Mythreindeer

Good for you!

Share the link when you get storefront going

The thing about fragrance oils is that you don't really know what you're working with since their formulas are not disclosed, however, the only way to know whether you have a top note vs middle note is to test the FO on a scent strip like a perfumer would. OTOH, with candles you don't need to be nearly as exacting as you would with fine fragrance (perfumes) as you tend not to get the more orderly release of molecules into the air from top to base notes and moreso the notes are released all at once like a flower. This is really an advantage and makes scenting candles in one respect easier than formulating perfumes. The take home is that as with anything else you just have to test it but it is best to blend your fragrance outside of a candle first then test on a scent strip (you can actually use cut up coffee filters effectively and less pricey than perfumer's strips), then move to wax.

Sorry, I thought we were in the candle forum, but the same concept applies to scenting any medium

Or the wrong size wick...go down a size in your chosen wick and retest.

Honestly I don't know what choice you have other than to test each batch. I make my own coconut wax blend, all pure coconut wax is basically mush, for scented candles and it does help to ensure stability. These are the times we live in. Pure paraffin is likely the most consistent wax.

8 hours ago, AngieB said:

Mythreindeer, do you have suggestions on where I could buy something compariable with professional perfumers or premium fragrance oils. I have read the post about the different suppliers and I have looked at all of them but still cant tell who has the best scents. Price is no issue and you pay for what you get so Im willing to pay high dollar for the better fragrance oils. I just didnt know which one to start with.

I don't think any one place has the best. I'd look through the reviews and go with what sounds good to you. I'd avoid Amazon though.

I suspect most of the fragrance oil resellers are getting them from the big perfuming houses where they are formulated by professional perfumers. That said, I've gotten some from places I know that are laughably bad. I'd suggest decide on 5-10 scents you'd like to work on and buy sample sizes based on reviews here from anywhere suggested and make some test candles.

It's an emotional issue and for seemingly most people this means reason has no place in the discussion. 

Fact is every material used in candles can be considered reasonably safe but also can be shown to be problematic in one way or another. 

Thanks! Much appreciated

I have ordered a sample of their 44G white beeswax but am unable to find a distributor. Anyone know where to get S&P products or am I overlooking somewhere obvious?

Do you think, or have you looked into whether Lumetique's patents cover paper wicks as well as wood, seeing as how they may be considered similar?

As an aside, and I'm assuming Wooden Wick/Makesy licenses from Lumetique, that Lumetique allows such a relatively poor product to be sold under it's patents though I suppose licensing fees are still income. Personally, I wont buy from the company that has become Makesy.

6 minutes ago, Rob Space said:

I tried washing the jars in the dishwasher and didn't have any issues this time!  At least not on the 2 batches I made last night.  Pretty weird, but I guess it's possible that I just needed to wash the jars.  I figured wiping them down with rubbing alcohol would've been fine, but I guess not. 

Ahh, the isopropyl alcohol could indeed be the culprit. Although you need to make sure that there is as close to no residual wax as possible in used candle jars if you wash them in the dishwasher as that could lead eventually to expensive plumbing repairs.

9 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

Bayberry and beeswax are my specialties. 

About the only candle I make for myself are 100% beeswax - nothing like it.

Honestly, the heavily scented candles most people buy, or expect you to make, are a bit over the top. 

Everything else being equal, perhaps one of the wax manufacturers changed their formula. 

I'm getting that feeing. Thanks for the reply.

Recently working with bayberry and wondering about other's experience. I've been varying the percentage of beeswax to minimize fracturing as well as pour temps and slow cooling in the oven but can't seem to achieve consistency. Anyone have suggestions? Anything appreciated.