syntheaahh

thank you!

thanks for sharing

6 hours ago, jmspgh said:

I left most of the Facebook groups too for the same reason. I kept reading bad information and seeing pictures of candles that looked unsafe. There is so much good information here about so many different topics.  I read posts on this forum daily for months before I felt even remotely prepared to try making my own candle. I know that I am nowhere near ready to sell (or even give away) a candle but I do know that I want to keep learning from the best. Everyone has been very helpful, kind and encouraging so far which I appreciate immensely.

I feel the same way with facebook. Like they would insist it should be 12%, adding botanicals, stones, mica and they are clearly fire hazards but nope, they chose to add it. I mean its their business but its just crazy what I see in there. 

@Marisa11 yup! Most of the questions on fb groups can be found on the search bar, specially because some questions are being asked a lot of times

8 hours ago, Candybee said:

 

I have to say with all honesty that the questions you are asking indicate you are not ready.

 

Testing is different for everyone. Some people learn faster than others and some stumble on to success on the first try. But you will only know how good your candle is and when its ready to sell when you are satisfied with all these issues of safety, proper burn, excellent scent throw, appearance, cost of goods (how your price will be affected). How well do you know your wax, wick system, burn (candle consumption, burn times, flame type/burn). Have you become an authority on your candles? Are you an expert on your wax of choice? What do you know about your wick system, how and why it burns the way it does? What type of flame does it produce, does it waste fragrance when burning or diffuse it properly? What do you know about mushrooms? proper consumption? flame heights? What things can inhibit or retard scent throw or make it throw like champ? What do you know about smoking? Soot? Wet spots? 

 

Are dried botanicals, glitters, sprinkles safe or not? You need to know these things and be able to answer all the questions above like an expert. Until you are the expert of your candles you are not ready to sell.

 

On average, it takes a year or two before you can build a good candle. About another year or so to make a great candle that customers will keep coming back for year after year after year. If your candles is not up to par, forget about selling, you have already lost your customer base as soon as you start selling. What makes a great candle is your knowledge and experience with your candlemaking. 

 

I see candlemakers that are selling that made their first candle less than a month ago. The next year I never see them again. I work craft shows and farmer's markets, wholesale, and have a website. So I see a lot of new candlemakers and those that don't know what they are doing tend to disappear withing the first year of selling. Only those who strive to continue to learn their trade and perfect it make it in this business.

 

One last thing. It's not enough to be a great candlemaker. If you plan to sell you also have to be a great salesman and be a good bookkeeper. How much is your COG? How can you buy materials to stay within a competative price range and still and plus know how to promote and market your candles. For example, I see new candlemakers load their candles with lots of fragrance to brag about how much is in their candles. Do you know why this will or will not work. BTW, typically it does not and the candlemakers that do this just to load up are the first to go out of business.

 

There is a lot to learn but if its something you really want to do you can. Lots of folks here can help. But take steps to learn all you can and ask when you need help. Good luck!

 

 

thank you so much for the wonderful

words of wisdom. Yes, you are right, I am still more on the research phase. Im glad to be a part of this group where I get answers from pro chandlers. 

Thanks guys! I think I might have to get my pockets ready for this.

Thanks @NightLight, the wealth of information here is the best. Like the chandlers here are on top of their game, professionals.

Thanks @TallTayl and @bfroberts. I have a lot to learn to make sure my candles are safe but I’m ready for the challenge.

hello everybody! How are you?

I just want to ask, how long is the testing phase? The reason I ask is because, a lot of people on facebook groups test their candles twice or only started learning the craft for a month and started selling. 

Also, is it really safe to add glitters, dried botanicals or like sprinkles to the candles? I see them a lot on fb groups. 

@Jcandleattic and get addicted to making it.  

wow!!!! Lucky you!

Then you can have a scent specific for your brand.

7 hours ago, candlesinflorida said:

Yes, I have a cricut. The print and cut extends to something like 9.25 or 9.75...how were you able to make it longer? I have made labels via cricut that I really wanted to wrap all the way around the box, but they stopped short. Do you make the rectangle larger and then print? Every time I have tried, cricut says the image is too large.

I sometimes trick the system. I print the label using normal program (like word) (do not include the rectangle), then make a cut file with like 10 inch rectangle. Match the location and size of the rectangle with the printed image. Load the printed paper into the mat. 

So to make sure it cuts right where it should be: Remove your blade, so it wont cut through, but watch closely where it would cut. It'll take adjustments but once you get it right where it should be, you can mark your mat so everytime you do it, its easier.

The reason why I suggested not placing the labels on the box when printed is so when the cricut cuts the rectangle (or any shape you would prefer), you won't need to worry about the blade not hitting the printed rectangle right.

On 6/6/2019 at 9:00 PM, candlesinflorida said:

TWO THOUGHTS:

 

1) To make life easier, design the labels in a way that it won't matter if they are slightly off center.  Be sure not to create any shapes or circular writing or anything that will look bad if it is not perfectly centered. I have done that when I am running low on time or feel sick of the process lol

 

2) This is a big learning curve...but if you can manage to learn how to use a digital cutter, you can design and print within the program and create hang-tags in any shape you want, with a hole (or a star or any other cut shape!) and you can print-and-cut together. (Meaning that the program sends the design to your printer and creates laser guidelines that cuts the precise, exact shapes in the right place). Everything will look perfect and you can easily do as many as you want, for super cheap per piece.

