smart tart

My name is smart tart and I have been making candles for 3+ years

I am also a certified fo ho!

Everyone has their own favorite supplier.....just read back several pages and you will find lots of opinions......or do a search on just scent or Bittercreeek and see what you find out.

To ask who our favorite supplier is, is like asking which grocery store we prefer - it depends upon what you are looking for and how much you are willing to pay.....and lots of other stuff.

Lots of reading should help you narrow your list down to a few......

Who else other than Peaks does the 1oz samples that you can purchase?

Almost all suppliers offer samples.....either 1 or 2 oz....

My name is smart tart and I have been making candles for 3+ years.....

I also am now using GL's 70/30 and really like it alot.....how are you getting your tops smooth and even.....? I have yet to pour a candle that I didn't have to zap the top with my heat gun to even it out....maybe my anal side is showing? But a smooth, even top is very important to me so I zap every one.....

Debbie

Oregon Trails is another supplier that will note discoloration......

Well I haven't tried it (yet) but I read where people have used crayons And I figured it might just bring back that discussion that crops up once every couple of months....lol

And I think I just saw another mica/oxide co-op going on......those are always wonderful choices for colors....

Gat,

I have read several of your posts and I am thinking perhaps you need to do just one type of candle, perfect it, then move on to another. I also think you need to do some reading/research on the type of candle you are doing.

By doing so many sizes/types you seem to be confusing yourself on what it is you need to do to find the right wick, amount of additives, etc.

JMO but perfecting one type before moving on may help you not be so frustrated by the entire process.

Also, when you are asking wick questions, it could be helpful to add the type of wax you are using, which ones you have already tried, and what you have on hand to try.

The moral to this story is you have to try scents for yourself. If you have to use more than 8% fo, you are wasting your time and money. If you listen to everybody who responds to your type of question, you are wasting your time and money.

To avoid costly errors, buy samples and test for yourself. If you must take advice, make sure it's from someone you know and who has been making candles for awhile. Never listen to anybody who posts scent reviews without first having tested it in a candle. Sniffing the bottle doesn't count and only makes the reviewer look like a complete fool.

Start buying samples, start pouring, start testing, and judge for yourself.

Excellent Advice - wish this could be made into a sticky! Wonder how many see themselves here? And how many will take this advice? Again - great advice!!

Just do lots of reading - the back posts are a wealth of information.....you will learn stuff you didn't even realize you didn't know....lol

have fun and welcome!

Are you wondering if you can 'get rich quick'?? Probably not....lol but you will spend lots of money making some great products! And you could make some $$ if you have the right venues.....

Good Luck!

crayons??

just thought it might be nice to have some different ideas and increase my post count at the same time....:rolleyes2

I second Daystar's. It is the best! I'm using 100% soy and I haven't had too much luck with JS FO's. They smell great OOB but don't perform well in my soy.

Go with Daystar!!!!!! While you're there, get the Blackberry Jam Butter Cookies!:rolleyes2

Absolutely!!

Okay I feel silly asking this... but what is the Day Star Dessert Collection?

Don't feel silly - I should have been clearer and posted the addy...

http://www.daystarsupplies.com/

check out her section on 'desserts' - she has some excellent oils and her dessert collection is out of this world! If you do a day star search, you will find some reviews on some of her fragrances - her blackberry jam butter cookie is absolutely the best.....

My favorite for this month.....lol

Well I always end up throwing two bombs in the tub so I tried to make em in a regular cupcake tin-they actually looked good-big, but *sigh* wouldn'tcha know they crumbled on me.

Are you letting them sit for a day or so? They also need to be packed real tightly....That will help them harden up....unmold them and let them sit until they are hard....

I would think a cupcake tin would be huge - lol - but if you like them... I have been having a hell of a time using a bomb mold (plastic) so have started 'looking' around for other molds.....the plastic molds used for m&p work well just be careful when you are 'unmolding' them .... tried dixie cups today and they work fine - but I find them to also be a bit big....I guess my favorite are the stainless steel condiment cups from walmart - 4 for $1 so the price is right also. Getting the top nice and smooth was a challenge but finally got that problem solved.

