prs7979

I did some digging after work last night and it looks like the wick tab came loose from the sticker.  Not completely off but like tilted over if that makes sense.   

It still looked straight when I started burning but I guess as the wax heated up it started turning towards the side.

I appreciate everyone's help in diagnosing.

I use wick stickers.   I'm not 100% sure but I think when I checked the wick sticker was still centered in place.

I don't remember which one I used but I mostly use something like this

https://www.amazon.com/EricX-Light-Candle-Centering-Device/dp/B01MAZKE0B

or this

https://vacandlesupply.com/Wick-Holder-Centering-Tool-for-25-Standard-Jar-12-pcs_p_627.html

I also pull it tight after getting it set (attempting not to unseat the wick).

If I remember correctly I didn't trim before flipping so that is also another potential culprit?

I agree with Pam that starting to make something that is simple and good first is probably the best approach.

That said, if you want something that is sparkly without having to add anything, consider experimenting with palm wax.  No sprinkles required.

Yeah, I used the wrong term---I was hunting a term that expressed that it was way more than just leaning.   I'm used to leaning, but this thing ended up on the other side entirely.   It didn't get like this immediately but it was basically on the other side of the jar after like two hours.   I burnt it a little more and it just kept going to the other side.

I got a small amount of glass glow to experiment with and based on my experience with NG Palm I used CSN's to start with.   

I poured hot and flipped when the top set enough.  Cured them for a week.

But a couple of them drifted all the way to the side during the first burn.    Not all of them though

Is this indicative of holes (i.e. I didn't flip soon enough) or some other issue that I'm not thinking of.   

My guess would be the fragrance oils---464 just sometimes has issues with certain scents.

I made some candles and melts with this (one FO with three different wicks) will report back once it's cured sufficiently.

One thing I would say is that maybe you should test without color for now.   I don't think dye impedes throw that much but I think when trying to establish a baseline the fewer variables the better.

No matter where you get your scents, they're all gonna behave a little bit differently depending on the wax and wick combo. Every scent is different but my experience (limited though it is) is that things like citrus notes are hard to detect even in strong throwing candles while bakery scents show up pretty well in most everything I've tried.  But again, every scent is a little bit different.

I do agree that 6006 should be throwing at least a little bit.   Soy is a notoriously finicky thrower and I can get good scent out of 464 after a few days occasionally.

What percentage are you adding your FO at?   It's counterintuitive but sometimes too much can prevent it from throwing properly.   6-7% is the normal recommendation for 6006.

If it's not that then it would have to be the wick.   Type matters but size matters as well.   Wicking is hard and don't let anyone tell your differently---don't give up on a certain wick type just because it doesn't throw, it might just need to be a larger version.   Or a smaller version, counterintuitively.   Because candles are weird as hell.

I would try them in smaller rooms.   I have a cavernous main room with lots of airflow (fan and air conditioner) and I almost never got any throw out of anything, but some of them do fine when I put them in small to mid-size rooms.   I would also get a friend to test them out and make sure you haven't gone nose blind to your scents.

I will say that 6006 is a little tricky to wick properly in my experience.  

If a smaller room doesn't help and a friend can't smell them well either, I would make some melts to see if the problem is the wick or the scent itself.   Some scents just don't work well with certain waxes and the right wick can make all the difference.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts.

My thought was for filling in voids, kind of like how people use packing peanuts.   I could see it going either way as far as image---I do have Handmade in my business name but my aesthetic is not full-on craft paper and rustic nor is it the super duper slick industrial design like a lot of people seem to to go with.

I'm not sure how possible this is but one thing I have considered it making it an option and maybe I'd provide a small discount if you went with the shredded cardboard and market it as the "eco-friendly" option.

Hey all, I have a question that I haven't found any real answers for.   I shred a ton of cardboard with my heavy duty shredder but am running out of room in my compost bin (my wife isn't into me having a big open one) to put it in.

