Laura C

 Hi @The Original Meekiecheese and welcome to Craft Server. Hope you have been enjoying the site. 😊

Hi @Berri and welcome to Craft Server. This is a great place for reliable and helpful information. Hope you and your daughters enjoy your journey into candle making. 😊 🕯️

Yes, absolutely, safety first and tracking. Even though I only make candles as a hobby for now, I assign SKU #s & batch #s to my products. That way I know the exact product, when it was made and exactly what it was made with. And that's where that Soap Inventory Software comes in real handy.

19 hours ago, ThewHart said:

Hi Everyone,

 

I was hoping to get some help/advice. About 20 years ago I was buying candles from a local supplier. They have since closed and I can not find them anymore. They had the best candles, both in texture and scent. I have attached two of the candles (one with a "scratchy" finish and one with a similar finish, but what seemed to be coated in a metallic type wax.

I was hoping someone could tell me how this was done so I could make these candles myself, I just LOVE the look of the finish. I have no idea what to call it when I search.

Thank you so much for your help in advance.

Matt

 

Wow, those are all very nice looking candles. Someone put a lot of love and work into those. The metallic looking ones are impressive and look expensive. I have never made candles like that.

On 10/5/2020 at 9:08 AM, meaggs01 said:

Hi everyone! I'm new to candle making and wax melt making. I see online all the time that these gorgeous wax melts that have all these cool things added to them to make them pretty and vibrant. I was wondering what exactly is safe to add to wax melts? I've been herbs and spices added and sparkles and sprinkles. What should I stay away from? Also before I make them do I add them into the mold and pour the wax on top if I want the items on top of the melts or will that melt them?

 

Thanks!

Meagan

Hi Meagan. Do some keyword searches on here to find some more info, this topic has been discussed before. I make wax melts too and sometimes I add just a little glitter to the tops or use some baking decorations such as sprinkles. There's also biodegradable glitter. You can put the decorations in the molds or put it on top of the wax, your imagination is your only limit. You don't want too gunk up the wax melter with too much stuff. 

On 9/12/2020 at 3:09 PM, TallTayl said:

Some claimed the AFI Odor remover worked as well or better? 

In order to get any dupes made we need a min of 1 oz of the original. a spare oz is helpful to compare what we get back.

we get back 1 oz of their copy to test. Must have decent pre-buy commitment for the 25 lb keg. 

 

Takes a few weeks round trip. I can help facilitate as needed. 

Wow, that's helpful and great to know you can get that done if needed. Thanks.

On 9/12/2020 at 11:28 AM, EllyM said:

Is anyone else frustrated with all the changes Candle Science has made?  They were my favorite supplier but each fragrance change has been a dud. And then all the ones they have discontinued! I am trying to find dupes of all the ones I use now because I'm sure eventually they will be gone or changed to something not even close.

Oh no, oh no, I don't want to hear it, I can't take it. LOL! Waxes have gone through changes and now FOs too. Yikes! 🤣 😝

1 hour ago, TallTayl said:

4625 is a pillar wax, isn’t it? Probably not the best wax for a jelly jar, but I could be wrong. 

Yes, you are correct, 4625 is a pillar & tart wax.

In my experience with it @Laila, I have made wax melts that have strong hot and cold throw so you would think a candle made with it would too. It more than likely wouldn't have great jar adhesion in a clear glass. I have also mixed it, I believe 50/50 with 4794 a votive & tart wax with success.

As @TallTayl said you should try a wax made for container candles. You could mix the waxes if you wanted to experiment.

Hello @Onyx-uk, welcome to Craft Server, the place where the fun and learning begins. LOL 

And @jmspgh, I speak from experience a very bad experience, do not do business with a logo company called Looka (formerly Logo Joy). They are terrible and lie and rip you off. They were great at first and lured me in and then wham, it all went down hill. It appears that after so many bad reviews and complaints they changed their name, not surprising. It amazes me that they are still in business.

Once they got my money they would hardly give me the time of day and they never did give me what was promised and what I paid for. I did not get high quality files, they were low resolution and grainy.

20 hours ago, jmspgh said:

I just recently started thinking about logos and I'm sure if I decide to have it professionally done these are all questions that they will be asking me as well.

Etsy.com and fiverr.com have some talented graphic artists at reasonable prices. Graphic arts college students may want to do work on the side to get experience. 

Hi @jmspgh. For the business side of things which also includes social media info/how-to, lookup your local chamber of commerce and the Small Business Administration (SBA). They have lots of info and usually offer free webinars, etc.

https://www.sba.gov/learning-center

https://www.sba.gov/course/understanding-your-customer/

https://www.sba.gov/course/social-media-marketing/

https://www.sba.gov/course/sales-guide-small-business-owner/

7 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Who in your social circle can you reach out to who already has a reach into your target market? For instance, a home decor pro may help with product placement of your candles, etc. 

Thanks, that's a great idea about product placements. 👍

7 minutes ago, karinz40 said:

I know this will sound studid to mist of you who make candles with glasss and I really do not have intensions of using glass but I must ask.

How to you take the temperature of the glasd jar while it is burning?  A special thurmometer on the outside?

Hi. Use an infrared thermometer gun.

4 hours ago, ErronB said:

Yes, it’s just one thing after another. It’s getting to the point now where it’s not worth trying to perfect a candle recipe for me because everything keeps changing and being horribly inconsistent. As long as I can do power burns for hours on end without any huge flames and smoke that’s good enough for me now.

