Groovy Chic

Years ago when I started making candles, the choice for wicks was nothing like it is today. And of course, the first wicks I used were zinc. Those darn wicks would mushroom to the size of an eraser on a pencil. Good grief, they were horrible now that I think back. I've come full circle because I'm with Grumpy on this one, zincs work fantastic in 4627 wax for me, and I use them for jars under 3" all the time and get a great melt pool and a strong scent throw and the mushrooms are not big like they were back then. It helps to buy them from a good supplier and I always buy from Peaks. They don't vary in quality and I know I can rely on Peaks for the quality. With that said, if I am making a candle that has an oil known to need a hotter wick, I'll always use the cotton wicks from Peaks. Again, for the quality. They don't mushroom like they used to either. There are so many variables in waxes, blends, the % of fragrance, etc, it's all about what works for you. When we tell you what we use, don't set it in stone for yourself. Test, test and test some more as everyone always says.

My favorite color-shades of purple. Great scent, throws like a madwoman in soyblend and paraffin.

Ok, I love this scent. Not so strong in 50/50 but up your paraffin and it throws like crazy.

No problems at all here, I've always had great service from her.

Beautiful candle :highfive:

Those are awesome, I love the way the wax mottles like that.

You're on the right track now :highfive:

Snow, since you're converting your 1# wax to 16 oz, the .32 will also be in oz. And Top is right. After figuring your additives, you will then subtract that from 16 oz to give you the amount of wax you will use. 16.00 oz - .32 oz additive (2%) 15.68 So you will use 15.68 oz wax and .32 oz additive. That will give you the 100%.

By the way, 1% fragrance to 16 oz oil won't give you a very scented candle. 6% is the norm and sometimes I'll use 7 or 8%-depends on the strength of the scent. 1 oz oil to 16 oz wax is 6%.

Most hand held calculators will figure the percentage for you. Look for the calculator that has % symbol. Simply punch in: 16 x 1% = and it will give you an answer of .16. If you don't have a calculator, multiply: 16 x .01 and you'll get the same answer of .16 If your scale only goes 1 place after the decimal, round the answer off. In this case, .16 will round off to .2

I loved Chermark. She had some wonderful oils which thankfully, Aroma Haven now carries. Patties was another good supplier. She had the best Vanilla Lace and I can't find another just like it anywhere. Bubbles and Lights, man I miss her. Yes, BCN carries some of her oils but not all. And she had the very best Spiced Vanilla in this world. I still hoard a bottle of it and use it for myself.

I use a soyblend and I get my best burn in the 9 oz balmoral using 52 zinc or 60 zinc wick, depending on the scent, etc. I can't find a zinc that likes the 16 oz though. One wick isn't big enough and two are too much, even using two 42-24z. I have been using the cotton wicks that Peaks carries and usually two of the C55 are my best bet.

You're gonna love it. Just hide all the connections from him so he'll leave it alone. Maybe. Let me know how it does for you. I have my own tools, I got sick of DH bit----- because I had something of his in my workroom. I showed him, I bought my own. Now it's my turn to bit--.

comfortscents- I know exactly what you're talking about. What put me over the top was a 4 x 9 palm candle I had made for a wedding. I went to Harbor Freight and purchased a little air compressor for around $20.00. The next best purchase to my heat gun. I use the compressor for all my pillars now. One little blast of air on the bottom of the mold where the hole for the wick is and those babies slide right out each and every time. Rustics, mottles, palm, all of them come right out. I also use a silicone spray (lightly) after I clean my molds.

Do you have an universal additive? That will help.

Beautiful candles, and I know your frustration on the wicking part. Have you tried adding a little soy to the wax? The soy softens the palm a little and they seem to burn better. At least to me they do.

Sugar frosting dazzle dust-Rustic Essentials sells it. On her website go to the dazzle dust icon under candle supplies. Sugar frosting is about the 2nd one down on that page.

Thanks everyone. These are fun to make actually. The wicking is tricky and always takes one time to blow out, trim, and relight before the burn does what I want it do. Really cool effect if you burn it in a dark room.

A Yankee dupe of Home Sweet Home.

Sunkissed Currants, Yuzu, Mardi Gras, Moonlight Path, are great throwers for me. Sunkissed Currants and Yuzu are awesome, super strong throwers.

I do the heat gun thing and trim my wick to 1/4" after the wax sets up. I get a better first burn which is especially important if I am selling the candle.

From left to right-Blueberry Muffins, Cherry Vanilla Sandalwood, Midsummer Nights, Pomegrante Rosewater. These are the 6 x 6 four-sided pyramids. The single pics are Cherry Vanilla Sandalwood and Pomegrante Rosewater.

Just an update on Gingerbread Applesauce. I upped my wax to 75 paraffin/25 soy and I'm getting an awesome throw now. For those who have this scent and use a blend, try upping your paraffin and see if it helps. Mine has an awesome throw now, man that stuff is good!

I was in the Oregon Trails swap (fantastic swap, by the way) and absolutely fell in love with her Egyptian Dragon. My lb bottle came today. Has anyone tried it in CP yet? I can definitely see it in lotions and perfume and would love to have a candle in this scent-wonder how well it throws, anyone know?

Darbla, I'm with you on this one. I could never get past the plastic-y smell I always got, even in wax. I love most of her oils, especially Sultry Angel, but this one, no.