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One of the other things I do that I forgot to mention is that I stir numerous times. I'll stir for the first 2 minutes vigorously (fast stir) then again in a few minutes, repeat, then stir right before I pour. Whether it makes a difference or not, I don't know, but it's what I do so that I feel that the oil is now thoroughly blended evenly throughout the wax.

Your temperatures are pretty much the temps that I go by. I do pour at 135°. The one thing I have noticed, is that my ambient temp in the house is around 70°. And the humidity is somewhere between 40s and 60% depending on the day. I also pour wickless for testing. I haven't had any issues with sinkholes but with the rough tops I can tell you what's worked for me. I usually just use a heat gun and heat up the containers prior to pouring and they've been fine. But I did notice a major difference in the oil percentage and rough tops.

I have found that the less percentage of FO will make for a smoother top. I have tried with 6%, 8% and 10%. The 6 / 7% comes out smooth. The more oil, the rougher it was. If you have a couple of extra containers, pour a few with different percentages and compare.

Forgot to mention that I also had success with HTP.

I have had success with 6% or 7% with CDN and Premier. The ECO's haven't worked that great for me as of yet.

It's not so much using up what I have, but more like trying to find the best candle that I can make with what I can readily get my hands on. I'm hooked.

Thanks @TallTayl I will definitely try that ratio! I'm also going to try each soy with the 4627 and do a comparison like @NightLighthad mentioned. The bakery scents play nice with the soy so I am going to stick with them. The one that I could not get to throw much even at 10% in soy was Black Cherry Merlot. And now that it is throwing really well in that blend... I don't like it that much. Ha! It's a tad too perfumey for me. 🤢

Thanks @NightLight . I was planning on doing that but wanted to throw it out here to see what experience others had. I've went through CD, CDN, ECO, HTP, Premier, RRD and Cotton Core. With the mixes I have, CD works the best with my batch of 464. With the 70/30 blend I made, I landed at HTP. The soy testers I have had been curing since Janurary 2021 and another batch on April 2021. Are there any other additives that I can use in 464/444 to help with the HT?

So... I'm looking for some advice on blending or modifying soys altogether or should I not bother and just blend with paraffin. I’ve been playing with 464 for about a year and a half. Scaling back from 10% to 8% to 6%. I don’t have an issue with the looks of it. Smooth tops when poured at 135 and at 6%. The more FO % added, the bumpier / grainier the tops look. Not too concerned with the looks of it... for now. I currently have – 2+ cases of 464 (same lot # from 2020) 20 lbs of 444 30 lbs of 415 20 lbs or 4627 Bottom line is I have a little over 100 lbs of this stuff and would like to give it a better throw. 8% seems to be a pretty good throw for a couple of scents that I’ve tested that I like. And 6% is decent but doesn't really cut it... for me. Also, during that time, I had made 2 blends with 415 and 4627 at 7.5% earlier last year and broke those out recently for the fun of it to burn. The blend ratios are 50/50 and 70/30 - 415/4627. I tested with 2 scents that I could hardly smell when using 464 at 10%. I am now getting a really good HT with the 70/30, at 7.5%, using HTP. The 50/50 I have to dial in a better wick to see where it lands. With all that being said...Out of 464, 444 and 415 which wax would I be better off blending with 4627 OR… could I blend and or modify the other soys (without 4627) to give it that extra OOMPH that I’m looking for with straight soy at 8% or under? Also, what difference will the additives in 464/444 make as opposed to the 415 when blended with 4627 in relation to HT or anything else for that matter? I have a supplier nearby and would rather stick with these waxes to avoid shipping fees. TLDR: Will 464/444 work just as good/better/worse than the 415 with 4627 or can I tweak the soy to give it the kick that I'm looking for?

How about a qr code that links to a YouTube video that shows the do this / don't do that basics as well as the "this is what happens when you do this" shock value video. Sometimes visuals speak louder than words and more likely to share with others. Make YouTube and TikTok your conduit to the masses.

