lisabeth13

Thank you, Sarah! I am checking her page out now!  I also haven't heard of Windy Point, so I will check them out too!

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I was on here, but I was hoping someone might have some suggestions on where to buy CO's in Canada. Shipping from the US is SO expensive! 😩 I could potentially have them delivered to my parent's in the US and bring them back with me when I drive... but that seems like it would be a hassle as my business grows... not to mention dealing with the border agents. I'm not sure what the regulations are for that kind of thing. Flying with them would be even less of an option.

Anyway, I know New Directions is a popular choice here. I've used a few of their oils recently and I'm just not sure I love them.  One of them was pretty rancid... so I guess I'm worried about the quality of their oils. Maybe this was a fluke though? And I should disclose...it wasn't one I purchased directly from the store, it was from a local company that had a skin care class. So maybe they had it in their stock for too long? Can anyone attest to the quality being good??

Hoping for some hidden gem that I don't know about yet. I've done so many google searches, but either the oils are too expensive or they don't carry a big selection (e.g., 7 or less CO's listed on their site). I really love MRH but the shipping (even in the US) is just way outside of my current budget.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I will be driving through knoxville in a week-ish so I'm definitely going to stop in the store and check these out!

5 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

I saw at. He posted a few days after the keystone notice.  We're all watching closely. 

I realized after I posted in here that you had probably already seen his post. Maybe it'll be helpful to someone who hasn't seen it yet though.

What are your favorite scents from Aztec for candle making?

@Brad Ford posted this article in another thread:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basf-forcemajeure-aroma/basf-declares-force-majeure-for-certain-aroma-ingredients-idUSKBN1D21AB

Hopefully this is something that will be fixed quickly.

6 hours ago, Moonstar said:

I'm not a  fan of the coffee but the 

chai latte is good it's sorta like 

pumpkin soufflé without the pumpkin. To my nose it's not super 

spicy. I loved the cranberry citrus 

but they discontinued it  

the cranberry plum is nice too 

I wonder if the coffee could be improved by mixing it with something else? 

Has anyone tried the coffee or creamy chai latte?

I'm thinking of placing an order for fragrance oils from Fillmore Container... What are your least/most favorite from them? I'm not that picky about scents so all suggestions are welcome. 

3 minutes ago, GoldieMN said:

IF anyone is looking for essential oils that can be used around cats, check out http://www.animaleo.info/.  These oils have been thoroughly tests on animals by the vet who makes them.  Just something to research.

GoldieMN

Thanks @GoldieMN !

4 minutes ago, Candybee said:

 

Haha! Yes she is amazing... in my mind anyway!

 

I think lavender is one of the good EOs for cats but don't quote me on that. Also, you will tell right away by a cat's reaction if they can tolerate it or not. 

 

I don't know how diluted a diffusion comes out of a mister. But I do know for example that when I make EO blends for my dog products I use 1% in my spritzes and .5% in my soaps. Even then I blend EOs so there is no one oil that is actually at that %. But I only use those EOs in those products I did the research on to make sure they were canine friendly.

 

I should do some more research on cats but believe me I have tried and get such varying information that I feel what I have read so far is unreliable. So I will keep looking...

I think all cats are pretty amazing. I joke with my husband all the time that if he wasn't around, I'd just be a cat lady. haha! I hope I can have my sweet fur baby for at least that long! She's around 10 now. 

She seems to like the lavender but I don't put a lot in the diffuser so I'm sure it's pretty diluted. 

8 minutes ago, Candybee said:

Yeah I'm the one with the geriatric cat (she's 18 1/2 yrs old) who can't tolerate the vapors from FOs or EOs. So I have to isolate her in a seperate ventilated room during my candlemaking. I don't let her out again until I have ventilated the house. If I don't isolate her she goes on a vomiting streak and this is from being in another room at the opposite end of the house!  Nothing is more convincing of the toxicity of FO/EOs and how far reaching they can be than watching my cat suffer. Scared the tar out of me when I saw that and decided never again would I put her through that! She does fine being isolated from any toxic fumes/air. I also have to make sure I lay a towel down at the bottom of the door where there is a crack to make sure there is no tainted air that can get through to her.

 

As Moonstar mentioned cats are unable to assimulate or dispose of toxins in their bodies like we can. Toxins simply accumulate in their bodies never leaving. They just build until their liver or kidneys can't handle it anymore. You also have to keep in mind that cats are prone to kidney and liver diseases so this makes it a much more serious issue for them.

WOW... 18 1/2 years!! That's amazing! That sounds like an awful/scary experience to go through. I would've been terrified. My cat doesn't seem to be bothered by the EO's in my diffuser but dust makes her sneeze a lot. If I run just lavender in my diffuser she will often go sit in the same room near the diffuser. When I made the candles with FO, she was in a separate room, and I only made the one batch with 1lb of wax. So I don't think I was using it long enough to really fill the house with the scent. She didn't seem bothered with it but I will definitely take more precautions going forward.

