sugarysweet95

Thanks nat, that's very helpful.

The thing i'm most concerned about though, is where to go from here.

As i'm only just beginning the business side of things, i've been trying out lots of FOs, to see how much i like them. I hope that i'll start to get lots of orders and later need larger amounts of FO. So i really need a long term solution and it's very uncertain what the future is for shipping FOs from the US. This means i'm not really sure what to do now - should i carry on testing my scents in the hopes that the suppliers that currently do ship USPS will continue, or do i just give up now and find another place to get my scents from?

Not sure if this will help or ot, but these are the diameter guides for LX wicks

LX8 - up to 50mm

LX10 - up to 55mm

LX12 - up to 60mm

LX14 - up to 65mm

LX16 - up to 70mm

LX18 - up to 75mm

LX20 - up to 80mm

LX21 - up to 85mm

LX22 - up to 85mm

LX24 - up to 85mm

LX26 - up to 90mm

LX28 - up to 90mm

LX30 - up to 90mm

Normally 2 to 3 days, but then i usually place my order in the evening, so not sure if they would be quicker otherwise!!!!

I like their wax and they do a 25kg bag for just over £40. As it's free delivery over about £15 you can save a lot. They also do 10% off if order over 100, so a few bits and bobs and two 25kg bags, and you save 10%!!

Hi everyone. There's been loads of stuff on here about the recent changes a lot of suppliers are making to shipping FOs. I've read the USPS regulations but i'm not sure if they apply just to air mail, or to surface mail as well.

I live in the UK and UPS shipping is just too expensive. I know the rules for air mail international is that they have to be over 200F. But is it the same for shipping via surface mail? Can FOs with flash points over 141 but under 200 be shipped via surface mail?

If they can still be, that would solve quite a few of my problems, so does anyone know?

Thanks

Does anyone know what the rules are for surface mail?

Could FOs between 141 and 200 F be shipped internationally via surface mail?

I've been sent samples via surface mail with these flash points, but not sure if that was a mistake on the suppliers part or if it is allowed.

My understanding is also that even if the flashpoint is higher than 200F, you are still not allowed to ship internationally via USPS, but can ship within the US via surface mail. THAT is why I am so concerned.

According to the US regulations FOs over 200 F can be shipped internationally. I know it makes the whole thing more complicated, but some suppliers have managed it (Thanks FOH for posting!) so i reckon if they want our business they should meet our needs!!!

The customer is always right!!! LOL!!!!

Who knows, maybe I should start up a fragrance oil business - I know my oils are top notch and comparable in price to those in the USA!

Hehe - maybe you should? I've been worrying about getting hold of my FOs, but completely hadn't realised that even buying good FOs in this country may go up as most of thier oils are from the US too. That creates lots of problems for me, and i'm only just starting out!!! I can scarcely imagine what it must be like for people who've devoted their business to this!!!

As to FOH - I think they've always had rules in place as to what FOs can / can't be shipped. I know it's a smaller company, but if suppliers want to keep a lot of their customers, i believe they should try to look into altering their website etc to allow USPS. It's amazing what a difference in cost it makes!!!

Yeah, i came across this trouble last night, it's a bit of a nightmare. I've got all these scent samples from US suppliers which i was gonna test and see about buyin more of, but i can't now!! And after being used to US prices and the massive range of scents available, not to mention their complexity - i'm just not at all sure i can switch back to UK oils.

Not all the sites have cancelled USPS for FOs yet, but i'm wandering if they will soon enough.

So any ideas on what UK people are doing would be great!!!!

I think peaks has stopped shipping FOs via USPS too, at least they told me they had to the UK. Is solas not using USPS for FOs now too? That's another supplier i wanted to try.

It's sad cause here in the UK we just don't have the same range of FOs that you guys have. However it's just not economically viable shipping a few FOs to the UK via UPS

Does anyone know any other suppliers that have stopped shipping via UPS?

Thanks

This is the cheapes place i've found to get stearin

http://www.craftwiseuk.com/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?SS=stearin&PR=-1&TB=A&SHOP=

I advocate this shop a lot, but i just find it very cheap for some things, like wax and additives (and i've been trying some of their mould making stuff as well, trying to make my own rubber moulds!)