(Btw, this is how I always do my labels and dust covers).

Like cricut or silhouette? I agree there's a learning curve to them and you're right, it makes the project so much easier and the possibilities of cutting designs are endless than the old school one. I can speak for Cricut because that's what I have, the option for print and cut is only limited to 6x9 (If I remembered it right) but there are tricks for these too. You can make your design/label on the design space or inkscape (free design program) or avery, save it then upload it on the program. 

For the printer, I use Epson Ecotank (inkjet), where its refillable with ink and it lasts forever. The ink is way cheaper and lasts longer compare to the normal cartridge type.

hello everyone! I've been a member of this group for maybe 1 year one. I think its about time I get out of my shell.

I'm Cynthia and I am originally from the Cebu, Philippines (born and raised). I ended up crossing the pacific to be with my bf (now hubby), and we've been married for 5 years. We have a little girl, she's 3. We live in Pennsylvania (where we have 4 seasons: snow, more snow, rain, more rain)

I've lived in the US for 5 years but I'm still trying to adapt to the culture, seasons and food. Crafting has been my outlet when I get homesick, stressed out, or to stay out of trouble (too much extreme coupon shopping/hoarding). I have learnt how to sew since I moved here, and now venturing into soaps and candle making. 

I apologize in advance if sometimes my sentences or questions are hard to understand, its because English is not my primary language. 

thank you for reading

17 minutes ago, Candybee said:

 

Think of it this way. Why spend the extra money on FO you don't need? If you want to run a candle biz and stay in it wasting expensive FO is a good way to ruin your biz. Besides, don't always listen to what is said on the FB. A lot of those groups have that follow the leader syndrome. If someone repeats something and it keeps getting repeated it has a habit of becoming written in stone law. 

agree with you on this! And when you dont go towards the norm, you could get bullied.

Plus, like you said above too, too much FO could cause problems too

@Candybee thank you for this. I know in a lot of FB groups they always say 12%. 

Smells wonderful! Smells summer!

I used 1oz to a 2.5lb cp soap, no ricing, didnt seize, no acceleration, and the best of all, it survived the saponification.

22 minutes ago, Candybee said:

Looking good syntheaahh! I don't know how some soapers can render their own animal fats. Especially beef. It just makes me gag. Ick!

 

I almost bought some lard from a local butcher who sold meat at my market I do. Turns out it was cheaper to buy the already rendered lard from the store or get it at Soapers Choice. So I never did it. Why pay extra? I think I would try if someone gave me the fat for free. Then I would do it just to try it to see what its like. But personally I prefer to buy it rather than make it.

the tallow made me think of going vegetarian because of the smell. Lol

I got the leaf lard cheap, 0.60/lb so I decided to give it a try. The hard part is chopping the lard in small pieces but maybe the next time I can ask my local butcher to have it ground for me so its easier.

this one is from the beef fat scraps, first render. Rendering the tallow makes me think of going vegetarian but I love meat so much. Lol.

hello friends! I called a local meatplant and I was able to get the leaf lard and suet at a cheap price. And I rendered the leaf lard yesterday the first time, and the crumbles tastes good. Lol. 

I let it harden outside and its really white but still has the mild smell to it.

So here is a picture of my second render. I just got it done.

Question: will the smell of the lard die during saponification process?

1 hour ago, Sarah S said:

@syntheaahh, how did your tallow turn out?

I've rendered beef tallow a few times, but it's so time-consuming (and smelly). It really makes you appreciate the traditional soap making experience!

Like TT, I don't use baking soda or salt, I just cook and strain, cook and strain until it's clean. I do add some water to the pot to help the process along.

@Sarah S its a little stinky but bearable. I cracked the window so the stink comes out. It took me maybe 6 hours on high. I will still have to cook it again because it still looks dirty. 

thank you @TallTayl! I placed it in crockpot and and put it on high, but I also added water per your suggestion. I'll be on the look out for kidney fats and give it a try.

Thank you so much! 

2 hours ago, Shari said:

Some just boil it in water several times.  Other do water and baking soda I believe it is. They render it then set it to cool and take off the clean fat then do it again.    I needs to be cleaned until no impurities are left.  So, it depends on how clean it is to start and where the fat is from.

Thank you! So when its white and clean that means its good?

hello everyone! I got scrap beef fats from our local meatshop and would like to render it for making soap. How many times do I have to melt it and strain it? Should I add water when I render it?

Thank you in advance

I have a suggestion for an inkjet printer. its epson ecotank, that's what we have at home. The printer is expensive upfront but the ink lasts a long time. I got it last year and have printed almost 4,000 pages both colored and black and I still use the same ink since I bought it last year.

Ink is refillable and the bottle costs $17 which could last thousands of pages for black

😳 I think she is trying to save money by making the candles herself but if she gets in trouble, it'll be more money she has to dish out than getting a safe burning tested candles from you. 

I'm curious but, how did she price it? are the candles she made priced cheaper than the ones she got from you?  

Congratulations on your success!

I have the same jar as yours and I used CD12.