SliverOfWax

There went another biz plan.

Why hold a supplier responsible when you don't know who made the mistake? All we have is one side of the story and we haven't seen any paperwork supporting what we've read. We really don't know where the mistake originated. Most credit card companies will honor a charge with a wrong address. The address could be correct in Sweet Cakes' data base but could be shown incorrectly on the confirmation email. Was the confirmation email checked for errors?

Why hold UPS responsible? They merely go by the address on the shipping label.

It's ridiculous to suggest an email campaign to Sweet Cakes. Just because something is posted here by an upset customer doesn't mean we have all the facts. I doubt Sweet Cakes will miss all the business you guys have never given them anyway. Bombarding a company with email because of a one-sided story on a forum is so unprofessional.

Are you suggesting that since UPS has shipped to you before they should automatically take notice of an incorrect address and fix it? That's hardly their responsibility. It's their job to deliver, not pick up after everybody.

ubure, you don't say what your application is, or maybe I just missed it. Many oils that work great in B&B aren't worth 2 cents in candles.

Another trap you don't want to fall into is thinking high priced oils are better. With rare exception, oils in the $15 to $18 max range, give or take a dollar or two, will perform beautifully in both candles and B&B.

Some suppliers offer 2 and 4 oz bottles. I'm not fond of 1 oz bottles, but they usually suffice for test purposes.

Edited: I meant to say they suffice for test purposes in a single application.

The variety of scents a supplier carries has nothing to do with the quality. Some of the best suppliers are small. Some of the most complex scents with the best throw comes from small suppliers who are candlemakers themselves. Twigs & Berries, The Scented Bean, and Tennessee Candle Supply come to mind. All outstanding quality, all candlemakers.

My experience has been that the suppliers who carry a large inventory and add new scents all the time are some of the worst because their products aren't adequately tested. Some suppliers who continually add new scents have outside sources test for them, if they are tested at all. It can be a never ending circle of a tester giving a good review in order to get more free samples to try. More good reviews, more free samples. Those reviews can't be trusted, imo.

The only way you will know is to buy small amounts and test in your product.

This scenario sounds like a chandler's biggest nightmare, not to rain on your parade intentionally.

Consignment is horrible. Not only do they not try to sell your candles, but they don't take care of them. They have nothing invested so it's just something to fill up space.

As far as teaching anybody anything about making candles, no way. Even assuming you can teach them how to wick a certain piece of pottery, now they're going to think they know how to make candles, and off they go, burning down houses and killing people.

Sorry. I would run as far from this situation as I could get.

Wow Sliver - I don't think I can recall you ever posting before in the B&B. Nice to see you here.

I agree with you. I work full time and do this and just love the testing part of it. I have so many mistakes under my belt. It's pathetic. LOL But, I learn alot from them. I'm one that usually dives right in, makes lots of mistakes, try to figure out what I've done, and when I can't, then asks questions. I waste tons of $$$ that way, but I think its a big part of the fun. I think I have found the mad scientist in me.

There are several forums I haven't posted in. I read them all, though. I tend to keep my trade secrets to myself rather than share with people who can't or won't experiment for themselves. Perhaps that is why I don't post much.

I make soap, B&B, and candles. I guess that means I can read the entire board? Just kidding with you! lol And yes, it's the experimenting that makes the best products. I don't want my products to be just like everybody else's products. Some of my goofing around has resulted in some of my best sellers.

I have a full time job, one that I started many years ago. I have found the best products are made by doing research, then simple trial and error. It is how you make your products yours. It is the fun in crafting.

Good luck with your new job.

I'm curious what aspect you are testing for.

Certainly you can melt them down. As with any wax, whatever you do with the melted candles will have to be tested. They are candles now. They can be candles again, with scent or color or whatever you choose. Wax is wax.

Twin Mom, there is also a wax calculator on the left hand side under "General Information" I use that. Sometimes your votive cups may not be the same size as everyone elses!

That's the key right there. Nobody knows what size molds she is using so nobody CAN answer her question. The absolute best answer is to make a few of whatever it is you're making and then you'll have figured out the answer on your own. It really does fall under the theory of testing. Just one of those necessary evils.

It's common knowledge that if Ebay needs to contact you, they will do so through Ebay, not through your personal email address. Spoofs are a dime a dozen.

Rather than rely on information from somebody you don't know or who hasn't poured yet, go here and click on the list of suppliers. You can search by scent or supplier.

http://www.geocities.com/lwoollen_25/FragranceFinder/index.html

Don't fall into the trap of thinking quality is the same thing as low price or large selection. Some suppliers formulate fo specifically for soy. Even that doesn't mean it will work well for you.

He wouldn't be ordering baskets unless you have them on your site. If you don't make them and don't even like to make them, tell him you don't make them.

Seems easy enough.

imo, Island Breeze would be better than Breezes.

Vanilla Bean Noel: Wendy

Amish Harvest: Tennessee

Applewood Orchard: Twigs & Berries

Patchouli: Lone Star

Serendipity: Candle Cocoon

..and my own blend of Rosemary/Apple.

Spoken like a person that most likely won't be in the candle business long. Test everything, always, every time. Bruce

You're probably right. Since I don't make lovely rustic Peppercorn pillars, I guess I don't have to worry about it.

If that's what you want to do, go ahead and do it. No harm in mixing and you might come up with a best seller.

BNL's Peppercorn that BCN now carries. Wonderful stuff.

BnL's Peppercorn is not an Aromatique dupe. Not even close.

She's posted at least a half dozen times in this thread and her web addy is on all her posts.

Heartfelt sells them ready made, and you can also get them on Ebay.

In reality, Love Spell is lavender. Nice, though.

If, as Bruce says, this FO is so hard to wick, I'm curious as to which wicks you usually use and which wicks you used on this one. Judging by the photos, which aren't really good measures, the wicks on all your rustics look pretty much the same.

I'm thinking since the pillars are so pretty, people probably don't burn them anyway. So wick testing probably isn't even necessary, eh?

There is nothing wrong with Dinita making money. I just wonder how many of you will really cough up the money. 1%, maybe?

I'm pretty sure her techniques can be found free on about.com.

Northern Panhandle between OH/PA

I have never ever even tried a tea light..and those who are experienced maybe able to answer this and know what is better..so I don't waste money that I don't have.

Nobody else knows what wicks your wax blend will require. Nobody else has money to waste.

I guess you'll have to do what the rest of us do. Test.