Lori Reismeier

Thanks to all of you for your input. IT's so great to have so many people who are willing to shar thoughts/insight. I still haven't decided which to choose and stay with; (I may use one for certain fragrances and the other for different fragrances...??) although I have decided to change suppliers. I'm in Jersey so I will try candlewic. BTW, I just received an order from C&S, Lemongrass Sage...if there was sage in it, it was a drop from an eyedropper. Very disappointing!! Thanks again, Lori

Maybe I should phrase it differently...Which do you like better, J223 or 4630? I have tried both and I'm curious about other's opinions, (guess I'm not trusting my own??) Hot scent throw is where I am uncertain... Wicking to me is tricky for both of them. I get my was from C&S because they are relatively close to me but I'm not pleased with their J223 or the answers I get at times when I question their staff on things... I'm thinking that others opinions will help me out...maybe I should try another supplier. :undecided Thanks! Lori

Is there much difference between the two when you compare scent throw hot and cold, wicking, burn quality and appearance of your final product? I'm asking because they are said to be comparable (C&S statement) but they have a considerable price difference. Thanks:) Lori

Thanks to all who responded! Since I can't contribute much 'insight wise' yet, I hope that helps others out a little. Thanks Again!!

Hi Everyone, Do you wash your new jars (just sent from your supplier) before you use them? Does it make a difference in your final product? Thanks!!! Lori

Yep, I get that. I'm going to to retest same fragrances again, 'just to be sure'... Thanks again!

UPDATE....Hi everyone! I've finished by testing of the Spring Rain and Warm Vanilla Sugar. Results are Spring Rain burned nicely with 51-32-18z/J223/9 oz. Melting Pot/7/8 oz FO. It took five burns to clean the hangup but was eventually a success! The only thing I didn't care for was that the wax did discolor some/lose color after it solidified. BUT, I can live with that as it was probably only something I would notice. The Warm Vanilla Sugar was a little more difficult...I used the same amount of FO but the hangup was still present until about the 7-8th burn. (My burn times were 3-3.5 hours for this jar.) I may do another pour just to retest as I'd like to stick with the 51-32-18z in this jar. I ditched the rose and chocolate for now. Once I 'perfect' the Spr. Rain and WVSugar in this jar, I'll move on. Thanks for all your insight. The jar is a little difficult (for me) but it does 'look good' when it's a success. There is hope for everyone out there! HA HA Lori

Thanks for responding Top. I have wicked down. I'm using a 51-32-18z and a CD 14. My testing included burning for 3 hours, the diameter of the jar. Black soot has disappeared. But I've also lost the FMP. At the 3 hour point I had almost 1/2 inch to go to liquify the top and a melt pool of approximately 1/4 inch deep. I lit the next day and did two separate burns after cooling for 6 hours in between and still unable to "Catch up." I did both types of burning at the same time. (Once inch per jar diameter and Marathon - with separate jars, of course.) Sorry I should have clarified that earlier. After burning the standard test (1 hr. per inch) several times, I have 1/4 inch hang-up relatively high on the jar and a little less than 1/3 of the jar to go. It has thinned with each burn but still very present. My prognosis would be that it won't disappear by the final burn. So...I can eventually (after third time of burning for 6+ hours) get a FMP with the 62-52-18z and 60-44-18z (7/8 oz.) FO with some sooting in a marathon burn. Thus far, I have been unable to achieve a FMP with the CD 14 and 51-31-18z, (7/8 oz. FO) but the sooting has disappeared. I have not marathon burned CD 14 and 51-32-18z. I'm feeling defeated by these jars. In the past I have done only Hex but I wanted a different look. Maybe I need to rethink the new look. I will continue with the present testing and report my findings again. Maybe it will help others....... THANKS AGAIN!

I just wanted to give an update of my testing. I did retest Chocolate/Spring Rain/ Warm Vanilla Sugar... Refresher: J223, 9 oz. Melting pot jar, pinch uv inhib, using 60-44-18z. I decreased FO to 7/8 ounce per lb. I am getting a FMP, approx. 1/2" deep on third burn; AFTER burning it for 6 hours the third time. My total burn time has been almost 18 hours. This result is seen in all three scents. There isn't a lot of difference between the 62-52-18z other than soot on the 62 and none on the 60. I do trim my wick and then quickly relight when a mushroom forms. When the candle has been totally burned, there is a thin film of wax smudge on the jar... enough to be annoying that the jar isn't clear..Does anyone experience the same thing with J223? CD wicks create a lot of soot so I haven't even finished the burn with those. My questions become: Does anyone else experience this? Is it acceptable and short of using less FO again, does anyone have any other suggestions. Thanks!

I asked this question in a different post under another title. I thought it should have it's own post. How long do you keep your liquid dyes before you replace them?

Update... I have poured 9 oz. Chocolate and Rose with less fragrance. I am letting the curing process take place and will update you as the week progresses. I also revisited posts on the board about wick sizes vs. jar sizes. I did that because one site candle supplier wick suggestion chart was different from a print out I had from another (51-32-18z, 3-4" jar vs. 3.5-4" jar). Maybe I'm over analyzing. I just sold 4 and 6 oz. Hex jars for Christmas and I have had three people say "they burn so long, you're losing money." I have used Hex jars for quite some time and was always please with the results( after testing beyond testing). Repeat Customer comments like that just make me think... Back to my 9 oz. Melting Pots... I'm wondering if old dye has any affect. The dye I'm using is probably 18 months old. HOW OLD IS TOO OLD WHEN IT COMES TO LIQUID DYE?

Stella, I tried to upload a pic for you but unfortunately I wasn't successful. After 3 attempts with separate pictures; they were all to large for the forum limit. Basically what happens is the color fades/lightens and has a black tint throughout. I'm going to do what you suggested Top; less FO and wick back again. Maybe too much fragrance oil is the inhibitor of a FMP. I'm hoping anyway, otherwise I'll be no further ahead than I was ten days ago. I'll let you know what my results are. Thanks so much for your input...it's GREATLY appreciated!

I forgot to put the wicks in...this is making me have half a brain.... Fragrance oils: Black Raspberry Vanilla, Rose and Warm Vanilla Sugar all purchased from C&S. My wicks are two 51-32-18z, two CD 10 and two CD12 in the 16 oz jars. (Still testing) However, it is doing the same thing when I use Spring Rain and a CD12 and 14 (testing) for my 9 oz. melting pot jars. I have tried wicking both the 9 and 16 oz. jars with one wick a wide range of sizes (largest being 62-44-18z) and I never get a FMP even on the 5th, 6th or 7th burn. Only ugly wax. I bought a Yankme candle yesterday just to see what their burn does (14.5 oz). I haven't bought one in years and the top is just pitiful. (IMHO) I am thinking I have set my standards too high with my own candles??? But I will only sell something I would buy. I am also thinking it may be the jar...and if I hadn't stupidly bought almost $400. worth of the jars because they told me they'd be getting no more, I'd send them back and try the Status... Thanks so much for your help. I know it gets old when there are so many people asking the same basic questions!! Lori

Thanks for responding!!! 16 oz jar has a neck diameter of three inches. Jar then increases to 3.5 inches in diameter. Heighth from top to bottom is 4 1/4 inches. http://The JarStore.com Melting Pot if you would want to look at a pic of it. Thanks again!

My 4 oz. Melting Pots aren't double wicked; they do it. If I wick down, I don't get the FMP on my 16 oz. and they are double wicked.