bunkie68

I'm just making my first few batches of tarts, and right now I'm using Cargill NatureWax V-1 votive blend. I LOVE that it pops right out of the tart burner when it's cooled, and I like that it's a blend so that I don't have to worry about extra additives. But I thought I'd see what others were using, what kind of throw it has, how well you like it, what additives (if any) you use. Thanks for any thoughts!

Wow! That's a great idea, and it looks like it's burned beautifully for you!

What bases have you tried and loved (or hated)? Does it require a preservative, or do you just mix base and fragrance and bottle it? Thanks for any thoughts!

Stella, thanks for the suggestions! I'll try a cooler pour next time and see if that helps. And thanks for finding the silver lining in my bubbly tarts. Maybe I could market them that way, like I planned on the bubbles....

I made my first batch of tarts today - just eight of them (about 2 oz. each), since I was trying it out. I used NatureWax V-1 votive blend, and about 1 oz. of Red Velvet Cake FO from Bitter Creek South. On cold sniff, they smell great! But they've got bubbles on top. I heated the wax to about 175 degrees, added color and fragrance, stirred for a couple of minutes (what I thought was enough time to let it blend all together), and poured at about 165 degrees. I've also had problems with bubbles when making votives with this same wax. Any thoughts as to what might be causing it? Other than the bubbles, I think the tarts turned out pretty well, and I'm going to try one out tomorrow to see what the hot throw is like.

They all look great, but I love the Mardi Gras. If I saw that for sale, I'd buy a boatload of it!

I like the first one! Heck, I think they all look good (I really like the blue on the second one), but I don't think the first one is ugly at all.

Wow, that is beautiful. 25 layers?! I don't think I even realized you could do that. (I have a lot to learn!)

Oh, those are gorgeous! Makes me want to go try my first batch right this minute, seeing how well yours turned out. (Not like I expect my first batch to look anything like that, it just makes me very enthusiastic at the prospect of getting started!)

I'm thinking (thinking, mind you - still experimenting with recipes and FOs and candles and whatnot, not even ready to set up a website, much less a storefront) of someday trying to get a business going that centers around candles/B&B. One of my girlfriends makes soaps and has said she'd be willing to do private labeling for me, should I get that far. My question is this: Private labeling or no, how does one find people/companies to buy products from wholesale? What kind of arrangements need to be made for you to buy products wholesale and then offer them for retail sale? This is purely academic for me at this point, but might hopefully be useful in the future. Thanks for any thoughts!

Has anyone ever ordered from here? I found a link on another board I frequent. It looks like her stuff is geared more toward cosmetics than B&B, but I saw some things that could be handy. So I thought I'd ask!

Donna, it didn't even occur to me to mention that - I'm doing candles and B&B. Y'all please keep the suggestions coming if you got 'em. I've got a knowledgeable volunteer who'll test any chocolate scents I make, so I want to get some chocolate goodies going and let her try them out after I've tried them.

Where could I find good chocolate FO's? I'm not looking for one particular kind, necessarily, so if you've got a favorite, feel free to recommend it. Thanks!

I'm getting some FBB from the co-op order, and I'm excited about trying my hand at scrubs. When do I need to use a preservative, and how do I figure out which one to use?

I'm from Texas, what do I know from making snowballs? I've never been that good at making things anywhere close to spherical, and I wouldn't trust myself to make them look pretty. I may have to go find myself a meatballer.

Thanks for the thoughts, y'all! I had been thinking of the silicone muffin pans - I've got one with heart-shaped cavities and thought it might be cute. asheebeans, about how big is the meatballer, and do you just scoop the bombs out and then set them out on something to dry? I'd be afraid mine would fall apart and end up being fizzy bath powder. And where would you find different-shaped molds for bath bombs? I've looked, but have only found rounds ones so far. Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong places.

Lavender, rosemary and mint is a lovely combination, too.

Thanks, y'all! I'll check them both out. I keep hoping I can find a good place to buy locally (in Dallas/Fort Worth, you'd think there'd be someplace I could do that), but so far I haven't.

I'm going to make firegirl's Da Bomb bath bombs, and I'm trying to order the things I need: kaolin, citric acid, SLSa, cocoa/shea butter. It seems like every place I look has one or two or even three of these things, but not all of them. Does anyone know of a site that sells them all? It would be nice to only have to pay shipping once. Thanks!

Oooh, gorgeous. Where do you find molds to make them that size?

I usually use liquid, occasionally blocks or chips.

That looks interesting! I'll be curious to see if it holds up.

Good to know! I've got some plastic mini loaf pans that should work - not sure what kind of plastic, but they go in the oven with no problem.

Oh my goodness, that's beautiful!

Can I use a loaf pan or mini loaf pan as a soap mold? It seems like it would be pretty easy to line with freezer paper and pour into.