stacien

I get my stevia from the health food stores. You want the tincture that is infused with alcohol not water. Otherwise the powder is easier to use.

BCN does have the best tasting flavors, but they are so expensive. OT does have good oils. I did notice Stevia enhances their flavors even if they say it is not needed.

Stella is right! I personally think everyone is their own worst critic. I have seen YC throw out some pretty messed up tops. Consumers don't care as much. They open the lid and smell. That is their first instinct. Then they look at appearance. I have used 415 for four years now, and I keep coming back to it. The thing to remember is just stick with the Golden Brands directions. It usually starts to thicken around 99-100 degrees. Just treat it as chocolate and keep it in constant motion before your pour and don't let it cool too fast. This is called tempering. It will promote a smoother pour. Since you don't use any dyes it will set up even nicer without any hassle of frosting. Yes, frosting does appear after several months of storage, but it won't impair the fragrance. I have had candles smell stronger after a year of storing in a dark cool basement. You just need to keep working your technique and understand soy wax does not have the same stability as paraffin. Just remember to keep enjoying the craft.

I know your probably looking for a soy blend, but I use the pillar blend from MC. Their's is a palm vegetable based, but it is so creamy. It releases beautifully and holds the scent awesome. It holds the colors great without any frosting what so ever.

2 of 7 you marathon burned and neglected to trim your wick two huge safety factors that are printed on the warning labels. You basically did what is prevalent of most consumers. Now you know and what to change. It's not the size of the tin. That is actually an easy size to work with pretty safely.

I had this sent to me and found it interesting. Not my cup of tea because why not just heat up some massage oils. I think some companies will try to market anything. I am intrigued on how much testing they had to do to get it just right. Not to mention he size of wick for that shape of a tin. I just wanted to share it with all of you. New Massage Oil Candles Fragrant Natural Soy-Oil candle burns longer and cleaner. Melts into a warming, silky massage oil. Penetrates and moisturizes skin. 8 natural oils including Hemp Seed, Vitamin E, Jojoba, Avocado and Almond. Leaves skin soft and smooth. Two exciting scents: Naked in the Woods and Dreamcisle (which is also edible).Retail: $19.50 Located under the "For Body Massage" section at:

I went to one of those multi level marketing parties held by girls only. They were featuring soy candles that you use for massages. I sat there and cringed at the whole presentation of those particular candles because they don't understand the liablility if someone with exceptionally sensative skin enounters one of those candles. There are plenty of massage oils out there that we don't need to rub hot soy wax on our bodies. It's all marketing hype.

I don't want to be the pessimist, but you have to test various FO's that do require a higher temp wick. I have run into that myself thinking YIPPEE! Then when I try something like a rich coffee scent or a cinnamon I am back at double wicking.

Brenda, OMG those look awesome. They look like little deserts. I will have to get some from you.

Just curious if anybody knew if any BBW Temptation Dupes were out yet?

I too use the Pyrex measuring cups. Then when the wax starts to harden I stick it in the Microwave for about 30 seconds. They also wash out beautifully with soy waxes compared to the metal pour pots. I also have an easier time tempering with the Pyrex. The metal is so slow at cooling when its time to pour in the jars. Everyone has a rhythm. Just find yours.

I third MC's I can't use anyone else's, I am so addicted to theirs. My kids go nuts when I use it.

Each wick throws out a certain circumference of heat. Some wicks do bend causing it burn off to the side a little more. If a candle tunnels it means most likely that the particular wick you are using is not burning a big enough diameter. So you have to wick up until the melt pool reaches the edges of the jars. Keep in mind that when you do find a wick that reaches all the way. Make sure the melt pool is at the most 1/4 inch deep otherwise it is burning too hot. Another indicator would be if it is too hot to the touch to pick up the jar. Palm wax is a hard wax that requires a hotter burning wick. So try testing some more wicks or a different type of wick.

I have a professional food warmer that is the same set up as a griddle. Its powered by coils. Being that heat rises you could start the jars on the lowest setting possible. Turn it off and pour the wax. Let the wax sit on the warmer as it cools. The heat will work its way upward through the jar and wax and gradually cool down. The key is to temper the wax by keeping it in constant motion as it gradually cools to the precise pouring temperature. So keep stirring it before you are ready to pour so it doesn't crystalize to fast leaving a rough top.

Make sure you put some Titanium dioxide in it. Iraq is a hot blistering country in the sun. If he uses anything that induces a shine it will predispose him to sun burn on his lips from the suns rays. I would limit any oils or butters at all that run the risk of going rancid. Keep it plain and simple but effective.

Try taking out the cocoa butter and subbing it with Shea butter or doubling the mango. Cocoa butter is an extremely hard butter it has to be successfully tempered like chocolate since they are the same family to get it right. Honestly for Lip balm its not worth the effort. Plus with cocoa butter it tends to over power the taste of the flavoring with its cocoa flavor.

I am curious as to why you are not using beeswax. Soywax does tend to result in oral facial allergic reactions on a majority of consumer's. You are better off using Candellila wax.

I think top is right. Nobody will ever be able to embrace it scientifically without the proper equipment. It's technique and using your senses. Yes tempering does play a part in it. Yes, it is similar to chocolate in that sense. Tempering is when a key fat in that formula is heated up and crystallizes. When chocolate or Soy wax is heated and left to cool on its own. It forms crystallization, but the crystals form far and few in between each other which causes that dull appearance. When it is heated and consistently stirred or agitated until it is brought down to cooling temperature. It forms crystals However they are far more dense and closer to each other forming clusters. Which causes a shinier appearance in the wax as the same with chocolate. Without technology we cannot monitor crystallization up close. So that is where our instincts and the use of a good thermometer come in.

Though it's a mystery. It might not have been the anise. The vegetable oils could have healing properties as well. Anise is used as an expectorant for cough or colds or a breath freshener. Actually it is more of a skin irritant than anything so use it wisely. That particual EO in general is for either aromatherapy purposes or consumption not for topical treatments. But they look good to me Top!

I can honestly say you could put right or wrong on both wax and people will steal eat up the marketing jargan no matter if you are truthful or not. They all believe what they read at some point. If you said manure burns the best and is the safest. People would believe it and start buying it. That is marketing. You all may not like it trying to make it as honest as possible. However there will always be some other Chandler above you because of stratigic marketing. Out of all fairness it doesn't have to be an essay on the fact's and myth's of soy. People will lose interest about 1/3 down the list. Make it short and to the point. Consumers don't want to hear the downside of soy wax they want to know what makes it stand out from the rest. Why they should buy it over the others. That is what people are tending to forget. Also instead of enviromentally friendly it should be ecologically friendly.

They look good. Just some advise. That percentage of beeswax is a little too high. You might want to jog it down to 3%. When the weather starts to cool down and you store the jars the wax will crack like crazy and sometimes pull away from the jars.

I know there Pink Sugar is dead on and I love it. At least order a sample and try it. I can't imagine it would be too bad. Peaks is usually pretty good for dupes.

Temperature is a big variable for sweating if all else is done properly. So don't sweat it!

That is not the FO causing it its the dye. Try that same wax and FO without any dye and then pour again. Brown's especially have that effect with the soy wax especially with the tins. Let those candle sit overnight to completely harden after you pour them. Then hit them with the gun again.

I have to agree with both of you. I too use 415 and have tried every wick and the ones that worked best for me as far as throw is cd's. They are so easy to wick up or down and double wick. I also make favor tins and tested all of the wicks in the tins and every single wick either fizzled out or mushroomed like crazy.