Jcandleattic

I guess. But I just went and re-read. They are already taking 1% so it really is only going up .5%, and starts Feb 7th. But still, everything just keeps going up and up and up. This last season it really didn't hurt my bottom line, however, I only do 4 shows a year. I mean, I make good money in those 4 shows, but when I eventually quit my job and expand into doing solely my candle/soap business, I'm not sure I want to deal with all the fees, that will be at that point probably double what they are now...

I just got an email: Starting I think it said Feb. 1st, on top of the updated cc fees in general, they are now going to charge 1.5% of the total amount deposited for each deposit. I will have to evaluate at this point if I even want to continue with Square or taking cc's in general. I might go back to being just a cash based business - just like the marijuana industry. LOL

I'm not sure, probably if it's to be found it will be found on SOS. I was thinking more along the lines of incense and spice, but sulfer also came to mind, but not sure I would actually use that in a candle/soap.

To me it when I think Black Magic, I think incense, sulfer, and spice, so first FO I think of is Dragon's Blood mixed with Amish Harvest. (mind you, I have never done this mix, but in my mind I can totally smell it, and quite honestly, as soon as I get home from work, I'm going to mix these two and see what happens. In my mind it's AWESOME - LOL)

After all the math and figuring everything out after my last show with cc sales, and the increase in cc fees charged by Square, my out of pocket increase was less than $5 total, and I sold more this year than I have in past years, so to me, that <$5 is not worth even worrying about. If it was in the high $$ amount, then I would just up my prices overall to cover it. However, I just raised my prices 2 years ago, so another increase so soon seems too much. Last I checked, it is still illegal here to charge cc fees to the consumer, but that was quite a while ago, so I guess I should check again. It could have changed...

What was the name of the perfume? There may be a dupe somewhere...

Vybars are more for hardening the wax, and don't really help with a stronger throw - too much and it can actually bind your scent and not throw at all. I don't use soy, could never get it to throw for me, and was just too finicky for my tastes, so I can't offer help on that, but someone should be able to come along and help out with those waxes.

Same here. The difference at my last show with square and the show before the rate change was negligible. IMO, not worth worrying about.

To me it looks as if each layer is being poured at different temps. They should be poured at either the same temp, or slightly hotter in order to adhere.

Hi @SuzyK - I absolutely remember you. I have personally found that EO's although have great label appeal in soaps, most (not all) tend to fade to nothing within a few weeks to months. With the exception of just a handful I don't find them worth it in soaps. However, for lotions and other leave on products I think they are great. You can find some information about them on the different websites offering them, such as Camden Grey, Lebermuth, Majestic Mountain, etc., Those places will probably have better information for you than just the internet in general. I know there are some books that are pretty reliable as well as to the use of them, but can't think of them off the top of my head. I'll have to look them up...

Even though the ambient temp of the room may be the same, the seasons change, there’s atmospheric changes happening, and regardless of what anybody does, wet-spots is just part of the candle making process. As I said, the only people who notice or care is us.

Almost everything I make is a blend of some sort, and rarely ever a repeat. I only have like 4 scents that are repeats, and not a blend. However with that being said, I made my last soaps to take to the market in August, and got an order at one of my October shows for 50 cupcakes that I made simply due to the fact she paid in full up front AND I don't have to deliver them until the 15th of December, so they'll be nice a cured. (Made them on the 6th of Oct) I almost doubled my output this year from last year, and I only have 1 more craft show of the season and I'm hoping to goodness I have enough!! Next year I think I'm going to have to triple it!! (not a bad thing since I only do 4 shows a year, I make what I want when I want) And now I'm rambling ...

All I can think is the Forrest Gump line "Stupid is as stupid does"

If I'm going to do wickless, I will use a tart warmer and melts, not a wickless jar candle. Takes too long to heat up the entire jar of wax to get any scent out of it, and people are impatient and I'm sure would give up before they even get any scent. That's my opinion anyway, and why I don't make/sell wickless jars, only melts.

Honestly, I don't even know why candlemakers even worry about wet spots - I mean I know there are perfectionists out there, but in all the years I've been making/selling candles it's been my experience that the consumer doesn't even notice the spots 99.999% of the time, and if they do, they literally just do not care. What customers care about is scent first, burn second and that's basically about it.