The Candle Nook

Greetigs from Texas. I’ve been making candles for about 18 months. Lurking on this site for a couple of months and have started some posting. A girl friend and I have worked some local craft fairs but mostly I sell candles thru a store at my church. I love how much everyone helps, advises, and supports everyone here ❤️

Never heard of Cajun Candles — but after this thread...I’m probably ordering from ANOTHER supplier 😂🙄 (🔫 me now). What are other favs from them...

I also intantly thought Mediterranean Garden. 😉

On 2/6/2019 at 8:41 AM, glasllyn said:

I don't know about FC, but Candlescience's Fruit Slices is so strong I can't even be in the same room with the bottle. I've never out it in wax, but with a strength like that, it has to throw.

Totally agree about CS Fruit Slices. Very strong. I don’t smell fuel at all. And the HT is excellent (“fruity” scents can be sometimes iffy in 464)

AAA is local to me and I have found more misses than hits. I use GW 464 and the girls at the front desk will tell you you must use 2oz per pound of any of their fragrance in soy. That’s the first thing that concerned me — but I was there - so YEP bought some FO. Here’s my experience:

leather- strong as anything anywhere. If you need a leather. This is it. 

German chocolate cake - strong and sweet

candy cane - no HT

Frankincense and myrrh - zero HT. And I mean zero. (Still looking for this scent but want frankincense to be stronger than myrrh, which is kinda baby powder-ish)

rosemary mint - HT is ok but I don’t get rosemary or mint. I get generic soap. And not a nice one. 

Pinion Pine - loved this OofB but throw wasn’t strong enough in 464. 

I’m gonna try the rest of them as blends with other companies FO and see if I can salvage. Will be interesting to know what wax y’all are using and your experience with AAA FO once you try — keep us updated! 

12 hours ago, GailC said:

I am in the mood to start making spring candles right after Christmas, but it's a little early yet.   I made some Winter Candy Apple candles this week. Those are pretty popular.  Also some Cinnamon Broom because my inventory was so low after Christmas I had to get busy and make some of the basics that customers like.  

 

I got some new jars and have made some new scents as well, plus some fragrances that customers have ordered.  Every year I think I'm not going to have any business after Christmas, and every year I do.  Not a lot, because I'm a small time operator  but enough to keep me as busy making candles as I want to be.  

 

 

Hmmm. That’s an idea- Cinnamon broom.... I’ve been thinking of mixing cinnamon with a couple of other fragrances. Now maybe the time to experiment!  Any other ideas/suggestions out there??

I sell lots of fall/holiday scents but haven’t really worked the winter/spring candle business much.  Do you have favorite scents for winter? Or do you find yourself going straight into spring scents...peach, fruity, ocean, etc. 

Thanks so much. Have started a shopping cart at Flaming Candle...just what I need...more things to try! 

For Anthropologie Havana candle....I’ve tried FO from Bulk Apothecary (concerned about their fo costs and shipping), Lone Star, AAA, Bitter Creek. I know there’s a company that claims a dupe but now I can’t find it 😫. I use 464 soy (which ironically, I love). Can someone lead me to a supplier for this dupe. (I’ve checked out  rustic escentuals, the flaming candle, wellington, natures garden - just wonder if someone has another suggestion). Thanks. 

On 11/14/2018 at 8:12 PM, Jeana said:

Thanks for the ideas everyone

Now a second part to the question. What do you do with the scents you don't like? Do you just toss them? I wish I had some candle/soap makers near me. I have sooo many things I would like to get rid of.  Like about half of the 1oz samples I have LOL. 

My goal has always been to make an Excel sheet to keep track of the ones I definitely didn't like, so I could just get rid of them. That still hasn't happened LOL. 

I finally made the choice to just toss a bunch of 1 oz bottles I knew I was never gonna make up. I was tired of looking at them.  Altho, in my area we have a “craft only”  thrift store where I will donate in the future. I have a few companies I will never buy from again because I was disappointed in the FO I ordered. 

Thanks. I’ve never tried Daystar. Will check them out. 

 Have been so-so with Bulk Apothecary FO and the 464 soy blend...which company do you have better luck with...I’ve never used NG....

Philosophy’s amazing grace body products are loved by several customers who want the scent in a candle. I use GB464 and am looking for a suggestion of company and fragrance to dupe this. Thanks!