Are there are safety or regulatory concerns about using shredded cardboard as packaging?   My wife is concerned as far as the look of it, but my main concern is whether or not there are any regulatory guidelines to using your own shredded cardboard.   My initial thought is that as long as it wasn't used to package food it shouldn't be an issue but I honestly have no idea.

Would love to hear any thoughts.

I don't have a good answer to this but I have two scents that smell fantastic in melts (Lemon Verbena and Brandied Pear) but smell like fuel in candles.

My melts are half-palm so I'm going to try to make palm candles with those two scents (when I have time) and see if they smell better.

CS Apple Harvest and CS MacIntosh Apple are both fantastic.   Candle Cocoon's Cranberry Compote has a real nice tang to it.    I think I like CS' Toasted Pumpkin Spice the most of the more stereotypical scents.

I don't have specific experience with RE's Coffee House so I can't make a direct comparison but I know a lot of people like FC's Coffee House.   

I don't personally like it (at least in the parasoy I tried it in) as it smells to me like mediocre drip coffee, but as a coffee snob maybe I have too high of standards haha.

I'd say as long as they're safe it'd be fine.   Maybe you can sell a line of "ugly" candles at a discount if you feel like ones that aren't up to your standards might damage the perception of your candles in general.

So, I was pouring my first batch of palm wax candles (NG container palm) after confirming that the system works safely, but then I was needed by my wife for several hours and was unable to monitor the candles in order to flip them.

I did not see anything wrong with them on first glance but I know that palm is notorious for pitting and other issues.   I realize that I can test them in order to find out if there are any gaps or pits, but what's the best way to go about actually fixing them after I find the issues?  Drill several holes and fill or something else entirely?

Ironically this picture was taken just after flipping and is way better than the other side.    The lightbox has built in lights but basically only goes from dimmer to brighter and doesn't have other settings.   I may need to buy an additional light to place outside to fix that particular issue.

Container Candle, 8 oz straight-sided jam jar

Wax Used:  GW464

Wick Used:  CD-6

CT:  Good

HT:  Excellent.  Probably the best throw of any scent I've put in soy.

Cure Time:  2 Weeks

Despite my state's penchant for overly sweet tea, this tea is mildly sweet smelling with hints of lemon.   It not a "knock you over" kind of scent but it is obvious if a little too subtle for some people.

Container Candle, 8 oz straight-sided jelly jar

Wax Used:  Nature's Garden Palm Container Wax

Wick:  HTP103

FO:  5%

CT:  Okay (about normal for the palm candles I've tested)

HT:  Strong--I put it in a spare bedroom and it fills in the whole hallway

The smell is nice and tart and somewhat sweet.  I feel like I detect a little orange note in there but that just might be my mind filling in blanks.

16 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Creases, like in the back? A long sheet of poster board gently rounded into the box creates a nice smooth back.

My lightbox has an insert but you can still see pretty clearly where the material starts folding down.   This one isn't too bad but you can still see it.

Sorry to bump such an old topic but does anyone have any insight on eliminating creases in lightbox photos?   This has been my biggest obstacle to making competent looking product photos.

I really like their cinnabuns, my favorite cinnamon roll scent I've found so far.   Berry Blaster is also great in melts.

Got their Gin & Tonic curing in a C6/464 blend.  We'll see how that works out.

Me and my wife are planning to go see my in-laws across the country for Christmas (who knows if it'll happen, but regardless).

So I would like to make my nieces and nephew some jelly soaps shaped as some of their favorite characters as part of their gifts.   But I have no idea what kinds of scents they would actually like.

Anyone with kids or experience making products for kids have any thoughts on what finds of scents children tend to enjoy?   I realize I could leave them unscented but I'd like them to smell fun as well.

I don't pretend to be an expert on these kinds of logistical issues, but I think it makes sense to bite the bullet and try your products without it or use this opportunity to try a new wax.

Because it's not like this is unlikely to happen again.   Creating new products that don't rely upon the Coconut 83 helps you in the future should it go out of stock again (which seems likely to happen again).

I would like Virginia Candle Supply added whenever possible.   I love a few of their scents.