Tizimarezie

Ah, the true sign of a successful candle maker!

Strudel & Spice from CandleScience is my absolute favorite FO! I have a bottle of Amish Harvest from Peaks was sent to me as a sample. Just a sniff from the bottle tells me that it's a wee bit muskier than Strudel & Spice. But used in wax, that might not be the case. I'm working with some samples this week so I'll do that one, too. Will come back here and post.

If you find out, please post. I'd like to know, also. I've seen the beads that you can buy, color and scent. But I want to know how to make just the cute little beads themselves. TIA :-)

LOL!! I agree! And I need more closet space. I've got over 25 scent samples on the way and wondering where I'm going to put them. But who's complaining?!!? I love the way my candle closet smells!

BCN's Leather smells like real leather and has a great hot throw. I made a travel tin for my sister who raises, trains and shows horses...scented it with leather and called it "Boots n Saddles". She loves it!

I love CandleScience! They're the only supplier I've found that carries Strudel & Spice FO...and my entire family loves that scent. It would be awesome if they'd carry the CD wicks, too! Thanks for e-mailing them. :highfive:

Alrighty...never mind. I did some research online and found my answer. Thanks, anyway.

I can't find any info on this and not sure if I'm posting this question in the right area, either..... When purchasing an electric candle/tart warmer, what is a safe wattage to use with soy wax wickless candles and tarts? Someone I know is selling 24 watt. Is that safe? TIA

To me, a "hot jar" is when it's too hot to the touch, too hot to pick up. In that case, wick down. While climate temps have a lot to do with a candle's appearance (i.e. frosting, sink holes...), I've never heard of Summer vs Winter wicking. Outdoor temps don't have anything to do with how hot or cold a candle burns. HTH

Strudle & Spice and Cranberry Marmalade (both from Candle Science) have awesome hot and cold throw.

I'm thinking of using Mal's but still debating. In order to add the "real time shipping", did you upgrade to Mal's premium cart or are you using Mal's free shopping cart? TIA

There are times I get a pungent smell combined with the scent....other times I smell a 'buttery' smell as you mention. It drives me nuts because it's not a good smell and certainly takes away from what the scent should be. I was wondering if it could be the dye?

I would also like to know the answer to this because I, too, am planning on doing some detail (paint) work on some soy tarts. Anyone with help? TIA

The color I (and someone else) had problems with was aqua (Reddig-Glo color chip). I haven't used white so I don't know what to tell you on that. The only way you can find out whether it's your wick, FO or dye is by process of elimination (i.e. make candle without dye or different dye using same FO, same wick). HTH :smiley2:

Don't overestimate the innocence of dye chips. I've had wick-drowning issues with a particular color regardless of what wick I used.

Well, if you manage to attach the Excel file, won't we have to have THAT program in order to view it? Drat! I would love to see your chart but I don't have Excel on this computer. I use EZsoy with CD's and Eco's but I'm considering doing a blend so will probably need to consider other wicking.

With a wickless, when you get tired of the scent, you can put another wickless candle on the burner and change them as often as you want....but to change a tart, you have to wait until it has completely lost it's scent before you can toss it, clean the warmer and melt a fresh, new one. Or toss it and waste the scent. Also, it's been my experience that wickless candles have a better throw distance than a tart. I enjoy both wickless and tarts for the ease of not having to worry about a flame. I've never known a tart to only last a mere 48 hours. And I've got a wickless candle that I burn daily for the past two weeks. The scent is getting weaker but it still has a lot of fragrance life left. It might be true that wickless candles and tarts lose their scent before a wicked candle...but I don't think this should be taken to the point of exaggeration.

I'm absolutely turned off by having to register just to purchase something. I've seen the Zen cart and have considered using it just for the ease of setting up the storefront...but I won't use it simply because it has the "register/login" feature. What's the purpose of that, anyway?! There's no doubt in my mind that having to register would cause a potential customer to go elsewhere. When I go to a website, I go there to get the job done...to educate myself or to purchase something. I don't like all the you-have-to-do(or watch)-this-first garbage (flash animation intro pages, registering / membership)....because, frankly, no I don't.

Carole, If I may add....I've seen your site, I've seen your work and I can tell there's a lot of pride and care that goes into your candle making. My first thought is that if it's something you love, don't give it up. If you don't make as much as you did before, so be it....IF you don't really NEED that 60K figure. I have a lot of respect for some people here that truly are GOOD at their craft...YOU are one of them. So, my second thought is that I'd hate to see a good product become unavailable just because the profit potential wasn't quite as large as before. Also, I'll bet you COULD raise your prices a wee and you wouldn't lose business. I've only just begun to fall in love with making candles and selling them is something that I'll probably do on the side one day. I figured, at this point, I could make about $15/hour profit making 8oz candles....or I can make $65/hour doing the website work I've done for nine years now (and I'm so burned out!). I can't even BEGIN to consider diving face first into a candle business and I admire that you have. I hope you don't throw in the towel. Just my:2cents:

Well, I'm just having one hellofatime. I've poured in temps ranging from 130 to 175...added different portions of EZsoy and I still get cracks. Interestingly, the later it got in the day, the more cracked tarts I got. The first batch was poured at a temp of 130 and only ONE tart out of 7 cracked. Then the 7 tarts I poured right after stirring (so a temp of about 165) later into the evening ALL cracked. So, I'm wondering if "cooling too fast" has anything to do with it (as the later in the day it gets, the cooler the house temp gets). I wrote to Peaks (since that's where I purchased this wax) and hope that they can give a solution. I'm up to my neck in Strudel & Spice tarts....... ...(I think that's a good thang )

If you're burning too hot, the scent won't last very long. Also, as LindaColo suggested, you get a much better hot throw when you cure for a couple of days (at least). I use EZsoy, also.

Thanks, MaryAnnKacz! I think with that combination, I can heat to between 180-190 and add FO at 175....(unless my research is wrong for this kind of wax). But, any idea what temps she uses to pour???

I've read a lot about Ecosoya VB and how it cracks if not poured at proper temp. I've read that the proper temp can be anywhere from 130 to 175...and that's a HUGE variance. Can someone give me a more concise number? Also, to help with the cracking problem I'd like to add a little EZsoy. So, with that comes these questions: 1. How much EZsoy? (i.e. 1/4 EZsoy to 3/4 Ecosoya VB??) 2. What temps: to heat / add FO / pour? Wish I had done a wee bit more homework before purchasing this Ecosoya VB. I now have a 10 pound bag to use up and I certainly don't like the idea that it causes cracks. I don't want to use straight EZsoy for the tarts since they feel a bit greasy when handled and smear when placed into cello bags....but it appears I chose the wrong wax for tarts when purchasing the Ecosoya VB. Drat! Any help will be greatly appreciated! TIA

I could have swore that in another thread someone mentioned "Saran Wrap". I believe the cello candy bags from Michael's Crafts were also mentioned. I was considering trying the Saran Wrap (sounds fairly inexpensive!) but if anyone has any better ideas (rather than ordering expensive polypro(whatever) bags and paying for shipping and all the stuff that makes my pocket book riddled with moths.....please chime in. THANKS!