LauraInNY

Yay for spring! Love the colors!

Those look really nice! I couldn't pick a fave color. They would each match a room in my house and I like all 3 scents. I guess it's time to start learning how to make pillars. :rolleyes2

Your pies look great! :highfive: I've had all the stuff to make pies and just haven't had a chance to it out and do it. Here's some great inspiration...

Who would want to buy a blueberry pie with strawberry scent or apple scent? That's weird.

They look great! I'll bet both you and your daughter will be hooked. Happy testing.

Do you think I could add a little bit of FCO (say an ounce) to the spray I have mixed already (1 oz FO & 6oz cyclo) to see if it will mix? or would it be just a waste of more valuable ingredients?

I use either J50 or 4630A (Harmony Blend). Usually the J50 - I bought a couple of slabs of the harmony to use for containers but found it smoked too much for my liking. So to use it up, I'm using it in wickless and tarts, which is good because of the high fragrance capacity.

As for how long it will last, about 2+ weeks of constant use at 8 hours a day. That is using the Ball Platinum Elite Jars (pkg says they are 8oz jars, but I can only get about 5-1/2 oz in it).

They are votive holders and/or tealight holders. They are colored crackle glass (amber, purple, green, clear). They are very pretty and are on sale (got most for 59 cents). Has anyone tried pouring directly into these jars or used something similar?

Well I can tell that some of the FO has mixed, because the cyclo on top is cloudy and a tad yellow instead of clear. I will try using less FO and work my way up if needed.

I have done some looking around at how much the FCO goes for and it seems to be all over the place. Anywhere from $2-$8 for 4oz of the stuff. Why does it vary so much? Is it the same stuff or is there a range of quality? Has anyone purchased from Oils by Nature before? And if so, how is their product and service? The price seems pretty good $5/lb or $19/7lbs. Does this sound like a good price for FCO?

I have had one going for over 70 hours so far and it's still going strong. You can have them on all day if you want. I have turned mine on at 9:00 and turned it off at 4:30 with no problems. Let it cool before you move it though cuz it will get hot.

... maybe i'm making them wrong...i noticed someone mentioned about "baking the beads". Humm, i better do some more research! Anyone with tips??

The reference to baking the beads is for when you make aroma ornies. That is done after the beads are fragranced and colored. You put the beads in a metal cookie cutter and bake them on low heat for a couple of minutes. The beads melt together and you get an air freshener in the shape of an ornament (ornie). There are a few pics in the gallery.

I'm glad for any help Stephanie (I can't believe how fast you replied - you're awesome!!)

OMG that's it?? That's all the FO you need to put in the FCO? How strong does that make it? I've never used that little of FO for anything - not that I'm complaining, I'm just used to using sooo much more.

Thanks so much everyone for all the help. I really appreciate it.

Candleman - do I understand correctly? You can use FCO and FO alone or our can cut the cyclo down and use FCO with it and the FO. If so, what ratios would you use for the FCO and FO both alone and if using it to cut the cyclo?

Michi - when you use the poly20 with the witch hazel recipe does the FO still separate or does it stay mixed?

Erikatx - where do you get your sweetpea from? I was wondering if I might have different results with a different supplier.

Where do you get the fractionated coconut oil? Who's is best (IYHO)?

Where can I find solubilizer? You use it instead of cyclo? or in addition to? Is it more or less expensive than cyclo? Does it work in all FO's?

I'm bummin' cuz I got the sweetpea for my daughter (it's her fave scent).

If I were to use the recipe with witch hazel and distilled water, I would still have the FO separate right? Do you use poly 20 with this? Does it help with mixing FO or is it just a preservative?

Thanks for any help...

I just made some body sprays using FO and Cyclo at a 1/6 ratio. I made one batch with a Dream Angels Heavenly FO and another with Sweetpea FO. The dream angels came out perfectly. I had to shake quite a bit, but the FO mixed and stayed mixed. Scent is great! With the Sweetpea FO I mixed and have shaken and shaken and shaken. The FO keeps separating. I thought this wasn't supposed to happen with cyclo?!?!?

Does anybody have any suggestions? TIA

I always test a few drops of my colored wax on a white plate to see if I need to add more dye before I pour. Works great!

