manda

And on their web site this is what they say to use. "15mls will scent about 1/2 slab (2.2kg / 5 lbs) of paraffin wax" Any guidance and advice very welcome. Thanks again Mandy

Has anyone used fragrance oils from wicks and wax vancouver bc, i purchased a few and on the bottle it says that 15ml will scent 2-3kg of wax. Tried this and it wasnt great, the only other additive was vybar and im using paraffin wax. Any help would be much appreciated, I have bought 15 FO so i would like to get the amount correct befor i go wasting them all. Many thanks and HI TO ONE AND ALL :-) Mandy

Thanks Nat, I originally was going with 50p-70p for additives etc. I think ill take your advise and stick with it. I would need too buy more supplies to get a true count if i was measuring out tablespoons etc. So ill just go with the round 50-60p figure, if i don't ill end up making myself go mad. And i think i just need to stop being so precise and picky about everything, lighten up mandy for gods sake:-) Thanks for your help Mandy

thanks ladies. I was very wary of doing this, as you say it is fine for me to do but we cant count on other people being as careful as we would be. O well i guess this is an offer Ill just need to say no to. Aubs i count get anything from you link, i would be interested to see what other options i might have. The roses are beautiful and fab colours, they would look great with my various different coloured pillars if i could come up with some kind of safe display. I just keep thinking 'flame and thin slices of wood, not a good combo. If anyone has a suggestions please share. Thanks again Mandy

Can anyone tell me please if any of you would use wooden roses as a display around your candle. They would maybe sit about half an inch away from the candle, or is this just asking for trouble. The candle that im thinking about doing it with does not drip or burn all the way to the edge, i have tested the candles repeatedly. Any advice appreciated Mandy

Thanks Meredith that was a great help. I just drew a blank when I tried to work this out. When im off work next week ill work out the stearin and vybar. Once i have done this, all I need is my insurance and im already to go. Thanks again for your help Meredith I very much appreciate it. I apologise to everyone else for posting this in the wrong place, ill get the hang of using the forum eventually. I also apologise for the silly questions etc, I feel like a bit of a twit. But if I don't ask ill never get any where. Thanks again Mandy

Hope I put this in the correct place, maybe it should have been in the Business section. sorry if it should. Mandy

Hi, I was hoping that one of the fantastic people here could help me with pricing my pillar candles. I make paraffin pillars and I am almost ready to start selling them, just waiting on insurance and a few bits and pieces, then im ready to go, but I am having a real problem trying to figure out prices. I have worked out what it costs in wax, dye and FO for one of my candles but I am stuck when it comes additives and wick. I buy my vybar in 500g bags for £7.40 and wick is £1.65 for 10 metres and my stearine is £3.30 for 500g. Small amounts I know, Im only trying to turn some money back into my candlemaking so I can share and continue with this fab hobby, Im just determined to do it properly. I just cant get to grips with trying to figure out how much it cost me in these supplies, due to the fact that I use such small amounts. An example of what I use in my candles is a 3" x 4" pillar using 1lb of wax and 1tsp of vybar or 1lb of wax with 3 table spoons of stearine. Please can someone help me please because I cant make a decision on prices........ I am thinking somewhere in the lines of £3-£5 for a 3x4" scented and none. Am i over pricing or what? I would very much appreciate it if anyone knows of anything else I have not thought about before I sell any candles. As I said I am just waiting to get my insurance, hopefully that will be done by the end of the week if not next week. Can I take this opportunity to thank nattycat for bring the insurance thing to my attention. Thanks Nat, I think I now have piece of mind. I know that my candles burn ok, after months and months and months of testing:-) but you can never be 100% when it comes to how your candles will be burnt and looked after. People laugh at me because im always going on about how to burn them properly and care for them, if only we could educate everyone:-) Mind you those that do burn and care for there candles like i advise them to always come back to me saying ' mandy you were right about burning my candles' makes me smile:-) Any way I getting of topic:-( As i said if anyone has anything to add, anything I have not thought of please I would greatly appreciate your input. Thanks Everyone Mandy :-)

Thanks Wick and Ruby:-) I thought that was the thing to do. I bought all my packaging,labels, ribbon etc and when it came to finishing the candles I sudden realised that I had thought of everything else but had not thought about where to put the safety Label. I was all set to finish up my candles and eventually get them to my friend when this suddenly dawned on me. I am very grateful for your help and advise. Ill get these candles sold eventually. Thanks again Mandy

Thanks coconut, Does anyone from the UK know what the regulations are. To be honest im desperate to get these candles finished and would really like to get it done tonight. Thanks again Mandy

Hi I am about to sell my first ever candles after years of giving them away. I have tested, tested, tested and now im comfortable to sell them. One small thing that I didn't consider was where to put my safety label. obviously the bottom of the candle, I am using safety labels that are stickers, I bought them from Jo at sensory perfection. I make pillars, what I didn't know was do i put it straight onto the candle or do I put it on the packaging. My pillars are wrapped tightly in cello wrap and tied with ribbon and label at the top. I was going more along the line of putting it on the bottom of the candle rather than on the wrapping at the bottom. Is this correct? Advice would be appreciated:-) Thanks Mandy

I like them both but prefer the 2nd one. Great work and the wee buckets are lovely.

