Laura C

Hello @candlemavin and welcome to Craft Server. Your story is neat and yes, candle waxes and fragrances have changed a lot over the last several years. Glad to have you back and making candles. I too have taken a break from making candles for the last few years but I want to get back into it and test out some of the more recent waxes.

Enjoy!

Laura 

No, never heard of anything like this involving baking soda in a candle.

7 hours ago, MilosCandles said:

I was in as many as 10 stores at one point.  I pulled my stuff from all but 2 that do really well.  I got tired of them constantly needing stock and driving around with inventory and checking on them all the time.  Just got old.

I can see where that could get old. It did get your name and product out there in front of people. Any way to track and see if buyers in those stores now purchase from you online?

For me, I'm not touching Tiktok.

Hi @AudraT. Yes, I agree with the others, I'd get my products and be done with them. You shouldn't have to deal with a business that is unprofessional and unreliable, life's too short. In business, always, always get the deal in writing and also make sure it's a deal you are comfortable with. Best of luck.

Hey @Kris10Tackles congratulations on winning the soap contest! 🎉 🧼

On 12/29/2023 at 8:40 PM, MilosCandles said:

I was so overwhelmed with sales this xmas I doubled the pricing of many of my candles just after black Friday and then many of the copycats followed suit.   Makes me laugh.

Oh, I forgot to say, Congratulations on all your sales, that's great.🎉

I dream of being a successful seller one day, I'm working on it.

Cool, yes, your boxes look great. I see you are now having your logo printed directly onto the boxes. Thanks for sharing your info. 👍

Thanks for clarifying that @MilosCandles. Yes, all the expenses and fees certainly add up but that still seems like a decent profit but I can't speak from experience. Sometimes just quickly thinking about that stuff doesn't seem like much until you put it in writing and include everything. I hear ya, I don't like that some sellers under cut the other sellers either. I will avoid the under cutters and purchase from someone with fair and decent pricing even if it does cost me a few more dollars, I just feel like that's the right thing to do. Seems like their products & branding look better anyway because they care more about their products and business.

I am very glad to be a member on here and have gained a lot of knowledge from the database and people on here. It's a very enjoyable and thought provoking place. I try to give back by sharing anything I may know that would be of value to others and periodic monetary donations. I don't even remember how I found Craft Server, just looking up candle info I guess but I'm happy to be here and check in from time to time.

Cheers to a New Year of exploration ahead and to everyone on here! 🥳🎉🥂 

9 hours ago, MilosCandles said:

$28.50   To Me After Fees

 

~$7 Shipping Costs

~$5 in Product Material Costs

~$3 in Labor Costs

Hi. That's a very interesting break down of information. Are you saying you had already deducted the Shipping, Product and Labor from the $28.50?

Hi @TallTayl. That's very informative. 

8 hours ago, Cross-stitch said:

Of course, it also didn't help that my mail carrier just smashed it into my tiny mail box rather than the big one for packages.  I'm surprised that my oils came intact & not cracked or leaking!!!!

I don't understand what some of the mail carriers are thinking sometimes, or I should say, what they are not thinking. 😀

Just thought of another... Crafty Scents

Hi @TallTayl. Does not look like this discussion had ended, has it? I'll just throw some things out there. It may give you or others some more ideas.

Scents of Style

Scents of Achievement

Fragrance Fun

Fragrance Palace

Scent Social

All About Scents

Scent Works

The Scented Forum

Scented Art Forum

Scented Forum

Fragrance Forum

Anything Scented Network

Anything Scented Forum

Home & Body Scents

Scentful Life

Scentful Fun

Scent Talks

On 6/12/2023 at 9:47 AM, TallTayl said:

The focus of the forum at this time is anything scented.

Actually, "Anything Scented" is cute and kinda catchy. 

On 6/13/2023 at 10:33 AM, TallTayl said:

the origin of my Scenter square name was that I live near the historic Woodstock square.  Our claim to fame is the movie Groundhogs Day was filmed here.

 LOL, neat, I love that movie! 🎥 

On 6/13/2023 at 10:33 AM, TallTayl said:

? woodstock Fragrance Works.

When I saw that the only things I thought of were hippies and patchouli. LOL 😄

Hi Patty.

This is off topic but I just wanted to say that I visited your website and your palm wax candles are beautiful and you have some pretty decor items as well. 😊

No, can't say that I have ever seen a wick like that either. Probably like you said, they custom made it. The name on that candle label should be "Burning Down The House", burn baby burn! 😄

Great answers @TallTayl and even more great points to consider. Thanks.

Interesting, I have never used olive oil wax.

Great answers and great points @birdcharm, I agree.

Happy retirement to them! I will miss shopping there. 🕯️

Cheers! 🍻

Laura

On 8/9/2023 at 10:03 PM, TallTayl said:

I encourage everyone with the patience and means to experiment. Decide the type of candle (container, pillar, taper, etc) and how you need them to perform, then work from there.  What type of environment do you need them to withstand (outdoor craft shows in the summer, shipping in various climates, etc). Take excellent notes.

Yes, that is excellent advice. Audrey, you won't ever regret taking detailed notes. Quality candle making is time consuming and sometimes frustrating, especially when having to deal with difficult waxes or fragrance oils. It's what you make it, I try to make it fun and like a science experiment. Good luck, have fun testing.