Fern

I wasn't referring to Fierce, I was referring to the original Abercrombie and Fitch...the scent that they have wafting out of their store every time you walk by. At least that's what they did in the stores in Connecticut a few years back, not sure if they did that at all the stores. Anyway, thanks for your reply...appreciate it.

...Abercrombie and Fitch from Southern Sensations? I absolutely love the scent and was wondering if anyone has tried it and if it smells like the real deal because I want to buy some. Thanks guys!

I thought that might be a problem because the melt point is so high. I'd probably have to add a ton of J50, hardly seems worth it. Thanks for your help Vicky!

Man, I haven't been on here in ages! I haven't made any candles or tarts in a little over a year. I had a huge batch of tarts I made last year but now they're dwindling away and the only one's left are the one's I hate. Wax supply is low as well. Anyway, I was just wondering how well the wax used for hurricanes would work for tarts if I mixed it with my J-50. I normally used 4045 and J-50 for my tarts and I loved how they came out...always nice smooth tops. I'm just about out of 4045 but I have a slab of wax that I got to make hurricanes out of, but after three years...I never got around to messing with them. I'd like to use this wax for something so it doesn't go to waste. Please, only experienced chandlers reply. No disrespect to the newbies, I was once a newbie myself. I just need to hear from someone in the know...if you know what I mean.

Why don't you put together some samples of unisex fragrances and let them decide which they'd prefer to have at their lodge. Here are a few suggestions from me: Nature's Garden Yacht Club Rain Clean Crisp Air Watercress and Aloe RE Breezy Meadows Amazon Mist Issey Miyake I think both males and females would like these scents. JMHO

I've seen them in our Wal-mart here in South Carolina too.

For me it would be several things, like most everyone else...I've got way too many FO's as well, and a lot of them aren't being used at all. I've also got far too much equipment, WAY too many spools of raw wicking, several different kinds of wax that I will probably never use again but can't seem to bring myself to throw out or sell in the classifieds, and far too many pillar molds. I think I went over board on just about everything related to candles. I used to sell, but the market is so saturated with inexpensive candles that I just cannot produce them cheaper than the big retailers can sell them, so now I just make them for myself, family and friends. I am still very much into tart making and almost always have one burning in my house. I still love the craft but have slowed down significantly from producing as much as I used to.

You don't have to re-do your candle and it has nothing to do with using a vanilla FO. Poking relief holes does help, but if you end up with a sink hole, just open up the hole a little larger and then go over the top of the candle in a sweeping motion with your heat gun until the melted wax fills in the hole. The top should come out nice and smooth and you'd never know you ever had a sink hole to begin with.

In case you haven't thought of this, the right size wick will give you a melt pool diameter of about 1 inch per hour of burn time. Are you testing the actual burn time with each wick? Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and think that it should burn quickly to the margins of the candle, but you want your candle to last awhile and not burn up too quickly or spill over the edge. If I were using CD's for that particular size candle I'd start with a CD-8 and work my way up, but I highly doubt you'd go any higher than a 10. A CD 12 and higher, for a candle that is less than 2" in diameter, seems MUCH to large to me as well.

It looks like these guys didn't see your question, yes, heat your wax per manufacturers directions...add your dye...mix well...reduce your temp to around 180...add your FO...mix well...reduce your heat again to around 155-160...and then pour. If it's not a vybar problem, then you shouldn't get a wrinkled top.

I used to use J223 (pre-blended container wax) so you don't need to add anything to it, it throws great just by adding 1-1.5 oz of FO per lb of wax...and the right wick of course.

I use 4045 with stearic. Actually, any straight paraffin will make good rustics...just remember to pour cool, like around 150 degrees. You can pour a little hotter, but that's the temp I pour at and get very good results.

Is my nose broken or something? I swear it smells like Lily of the Valley to me.

Men's scent??? Smells mighty girly to me.