This business is painful. 😩 As if the previous Soy Wax debacle wasn't enough, now we are getting hit with issues around the Corona Virus including the new trade deal with China. Wonder when the shortages and delays will be over. Looks like a bunch of American entrepreneurs need to start manufacturing businesses again and take over for China. Wish I could start a business that manufactures candle and soap making supplies.

 LMAO, I tell you, some of you are comedians on here. I'm getting so tickled at some of these posts. This is great reading. Along with the humor there is also some wise words. 🕯️ I don't like Facebook for many reasons and try to avoid it but I especially avoid any candle groups after hearing comments on here, LOL.

1 hour ago, Ravens said:

I may be too late here, but I have a "ton" of jars I want to sell, including the 8oz. mason jars.

I need to start putting something in the classified section here, lol 

I'm cutting way back on my inventory.  I'll be sticking with 2 styles of jars, and perhaps 20 fragrance oils, so I have hundreds of oils to list  🙂

Hi, did you list your jars for sale?

On 5/1/2016 at 2:46 AM, Vicky_CO said:

This some thing I think a lot of people struggle with.

 

Inventory control how do you do it for supplies and how do you do it for your candles?

I found out about this free inventory control software from this forum https://www.soapinventory.com/. Even though it's made for soap makers it works great for candle makers too, I use it and love it. @StanfordP I encourage you and anyone to try it out and see what you think, it has some really hand features. I'm so thankful for the program so I give him periodic donations, it's well worth it. 🤑 👍

Wow, I hadn't even thought about it until now but it makes sense. With the corona virus pandemic so many people have started canning food for fear of shortages and fear of the unknown. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon. I sure miss the good ole' days. 😷

Hello @6WeekCure and welcome to Craft Server. I'm a candle maker but I know there are lots of soap makers on here and I'm sure they have lots of knowledge to share. Enjoy browsing the site. 😊

Some Helpful General Tidbits:

If you don't know about this free software already then you should try it out https://www.soapinventory.com/, it's awesome. I use it cause it also works with candle information and is so helpful. Even thought it's free I give the guy period donations because I'm so thankful for the software and database.

Shopping for supplies locally or near you to avoid high shipping costs - Suppliers By State

On 8/29/2020 at 9:38 PM, NicoleE said:

I just ordered the Coconut Brew from Candles and Supplies and I’m not sure I’m sold. I have only tested one of my scents with it so far and what I’ve found is that it pours beautifully and burns evenly but the appearance of the candles is not pretty. The tops are not smooth (followed all instructions from the vendor as far as mixing and pouring tips). There is frosting of course but also cracks and some bumps. Heat gun doesn’t make a difference...

Hi @NicoleE. Here's my thoughts on it. I'm a perfectionist as I'm sure lots of us are (LOL) but after years of making candles I really try to not sweat the small stuff. I got hung up on that issue with soy candles for a few years and realized it's impossible to get rid of unless you lower your soy % and/or add other waxes or additives to it. Then you even open yourself up to other possible issues. LOL 😀

Candle Top Appearance:

I don't have a problem with the way the candle tops look, I think they look fine. Lots of customers don't even notice or care about ripples, pitting or small cracks. Don't forget, that coconut wax does have soy in it and those are natural characteristics of soy wax and I would market it as such. It appears that candle tops and wax melts don't "have" to be blemish free to be big sellers. Have you seen some of the stuff at department stores and big box stores? Not all of those have smooth or level tops.

Candle Performance:

For me the performance of the candle is more important than minor blemishes. Did that candle burn safe, clean, even and have strong hot and cold throw?

Have you asked any friends or family what they think? I'd say "look at these candles I made, what do you think?" Don't point out any flaws or anything about them before hand, just see what they notice. That can be interesting.

I have used some people on Etsy and fiverr.com for graphic work and have been happy with it. Unfortunately the lady I was using on Etsy retired, she was really good but there are several artists on there. The artists I used on fiverr went by the name Kagosage, if he is still on there, he was good.

I'm excited about this thread, there's some good ideas and questions here. Just so happens I have been thinking about partnering with a local artist here in my area to do future arts & crafts shows and link to each others sites, looks like some of the Christmas ones will still happen where I'm at. I have been attending free webinars for small business through my chamber of commerce. I noticed a local lady on the webinar that sells bath & body products, doesn't look like she sells candles and wax melts, so I'm thinking about contacting her to see if she would share a booth with me. Never know, she could be thinking the same thing. If anything comes of it I'll let you all know.

1 hour ago, birdcharm said:

As a follow-up, I've made my way out of the dungeon and have been able to refresh my memory in regard to the candy molds I stuck away.  I know I sold some of them that I wasn't using at one point, but I've got a decent stash, something to work with anyway ... funny how you can forget what you put away for yourself for use in the future, I feel as though I found something useful.  I have little swirly candy/cookies, simple pine trees, Christmas trees, candy canes, wreaths, bells, reindeer, clam shells, sand dollars, bows, stars, hearts, other stuff, and the state of Texas, lol.

The "dungeon", LOL, sounds like it's fun down there with all those wonderful molds. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a scent and mold junkie. 😄

@MilosCandles that's an awesome story, so glad you have been enjoying your journey. 👏

It's an inspiring story and interesting to hear about the changes you have gone through in order to get where you are today. 

Congratulations! 🎉