stacien

Ill tell ya that I love Palm wax and making candles with them but wicking sure is tricky!! My problem is that I know not many actually burn candles the way that they are supposed to be burned so I always wick on the side of safety and those marathan burners rather than us Chandlers that know how to burn a candle properly. I would rather have a thick enough shell that wont blow out and look like a nice hurricane than to have a blowout and hot wax spilling out all over! Of course, I would much rather make a Palm pillar that would consume almost all of the wax but have yet to find wicking that will do that and accomidate those that wont trim and burn all day long! Any variances of a slight draft, wick that burns lopside, anything can cause a blowout and I hate to take that risk!!

Personally, I love the look of the flame glowing through the beautiful feather patterns on the candle while leaving approximately a 1/4" wall.

Thanks so much for sharing!! Maybe we all can come up with a scent that will hypotize the customer to use proper care while burning candles!! Now that would be a huge seller! LOL

God Bless,

Lynn

Lynn I think I agree with you. I haven't experienced a blowout but I have pushed how thin I could go. There is no guarantee that people are going to follow directions you give them. I would feel more piece of mind with 1/4 of a shell. I like the hurricane effect. I have seen so many posts for people that try to use HTP and RRD's that tend to burn off to one side and creat blow outs. There is no way to prevent that other than wicking down one size. I think we are just to critical on ourselves as to how perfect it looks when it burns. As long as it burns safely, and gives a decent throw.

I have seen them at Joanne's.

Are they making a game and the winner gets the centerpiece? I've been to a lot of showers lately that have been doing that.

Does anyone think its more logical to underwick about one wick size? How can there be any guarantees you won't have blow outs no matter how muh you test?

I don't think anyone is against zince core. Its just better to use them in paraffin than vegetable wax.

Paula I bet Ron would work something out with you. He is a CT member just PM him.

I would beware of some places that have smaller selections they tend to cut costs and buy weaker oils and them sell them for premium prices. you want someone that specializes in fragrances or EO's. I have used Glorybee because they carry a large selction of EO's both organic and regular plus a ton of soaping and skin care oils and butters. I don't just use EO's for aromatherapy I use them for treat and healing properties and I trust them. They also screwed up when I ordered a spearmint oil and sent me cloves by mistake. They had the spearmint here the next day and told me to keep the cloves for free because of the inconvenience. That is good business.

We have made some ball candles in palm and we deliberately wicked them to leave a shell so folks can use a tea light when it burns down... different strokes, I guess.

That's a good idea to be able to reuse them for tealights. How many have seen those beautiful snowball candles and think what a shame it would be to burn those. Ball candles are a little more decorative and tempermental to wick, I can't imagine there is a perfection to wicking those.

I would gladly underwick by one size to prevent that from happening. But there is alway some competitor out there that sees your candle and criticizes that you don't know how to wick a candle when ideally I was being safe on behalf of the customer and my liability. There really are not any 100% vege wax candles that the big chandlers make that I can compare to, to see how they successfully do it.

I am wondering for those of you that sell vegetable wax pillars. Even though you test and test and finally find the size wick you need. How do you guarantee you candle won't blow out after you have sold it to someone. I know you can't. But if it happens to them do you replace it?

Of course I am guilty of buying candles from Pierre One and White Barn and I am one to say they have major tunneling without the proper amount of hangup on their pillars. Do you think they do that to reduce the risk of liablility?

I get my soybean oil at costco or Sam's club.

I'd recommend researching this further. Menthol and camphor probably shouldn't be used in a normal application type lip balm. They have each been used in certain commercial lip balms as a way to dry out cold sores. They were naturally marketed for that purpose, but many people got used to that tingly experience, and ended up buying and using the mentholated lip balms for regular use, not for cold sore treatment. Because it is intended to dry things out, it would be counterproductive. If you're looking to get a lip balm with a "tingle" to it, try basic peppermint EO.

I have to agree. Burts Bee's is tingly and they use EO's for that effect instead of camphor or menthol. Although you have to lighten up on the peppermint EO because it does have a drying effect to they use that for acne treatment in botanical and organic skincare.

I have been known to fry my own skin with peppermint castille soap. lol

Who in your opinions has the best lip gloss flavors? I am not looking for exotic or too dimensional flavors. This is based for teenagers so it has to be basic flavors. The sweeter the better for that age.

I have tried BCN and like it very much but if there is a better tasting supplier I'm open. I have noticed so far Majestic and WSP.

If I had to pick one of each it would be hard because I have a lot of favorites, but here goes...

Fruity--I love fruits so this is a hard one. But I guess Blueberry (BC).

Floral--Tie between Sweet Pea& Heavenly Plumeria (Both MC)

Bakery--Cinnamon Bun (BC)

Fresh/Clean--Cotton Blossom (BC)

Dupe--Haven't done any yet. Soon though.

Lori

You have done some dupes Sweet Pea and Plumeria are BBW dupes. That counts and they are your favorite.

Fruity - Razzle Dazzle Rasperry Truffle (JS)

Floral- Lilac (JS)

Bakery- Birthday Cake (MC)

Fresh/Clean - Lavender and Spearmint EO (Glorybee)

Dupe - Pink Sugar and Black Raspberry Vanilla (Peaks)

What are the odds a customer would actually remember to blow it out before it hits the bottom? I can't believe they don't have a wick tab for safety purposes.

If it is for soy then Millcreek does carry the labels. They only carry the clamshell tart molds though.

I am wondering what the booster agent they dipped them in is and if it is toxic. I am a little bit skeptical about those wicks. Otherwise they would have though of wood wicks many,many,many,many years ago when they were using whale tallow as wax.

The photos are beautiful is there a way you can edit out the background because they are pulling my attention back that way? Otherwise your lighting on the subject is perfect. Not too much glare on the flame and its dementional. You have a good eye.

It could just be the colder temps affecting your wax. Soy is like that and will burn differently in the winter than it does in the summer. just a thought.

Meredith is right. I have a huge house with hardwood that runs cool all of the time. I have to wick up during the winter just get a full melt pool. Then when warmer air hits my original wick size pools beautifully. I use just plain 415 and cd's too. It does get discouraging but its soy and you have to understand how airflow and temps will effect it. So I made a system that I will not test burn a candle if my room temp is below 70 degrees. Everytime I have made or burned one under that temp it does not temper properly, it frosts and I have to wick up.

You might want to try Kimberly's shea body butter recipe. It seems to be the easiest on this site. I tried and you can substitute if you don't have certain oils or butters. I read on a site that its usually a 4:2 ratio of butters to oils. Other than that play around. I don't know how to post that thread but look up her recipe under search.

Don't bother with NG's. :lipsrseal It almost has a perfumey smell too it....I was let down! I love NG fragrances and most of my line is NG.....but their toasted marshmallow fragrance just didn't do it for me! HTH!

I was dissapointed with NG too. Could not get that one to throw even if it was at 50% load. Maybe it does better in Paraffin than soy.

It depends if it will hurt the pump. I can't think it would be too bad because we run pumps in jacuzzi tubs and use bubble baths and salts. Obviously you are going to be in an area where there is a beach which means pools. Call up a pool tech in the area and ask, its a yes or no question for them.

Donita, I agree your work is so beautiful you should open a shop for people to see how spectaculare it is in person.

I don't work with Paraffin but I love your work. You are a true artist not just a crafter.

Don't forget to not inhale the fumes most of all when you are mixing the Lye with water. Mix it away from your face.