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Brad Ford

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Posts posted by Brad Ford

    PSA - test all your fragrances for a while

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    Just to clarify...

     

    I can't say for certain this effects ALL fragrance manufacturers - but it is fair to assume several will be.  Additionally, the Dec 1st date is just one that I have knowledge from one FO supplier.  This date may not represent all manufacturers.  It is also possible - and likely - you won't have any issues.  I posted this just to let everyone know what happened and that it MAY (not guaranteed to be) a problem.  Don't make any drastic decisions - that is the point of this post - test to be sure...it might be fine.

     

    • Like 5

    PSA - test all your fragrances for a while

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    The statements I have personally seen, indicate any shipment after Dec.1 2017 might be reformulated.  Some of the fragrance companies were sneaky, they did not notify their customers of this problem until they were shipping reformulated fragrances.   they did not offer samples of the new Fo's either...some of my customers had no choice but to accept "new fragrance" oils and hope it works out.

    PSA - test all your fragrances for a while

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    This is a Public Service Announcement...

     

    BASF/Germany  had a fire in October of this year - this affects anyone using fragrance.  As a result of this fire, fragrance companies have lost a key raw material in the manufacturing FO's.  I have seen letters to my customers from fragrance companies basically stating they have to reformulate everything to try to compensate for the loss of a key material.  They are making no guarantees that it will be the same or perform the same.  Additionally, there have been a few instances recently where the fragrance has caused some real problems.  Test everything, every time for at least the next 6 months.

     

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basf-forcemajeure-aroma/basf-declares-force-majeure-for-certain-aroma-ingredients-idUSKBN1D21AB

    • Like 4

    Pillar Candle technique

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    33 minutes ago, Jcandleattic said:

    There used to be some similar to this in the techniques or tutorial section. Let me look and I'll see if I can find them. 

    @Scented is our resident expert on pillar techniques like this. 

    There is a tutorial on a marbled technique, but it's similar but not exactly like this. 

    Thank you for your help...I will check out that section.  I will take any help I can get!

     

    Brad

    Ceresine

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    Ceresine wax:  fully refined paraffin wax is often used in its place or is considered the same thing by another name.  Ceresine wax is most often used in cosmetic and personal care products.  There is no advantage/benefit to using it in a candle vs Paraffin.

    • Like 1

    Vybar and Soy?

    in Vegetable Wax & Beeswax Candle Making

    Posted · Edited by Brad Ford

    I cannot speak to VyBar - but our Polyboost polymer (virtually identical) - has been used by our customers with soy blends that have particularly difficult fragrances (i.e. bleed).  Seems to work just fine.  Since Polyboost is a wax crystal modifier - there should be not a problem using it in an all Veggie product.  However, please note that it is likely it will not act in the same way as candles made with paraffin wax(es),  I don't it would be any different using Vybar.  HTH...

    • Like 1

    WTH?!!! ANTS!!

    in Vegetable Wax & Beeswax Candle Making

    Posted

    I am sorry for your inconvenience.  I don't have an explanation for you on this.

     

     We have never had a problem with ants, bugs, critters etc.  I have left test candles outside - in the rain even - for several weeks and never seen any interest from any bugs.  

     

     Was the shipping material damaged or have any  holes? What else was shipped with the wax - any fragrance perhaps? If this came via UPS - perhaps there was something in the truck that was of interest to insects.  

     

    If the vegetable components were bad/rancid, you would know it.  There would be a distinct oder.  We have never had a batch of 3022 go "bad".  If you know the batch number of this wax, I would be happy to trace it to see if anyone else using the batch reported any issues.

    Clarus 3020 and 3022 users

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    Steve,

     

    No problem!  i know the numbers get confusing and a lot of time has passed since we discussed that product.  I have been working on other things for quite a long time and have neglected to check back here in a while.

