7 Pawz

I use htp 104 in the 8 oz jj with J 223 wax, I was using J 50, but the J223 holds more fo. if you are having a lot of mushrooming, you may want to test other wicks and also look at the amount of fo that you are now using with the wicks your using now, as far as the wet spots on your jars, for me, i pre heat my jars at least 10 min in a very low oven, but sometimes i get a few wet spots, not many and i have found that sometimes after the candle has cured awhile, seems like the spots disappear, keep trying, it's a never ending learning process, HTH you some :smiley2:

Pillar wax has a higher melting point than container wax; which is generally a softer, lower melting point wax. Pillar wax is "designed" to burn with a smaller melt pool than container wax, if you use the pillar wax for a container candle, plus the proper wick size designed for candle diameter, you may find that the wax will not give you a large enough melt pool so that your candle will have a nice scent, instead, the burn will be straight down the center of the candle, instead of extending to the edge of the container. HTH:smiley2:

I subscribed to the newsletter online:)

And I thought it was just me:cheesy2: I have more fo samples than I can test at one time, different wicks, molds, etc. It is so easy to to overboard with scents, there are just so many:), but as time goes on, I'm more selective as to what and when I order:)

Thank you for your suggestion, after the holidays, I will do just that. I was selling individually and doing fairly well, but I think I would like to try placing candles in smaller, well trafficked places. I tried a flowershop one time, but as the owner said, candles just set on the shelf there and most of her orders came by phone, so not many saw the candles.

Hey all:cheesy2: My veteranarian's office will soon have my candles for display:cheesy2: I don't think I will have any problems; anyway, it's for a good cause. We are in desperate need of an animal shelter in Pike, Co., MS, they've been trying for several years to raise funds for one, think it will be ready 2007. I am going to donate a per centage of my sales to the fund and also, the clinic has a dog that was hit by a car, owners didn't reclaim him, the clinic is trying to raise funds for a "wheelchair" for him, so I will be helping with that, I know I won't be clearing that much, but it's for a good cause.

I bought 2 presto pot off ebay already with spigot. I got the first one, used it a week, turned around and got another one for melting Gel. I have never had any problems with the wax clogging up the spigot and I have used my presto pots 2 years now, no problems of any kind:cheesy2:

I use J223 and sell my 8 oz jj for $5. Another person in my area raised her price on her 8 oz jj from $3.50 to $5 when she saw what I was getting for mine. She has sinced raised her price again to $6.50 for an 8 oz jj, but in my area, that is going to be hard for her to sell: unless she drives about 20 min. from here and sells in the larger town. Then again, I have sold my 22 oz apothecary jars for $15, just by doing that very thing. Different market conditions.

It was consignment. I live outside of a very small town and sometimes they do things a little differently here, but I have had another offer to display my candles since then. I think that I will try and put up a web site next year, nothing big, something just to get started with. I have done very well selling my candles individually, so I hope to get something started online. I have a long way to go:)

Know what you mean. I do better selling them myself, plus don't have to give anyone 25% of my profits

Hi, I use J223 wax in that container, and have used 2 htp 83's. HTH:cheesy2:

Very nice:cheesy2: Look very professional. You really put a lot of thought in the way your candles are displayed. Keep going:grin2:

Hi all:cheesy2: I am new to the board, hope all had a great Thanksgiving. I wondered if anyone has ever had a bad experience with placing their candles in a shop or store to sell? I have been making candles 3 yrs and selling about 2yrs, doing fairly well, money goes back into supplies. I was asked if I would consider placing candles in this little "antique" village in our small town, after considering this, I decided to do so. The first week, not one candle sold; the second week, not a candle sold; I thought "something isn't right here", the third week, I went to the shop and they were closed at luchtime, doors locked, the owner standing out front says " I don't know why the candles arent selling, how about leaving them here awhile longer?" Needles to say, I took my candles home, on the way, I made one stop and sold $45 worth. But look how long they were just sitting on the shelf:sad2: To top that off, I had candles in another store in the same town, and when I went to check inventory twice in a 2 wk time period, I was short changed on the money and had a candle stolen, so instead of letting that situation get worse, I removed the candles from there and I am back to selling my candles the way I was before. Sorry so long winded:smiley2:

Wow! sounds like everyone is getting set to move ahead in 2007:cheesy2: I'd like to set up a website, test a new wax for container candles, add bath salts to my line. Possibly change containers, get away from the mason jars, although at the moment, I sell the 1/2 pints, pints, and my more "upscale" candles are made in apothocary jars. Maybe add some bakery scents, but, i am not a big fan of those; I do get requests for them, but in order for me to make the candle, I have to like the scent:smiley2:

When I started making candles (3yrs), some of the instruction books or craft and candle books said to add 3-8 drops to the wax, particularly a lot of the older ones. but I decided to do a little online research and learned from many helpful candlemakers and candle supply companies that a starting point of adding your scent to the wax is 1/2 oz by weight. But you will have to test each candle and see what works for you

Meeeee Too:D

This wax has a tendency to mottle without additives, but I use stearine added to it for my pillar and votive. I sometimes use more fo that should be used for that wax, but when I take them from the mold, if let them set out for a day, the oil on the surface cures, the candle burns great with a fantastic scent throw:D

I've been making candles for 3 years and selling them on the side for about 2 yrs. the money goes back into supplies. Before I started, i purchased a book on basic candlemaking and ordered supplies from suppliers online. TESTING, testing, still testing; but what has also helped is reading the message boards like this one and other candlemakers who have their own sites have been so helpful with info. If I didn't work, I would do this full time

That is an awful experience. I have used C&S for 3 years now, no problem yet, but i did get some J223 that i think had water in a couple of the slabs. luckily it hasn't affected my candles.:smiley2:

I have had that problem too, it's even worse after the candle is poured & you start to straighten the wick and it comes out of the container! I use my needle nose pliers and crimp the wicks occasionally just to save myself aggravation. It has not happened with a whole batch of wicks though. Just a few now & then.

I use J223 wax and add fo at 180, cool to 150 and pour. If your method seems to be working, I wouldn't change a thing. the longer the wax is heated, the possiblity of fo evaporating; once i reach 180, i remove wax from heat, add fo and watch the temp:) then pour at 150.

I use Candles & Supplies, Alabaster, Cajun Candles, GloryBee Food, Bittercreek(both), etc. Customer service is great. As far as scents, each supplier is different; not all scents are going to smell and perfom the same and that too depends upon the type of wax used, amount of scent, quality of scent, wick used, etc. No way around it, find a supplier that you like, get samples and TEST, TEST, you find what works and what won't.

I saw the woodwick candles on hsn about a month back. brought 1 of them at a cracker barrel store just for curosity. took about 6 candles before I could smell the"cold scent" and it was not much at that. Lit the candle, wick crackles as they say, scent is so-so; others could smell it some, but I could not. don't like the flame on it though, but the wick is almost self trimming.

You might try Alabaster & Candles and Supplies.

I use J223 from alabaster. Currently testing a soy-paraffin blend from Greenleaf in TX; like J223, but want a more vivid colored candle and in a wax blend, like J223, it seems I have to use more dye than I would like.