Could you include before and after shots of the aftermath (in a professional/classy way) to show what will happen if you choose to burn irresponsibly?

My wife uses q-tips with the lip balm testers. She actually swabs it herself then hands off the q-tip to customers. Some people sample that way or they just smell it and that's good enough. Or they go by the flavor and decide that way. No one... as of yet... has actually touched with their fingers or lips.

I'm going at a snail's pace with testing but I'm in no rush 🙂 Right now I'm trying to think of a more efficient way of testing. As of now, I pour about 3 or 4 of the same FO / vessel / wax and test one at a time.

I had the same issue with HTP and CD in the container I was using. So I went with a CDN and had better results. Also, depending on the FO, I've had luck with HTP, CD/CDN and Premier. However, I was using a single wick. Not double.

Not sure whereabouts in MA you are, but Candlechem sells them.

Congrats!

Welp... I think I may have spoken too soon. Ha! Go figure. This candle has been burning for a few hours and I can smell it throughout a couple of rooms. Granted it took a little bit longer to spread throughout the rooms than if the AC was off, but it eventually did. The scent is a bit diminished, but the scent is there.

@BusyBee that's a pretty good idea with the fog. I assume it would be a little bit more denser than regular smoke but still give the same traces. I know it has been mentioned that hot and cold ancient temps do not make a difference in the hot throw, but I've seen first hand here that there is a difference. At least in my experience in my house. The heat and the AC come from the same mini split unit. Anyway, what kind of life is it without a little bit of challenge anyway? 😁

@BusyBee Yup. I found this thread regarding air flow as well. Is what it is I guess.

I realize this thread is just about 14 years old, but I too am experiencing the same issue. Bringing it back around to see if anyone else is also noticing this phenomenon. I’m testing with 464 - Pumpkin Souffle at 6% and 8%, and with 6006 - Cranberry Apple Marmalade at 7%. Cured since January / February. The 8% Pumpkin Souffle is older than that. Other scents behave the same way. In the winter and spring, bam, in your face and up your nose. Can’t miss it. But now in the summer with the AC on, notha. I burn a candle and smell the scent just fine, and when I turn on the AC, in minutes, the scent is just about non existent. Doesn't matter the scent. But once I shut the AC off, in minutes the scent comes back. I’ve even burned for a few hours with the AC on to see if the scent “catches up”. Nope. I’m assuming it must be the cold heavy air dropping and affecting the scent throw somehow. I can have the heat on in the winter and it would have no affect. I also tested a couple of weeks ago with some windows open for the fun of it and I could smell throughout the rooms. Which I was extremely surprised. I thought for sure the scent would just go out the window and smell nothing whatsoever. I do not have central air either. So there are no vents in the room I test in. I have a mini split about 20 feet from where I usually test the candles. And I have it directed away from that room. I’ve also tried different rooms as well. Once that AC unit kicks in, the scent vanishes. And it’s not super cold either. Maybe around 68 to 70. Which is what it usually is in the winter with the heat on. So it’s just with the AC on is when this happens. I can't be the only one this is happening to. Can I? I would have to think those living in the warmer climates have the AC on a good part of the year. With that being said… do you test in the summer or more so from fall to spring or do you not have any issues and go year round?

Not sure if this is what you're looking for... but I posted a pic of a spreadsheet a little while back sorted by the yield. It shows CD / CDN, HTP, ECO and Premier. I find that the HTP's and CD / CDN's are somewhat comparable with the batch of 6006 that I have along with the couple of FO's that I've been testing.

I just measured the inside of the jar I have and it's just shy of 2 5/8"... It's literally between 2 9/16" and 2 5/8". I only measured one of them so I'm guessing there's going to be a little bit of wiggle room between each one.

Sure thing. It's pretty much what's shown above. I can send via email if you like.

Thank you.

If you don't mind me asking... What type of spray paint? Do you mean something like Rust-Oleum or Krylon?