Jcandleattic

If they are sinking, and it's a container wax (unless it's something hard like 4786), sounds like you are probably pouring too hot. Let the wax cool a bit more before pouring and see if that helps with the sinking also.

As I only use M&P for embeds, I use a pyrex measuring cup and melt it in the microwave is small bursts. Many many many moons ago, I had an order for 300 clear soaps with a logo insert and at that time I melted my soap in my crock pot, on just the warm setting. It didn't burn the soap or make it rubbery or anything, but it did take a LONG time to melt, but once melted it kept it melted for what I needed to do. I can't find the logo pic, but here is a toy insert using the same melting technique and you can see it kept the clear base very very clear...

You wouldn't really add beeswax for scent throw. It's a good additive to make your wax harder, but you want to use it at a very low % in a container candle as it does get very hot - and it's not really for containers except as an additive. You could try adding a paraffin only blend for scent throw, but if your wax isn't throwing very well, it might be your wicking that is the problem, and not the wax itself. I'm sure others will come in and help as well...

To clean my wax, I use a tape knife - you know like painters use for drywall putty? scrapes it clean as a whistle with no problems at all. And with palm it should come right up no problem at all. ETA: if there is still residue you can throw the pan in the oven for a few minutes on low and then wipe with a paper towel, and if it's on the counter, just take a heat gun to it and wipe with a PT. Should work fine. : HTH

I'm not sure anymore who even carries it. I still have 3 cases left of the last pallet I bought several years ago, so when I get down to my last case I will need to start researching the wax again. Here is an old pic of some candles before I put the labels on so you can see what it looks like with color. Each of these candles has 2 drops or less of liquid colorant to a lb of wax - I'd say it's pretty creamy, but not as creamy as a parasoy can be.

Again, beautiful!

With commercially produced and manufactured candles, it's anybody's guess if that was intentional or not. I would say, most likely not, but most of those type of candles are machine made in china and imported in. I'd say the machine probably had a glitch...

I only have 2 books that I haven't really looked into or read yet so have no idea if they are helpful or not, but it's just the Everything series on marketing and then the Marketing for Dummies book. I'm sure there are better ones out there, I just don't have them or know what they are. Good luck...

Steve, I used to do that before I started to Masterbatch. Now that I masterbatch, my 5 gallon bucket won't fit in the microwave, however, except for January and February, my soap mixture stays in a constant slushy state that I can stir and just scoop out. In these colder months it does get solid, and I then weigh my batches out and stick it in the microwave for a minute or 2 to get it back to slushy, but not hot. Just melted enough to bring it to room temp...

YAY another mixer! I've said it many times, and it's because it's true, I LOVE mixing scents. I've only been doing it for about a year and a half or so, but I really do love it. Another great idea. That scent combo sounds like it would be a pretty good one.

NICE - your soaps are always so pretty!!

J-50 is an Astrolite/Honeywell wax that was bought out by IGI several years ago. The benefit for me, is it is a true one pour container wax, adhesion is good, almost every scent I have tried has thrown well, and it's very easy to work with and there are no additional additives needed (unless you would like to use them (which I do), but they are not necessary as they already have additives). The con to this wax is they do tend to mushroom the wick and can cause soot issues. I have my wicking down pat and have very little to no visible soot and very little mushrooming to my wicks. .

Yes, they do. Or at least they did about 8 years ago, I would assume they still do.

Good luck to everyone. I need to work on business resolutions. I guess my main one would be to be more organized and to keep an accurate inventory count. Or I should say better track of my inventory. When I sit down and actually work on it, it's always accurate, but I shouldn't have to "work" to find the correct numbers, I should be able to pull it up at a glance. So yeah, just way more organized...

That's really odd for a Palm wax to behave like that. Because it's so high is stearic content, which can also be used as a mold release, they will usually just slide right out of the molds. Were the molds dented or scratched at all? That is the only think I can think of why something like that would happen. Even in molds that are not seasoned for me, any candle I make with palm slides right out (as long as it's a pillar wax that is - are you sure you used pillar palm and not container??)

If you have Costco, it's just like Sam's, different name brands, same premise, comparable pricing.

This is like an additional 15% I think. I think regular club prices are $12 or $13 a gallon or something like that.

I use whatever type you get at Sam's Club because my sister gives me her manager's discount and gets it for me. (I think I pay like $9 or $10 a gallon with her discount)

Hi Maya!! I was thinking a lemongrass mix too. Maybe a lemongrass with a bit of lavender. (again, lavender is one that gives me a headache so I'd have to not use too much of it) And CB - I love mixing too, and I do love mixing mint. I will definitely be remaking my Enchanted Mint mix again. It's a green apple with peppermint and a slight touch of orchard in it. OMG it smells so good. One of my better mixes if I do say so myself. LOL I will be doing a lot of mixing this spring. Trying to get rid of some of the scents I don't really like or that don't sell well, but I still have significant stock with. Mixing is a great way to get rid of "dud" scents, and create something new and fabulous. And it's fun.

I love Peak's Rose Bouquet - but tried it years ago, and it moved so quick I've been afraid to try it again. I soap at a 33% so it would probably move a bit fast for me, but that might actually bode well for a particular soap I have in mind. A ginger lime soap sounds good, and the NG scents that have been recommended sound good and I have to put in an order from them sometime soon as well. I do have misbehavin' and have soaped it. I love that scent, and love it in soap. I should make another one. Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I should probably do some florals, but most of the time they make me sick, and/or give me migraines, so I try to avoid them - not all, there are a few I can tolerate, but mostly not, so I don't have a lot of them in my line-up.

If that's the case wax should come WAY down now that oil is only roughly $56 a barrel as opposed to the $120 it was. I think it also has to do with as TallTayl said, supply and demand. Soy farmers have had good crops for the last several years and the marketing for soy (regardless of the claims) has been good so more people are using soy. It's hard to find people (like me) who use strictly paraffin (with some palm candles thrown in here and there).

Thank you! I was pleased with the second batch (the cut pictures). The first batch you could not see the swirls at all.

So, now that Christmas is over it's time to start focusing on Valentines day and spring type soaps. I can't do much today, but I'm going to start soaping (or get ready to start) tomorrow and have a couple ideas for my Valentine's Day soaps. Instead of trying to figure out how to do a dress for the "her's" portion of my his and her's soaps, I will just make a pink tuxedo soap to go with my black one. (Not sure why I never thought of that, but my friend was so impressed with my tuxedo soap that she did a pair like that and they were just the CUTEST - so I'm gonna do that too) Also, since I have both rose embed molds and heart embed molds I'm going to do something with hearts and roses for a V-day soap. As for spring - sigh - I have no clue... What is your motivation, and what will you all be making for the upcoming V-day and spring season?

I finally got the pictures out of my phone and onto my computer. They did look better in person, and hubs aunt said they were a "big hit" so I guess they were okay. Anyway, here they are. Because they are phone pics, they are not very good. (not that they would be good if I used a camera, but you know! LOL)