I have read where there was a site selling a 'bath pill' type mold and people were liking that! Maybe someone will have the addy for the site.

One pour only (with no indentation) - I use 6228 at 70% and 70/30 at 30% (keep the container wax at a lower % so the tart will pop out of the mold.)

But by mixing any pillar wax and container wax you should get the same results.....

You should be able to find lots of differing opinions by doing a quick search on tarts/waxes.....I know it has been talked about alot

Debbie

those stainless steel condiment cups from wallmart, votive cups, m&p molds (I used the cutest snowflake mold), dixie cups, ice cube trays....just look around almost anything can be used.

However, using a tray and then cookie cutter may be a bit messy! I can't imagine that would work but I guess anything is worth trying

Day Star Dessert Collection!

I don't use the RRD's for container candles, but for palm pillars - and I think which wick you use depends upon the fragrance .... just like all other wicks.

In palm wax, rrd's were the only wicks I could get to burn the pillars properly....

Hi all,

I posted this same thread in the General Candle Making Discussion forum, but later realized it might be best served here. (Sorry mods.)

I'm new to candle making and was just wondering what everyone's favorite seasonal/Christmas scents are. I don't really have a lot of time to buy tons of samples, so I figure this will help me get a good idea of popular scents for the season and I can go from there and pick my own favorites.

I tried doing a search but didn't come up with much. TIA.santa big

wondering what words you used to do the search since there have been many, many threads on 'seasonal' scents or fall/winter scents,etc??

Also, I am sure you have read, what is good to one person may not be as good for you....also depends upon the type of wax you are using....certain fragrances don't throw as well in soy as it might in paraffin, etc....

You might just scroll back several pages and find many threads discussing fragrances folks like.

Also, you might want to look at some supplier links as frequently they catagorize their fragrances into 'seasonal'

HTH

1. Oregon Trails

2. Day Star (this month - changes frequently!)

3. Scent Works

LOL I need one also - can we co-op those..... They cost as much as a pound of good fo! lmao:D

Sometimes the co will recommend an amount - I always use an ounce pp oils on my first batch - after that I adjust as necessary!

And while oils from some places may be more expensive, it might be because they are more complex but only you can decide on how strong (or light) you want the fragrance to be.

I bought my starter kit at Michaels, and I know that Hobby Lobby also had pretty much the same things.

This may not be the best option since you have no knowlege of the wax, usually fragrances aren't the best, and price is usually high.

Look over to the right side of your screen and click on Peak Candle Supplies - I am positive you will not be disappointed!

I tried to send you a PM, but it says that either you can't accept or you have chosen not to receive PM's. Portia

she hasn't been here long enough or posted enough to get pms......

try using a glass measuring cup (wallmart has these for $3 or $4) ......since you are using an unknown wax right now there will be very little help .... as soon as you begin using the joy wax, people who are familiar with that type of wax will be able to help you. So melt your wax in your coffee can (I assume you are using a double boiler type method?), then pour the wax into the measuring cup, add your fragrance and color, mix well, then pour into your container. Even if some 'slops' on the side of the container, you will be pouring the container 'full' so it should not be noticeable.

There are many different types of waxes, each with their own characteristics so what I may know is going to be different from what someone else knows.

As I said in the other post, reading back posts will be very helpful - and the search function is great....just type in a couple of words and you will very likely get lots of information.

And be patient:D got lots of folks who will help when they get an opportunity....if you are lucky you might get an immediate answer but most likely it will take longer than 30 minutes.....

Looks like some folks have responded - be patient ....People who have no idea of the answer to your questions usually (hmmmm???) do not respond (or at least they shouldn't) so you might have to wait until someone who knows the answer comes on....

so hang in there - someone will help you - just might not be immediately!

BTW - welcome to ct - if you do some reading of the back posts while you are waiting that might be helpful to you.

Again, welcome!