Jcandleattic

I do the same as TallTayl when I HP soap. I don't wait for the entire batch to become translucent/vaseline stage, otherwise it is way too lumpy, rustic, and dry looking. (and sometimes won't stick together because it's over-cooked) As long as you had trace before starting to cook it, it will be soap without separation. As stated, once it starts climbing or gets to the vaseline stage on the edges I turn off the heat, stir in all of my after cook goodies, mold, cover and wait for the next day to cut. Most of the time you can't tell the difference in look from my CP or HP soaps, and I do cure my HP soaps for the same amount of time as my CP soaps. They just seem to be more solid and have more "umpf" to them, so to speak. Good luck...

You know how when you unmold the candle from a mold, the bottom of the mold is the top of the candle? I would do the opposite. And the opening of the mold where you pour in, that would be the top of the candle. Does that make sense? Then only pour to right below the wood wick. It would just be the opposite of what you normally would consider the top of a pillar candle after taking it out of the mold. So you tape the wick hole on the bottom of the mold - that will actually be the bottom of the candle. pour some wax in and hold the wick in there until it's solid but not shrunk. Pour a couple more layers still holding the wick in the same manner (it's really like pouring a layered candle, you are just holding the wick so it doesn't move since there is no way to anchor the wood wick - so in this case I would short wick it by 1/4 to 1/2 inch since you won't have a tab or anything stopping the wick from consuming the entire candle all the way down) and once you have a few layer poured and the wick is secured pour the rest of the candle. I like simple (because I'm lazy) and going through the extra effort of creating a wick hole in an already poured candle is too much work for me. LOL

I've actually only ever had one boss that didn't like me. We still both work in the same company, but I high-tailed it out of that department so fast her head spun. LOL j/k she was as glad to see me go as I was to leave, and she actually helped facilitate the move.

I think for me, if I were to do this, I would tape up the hole in the mold, pour a tiny bit and hold the wick in that until solid (but not cool enough to pull from the sides) do that a couple of times, (Kind of like you would any layered pillar, but holding the wick steady for the first couple layered pours) and then pour the rest, making what would normally be the top of the candle the bottom. That way the wick is in there, secure and straight, and you don't have to worry about creating a wick hole for your wood wick. The top may be a bit bumpy this way, but that's easily remedied with a heat gun. However you do it, good luck. The pillar looks good.

It's probably been taken down from YouTube as the original post was from 2012. If it was as bad as it sounds from the replies, it probably got reported to YouTube several times.

Palm Kernal oil (either in flake form or solid) is the closest in characteristic as CO. It does have a higher melt point, and different SAP value but as far as properties it's very similar. I have about 150lbs at home. If you would like me to send you a lb or 2, let me know. It's one of my the oils I use in my main recipe.

Haunted Pine Forest. I like that. I don't like Dark Forest for this. Makes it seem more for a place for dark magic (the real kind) than whimsical Halloween fun. KWIM?

Or keep the raven graphic but get rid of the name raven in it.

Very pretty!

I like them all - I like Bewitching Pumpkin Pie (or The witches pumpkin pie) For the Pine I would say something the Pine graveyard or graveyard in the pine forest or something like that - maybe get rid of the raven...

LOL My boss lurves me.

I've had mine for about 2 years now and let me tell you, it has been a God send. I love it. It's where I write all of the scent blends I want to try. Some have been really good. Others, not so much. LOL but at least it's there and I can notate if it's a keeper or not. Usually about once a week I will transfer everything to my spreadsheet with columns to keep everything organized, but the notebook itself? Always with me in one capacity or another. Also if I happen to be in a business meeting or a business lunch and I think of something I use the notepad app on my phone and pretend to be taking notes about the meeting. LOL

What's in yours and do you carry yours with you? I have learned to carry mine with me everywhere I go. I used to only have it with me when I was at my computer but have learned that you never know when inspiration will hit and sometimes having the notebook is easier to carry around than writing on your arms, or sticky notes or just "trying to remember" and then transferring. For instance, just today I have already filled in 2 pages of ideas I want to work around. Sometimes it's just names of scents, or scent blends, other times it's a full out plan of making something from start to finish including recipe, additives, type of swirls all planned out to end result. What's in your inspirational notebook?

I just saw a YouTube video with Sarah Milroy - she used hemp oil in a soap in this video. The oil itself was this gorgeous green color. I wonder if it retains any of that color like OO sometimes will? I wouldn't think much if any, but don't know. I couldn't tell in her soap because she used TD for the white portion and green for the swirl portion and it was mainly green.

Oh that's a good burn on a square pillar!! Love it. Thanks for posting your results

for me, I clicked on it and it downloaded the zip file and I was able to see all the burning candle pics

Ohhh I like it. I tried doing an M&P layer in CP soap before. Yeah, it was a failure. LMAO Then I went to a friends house and we did one together and it was much better, but still not as pretty as yours!! Love it.

LMAO Isn't it the truth though?? Every board everywhere will have people using different wicks for the exact same wax/jar/scent load combo. All with opposing why's and why not's. ... For example - I've heard tons of people say they won't use zinc wicks in the softer wicks because of sooting and mushroom issues. Those are the wicks I use in my soft wax and I get no or very minimal sooting, and every now and then small mushrooms. Same wax. Same jar. Same scent load as others'. My results - different... Go figure...

I haven't ventured into melts other than to pour off excess wax from votive making or pillar making. But I love them just for me, and when at shows, I will sometimes add them to a purchase for people as little samples.

LOL I always write and speak like that - I tell my everyone "Listen to what I MEAN, not what I SAY" LOL

You know I will! I have a half vision of what I want to do for it. I need to write it down before I lose it!

I've never used eco's. maybe they go down and then out first? IDK. Weird...

It's hard to tell how deep the eco 14 is, but it looks like it's good from here. (but again, hard to tell from the pic) If you say it's too deep I believe ya, which brings me to say I like how the CD 12 looks better than the rest.

Thank you everyone. I need to redo this one in a bigger mold now.

Ohhh Faerie Frost is what I would name it. That give me an idea for a soap.