Peak's Cranberry Citrus kicks ass! Nice and tart and throws like crazy!

Hey Top...you were right, it was the OK6228. I used the 4045 with the J50 and the tarts melt completely in my lower wattage burner. No sink holes with this combo either, so I'm happy. Thanks again for your input.

Top: I'm certainly no expert when it comes to additives, but...I thought that stearic increased the hardness and opacity of wax. I just assumed that when it increased the hardness, that it would also increase the melt point.:undecided I'll try using my 4045 with the J50 to help with the shrinkage problem and allow me to add more FO. OK6228 can hold quite a bit of FO, but not the 4045 without adding vybar. I don't really want to buy any more wax now because I want to use up what I have, but I'll certainly try one of the other waxes you suggested when I need to buy more. Thanks for the help!

Scented: That Badedas is another wonderful spring scent. It smells just like Lily of the Valley! I've made tarts with it and it throws great. Breezy Meadows is another must have for a floral...I love it, even more than the Badedas.

Grama: I wish I could ignore the dip in the middle...but I can't. Not after making perfectly smooth tops with my other waxes...it just bugs me to no end. I know, I know, I'm probaby being ridiculous about it...oh, well.

Stearic will increase the melt point...thus making it harder. I don't know about the micro. Satin: The straight paraffin I'm using is Candlewic's 4045, which they no longer carry. I'm pretty sure it's a 140-145 melt point wax. When I say "straight", I mean that is that it's not a blended paraffin, like the OK6228 that I also use. Any yes, it is manufactured in different melt points. I guess I'm confused by the fact that the tarts I make now with J50 (MP of 128 degrees) and OK6228 (MP of 145) which is a blended pillar wax, just won't melt in the low watt burners I got...well it won't melt all the way...but the paraffin ones will...I just don't get it. I'm figuring it's the combo of both the MPs that's causing it to melt less at a lower temperature. I guess my only option is to do the repour because I certainly can't pour them at any lower a temperature (150 degrees) than I already am without resolidifying the wax. Thanks everyone for your input!

I was so hoping to avoid that re-pour. I have to do that with my pillars and that's ok, but when I'm doing large batches of tarts, the last thing I want to do is a repour...maybe two...to get a perfectly smooth top. I have the feeling that I'm not going to have any choice in the matter. I'll still wait for other replies though. Thanks for responding MJandJoshsMommie.

Fresh and Florals are my absolute favorites and I have tried many. One thing I do have to say is...I have to second Forget Me Not from RE...it's a real good one and very strong! Some others from RE that are great, both fresh and floral are: Amazon Mist Badedas Botanical Garden Breezy Meadows Issey Miyake From Natures Garden: Butterfly Garden Clean Crisp Air Cool Spring Frosted Snow Drops Nantucket Briar Orchid Rain Rain Sweet Grass Watercress and Aloe Yacht Club

...to making straight paraffin tarts that don't end up with a big freakin' sink hole? What I'm trying to do is get away from making my other tarts that are a combination of OK6228 and J50. Although they make beautiful smooth topped tarts, color fabulously and throw like crazy, they will not burn completely in the lower wattage burners. I found these gorgeous tart burners but they're only 14 watts. They completely melt a straight paraffin tart, (I got free straight paraffin tarts with the burners) but they only partially melt my tarts. They'll melt in the middle, but leave a ring of unmelted wax around the parameter of the bowl. Sooooo...if anyone knows of an additive I could use to reduce the "shrinking", please let me know. I did some test tarts with paraffin and vybar and poured at 150 degrees, and like I said, big 'ole stinking sink hole...it was not a pretty tart at all. I don't believe stearic will solve this shrinking problem and besides it will increase the melt point which I don't want, because then I'm right back at square one. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I don't know, but Save on Scents seems to be the first one to get the latest dupes...at least that has been my experience.

Great set up Cindy! I especially like the table runner coming down the center of your risers...nice touch!