EmpressC

I used 20 oz. IGI 4794 votive wax with 1 oz. Peak's Sage & Lemongrass FO. The cold throw is VERY strong and fabulous. I was so impressed that I immediately purchased 32 oz. of the FO. About 2 weeks later, I test burned two votives, one wicked with LX8 and the other LX10. However, when all throughout the burning, I had NO smell. I thought perhaps I was experiencing candle nose, so I left home for about 30 minutes and came back. Still couldn't smell a thing. I placed the candles in two different rooms, each of which I had tested candles in in the past. However, I've never used the LX wicks before.

So I'm not sure if the wick could affect the smell (although I doubt that) or if I did something wrong, or if simply the FO just doesn't produce a good hot throw.

It's just so baffling because the smell was SO STRONG before I burned it. Any thoughts?

TIA

I've bought (what I feel is) loads from BCN. What I want to know is, why the hell am I not receiving this infamous newsletter??? :awww:

:tiptoe:...going to go check receipts cuz I don't think I got my hundred weight shipping discount either!!! :undecided

Thanx for the replies!!! I'll try the red/blue/yellow combo. I'm using a scent called Stormwatch from Peak and the suggested color is gray or smoke. This will be interesting.

Is there any combination of colors that will make a gray/smoke color dye? I only have basic colors: yellow, red, blue, ivory, coffee and a couple of others, but not black. Any way to get to gray?

TIA

I recently purchased a HUGE order of supplies. Since everything is so new, I created an Excel spreadsheet of all the things I need/want and costs per qty so I had a good idea of what I'd be spending. I let it sit for a while, and as I realized I might need something else, I added it to the list. After about 2 weeks I was ready to buy, and I am confident that I have everything that I need.

That order hurt my pocket book, but I do see it as an investment. And shipping costs proved quite reasonable.

The cheapest I've found have been at Walmart.

I use them separate so I dont have to clean them out all the time and so I can do more than one project at a time. I do all my mixing in my pour pots...

How do you keep the wax at the right temp? Do you put the pour pot on another heat source?

Votives! Votives! Votives! (That's the one mold I have mastered! )

I have a lot of sample scents (about 20+) that I need to try out. My favorites so far are Baby Powder and Sage and Lemongrass (both from Peak). The latter being way too fabulous!

Have a great weekend everyone.

As usual, great advice given.

My molds were fine as I had washed them all before use. But the kitchen kettle had not been washed. I guess I just didn't think it needed to be, but now I know different. I think I'll get some of those unscented baby wipes. Great, practical, inexpensive idea!

So as some of you may know, I recently made a batch of candles with a vanilla scent. Took them out of the molds yesterday and they smell like Vanilla Passion and Ocean, which is the scent I had made about a WEEK before making the Vanilla! So basically, the vanilla's are ruined all the way around.

I wiped out all of the wax from my Kitchen Kettle from the previous use. So how come the Ocean scent lingered so? And what can I do to be sure I removed the previous scent from the pot? HELP!!!

Thanx for the replies. That's why I asked, cuz I wasn't sure if that was an effective approach. I guess I will just be patient and do things right...and then wait for my genius to take shape.

Who knew making candles could be a metaphor for life?

Been thinking about how to begin testing when I don't even know which type of wick I like. I've read a bit of a description on the various types, but I can see that the only way to really know what I want is to test. I was thinking of starting out by using 4 identical molds and making 4 plain (no dye, no FO) candles for a given wax, just to see how they burn.

I figure once I nail down the particular brand of wick that I like, I can then add the other stuff (dye and FO) and retest.

Does this make sense? Or am I leaving something important out of the equation? Or am I just creating more work for myself? (I'm so confused!!! )

TIA

A side note about the ivory dye...I've yet to find an ivory dye that actually will be ivory. They all turn out tan. That's with 1 drop/lb wax. Ivory dye chips work really well.

I even did 1 drop of dye per 3lbs of wax and it was still wrong. I use liquid dyes for all my candles, but it looks like if I want ivory, I'm going to have to use the chips.

I'll have to get some of those ivory chips then. My next question was gonna be to ask how others achieve the white color. I don't think the wax without added dye would be a sufficient white color. But maybe I'm wrong.

Thanx for the replies. Yep, I am new to candle making. (Pretty obvious, huh?) I was planning on testing the scent in all of the molds. But I can see your point, Sliver, that it would be best to stick to one mold at a time.

As for wicking, I was planning to start with the suggested wick size from the supplier and working from there.

Question: is it really even worth testing any of these if I didn't achieve the particular color I want? If the dye (as well as FO) can affect the burn, wouldn't it be a waste of time to test these...cuz I KNOW I'll never make this color again! Yuck!!

