd..which I don't do.. But the prices are VERY reasonable and being in Mississauga, I can pick up and save on delivery charges. What I like about their website is, they have a LOT of reviews on the products .....so you can get a good \idea of the strength or quality of the fragrance you are interested in. They also have a showroom with all the scents in little sample bottles where you can go in and check them out for yourself. As far as other candle supplies at New Directions...forget it..they don't have anything. C3 wax..and apparently the new Quantum waxes (which I don't like so far)...no containers..no wicks...They are only good for fragrances...which is what they are know for, and you can get REALLY reasonably priced FO's..Just check out the reviews on their website to give you a good idea what they have. If I can help out in any other way..let me know. And once again..welcome to Canada...hope we can make you feel like it's home..
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3 hours ago, TallTayl said:
The wax blends burn a certain way. anything you add to the wax will make it either burn harder or easier ( will either raise or lower the melting point). Universal soy additive will make it a little harder. stearic (with my wax) made an easier burn up until about 5% then it burned much harder. UV inhibitor can change the burn. Dyes can change the burn. The scientific process calls for changing one variable at a time in an experiment. Changing more than one makes it near impossible to narrow down problems.
Every fragrance has different blends of aromachemicals and carriers that change the burn. You could add x% of any old kitchen oil from the pantry and it will change the burn of an unscented candle much like a simple fragrance oil might. Some of my fragrances require me to wick down 2-3 sizes. Some require me to change wick series altogether just to stay lit. Musks, menthols, mints, spices, vanillas, etc all make the wax require a bigger wick. If I were basing my tests on any one given fragrance in my shop I would be off 99% of the time without knowing what the wax itself needs.
Every time I read fragrance reviews when some writes that they add a few more% of FO to get throw I feel really badly for them. That % additive might be simply lowering the melt point of the blend a few degrees.
The reason to test naked wax is to eliminate the one one most important variable as a possible problem if/when there is a change to your wax batch. Had I not known how my wax burned before finding the massive changes in the early lots this year My candles made for this year would not have burned right and I would have been put out of business. Since I understand my wax, and was able to quickly find a suitable work around, I was back in business within a month with all 100 scents and my customers were never the wiser. But hey it's your time and money, so do whatever makes you happy.
Thanks TallTayl...I am going to take your advice.
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LX18 looks like its burning hotter? Could it be the wick was longer than the 20 to start off with?
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I can't speak for differences in the LX wicks...but I know I've ordered HTP's from 2 different suppliers and the same size from each burned different. I contacted Atkins and Pearce, and they said that different distributors get then tabbed and waxed by different companies, so they could be different.. They sent me their samples, and they were different too!! OMG..so might be the same situation with LX. I found LX to work good with the "old" soys..cb135, Advanced...but not so much with the new Quantum waxes.
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1 hour ago, Pam W said:
My all time favorite scent for personal use is Black Canyon from Peaks -- now that there have been changes with Peaks, I have to find out where I can order it. Candle Science and Rustic Essentials are my other go to suppliers -- products are good and the service has always been excellent.
I believe you can get Black Canyon from Peak Frangrances now...although right now they are backordered...but I would think it would be the same FO as before..
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I decided to use some of my Q210 sample...which hasn't worked for me at all. But the latest test I melted 16oz of Q210...added 1oz of Coconut Oil (in a tin from Walmart...its a solid..not sure if you would call it "oil" or "wax" but it is solid at room temp)...1 oz FO, poured it into 2 glass tumblers 3" dia and used a Premium 799 wick... Tried the first one after 48 hrs so I could check the burn...and to my suprise, it actually burned very well!! No real hot throw yet, which might be due to the light FO i used, but I was only trying to get a good burn. I will be trying the other candle in a few days to see what the HT is like. The only thing i did notice with the Q210 was the colour was very beige... But the Premier wicks seemed to work a lot better than the HTP and LX, which were the ones I first tried.
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9 hours ago, kandlekrazy said:
I've actually bought fo from New Directions, their margarita is awesome in C3
There Maple Sugar is one of the strongest FO's I've ever come across.. I also use it with diffuser reeds..
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On 11/20/2017 at 1:59 AM, moonshine said:
ASO has a Midwest soy- it's their 100% soy
I have been testing it and its a pretty nice wax, some FO's are hit and miss so far and it seems to need a long cure- like 2 weeks
millineum is okay I still need to make more and see how I really feel
which ones from ASO did you use and what wicks were you using?
