becky0404

Wow, thank you for so much great information!!!

I'm interested in making my own natural bath and body products using essential oils. Is there a supplier list anywhere? I'm looking for the best place to buy things like shea butter, bees wax, hemp oil, rose hip oil, cocoa butter.....etc. What's your favorite supplier?

Caribbean Teakwood is amazing too! You really can't go wrong with any of their oils. I just ordered last week because I'm getting back into candlemaking so I guess I'll have to order some more this week

I'm looking for a good palm container wax. It seems like everyone stopped using it once Candle Science discontinued it. Is there anyone out there still using it, and if so, where are you getting it now and what wicks are you using? I want to start testing again (been out of candlemaking/testing for a couple years now!). Thanks!

I think it looks great! I like the layout and it's very uncluttered and neat-looking. Great job!

I've done a search, but all the posts I'm getting are old ones with old information so I wanted to see if anyone had any new advice. I'm looking for the clear, plasic covers for a tumbler (2 3/4 inches wide) and I can't find any that fit. I have found some that are for 3 inch containers but none that are a little smaller :undecided. Does anyone know where I can find them? Thank you!

...to adhere to the jar better? I use the Madison jars, which are straight sided, and the wax just slips right out when it's cooled. Like a pillar . Is there anything I can do different or add to it?

I have tried both Bert's and Candle Source. Even though they are very similar,I think that candle sources' throws a little bit stronger.

I agree, chrisasst! It's nice to see that it IS possible to make some decent money with a small business!

I wanted to post a thread asking everyone how much they profit annually, but then I thought that might be too much information for others to see . So, I decided to make it a poll so the answers could be "annonymous". If you want to comment though, you can! So, the question is: How much does your business PROFIT in a year?

Chele, did you heat your jars before you poured? Just curious to see if that really matters .

Thanks! I have straight-sided containers (Madison Jars) so maybe that's why it just slips out. I'll try heating my containers up before I pour. I don't usually do that.

I'm having problems getting Glass Glow to adhere to the sides of my containers. It would just slip right out if the wick wasn't keeping it in there! Is there a way to get the glass glow to stick to the glass better? Or is this just the nature of the wax?

What are some nice strong ones? I'd like to start testing for the upcoming Holiday season (I only do one Holiday expo). I use palm, so I usually start off testing with some recommended strong ones . Thanks!!

What do you all use for a "heat gun"? I've been using a hair dryer, but it takes so long with palm wax to smooth out the relief holes! What are some of my other options?

Too funny!! I'd probably do that:embarasse .

...but I'm scared to use it, lol!:tiptoe: Do I just put the wax in there, turn it on, and wait for it to melt? What temp? Can you give me some "Melting wax in Presto Pot for Dummies" instructions .

....if beginning a candle business is the right thing to do:confused: . With all the recent talk around here of people closing their businesses (some even very successful it seems) I just can't help but wonder if I should even begin. I've been making candles for a long time, around two years. It's pretty much been a hobby, and I always thought that "someday" I would start selling. I've come to the point now where I think I'd like to start selling. I have people ask me for candles a lot and I've had a couple stores ask me if I could put candles in their store. These stores are owned by friends and aquaintances though. I just don't know what to do now. One side of me would love to be creative and make my own candles and candle line, but also the other side of me is drawn to the aspect of just being a "rep/distributor" or a "consultant" for an already established candle company (who's business model is similar to a home party plan type of business...not partylite though:lipsrseal ).With my own business, I will be taking a lot of time physically making candles, which I do enjoy but I'm not sure if I will enjoy it once I HAVE to make them, kwim? I like the idea of being able to create the line, my own way. On the other hand, if I decide to become a distributor of sorts for an already established company, I don't have to worry about making the candles and can focus on the marketing of it (craft shows, etc.). Ooohh, it's such a tough decision. I see all of you work so hard, get to where you have dreamed of getting, and then for one reason or another decide that it's not profitable enough. While I LOVE making candles, and I love candles in general, I also want to start a business and make money! I just don't know which way is better. Any thoughts?

I haven't been here in a LONG time! I kind of took a break from candlemaking after the Holidays. I made a bunch of candles for one home show and one Christmas fair, and I guess I kind of got burnt out. I was making them one-by-one using the double boiler method so that's probably why I got so burnt out...it's a long process that way, lol. Anyway, since then, I have had people ask me if I have more and I have had two stores come to me and ask me if I would put my candles in their store (I'm not ready for all that yet). I want to do this right, and get insurance, etc. (yeah,I know, I should have never sold any before getting insurance! :embarasse ) I have about 20 fragrances (a lot of them are holiday ones though) that I have tested and that I KNOW work. So, without the Holiday/winter ones, it's more like 10 fragrances. Do you think that's enough to start with? I want to eventually add more, but I need time to test them first. When you first went "public" how many different scents did you have?

What kind of container is that Vio? I think I use the same ones. If I'm right and you are using the same container as I am I'll tell you that yes, it eventually catches up. The container is very tall and narrow, so it heats up more as it burns down to the bottom. I used to use soy (I use palm now) and I was able to wick it correctly with one wick and it would look like that at first. Mine used to catch up about 2/3's of the way down and then burn great after that. However, I didn't use the kind of wick you do, I used ECO wicks. But I did have the same looking melt pools that you have at first, if that means anything, lol.

I don't know the answer to your question, but Just Scent has a dupe of glade glistening snow Glade Glistening Snow Type A wonderful holiday oil bursting with fresh Bayberry with undertones of cinnamon, clove and peppermint! Excellent in soy and safe for bath and body! This is a duplication blended for us by our perfumer.

I just made a TON of candles with bert's fo's in straight palm so I will let you know, vicki, what the results are. So far the cold throw on ALL of them is great (which is an improvement from what I was getting before with my prior method of making candles). I will let them cure for a week and then post some results.

I just poured Bert's MacIntosh and it's soooo yummy. It smell so realistic. You can almost smell the skin

Well, I like it. I do think the candle needs a wick though. I am not into sci-fi or annime, but I definitley think it will appeal to that crowd. I, personally, can't stand country or prim and a lot of the times if I am browsing sites and come across a country candle website (and there are A LOT of them!!) I will click right out of it. It's not my thing. Likewise, some people may click right out of yours too but that's okay. You have found a great niche and I say go with it!! You know the sci-fi market very well, YOU know what looks good and what doesn't...go with what you like. Or find some sci-fi friends to critique it . I don't think a header on a website is going to "make or break " your business though. It's just a header. I've seen you post other things you make and they are just so creative and imaginative that I think that's what is going to draw people into your website. Anyway, good luck and keep those creative juices flowing!

yes, that is expensive for them. Especially since that does not include the lid in that price.