What size jars are the cd12 and cd18 for? I generally go by the diameter the candle will be to choose my wick, see how it works and then go up or down as appropriate.

yes thats the one sugarysweet' date=' I was very disappointed. Mine has a round mould, paraffin and gel wax, few colours, couple of nasty smelling fo's and thats it oh and apparently stearin [/quote']

Well your's is better than mine then - lol!!!!!!

just found out hobbycraft do have stearic' date=' i never spotted it.

dunno how much it is, but will have to wait till thurs now. will do it then[/quote']

Is this the big chain craft shop hobby craft with the blue and yellow writing? My local one doesn't have any candle making stuff at all, well a few boxed kits from house of crafts and thats it!!!

Hmmm, maybe i'm just too nice, but i'd give her a bit of info. I'd prob tell her aout one or two suppliers, the big ones like Peaks or BCN or whatever. I'd also give her a little advice about making candles, but not too much.

I suppose i think it's a bit mean to not tell her anything, she could be genuine, but i wouldn't give her a lot of info, as that would take too long and, as many people have said, the research you have to do for yourself.

So i'd be brief but a little helpful, so if she was genuine she would know where to start!!!!

Just order all your supplies at once and it's always cheaper UPS anyway.

I think i'm more just annoyed as to how it's all happened so suddenly. A week last saturday i was quoted, on the on line help, about $24 US to ship 30 sample FOs to the UK, surface mail. I therefore spent ages choosing my FOs and put my order in a few days later, using my credit card.

Last night i got an email saying they no longer ship USPS so it would be $80+ to ship via UPS. I immediately emailed back saying to cancel my order - i'm not paying $80 just to ship some FOs!!! As yet i still haven't heard back from them about cancelling my order - so for all i know they may just put the order through anyway at $60 more for postage!!!!

I'm also very much concerned on whether the other suppliers will follow suit and ban USPS for shipping FOs. In the UK it is just not viable to ship via UPS unless you want an awful awful lot of stuff (and can also afford to pay all the inport duty you are subsequently charged). Therefore, if other suppliers follow suit, i won't be able to afford to order any of there FOs in future. This means that there isn't any point in me doing thorough testing with their oils i have got, as i won't be able to afford them again.

This uncertaincy is very annoying and i know the suppliers have to follow the law, i would expect nothing else, but as to shipping FOs that are legally allowed to be shipped? This I believe should continue, as the suppliers should meet the demands of their customers, and many many people will be affected by this.

So i suppose i just want to know what the other suppliers stance on this one is!

While I certainly hope that other suppliers are able to be flexible enough to still ship FOs via USPS that are SAFE to ship, I hope they don't decide to blatantly break the law just because we want them to. Not only would this open them up to insane fees and legal problems, it also could ultimately make it so they decide to change the regulations, making it even stricter than they already are. They could simply say no, regardless of the flash point. If you can't obey the rules when they were flexible, then we won't let you ship at all. Trust me, it could be much worse. I can see why BCN has simply said no FOs at all via USPS. Trying to set up the shopping cart to know which oils can or cannot be shipped USPS, well, I'm not even sure it would be possible. And trying to tell us to be aware when we're ordering (to only choose oils with flash points over 201 degrees if we want to ship USPS), well, as ideal as that may be, I can guarantee someone will screw it up, intentionally or not.

For someone small, like me, helping my customers out with the shipping regulations on this, well, it's easy. For someone the size of BCN, it's got to be a nightmare. They're not doing this to torture us, they're doing this so they can legally stay in business. Yeah, it sucks, big time, but if we're going to get angry with anyone, it should be the Post Office and the Government. BCN is just following the regulations that have been laid out. The other companies that are illegally shipping FOs via USPS (and it's not all FOs...it's possible that some companies may switch to carrying only FOs with 201+ Flash Points), well, they do so at their own risk, and also risk having the regulations getting even stricter if the govt decides to crack down on it.

Sorry I'm getting upset. Yes, the new regulations suck, but there are reasons for them (everything got stricter after 9/11... if you think this is bad, try the airport!). Hoping that FO companies ignore them so they'll still ship you your FOs via USPS, well, I won't say it, cuz it's not nice. Hoping they'll do something illegal, it's just not smart.