C3....I used it years ago but not for long I didn't like the bubbles and didn't give a long enough chance but many people use it and if the changes affected where you are the biggest issue being discussed is having to wick up and some loss of throw as well
Talltayl uses it and has many good threads if you search C3
If you can pick this up it would be worth trying out for sure if your wanting to use a soy / veggie wax rather than a parasoy or paraffin
The soy candle you reference to trying to replicate was it a store bought brand?
I've tried all the ASO waxes...I think the throw was about the same as most...but it took some extra work to get them to look nice..Cottage cheese tops, but I tried it when I first started. Millenium actually worked pretty good, but I would assume they were affected by the new laws in the US and had to change their waxes to??? I used HTP wicks, and our supplier here carries a very limited sizes. Since then, I found a new supplier with more of a variety. I have just received a coconut/soy blend wax that the supplier has said is very good...but I haven't had a chance to try it yet..hopefully this weekend. The soy candle I referred to is made by Whitewater Premium Candle Co. Their candles are available in gift and craft type shops in my area...not in any large retailers.
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On 11/20/2017 at 9:30 AM, TallTayl said:
@Gary in Canada I found a YouTube video of that company you noted in your intro. In that video they were using (from memory) was cb advanced. Those cartons were stuffed into every nook and cranny of the production area of the video.
Given that, the other part of the excellent fragrance equation is where they sourced their fragrance. That was not in the video. It is possible they were using something made for them in their fragrance lab, versus commonly retail available to us.
Could be TallTayl...I think I may buy one of their candles this weekend to see how it is now. I wonder if they are going through all the problems with the new formulations that we are.. Maybe they do get their fragrances made for them...all I know is, they throw like crazy!!
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On 11/20/2017 at 10:04 AM, kandlekrazy said:
Gary have you tried the C1? It should be available if C3 is. It is a blend of soy and palm waxes. I used it for colored candles when I did that because it colors way better than C3. I also found it was a bit easier to wick. You do have to play with fo % because palm can't always hold as much. At one point I even blended C1 & C3, but I lost all my old notes so couldn't say what the % I used of each. It takes a while, but I was able to work out most of the kinks with C3. I use cotton core wicks in my jars the 60C or 62C, most my jars are around 3.25-3.5" diam. There are many scents out there from many suppliers that throw great in C3. Don't try to compare 100% soy to paraffin for throw and definitely don't compare to major suppliers candles (they def cheat, lol). Make a candle that you're happy with the look, burn & throw.
I have soy candles right now from a mid sized supplier in Calif, all their scents are signature scents and it burns horribly. This company sells tons of candles. The flame is huge on all 6 scents and I'm sure there is soot (dark jars so can't tell till they burn down enough). Melt pool over 1" in 30 mins. Throw is good on some and decent on some. I buy because I'm addicted but can't help but notice what happens when I burn them, it's in my blood!
I don.t have C1 available here...the only company that has C3 here is all they carry....and they are going to supply the new Quantum waxes too...they are mainly a fragrance company (New Directions Aromatics). I just received a Coconut/Soy blend wax, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. The only cotton core wicks up here are Premier, and actually, I find they work pretty well. I haven't bought any candles for a while, but I think I might get one from the company that got me into this...I actually saw a video they did with a news crew at there shop, and the wax that was in the video was NGI Advanced...their candle was awesome, but I'm not sure how it would be now that Advanced is gone.. One of these days, I will figure it out..lol
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1 minute ago, wthomas57 said:
yah its terrible stuff...
but as far as the beige or off white... that is going to be pretty much all soy. Won't be pure white
Yeah...but the Quantum is REALLY beige..more so than their old waxes...but that isn't the main problem with it..I just can't get it to burn right.. I am going to try the new products from canwax.com and see how they work out. Maybe our laws didn't affect waxes here like they did in the US..but I'm not even sure if we have any Cdn manufacturers of wax.
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38 minutes ago, moonshine said:
I started with soy over 10 years ago and switched around until I found what I felt was the perfect soy candle- 415
throw is killer and zero soot seen even though it does, all candles do, and a nice clean burn with no trimming needed
I then started playing with a parasoy so I could add a colored line - I never could get 415 to color without the dreaded ugly frosting and to me it was so much easier, all the way around other than finding that perfect wick that doesn't show the soot
throw....back when 415 was 415 and consistent I didn't really think there was much difference, soy threw just as good
granted I never to this day made an all paraffin candle but I have bought them and I can for sure say Mccalls blows my soy out of the water in throw 😂
But it puffs black soot and I do not like that at all
changes in soy have affected the throw I'm getting now which bothers me, I can wick down and it will work but I haven't put any out there for sale like that as of yet....trying to find an alternative and playing with 444 now - it doesn't seem to be affected like 415 but I am only into 1 test
what type of soy is available to you Gary?
it could be done and I'm convinced it still can be done, just have to work around these changes
I do not and will not use the new quantum waxes so I can't help you there but golden brands I may be able to help pinpoint some of the problems your having
I also am a firm believer in being honest about your product - I wouldn't call a soy candle a soy candle unless it's 100 percent soy
soy blend is fine because that's what it is if your adding paraffin, palm or bees but the people that call a blend a soy candle because it has over a Certain percentage of soy are not people I want to buy from
I don't think I have any GB soy waxes available to me...for me to order from the US would be too expensive.
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1 minute ago, wthomas57 said:
go with C3... not the quantum waxes
I've tried the quantum...they are almost impossible to figure out!. They look really nice when poured...but like you said in an earlier thread, the usual wicks that have worked in their other waxes, do not work in the Quantum waxes...the wicks sort of turn into like a little nub and die out! I've tried just about every wick in them, and none seem to work. Plus....when poured, they get this very beige look..not white.
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3 minutes ago, moonshine said:
I started with soy over 10 years ago and switched around until I found what I felt was the perfect soy candle- 415
throw is killer and zero soot seen even though it does, all candles do, and a nice clean burn with no trimming needed
I then started playing with a parasoy so I could add a colored line - I never could get 415 to color without the dreaded ugly frosting and to me it was so much easier, all the way around other than finding that perfect wick that doesn't show the soot
throw....back when 415 was 415 and consistent I didn't really think there was much difference, soy threw just as good
granted I never to this day made an all paraffin candle but I have bought them and I can for sure say Mccalls blows my soy out of the water in throw 😂
But it puffs black soot and I do not like that at all
changes in soy have affected the throw I'm getting now which bothers me, I can wick down and it will work but I haven't put any out there for sale like that as of yet....trying to find an alternative and playing with 444 now - it doesn't seem to be affected like 415 but I am only into 1 test
what type of soy is available to you Gary?
it could be done and I'm convinced it still can be done, just have to work around these changes
I do not and will not use the new quantum waxes so I can't help you there but golden brands I may be able to help pinpoint some of the problems your having
I also am a firm believer in being honest about your product - I wouldn't call a soy candle a soy candle unless it's 100 percent soy
soy blend is fine because that's what it is if your adding paraffin, palm or bees but the people that call a blend a soy candle because it has over a Certain percentage of soy are not people I want to buy from
Up here I have C3 available, (very close to me) I can pick up, but I've never tried it. I've tried thee new Quantum waxes, but I am still trying to get them to work, without a lot of luck...and American Soy Organics, which for me is expensive, and I've tried them without a whole lot of success either. One of my suppliers up here now has a "Canadian" supplier of a soy wax, and a soy/coconut wax. I've ordered samples to see how they work out, but I haven't received them yet...not sure where they come from? The supplier is canwax.com
I really don't have much choice on a soy wax...my supplier only brought in 464 and other GB waxes when NGI discontinued their line...and now that the new Quantum waxes are here..that's sort of my choice..and to be honest...they are difficult to work with. If I could try 6006, I would...but its not available up here..and to order from the US is too expensive. So my only choices in soy are Quantum, American Soy Organics, and C3.
I think for now, I will do the best I can, and keep giving my candles to friends, family and my hair stylist, and servers....they are very appreciative of them, and I enjoy making them. To me, they are good, but not perfect..but to them, they do enjoy them...and that to me that's what matters...
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2 minutes ago, wthomas57 said:
I have not personally ever thought that parrafin was "easier" to work with myself. Its easier to wick, sure... but other than that.. I dont think its easier. Parrafin cools much quicker making cleanup more difficult. Many parrafins shrink much more than soy requiring multiple pours... I dont have to repour any soy that I use.
The REASON, though, that I do soy candles too is simple. Customers want it. At first I didn't worry about it as when I first started people didn't ask or care about the type of candle as much. Now... well, I cant do an event without about 1 of every 4 customers asking if they are soy candles. They dont know why they are asking and to be perfectly honest, they aren't educated at all. But that doesn't matter, they want soy because its the big craze right now. I provide what customer want.. or at least try to. In fact, I can barely get into a new store without them first asking if my candles are soy. Lol. Just the way it is right now. People tend to care much more now than they used to. Regardless if those concerns are misguided.
But to clarify on adding soy to your blend. If the soy is less than 50%, I just call it a blend or "with soy". If its over 50%, you can call it soy from what I understand. Gotta love American regulations right.... ridiculous. But.. live within the rules.
In my soy candles, for what they lack in throw compared to parrafin.. I just use a higher FO load. Plus they make up for it by burning a bit cleaner and slower.
I didn't even know soy candles existed until we bought this old farmhouse 7 yrs ago...we were in the local gift/craft store and saw soy candles...so I give it the sniff test, (now I know its the cold throw)..and it smelled great. Bought it...brought it home..lit it...and wow..within no time our whole main floor had the smell of that soy candle. Since then, I have tried to closely duplicate it, and haven't come close. So Im just wondering if maybe it isn't a 100% soy candle... Maybe it is...maybe not.
I can see where consumers want an all natural candle...paraffin has a bad rap these days. We all want all natural, organic, vegan, non GMO, lactose free..It is 2017, but where does it end! I just have a greater appreciation of you folks that do it as a living. Candle consumers don't understand what goes into making the "perfect" candle...how much money is spent on testing. I now know...lol...
I'm still trying to get there...and hopefully I will... If only the wax companies would produce a quality, consistent product..
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On 11/15/2017 at 11:05 PM, TallTayl said:
Not to sound flippant, but you need to add the fragrance at whatever temp your wax needs to fully, and completely incorporate. The purpose is to not allow the fragrance to puddle, sink or otherwise cause potential fire issues. Start at the temperature your wax manufacturer suggests. Experiment at 5-10 degree increments from there and take very good notes. Be prepared to cut open some candles to see if you have any fragrance unblended anywhere in the candle.
When wax molecules are hot they expand. Imagine balloons being filled with air. When the wax cools the molecules contract (the balloons shrink and fit tighter together.) fragrance molecules are like ping pong balls that fit within the balloons. You need to ensure that the fragrance molecules are evenly distributed and trapped within the cooled and shrunken wax molecules.
Keep in mind flash point has exactly zero to do with when it is added to candle wax. Zip. None. You can search the term flash point in the top right corner and find loads of recent threads about it.
I've added FO at 180, and around 135...(right before pouring) and never really noticed any difference using Millenium, and CB135. But now with all the changes in soy wax...it's back to square one. I watched the melted wax when I added the FO, and when I saw it become clear again...I assumed it was blended?
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1 minute ago, wthomas57 said:
I use 6006 in about 1/3 of my stuff.
Those i jist call blends because they are only 30% soy.
Everything else i blend myself, other candles and wax melts.
I also use mottling parrafin in some jars.
The higher the soy... definitely less throw than parrafin. Apples to apples of course. You can get them similar by adding more fo or blending.
Im just curious..from what I understand, paraffin throws the best and seems to be very easy to work with. Soy is difficult to work with, and doesn't throw as well. So the only reason to have a little soy in the candle is so that it can be called a "soy" candle? Maybe Im in left field...it doesn't really affect me, as I don't sell candles, but it's got my competitive juices flowing to try and get it right..
I like to cook too..and it took me a lot of time to get Montana type Ribs down pat..lol..same thing with candles...It's just bugging me that I can't get it quite right!! I really appreciate and admire you folks that do it for a living...
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2 minutes ago, wthomas57 said:
Some added like 15% FO. Which is crazy and not advised.
Most uae using a parasoy. If its over 50% soy, you can call it soy. Just cant call it all natural, or organic, or 100% spy, etc.
Thanks wthomas...I would like to try a parasoy....i think you use the 6006...but nobody up here carries it. Our choices are soy, beeswax, or paraffin...no blends. I have bought some "soy" candles just to compare to my own...and they seem to throw off a great scent...I don't know if its the way Im making them, or they have discovered the perfect formula...but It's driving me freaking crazy trying to figure it out..lol.
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7 hours ago, Venetti said:
I'm almost 99.99% sure that if there is any soy at all in the candle it can be claimed as a 'soy candle.'
I'm not entirely sure, but almost positive.
I think you're right Venetti...I've tried every wax available to me...all the temps...all the wicks, and I still can't duplicate the one I bought orignally...It's supposed to be a "soy" candle...but how do you really check to make sure? It's a real "gray area"...
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5 hours ago, kandlekrazy said:
Since there are no candle police, I think manufacturers put whatever they want on their candles especially if the % of soy is greater than other additives. I have this guilt thing and cannot lie to customers so I would put "soy blend" or "soy/paraffin blend" if I were doing it. I also don't want the reputation of selling something that it wasn't if that makes any sense!
I appreciate your honesty kandledrazy... I have played around with pure soy for a while now, but just can't seem to get it to the quality of those "pure" soy candles I have bought..just makes me wonder if some of them are "cheating"?? Maybe they aren't, but the more I've got into it..I am REALLY curious how some of them get excellent throws out of "100% soy.. I thought I would be almost there with the hype of the Q210...and now Im back to square one... I guess I better stick with my day job..lol....
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11 hours ago, moonshine said:
😂😂🤣🤣
this made me spit out my coffee
Mary Jane ......nastiest FO ever- I used peaks years ago and couldn't get the smell out of my house and it was horrible
had a lot of explaining to do to my kids as they were younger then
your better off lighting up a real one and skipping the candle 🤣🤣
Ok thanks..I think I will pass on Mary Jane
And welcome Cheryl Ann...
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I just thought I would ask about temperature to add fragrance...if you read all the info on the internet...some say to add it at 180, some say dependent on flash point...others say add just before pouring..NGI suggested adding just before pouring but no lower than 135... So what is it?? I have tried all the different temps and not sure what works best. I have been using CB135, tried Q210, Q220.
Most of you seem to sell your candles and are very successful..so I ask you..at what temp do you add fragrance??
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On 11/14/2017 at 1:10 PM, Jbruza said:
So this may be a dumb question- but with some of my candles, I get a decent HT ( like a 3.5-4) in strength but for some reason It doesn't go fully around the candle. For instance. If I have it in my lobby it might tend to be strong in the living room area but not actually in the lobby area. Is that normal? There is no draft and no fan going either. Not sure why it's doing that and if it's normal. If I place it in the middle of my kitchen I find it stronger in certain areas as well. Just looking to see if this is normal. It's been so long since I"ve tried a candle other than mine as well so maybe thats part of it.
I have the same thing..I have a doorway from the kitchen to the laundry area (no door tho)...I have a glade melter close to that door, and burn candles in the kitchen. When I go into the laundry area, it smells twice as strong there than in the kitchen. Maybe there's a air flow that we don't actually feel..that would be my guess.
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Speaking of the over 60 club...we all come from the Hippie age group?? and I have noticed a FO oil available at some suppliers in the US..Mary Jane, Pot, whatever you want to call it...not able to find it in Canada.. Has anybody used this FO for sale, and if so, what's the reaction, and does it really smell like Pot??? Maybe not the right thread...but just curious.
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And welcome Cheryl Ann...
Hi From Canada
in Welcome & Introductions
Posted
I thought I would post an update on Whitewater Premium Candle Co that I have been trying to duplicate...their container candles have been awesome..great burn, fantastic throw, but that was before the changes in the US soy wax industry. I saw a video of them on youtube making their candles before the changes, and it looked like they were using CB Advanced. They were awesome candles. Last weekend I went to our local retailer of Whitewater candles, and checked out what they had. I noticed that the new Christmas fragrance "spiced cranberry" was very different in appearance to their summer fragrances...it was Beige..not ivory or cream coloured. So I bought it to test ($23 for 10oz straight sided jar).. It looks like my Q210 testers...it burns like my Q210 testers...it does have a great cold throw, and a good hot throw (although not as good as 1yr ago with CB Advanced)...and when I blew it out...it filled the room with smoke!!! So I would assume they are using Quantum Waxes..
The wick they use still burns great though..wish I knew which wick they use.