2 hours ago, moonshine said:

Yes there are concerns as a maker 

I did this for so many years in my kitchen then in my basement with no windows open and my family and pets in the house and never thought anything of it because there was no information hitting me in the face saying I should be concerned 

 

most msds sheets say no respirator needed and nothing is widely talked about handling fragrance and even wax, the new quantum waxes are now saying in their sheets not to breathe the vapors from the wax 

 

I came across a thread in here a few years back that made the bells go off....I can't undo all those years of how I was making but going forward I did buy and now wear a respirator, I was finding my face got itchy and my eyes just hurt pouring and sometimes a headache and cough after

 

I had a exhaust system installed in my storage room where the furnace and water heater are and a system on the furnace that is supposed to zap all chemicals and dust- I forget what it's called but it's a blue light inside the ducts 

 

I only make in that room now and leave the exhaust running for hours after and it's helped tremendously, you can still smell a little in the main basement but not anything like it was before 

 

so do take precaution and I commend you for even thinking about it before getting started because like I said....the possible dangers are not talked about enough- suppliers do not label handle with caution, wear a respirator, etc etc 

 

YES!! Last year I ordered several FO's for the first time and I really didn't take any kind of precautions with them. I didn't know I needed to. I didn't wear gloves... no respirator... didn't open the windows. I had a horrible headache for hours and felt really dizzy. It was awful. I almost didn't want to use them ever again. I think that situation made me really want to look into them more. That said, I obviously didn't take the necessary precautions as I should have. I do wish they labeled the bottles with how to handle them properly. 

1 hour ago, kandlekrazy said:

Just a few added tips for EO's.  If you're going to use them, the citrus will fade the fastest and the EO itself is only good for about a year, others 3-5 years, Patch pretty much forever, lol. 

I keep all my 4-16 oz bottles in a refrigerator.  As the bottle gets airspace (1/2 or more), transfer to a smaller bottle as air can destroy EO.  They are way too expensive to waste product so educate yourself.  As said already, buy from a reputable company (no MLM) and buy where you can get a wholesale account so you're paying 30-50% less than retail.  As I said before, use gloves & a respirator, I can never say that enough.  Even natural products can be harmful.  Many EO's are harmful to children (not just fur babies).

On another note, Lavender doesn't bother me and is the ONLY EO that I use undiluted on burns, scrapes etc.  EO does evaporate quickly so using a carrier oil actually keeps it on your skin for a longer period of time, which means it can work better than undiluted.

I love the medicinal properties of these products so I'm a daily user, even if it's just diffused.  Have coffee EO going right now.....yum!

Yeah, they are definitely way too expensive to waste. My favorite company is Simplers Botanicals. They're definitely on the pricier side but out of all the brands I've tried... these smell the best. They smell so pure. I will definitely get a respirator though and wear gloves. I was going through a lot of lavender and still am... but rose geranium is probably my new favorite. I can't get enough of it! haha. We don't have kids yet but I will definitely be extra cautious using these things around them when we do. Ideally, I'd like to have a space to make products outside our home but we just aren't at that point yet. So I'll have to make do and just be very careful in the meantime.  

Also, I had no idea there was coffee EO!! Where have I been??? I need to get some ASAP! haha.

10 hours ago, Gary in Canada said:

We had a friend that was from our area...moved to Arizona...met an Arizona girl..got married and had 2 kids..decided he would like to move back to Ontario.  He finally talked her into it (after a few years)..He got a job transfer and they did move here. It was the worst winter we have had in years...the kids loved it...but not the Arizona wife..lol.  She was here 6 months and told him she was moving back to Arizona...with or without him!  He quickly got a transfer back to Phoenix..haha..Try to hang in there..our winter is not like Tennessee, but there are a lot of things to do if you want to explore new things...

 

 I am an NFL fan..I run a pool at our local pub, and if the Titans can win me the pool...I am a fan.. I am actually a Bills fan because they are our closest NFL team..but I just love the NFL...

 

  

 

    

Oh wow... 6 months! lol Poor guy! I don't think my husband would ever agree to live anywhere else, even if I said I was going without him. hahaha. I'm sure I'll adjust to the winter and we will find things to do to make it more bearable. I'd love to try cross country skiing, although I've heard it's pretty challenging. 

lol... that's funny. I've been to a Titans game and a Vols game. Once was good enough for me... I'm not super into football but I sure had to hear about it constantly in TN. Most people there are obsessed with the Vols. There is orange everywhere. It was worse when I lived in Knoxville (home of the vols) for awhile. Game day traffic there was the worst!

5 minutes ago, Gary in Canada said:

OMG lisa....we have had a REAL mild fall so far...wait till you get to our winter....  What you have to do is go shopping and get yourself a real good winter coat...some nice warm boots...good gloves and a warm touque (hat lol) ...and get outside and enjoy the clean, cold fresh air! lol... If you're not up for that...make sure you have a nice warm cozy place where you live to make candles all winter long!!   Oh...and GO TITANS!!! 

