dragonflydreamer

firemountaingems.com is a good one, if you're only going to order a few of certain beads I also recommend artbeads.com... free shipping is always a good thing

cubecart has a free version, you only have to register it if you want to remove the (Powered by Cubecart) from the title line and the bottom of the page. I have a web client that I installed and skinned a cubecart theme for and they are very happy with it. It's easy to use once you get it all set up. Some web hosts will install it automatically with a script service like fantastico.

Anything Cherry, I have found since I've been making candles that I actually hate cherry... with the exception of the actual beverage cherry coke.

Thank you very much for all of your feedback! He does cut the oil before he sells it to his customers, but he recieves it in uncut. I was just wondering about the quality of the oil, he raves about it but then... he doesn't make candles and I was unsure about the company.

I know where the oil comes from, he buys it from scentoils.com, I have called them, they say it's safe for candles but I've never seen them listed as a FO supplier for candle making so I'm wary of using the oils, and... they are a little bit on the expensive side.

So... essentially when he buys it by the pound, before he repackages it, it's the same?

Is there a difference in oils designed for oil burners/warmers and oils used in candle making? Is oil used in candle making specifically diluted (or rather formulated as diluted isn't quite the word I'm looking for) for the purpose of bonding to the wax? Is the same base used or is it completely different? I'm asking because a friend of mine sells scented oil for oil warmers and asked me why I couldn't make candles from that oil and I said I didn't know, but that I thought it was simply not the same... am I right?

I bought my heat gun at Lowes for $25, I don't think I could continue on without it!

I've been making candles for myself for a short while, I'd estimate for about three months, and I still know little about what I should be looking for to ensure a safe product (I sound like an idiot I know ) I burn these candles in my home and my friends and family are starting to ask about them but I am uncomfortable selling them without putting them through the gauntlet first. What I'd like to know is, I guess a little subjective but some general guidelines on what to look for in the perfect candle. I know that the meltpool shouldn't get any deeper than 1/2 inch but how hot is too hot? My candles have some great throw, but I think perhaps I should try a wick size down because the rim of the jar seems quite hot to touch in my smaller jars. I'm not getting any mushrooming of the wick, which, from what I've read thus far is a good thing I guess my long winded question is this: What is your idea of a perfect candle? and What do you look for when you test?

All I really have to say, as a consumer of candles, not as a candle maker (I'm really still a novice ) I never read (past tense) the crap people have on websites about the product, I doubt few people read more than a few lines before they go on to look at the product, too much text is sort of a turn off in web design anyway, we're impatient and we want to see what you're selling! I'm not saying that (and again, I only skimmed the site because I have the attention span of a rabbit) that what she says isn't or is truthful, I just think it's a waste of space and personally I turn off to see so much text crammed on the front page. Also, she writes very poorly, if this marketing strategy is working for her, than good for her, she must be doing something right.

It's definetly a plus, though they aren't close enough where if I just wanted the samples I would drive there to pick them up, I'd have them shipped because I'd spend more than the $8 in gas lol, but when the order is heavy and large I pick it up.

I'm glad to hear that, when I put in my next jar order I'm going to order some samples as well. I pour soy, I actually use Cargil C3 which I get through them as well, so It'll be nice to get a bunch of supplies at once and save the shipping.

I can't give you a definitive answer, because it's hard to quantify that, but I have purchased (never made before) citronella candles for my picnic table and think it helps.

I remember seeing a post about this a while ago, but I can't find it, I'm probably being blind, but here it goes I get my jars from The Jar Store, and today while just browsing I noticed they also sell FO. Has anyone tried them? I'm thinking of ordering a sampler, since I live so close to The Jar Store it would be very nice to be able to pick up my jars and my scent at the same time and cut out some of the shipping I am currently paying.

Gorgeous candle first of all, what a nice vivid red that is! I get what you were going for with the added rose petals, but I think, if you want to keep them that you'd need to get a different angle on the candle so it becomes the focus and not the petals, my eyes are drawn to the petals in front of the candle and not the product. Just, in my opinion, the petals aren't really needed because your background has some nice texture to contrast with the smooth shiny look of your candle.