Alohagirl

Thanks everyone! I was envisioning a lengthy process like what Bruce described. First I'll try coloring a wick and see if it works.

...those multi-colored tapers that were popular in the 60's? They looked white on the outside, and you place them on a wine bottle. When they're burning, different colors start dripping down the sides.

Sometimes I order from Genwax in LA because it's the closest supplier to Hawaii. They carry only their own waxes, though, not the popular ones discussed on this board. For FO's, additives and molds, Peak Candle Supplies in Colorado has good service and reasonable shipping to California.

Beautiful colors and textures!!

I really like the finish you got on the blue ones. Nice work.

I've never seen a dupe for that, but there should be! Why don't we have fun product names anymore like "No More Tangles"? Dang I miss the 70's.

Yep, you used double the amount of vybar that you should have. 1 tsp pp is plenty and using more than that will cause major weirdness on top of the wax as it shrinks. Sorry to be a party pooper. I just don't believe in pod babies and little green men. (But I really did see Elvis on the UFO...Really.)

In other words, it's a "ratio" and the recipe is giving you a choice: For strong incense, you might use a ratio of 1:2 (1 ounce FO diluted with 2 ounces DPG.) If that's too strong smelling, you could use the other ratio, 1:3

Cute idea! I would call it a "tootsie pop" too. :smiley2:

I like the look of frost jump lines, too. They look especially nice in a glass hurricane holder.

Clever use of scrap wax. Ducks in a row--how cute!!

I use a 2/0 square with my 2" square mold too. Regardless of the recipe or wax, that wick works for me. As long as I keep it trimmed and "hug" the corners inward, it burns all the way down without a blowout. :smiley2:

Sign me up too--your photos are fantastic! (And I LOVE the chunky with the dark chunks.)

Very nice! (I bet it would get more attention if you posted it in the Gallery section.)

Wow, I like this one best! P.S. Have you gotten the scent off YOUR hands yet, or do they fragrance a room wherever you go?

Use a heatgun on the outside of the mold after pouring the overpour wax. Start at the bottom and swing the heatgun side to side as you slowly work your way to the top. When you get to the top you should see tiny bubbles surfacing, indicating that you sufficiently melted the wax to release the air pockets around the chunks. When that melted wax cools, it will leave you with a smooth shiny surface. (Be sure to repeat the procedure on all sides of your mold.)

Before pouring wax into a glass pyrex dish, I spray Pam into it and wipe the excess with a paper towel. After it's set up, but still a little soft, I pull the whole sheet of wax out, set it on a cutting board and then use my cookie cutters. Thanks for the waxed-paper tip. It'll come in handy when making chunks on a baking sheet. :smiley2:

That's why I've been hesitant to switch over to essential oils instead of FO's. My own knowledge of herbs tells me that some are just inherently dangerous, especially to children, pets and pregnant women. But I was hoping someone here might have knowledge of actual research that has been done with regard to burning EO's. I'm thinking it might be a valid concern because of what happens when a gardener accidentally burns some poison oak or poison ivy in his leaf pile. Inhaling the smoke could land him in the hospital...or worse. Still, I've seen EO "burners" in health-food stores, where the oil is suspended over a tealight so it can vaporize into the air and scent your home. Seems kind of risky to me. Sounds good to me. I think I'll save my FO's and EO's for making "scent bead" sachets. They lightly scent a room without actually having to burn something, and no one breathes enough of it to get sick.

Donita, did you by any chance use less FO than you normally use? I ask because I get rustics with thin, smooth, shiny frost if I use only 1/2 ounce pp FO. If I use a full ounce of FO, they come out non-shiny with a thicker frost like everyone else's. (BTW, all my molds are seamless aluminum.)

I store mine in a closed cabinet. If I don't put them into cellophane bags and tie them shut, they'll lose their cold throw in a few weeks. They can also absorb the fragrance of other unwrapped pillars in the cabinet.

I wonder if 100% pure essential oils would be a safer choice for fragrancing pillars? Anyone know?

That is absolutely gorgeous!!!

LOL -- You got a beautiful mottle without even trying! It happened because you added oil to straight paraffin and poured hot. If you want scented candles without mottling, add a teaspoon of "vybar 103" to each pound of melted wax.

Very nice. Maybe you'll be invited to a babyshower soon, or you could donate it to a church auction.

Very nice packaging! :smiley2: