Fern

Scent Cellar: I use an LX-28 in a 6 oz. square mason using Joy Wax and it takes at least 3 hours-4 hours to get full melt pool going. I think a CD-10 is way too small for an 8 oz. square mason...you might want to try a CD-16 or 18 if you've got one...may even have to up it to a 20. It takes a much larger wick to get a full melt pool with Joy Wax.

It depends on the scent itself and if you are using the right size wick for the container. If your wick is too small, it won't burn hot enough and you won't get a deep enough melt pool to throw your scent. Zinc wicks are the coolest burning wicks and cottons are the hottest. Make sure you have the right size wick for your container.

I used Joy Wax for about a year so I'm pretty familiar with it. I still have some left over and use it now and then. I'm pretty sure that when you added vybar to it, you bound up the scent. Joy is mostly soy but also has additives already in it. Since Joy is mostly soy, some scents will never throw in it. As a rule, I use 1.5 oz of FO per lb of wax...this is more than enough to give you excellent throw, just like plain soy. I never cured it and it throws beautifully as soon as it's been set up. You also have to wick up with this wax. I can use a certain wick in a candle that I made with J223, make another candle exactly the same but use Joy Wax and will have to use a wick 2-3 times larger to get it to burn the same as the J223. When you don't have a hot enough burn, your candle won't throw either so that's something to consider. So, add 1.5 oz of fo per lb of wax, do not put vybar or any other additives into it, and wick it properly. If you tell me what size container you are using, maybe I can suggest a wick size for you. Good luck!

Welcome Jessie! Nice to have you join us! Don't be shy about asking questions. We're all here to help.

If you like smooth shiney pillars with great cold and hot throw, OK6228 is a very good choice.

I mixed it 50/50. It's not quite a tooti fruiti, the dominant scent is still mango but with a slight twist. I may try 40% Mango Papaya and 60% Monkey Farts to bring out a little more of the banana scent in the Monkey Farts. Another one that smells real nice together is Lavender Silk and Clean Cotton. I don't often mix scents but it's fun to do every now and then. I've got so many scents that I am sick of and really shouldn't buy any more until I've used up what I already have, so I decided to start mixing some.

For containers: Soy, Joy Wax, J223. Stayed with the J223 Votives/Pillars: Soy, PQ, F, and G, Palm 1 & 2, 1343, OK6228, 4045. Stayed with the 4045 for the most part and occassionally use the others, except for the Soy. Tarts: Soy, Palm, OK6228. Stayed with OK6228 but did a 50/50 blend with J223.

I mixed Mango Papaya and Monkey Farts together and it smells great. I always loved Peak's Mango Papaya but I really wasn't that thrilled with Monkey Farts so I thought I might as well try to get some use out of this FO somehow...and what do ya know...it actually smelled good. Just thought I'd share that with you guys.:smiley2:

I've been trying to respond to your Private Message but everytime I send a reply...it says Error User Not Found. Maybe one of the moderators can fix that for you.

No problem...glad I could help.

Yea for you! :highfive: I knew you could do it! Now let your nose take a little break from all of those scents you've been pouring...then fire up a tart.

I have run into that problem on occassion with a heavier FO. I've done the same as you...wicked up. Usually that resolves the problem. I have sometimes had to switch to another wick...like a CD or RRD or I'd cut back a little on the fo or if it's heavily dyed, use less dye.

...and another vote for Spruce Christmas Tree...it's fab!

Is this mango scent way better than Peak's mango papaya? I love Peak's, but the way you guys are talking about this one makes me think this other is so much better. What's the deal?

I used to use Joy Wax...and I'm not bashing it...it's a fine container wax...but I found that I liked the J223 better. Joy Wax colors beautifully, has great hot and cold throw and won't leave you with wet spots. There were two things that made me try something else....First, it wouldn't throw every scent that I put into it. Since there is such a high concentration of soy in their blend, it's got some of the draw backs of soy...which is, it is fininicky about throwing certain scents. Secondly, wicking can be quite troublesome. Because the consistency is very greasy, it soots a fair amount of the time and it also creates huge mushrooms on the wicks...something that I detest immensely. I worked with it for over a year and then decided I'd try something else since I couldn't seem to solve those two issues.