(Please note, all of this was intended in the nicest way possible. As a supplier, although not of FOs, but a very frequent buyer of FOs, this affects me as well. I don't like it, but I also know the importance of following the regulations that have been set in place for us. I just hated to see suppliers getting bashed for following the law. I was not attacking or chastising anyone, so please do not take anything I have said in that context.)

Yes of course i understand the companies must obey the laws! But i read that flashpoints over 141 F can be shippied internally via USPS and over 200 F abroad. I don't see why, maybe given time to sort it all out, a website can't be able to tell the difference. At indiana candle supply, they have a seperate group stated as ground shipping only and i tried to use other methods of shipping (as a test) and it just wouldn't work - so it's obviously possible to do. So i think, if the suppliers are really interested in keeping customers, they could look into this at least.

It does get more complicated with shipping FOs abroad, as they have to be over 200 F, but as most sites require international orders (at least out of N. America) to be done seperately anyway, this could be sorted out as well.

The flash points can easily be put on the label (most already are anyway) and i don't think it would be too hard for staff to just quickly check the flash point of the FOs when the item is packed anyway, as a final precaution!!!!

I suppose i just feel that a blanket ban on all shipping of FOs via USPS is a bit steep and i hope that the other suppliers still stick with using USPS and of course still stick with the law!!!

Hmmm, this is very worrying. Luckily i haven't actually tried any BCN or peak oils yet. I'm worried though that other suppliers may no longer use USPS now. In the UK FOs are much more expensive and we simply don't have the same range or complexity of fragrances. Shipping a few bottles of FO via anything other than USPS is just ridiculously expensive!!!

At least i'm just starting on selling my candles properly, so i'll be able to adjust. It must be really difficult for those of you already set up!

So lets hope other suppliers don't stop shipping FOs via usps!!!!

Hi, i reallly hope someone can help, i've been wandering this for ages and not quite found the answer i want.

Basically how long do FOs last in bottle, do they have like a best before date. I've got soooo many FOs now, mainly just sample ones, but am wandering if i should get on and use them up, or if i can keep them in storage for a while. I don't want to have them going off on me or anything, so whats the general consensus?

Thanks in advance

Thanks all for getting back to me so quick. I think I'm just going to give it a try what do I have to lose? Now I have to order some fresh FO cause the ones I found are really rank smelling. I'll let you all know how it comes out. And again Thanks!

Kali

Sorry to go slightly of topic, but do FOs (in bottles, not wax / soap etc) go off then? And if so, how long on average do they last? I've got loads of FOs, but none very old, just wandering how long i've got to use them up!!

I don't think there's much chance of you getting cancer from making candles. Though i do think you have to be very careful when you make candles, soap etc. FOs are basically full of chemicals so I wouldn't make a habit of breathing it all in.

Letting wax get too hot can cause lots of fumes so it's very important to keep your wax at the right temp.

Like what's been said, lots of ventilation if possible, but just being careful when pouring FO etc is the best way, try not to spill any and keep the bottle at a bit of a distance away. Also when you add FO to wax too hot it can cause the FO to evaporate very quickly and that can be very fumey!!!

So just be careful, have good ventilation and everything will be fine!!!

Is J223 Soy wax? If so, i'm not sure on if it has a best before date or not - i'm not brave enough to attempt soy. Of it's paraffin, it will be fine to use, even to sell, it does not go off. Though it might have got a bit dusty and damp (depending on how it was stored) so i'd just be a lil more careful when pouring in case any bits have got in when it was stored. A tea strainer could get that out, or just pour very slowly and you'll find bits stay at the bottom!

Hope that helps

Search this board and the fragrance board - there's been loads of stuff on companies in the UK recently!!!!!!!

There's loads more info in the past posts than i can fit on here, so would be easier just to have a look.

Thanks for the help. I chose the mac apple and put my order in today. I'm very worried that the sale bit won't come out, as so far not got a full invoice. I've never ordered from them before so not sure how it all works (especially as i'm in the UK!!!!)

Thanks, i'll give that a try!!! Sometimes it's nice when a place doesn't have as much of a range!!! Cheaper too!!!! LOL!!!!

Hi people

Hoping some one can help me. I'm placing an order with bitter creek and i'm after a fresh fruity apple scent. I noticed they had several, so was wandering which people think is the best?

Thanks