Wick'n'wax in Vancouver have them http://www.wicksandwax.com/metal Only 2 sizes. 2" and 4". My mum bought 1 of each for me and has sent them over to the UK for me, unfortunately they have not arrived yet so I cant tell you what they are like. Mandy

They are fantastic. If only i had the no how, i have the patience but that will only get me so far:-) one day ill give it a try. Well done and keep up the amazing work Mandy

Hi, I make mainly solid coloured pillars, they are what i personally prefer. I have not sold alot of candles but find that anyone that i have made for this is what they request most of the time. I will be honest and admit that i have not mastered or got even close to mastering rustic and mottles, so if i cant make them i cant show them to people:cry2: I find that people seem to be really happy with there solid coloured pillar, but thats in the UK. Mandy

I have been hooked for almost 8 years now. I mainly make candles for myself and family and friends. I have sold a few, i like chickie just like seeing peoples faces when they get a lovely candle. I am now considering starting to sell them. Hoping to get a website up and running pretty soon, thats if i can get my other half to work on my site instead of every other tom,dick and harrys. I work part-time so setting out at least one day a week and a few hours here and there is pretty much all i get. I am now on holiday for the next week and as of yet have not made any plans, so candles here i come. My other half never complains about the money i spend because im pretty strict with myself. Goodness know what will happen when i start selling them, probably wont be able to help myself. At the moment i seem to buy every colour i see, rather than FOs so that's not so hard on the purse strings. Everyone that knows i do candle are always amazed at the colours you can get, that's what i really like, brilliant bright different coloured candles. I started because i got tired of seeing the same candles in the shops, and when i bought these candles they had a poor burn from them. So I investigated candle making as a hobby and when i got my computer 2 years ago i eventually found CT, what a blessing that was:-) the things you learn on this wonderful site from all you wonderful, talented people. mandy

They look pretty good to me, I have just given orbs a try for the first time and yes they are addictive. Haven't tried decorating them in any way yet but I think ill give it a try. Great work, keep it up Mandy

I was also wondering about import tax?

Good luck, you look like your well organised I tried being that tidy and organised, but once you get going it hard to keep things that way. Also your guitars look fab, I just made a candle the colour of the pink guitar:-) good luck and look forward to hearing how you get on. Mandy

Hi Kelly Sorry it wasn't 30 mins burn test it was 3 hours, checked my notes. It seemed OK first few times it burnt but eventually, maybe half way, the wick gets drowned out. I am using the LX series of wick and im sure it does not go any smaller than LX8m is this correct, anyone, Either that or its all I can get here in Scotland, any suggestions on a alternative wick. I use the LX wicks pretty much most of the time. keep up the good work and let us know how your burn test goes. Mandy

I bought mine from Spirit Craft http://www.spiritcrafts.net/yinyapimecam.html

Hi Kelly, I also have tried the ying yang and get the same problem, one half comes out great and the other is ...............PITA. I was wondering how your candles burn, I have tested and tested and I always seem to have a candle that burns for maybe 30mins then it goes out. I have tried ever type of wick, i have gone up and down a size. What size of wick do you suggest? I am starting to think that they are just a candle for decoration and not burning. Also levelling them is tricky:-) I had to give up on them for a while and walk away, i was getting so frustrated. Now that I see someone else making them i think I think I might try again. All suggestions welcome. Thanks Mandy

HI LISA hAVE YOU HAD A LOOK AT FULLMOON, http://www.fullmoons-cauldron.co.uk/cmaccessories.htm ITS EXPENSIVE BUT IT WHAT I SAVING UP FOR, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD BOILER, 3 COLOURSA AT ONCE ETC MANDY

Hi Everyone, I have been looking at sensory perfections website and Jo has something called MICA POWDERS, Can someone tell me what this is, They look fantastic, but for the life of me I cant find anything on the internet or the forum on how to use them, Can they be used in candle making or are they for soap. Sorry if this is a silly question, just love the look of them and had to find out. Can anyone help. Thanks Mandy

They are all fantastic for your first time, I must say that you were a very brave man to use such a large quantity of wax on your first go, but it was worth it, so well done. Your hurricane looks FAB. My first attempt at them was a 3x6 picture and square mould what a PITA that was. I have only done shells since then no pics. Ill go back one day. Keep up the good work, a next time I do advise doing your candles on your own. I enjoy my candle making so much more when its just me at home with no interruptions. In time you will have figured out what candle making projects are suitable and fun to do with kids. I found that chunk candles was a good one. Anyway keep posting and keep them pictures coming. Good luck and all the best.