So last night I melted about 7 pounds of wax for some vanilla scented candles I was making. I had 10 molds of various sizes, and while I knew it would not be enough wax for ALL the molds, I figured I'd just make as many as I could. Well, I guess I got a tad over-zealous because when it was time to do the second pour to fill in the relief holes (these were all pillars, BTW), I ran out! :awww:

Don't even get me started on the color! Since I was making vanilla candles, I wanted them to be pretty much white. Well, I added Ivory colored dye (about 10 drops)...too much, obviously...because they are all caramel colored! Argh!!! I don't like it at all, but what can I do?

Also, the Vanilla Passion FO that I used is VERY faint. Is that how it is normally, or did I possibly get a bad batch?

So anyway, I guess I just needed to vent about my learning experience. Sigh...

That's probably why you have a feeling soy is the devil or whatever.

Actually, I don't feel soy is the devil at all. I was just explaining that in the threads I've read on this forum concerning soy candles as lotion, the idea was presented as a very dangerous product. That simply putting soy on the skin as a lotion was a bad thing. It's one thing to make a distinction about dyes and FOs and fire hazards (which does make it more trouble than it's worth), but it is not the "devil".

Thanx for the info on the National Candle Association. I'll check it out.

IMO natural doesn't always mean that it's better/ safer/ healthier.

It's a money cow.... kind of like holidays.

I say....choose your poison.

Good point, natural doesn't always equal better. Ignorant statement I made earlier in terms of that, cuz I do agree with you.

However, I would not say I agree that it is a money cow. I do for the most part feel that when there is a natural product available it should be used instead of a chemical. While natural processes and products do cost more and take more time to produce, overall they are healthier for the body and the environment.

I'm inclined to ask why you think soy is better. There's no proof out there that it is.

That might be true. But then, there is no proof that it's really a health hazard either, is there?

I guess I consider soy to be better because soy has been proven to benefit the human body. Soy is used in menopause treatments. Soy is used as a meat protein substitute. It's used in MANY ways to provide benefit to the human body.

As for making candles into lotion candles, why make a candle to begin with? Why waste a wick? Why waste a jar? Why say it's OK to dip your hands into something that the take away will surely affect the end result. Too me, it's a waste.

As I previously stated, I agree that it doesn't make sense to make a candle only to use it as a lotion. There is no argument from me that it is a gimmick. Of course it is. Many things are. But the vibe on this forum is such that soy candles are the devil. I just don't see it as that big of a deal based on the reasonings.

The reason I asked the question in the first place was because I figured that if something like soy is so "bad" to be put on the skin, how come paraffin isn't seen in the same light? But like I said I don't see using soy as a lotion as being all that bad in and of itself. Taking it from a soy candle is silly, yes. But not deadly. That's all I wanted to understand for myself. Thanx for the replies.

Besides, it's silly. If people think that's a great skin treatment, it's a lot easier and cheaper to buy a container of Crisco vegetable shortening, which is the same thing.

But the same could be said about paraffin treatments. The same could be said about ANY lotion. Most all lotions are made up of chemicals. A natural option is ALWAYS better, IMO. But people choose convenience over that all the time.

I guess I am just not convinced that these soy lotion candles are as horrible as they have been made to seem. (I agree, it is kind of silly, though. I would not bother with such a thing as having to wait for wax to melt just to use as a lotion. I mean, it's not like it's really some fountain of youth or anything. It's just a novelty.) But once the fire has been extinguished, and as long as the dye and FO are skin safe, I see no real hazard. Not any more than using lotion I'd get from the local drug store. If paraffin, which is produced from a chemical process, is okay to put on hands surely soy must be as well.

Just my opinion, though.

http://www.cierracandles.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=47

Yay!!! I finally contributed!!! :highfive:

Edited to add: they also have cello bags for single votives as well.

I guess I'm wondering then, if everyone agrees that non-scented, non-dyed paraffin is safe for skin, why is their so much uproar about putting soy on the skin? Wouldn't that prove even safer? I do understand the part about having a lit candle flame being a hazard, but other than that, I don't understand why it's so bad if paraffin isn't.

Not trying to play devil's advocate or anything. I truly just don't get it. Any comments?

It's not the color that's the problem it's the FO. The FO's I have found that fade the worst is straight Vanilla or anything with Vanilla in it, Blueberry & Mulberry. There are others but so far these are the ones I have problems with.

How might one remedy this? By adding more dye than one normally would, seeing as how it will eventually fade anyway? Thanx.

Thanks all. I actually did go to Michaels today. I didn't see any rectangle containers, but I did see some Metro style containers with lids, 15 oz for $2.49 a piece. Does that sound right? I won't have to pay for shipping, after all.

Does anyone know where to find rectangle container jars? I found a site with some , but it says they are discontinued.

Thanx.

Was just reading a thread about soy candles being used as lotions and wondered about paraffin. Whenever I get a manicure, I usually get it with a soak in paraffin wax which is supposed to soften the skin.

Is this safe? After reading on this forum, I'm thinking no???