I can't help you with the Pumpkin Pie Spice but....Peak's has Sugar Plum Berries that is extremely close...if not the same as...YC's Christmas Berries.

You may have to go up on the wick size because of the fo or the amount of dye you used. When everyone says test, test, test...it's because of situations like this. Not every single candle will take the same wick...sometimes you have to go up...sometimes you have to go down. All you can do is play with the different sized wicks until you find one that will give you the burn you're looking for.

I add my fo as soon as I pour it from my Presto into my pour pot. Tarts are very forgiving....you don't have to be so careful with the temperature, especially with the wax combo you are using. If you were using straight OK6228 you'd probably end up with a wavy texture on the top of your tarts if you weren't careful with the pouring temperature. When you add the J223, it changes the consistency and you end up with a smooth tart everytime, pretty much without having to pay attention to the exact pouring temp. I heat my wax up to about 190...add my dye, then once completely melted I pour into my pouring pot. The temperature almost immediately drops about ten degrees...I add my fo...stir well and pour into tart molds. I don't wait for the wax to cool down to 160 or lower. It's really quite simple. I think your problem is that you're just not adding enough FO. By the way, are you using a tea light burner or an electric one? Some of those electric burners have low wattage bulbs that just aren't hot enough to really throw the scent. Just another thought I had. Hope I'm not being too pushy with my comments, I'm just trying to help you figure out what the problem might be.

I agree with Sarah...the suppliers you bought fo's from are good suppliers, so the quality of fo's is not in question. Keep in mind that some scents will throw lighter naturally. You're using a good combination of waxes, along with good quality fo's, now you just need to bump up your fo load and I'm sure you will get the strong tarts that you are looking for. Let us know how you make out, ok?

I'm a J223 fan as well. I think it has excellent hot and cold throw and colors very nicely. I started out using Soy Wax but got so frustrated with coloring it...it would only give you pastels, the frosting that was ever present and the inability to throw certain scents. Then I switched to Joy Wax...which is mostly soy but colored better than the straight soy...it had great scent throw for most scents, but once again, it wouldn't throw every scent. It was also difficult to wick at times...got a fair amount of sooting because of it's greasy consistency...I believe. Then I switched to J223 about 1.5 years ago and liked just about everything about it...aside from the wet spots, which I don't even care about anymore. I personally thinks its a great wax...lot's of others will agree as well...but not everyone.

What I do to clean my jars is...melt the remaining wax with my heat gun until it fully liquified...then pour it onto to a piece of newspaper or a paper plate. Then I wipe out as much residue as I can with a paper towel...but there is usually some that films over as it cools and remains in the container. Next I take a green scrubbie pad and load it with dish detergent and a little water and scrub the rest of it out...rinse and let air dry. This is what works for me. Others put them upside down on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven to melt out the wax. I'm very frugal...I hate to heat up my oven and waste electricity since out electric bills are quite high...that's why I use the heat gun method.

Your candles are fantastic! Great job!

I use the same combo you do...50% OK6228 and 50% J223. I add 1 oz fo to 12 oz of wax and my tarts a very strong. I put one in my living room and it fills that room...goes up the stairs and onto the second floor. Remember, that the air flow in your house will carry your scent as well. Are you using quality FO's? If you are using low grade fo's you can't expect to get very good throw.

Hello Tucker... Pin holes are usually caused by pouring too hot. If you're pouring between 140 and 150, you shouldn't be getting that. Are you sure your thermometer is working correctly? Or are you heating your molds before you pour? Sometimes pin holes are caused by tiny bubbles as well so don't stir you wax too vigorously before pouring or pour a little slower. You don't have to pour your wax fast or sloppily to get a good rustic. To achieve a blended layer...pour your next layer when your first layer is still soft. If you tilt your mold, you should be able to see the hot wax roll just underneath the surface. If you waited a little too long and that first layer has set up already, try hitting the top of it with you heat gun so that you get a small pool of melted wax going...then pour your next layer.

Welcome! I did a lot of things backwards too when I first started out...like made pillars before I made votives...it all worked out though. What I would suggest, if you have never made a candle, get yourself a container starter kit. Peaks as one as well as other suppliers. I think it's the best way to get your feet wet. Good luck!