Yeah, so far it hasn't actually been too bad. lol The first time I visited Toronto was in February so sadly, I know it gets much worse than this. He actually bought me a Canada Goose jacket for Christmas several years ago to entice me to move here... but it took me a long time to make the move. haha. I do need some ear muffs and a nice warm hat though. But yes, the plan is to sit around and make candles all winter.  Are you a Titans fan? 

11 minutes ago, Gary in Canada said:

There are a few more supplies here...but those are the 3 I use..and they all have their strong points and weaknesses...You can still order from the US, but the $$$ difference and shipping/duty is a killer.  Hubby is Canadian??  If you're from Buffalo..you will have no problem with our winter.. lol...If you're from Phoenix...our winter may be a problem..

I looked into shipping from some of the suppliers I've seen in the U.S. and the shipping is brutal!! One place was $41. And I'm sure there are extra costs for it to go through customs and all that. I'm from Tennessee (I don't fit any stereotypes of the south though...lol) - born and raised, so while I didn't experience hot weather year round... our winters were very mild in comparison. We went out the other night for his work's christmas party, I had to wear a dress without leggings and told him I'd head back outside again once it was summer. Once it gets below freezing... I'm for sure not going out anywhere. lol

@Gary in Canada Thank you for all the great info, Gary!  I will definitely check out those places! I'm trying to make it feel like home here as best as I can. It's going to be an adjustment for a bit (can we say cold??!) but I think my hubby is worth it.  

@Sarah S Yes, you are right. It will be up to me to decide and honestly, I'm not as worried for the consumer buying my products since they would only be exposed to minimal amounts of FO. I am more concerned for my own health and my family being exposed to large amounts for hours at a time. Perhaps nothing at all would happen but I do still have some concerns. I guess I will need to think on this some more and try to find some peer reviews if there are any.

2 hours ago, candlesinflorida said:

Well, I actually have similar concerns about FO.  I am not sure that my little home depot respirator is even adequate to filter the possible FO carcinogens properly...so I think you have very legitimate questions. While it's very comforting to know that a fellow candlemaker has been doing this for years, and has suffered no ill effects-that doesn't mean that you or I will not be affected. Everyone has different genetics and tolerance to carcinogens (or allergens). In fact, I don't think enough research has been done on long-term exposure to these chemicals (which is what the "oils" are!) but there is enough information to make me nervous.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/five-mustknows-on-the-dan_b_4737654.html

 

I also think we have a responsibility to the people who are enjoying our products. When they hear "soy" and "handmade" or "hand-poured" or whatever, many customers assume that they will be using a natural product. And let's just admit it now: they aren't.

Of course, 99 percent of the candle makers out there are doing the same thing. With that said, I think that we can do better!  A lot of the fragrance oils on the market actually smell noxious (many smell like cheap headache-inducing perfume ) which is why I would love to hear more about EO success stories...and even if they cost more, I am totally fine with that. I think BBW has the cheap candle market cornered, but I think there's room for pricier safer products in the candle marketplace. In other words, I think people will pay more for an amazing EO scented candle, if done well.

I am sure MANY will disagree with me, but as a cancer survivor...I would rather not take chances. 

@candlesinflorida I agree with everything you've said! There should be more research done on FO's and the long term effects. I also agree that I would be willing to pay more for the EO's if I could get them to work in candles. Unfortunately, it just seems like they don't. I also don't really have the money to waste testing them to get mostly failures - if I did... I would!! 

My stepdad had cancer and went through chemo for a year... I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. When cancer hits so close to home, it really makes you start questioning the things you expose yourself to on a regular basis. 

2 minutes ago, GoldieMN said:

I wasn't getting water in the wax either.  A tiny pinhole had developed in my pour pot which led to water getting into my wax.  I noticed the wax in my jars looked different.  Then I noticed wax in the pot of water as the hole got a little bigger, I guess.

 

GoldieMN

Wow!  Was the hole in the bottom of the pour pot? I use water to melt my wax but I put a cookie cutter in the pot of water so that the pour pot wasn't sitting directly on heat. I never would've thought about it getting a hole in it though. Good to know!

@ChristinaD I'm so sorry! I know how frustrating this must be!  Your candles are beautiful btw! 

I'm new to candle making myself but growing up in extremely humid areas... it sounds like humidity might be the culprit here. Unfortunately, this might be an issue in shipping because it seems like the candles are very sensitive to humidity changes. I'm sure there is a way to fix that by using additives or something but I'll let someone else chime in on that part. I'm no expert there. I imagine that might also require a lot more testing.

@Jcandleattic, @TallTayl - I was just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt... buuuut yes, you're right. lol I cringe when people start talking to me about those companies. Not to mention the fact that they are way overpriced. There are better quality and more affordable oils elsewhere. And you are so right about them not educating their reps. There was 3 reps at our party and I asked one of them what makes DoTerra's oils safe to ingest (hint: they aren't!), when everything I've read says not to... she gave me a very blank stare and couldn't really answer my question. 

@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.