     

    Glad the wax is working well for you.  We continue to break sales records with 3022 - by far our most popular candle product.  If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

     

    Regards,

    Brad

    Organic or Non-GMO soy wax

    in Vegetable Wax & Beeswax Candle Making

    Posted

    This is one of those things that might be "technically true". But in reality it's lying by omission.

    I have had that question come up before with customers regarding our blends. My cursory research (don't take my word for it) revealed the following quote:

    There is really no such thing as GMO free soy oil/hydrogenated soy in the US. There are claims that there is a little bit of GMO free material grown for baby formula, be even this is questionable. When it comes to soy for both human consumption and industrial applications, the supply chain consists of GMO material. Europe and Asia are in this basket as well./I] I can't remember where I found it - but I felt it was good enough to pass along.

    Second and perhaps more important is the GMO test itself. The test looks for genetically modified proteins. Since there are no proteins in the oil, there isn't any GMO material that would show up. The test identifies GMO proteins found in the soy meal. So, any soy wax could "pass the test" for GMO - There is no test designed for soybean oil/wax. So as stated before, paraffin waxes will also pass the GMO test - but is that meaningful?

    I have told many customers the same thing - there are NO label claim restrictions on candles - a person can claim whatever they chose. I believe most people do the right thing - you need to decide what to do and be able to sleep at night.

    Hope that helps...

    Average batch size - SURVEY

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    I have asked this question before - last year sometime, but I can't seem to find the old posts. So please indulge my survey one more time...

    I am doing some research on candle trends - some of the information that would be helpful to me would be to know more about the typical batch size of candle makers. I am evaluating the feasibility of different packaging sizes to better line up with typical usage.

    If you are willing to share, I am interested in the following:

    1. Average batch size

    2. Average number of fragrances on hand at any one time

    3. What is your typical fragrance oil purchase quantity - per oil?

    4. What is your typical order quantity for wax?

    5. What is your typical order quantity for glass?

    6. How long to do you keep wax (assuming you don't change) before you no longer use it?

    7. What do you consider the shelf life of fragrance oil?

    8. Is the shelf life of FO a factor in determining the quantity of oil you purchase?

    thank you in advance for your cooperation...I am curious to see how similar/or not the results turn out to be.

    Brad

    Clarus?

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    Go to the Clarus web site www.clarussp.com/request-a-sample.phpnd click on request a sample. You can contact a rep and see about price per case. I believe you would find today's 3022 to be much better than the old blend for Gl. I heat to 190 degrees and then add color/fo blend two minutes and pour into clean warmed jars at 185 degrees and place into a covered box for slow cooling to reduce shrinkage. Talk to Melanie and ask about a price quote per case of wax. Great folks.

    This is the wax I use: high veggie blend container wax CSB Stasis 3022 † HTH

    Steve

    What Steve said!

    Brad

    Clarus?

    in General Candle Making Discussions

    Posted

    Happy New Year!

    Since we don't have anyone currently distributing 3022 (70/30) - I wanted to make sure interested parties knew it is still available and where to get it. To be clear, we have no plans to discontinue this product - 2011 was our best year ever for 3022.

    We inventory 3022 in our Dallas, TX warehouse. We can ship anything from 60+ pounds (1 case is approx 62 lbs). We price by the pound - case(s) are weighed then invoiced plus shipping. For case type quantities - price is $1.50 per pound + shipping. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

    Brad

    Clarus Wax

    Who makes a true All Natural Candle?

    in Vegetable Wax & Beeswax Candle Making

    Posted

    GW 402 is certified Kosher. I'm going to order some and see how it works. I don't think things have to be natural to be kosher, but they do need to be reasonably pure and it makes me wonder why no other wax was certified this way.

    Most of all the facilities in North America that would offer products for candle use are certified Kosher. If a product manufactured has a chance of ending up in any type of edible product, most all manufacturers will have their plants certified as Kosher. Most all food/ingredient companies require the wax products to be Kosher. This includes paraffin and micro-crystalline waxes as well...

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