I haven't worked with red yet, though I have heard it's hard to get a true deep red.

you can use clear silicone glue. You can get it at the hardware store. It comes in either a tube for a glue gun or you can get a small household size in for about $3. You can pour about 15 minutes after you set the tabs. It won't come off once it's totally set. HTH

I sell candles and things in a craft store. When I applied for my Tax ID # I specifically asked about this and, like Island Girl said, you need to get the store's Resale ID# for your files. I think you need to do this every year to show they are still valid. This shows the gov the store is paying the tax on the item for you. The guy said that the store actually takes ownership of the product at the point of sale and pays the tax. This is specific for the state of NY but sounds like other states have the same practice.

If your customers were ordering from any home party plan (ie HI or PL or even tupperware) they would require full payment at the time they placed the order. Why should you not expect the same?

It is hard when we start out selling because it is usually to family and friends and we don't want to seem like it's all about the cash, but this is an expensive craft. It is also very easy to have friends and family "take advantage" and expect to get a deal. If you are consistent with your pricing and require the same from everyone in regard to payment, then everyone will know you are a business and not just a hobby.

Good luck and hang in there...

Thanks E-

I think I will try the production pour from C&S. I have an order to place there so I will add that to it. I will also try the KY blends. I don't know why I thought I could avoid trying a bunch of waxes. I didn't when I was looking for a paraffin container wax. Why should this be any different, duh? I think it's holiday burnout. It's good to know that they work well though.

I was looking at the heating/pouring recommendations - 200deg. Is this what you do? Do you need to do a slow cool or is room temp okay? Do you get any wet spots?

I'm like a kid with a new toy and I haven't even ordered any yet!!! LOL Merry Christmas to me! LOL

Hey Presto- that sounds like a great idea. How did you do the styrofoam containers?

Thanks for the replies.

Chris - Do you use the KY parasoy blends? If so, which one, the Ky-Para-Soy Container or the Ky "Perfect Blend"? How does it compare to the Candles & Supplies "Production Pour"?

E-Do you use the Production Pour from C&S?

How do you find the FO's work with the parasoy blends - do you find that many do not work? If wicked properly, do you find a huge difference in soot reduction with the parasoy from the paraffin? Also, do you find there is a long curing time? I am used to practically no cure time (24 hrs) with the J50 so will have to plan ahead.

TIA for your help

I use the J50 and get air pockets in the 16 oz mason jar. I do not get them in the 8 oz jelly jars though. I usually melt the tops with the heat gun and then poke around with the skewer and they fill in. I also do the tap tap tap dance with them LOL - I tap the side of the jars to get air bubbles to rise. I don't know if this helps at all but if you have some good tunes going you can have some fun with it.

That's awesome - I hope this is a sign of how the rest of your year is going to be.

With the down time coming on I want to try a paraffin soy blend for containers and not sure exactly where to start.

I am in NY so not many suppliers closeby (unfortunately my supplier in NY - Solas - has moved to Minneapolis over the holidays:cry2: ). I would prefer to use something preblended for ease, but everything is so far away. Just Scent is in Ohio and has a 50/50 blend, but I hate to use something I can only get from one supplier. I think the closest supplier is Candles & Supplies in PA. I was thinking of trying EcoSoya 135 and making my own blend with J50.

Has anyone used this combination of waxes to make container candles? If not, what has worked best for you? My goal is to be able to keep the wide variety of scents I'm getting with paraffin, but lose the smoke and soot that also comes with it - I guess I want my cake and to eat it too.

Do I need to add a great amount of soy to lose the smoke and soot (ie 50/50, 60soy/40para) or will a lesser amount work (ie 80para/20soy). I have seen varying temps to heat the waxes to and add FO (some say 150-160 and others say 200-210). Pour temps are around 130.

Can someone who's gone through this give me some ballpark ratios and temps to start with? I know I will spend lots and lots of time testing and that's no problem - comes with the job. You all have been so helpful, I really appreciate any advice you can give. TIA

If your dough is thick enough, you can "model" the features like a clay. I did a standing snowman with a nose that was done using cinnamon dough.