cherokeemaiden

I went and got my Votive Wax a few FO's from a local EL dealer. Poured four sets of tarts and the cold throw is awesome. Waiting until this weekend to test burn them, but so far, its excellent. Nice creamy tops, and so easy to work with. The tarts slid right out of the molds with no release spray or putting them in the freezer for a few minutes. I'm thinking with such a great cold throw the hot throw should be excellent (hope so anyway)! I'll let ya'll know how they burn. I'm very impatient, but I going to let them cure. I'm really excited. This will save me a bundle in shipping charges, YEAH!

I buy 75% of my oils from Becky and her customer service and shipping is the best. If you have a question, she's always available to talk to you. I've only had one FO that I didn't get a good hot throw with and that was her Pumpkin Pie. Some of my favorites: Banana Nut Bread Chestnuts and Brown Sugar (awesome) Cherry Cobbler Black Cherry (very strong) Nana's blueberry pie (I think thats the right name) Gosh, to many to list. But I could go on and on. Her JS 50/50 wax is great to.

Cindy ~ I use a 50/50 parasoy to make whipped wax. It's not hard to do, but it is messy!!! All I can say is to only whip about 3 oz of wax at a time because it sets up VERY quickly. Even at 3 oz you'll find you probably have to reheat it again. Good Luck! Connie

Ok Girls, I placed a small order with a local EL dealer today. Going to pick up my votive wax tomorrow. She said I will probably have frosting on my tarts...why, why would she say that???? That doesn't sound good. Oh well, I'll just hope that the frosting doesn't appear. Anxious though to give it a try. Connie

Thanks Gals ~ Guess I'll go ahead and place an order for the EL Votive Wax then. I've been using JS 50/50 Pillar for my tarts and its excellent. But, shipping is just getting to expensive. BTW..I lurk here a lot, LOL! My name is Connie. I just got in several new samples from AR and ICC and I can't wait to give them a try. Everything smells fantastic.

gicandles ~ Have you ever tried their Votive Soy Wax? I found an EL dealer about 30 minutes from me, but I haven't had the nerve to go there yet!!! I've heard many mixed discussions on their wax and oils to. They have some nice FO's according to their list. Guess I should just take the plunge and give them a try.

I have ordered from JS many times and I have to agree with you. I've only gotten a few FO's that really smell good. Their Chestnuts and Brown Sugar is awesome though. I also bought Black Cherry and in the bottle, it would take your head off. In the wax, nothing. As much as I hated to leave Becky, I ordered samples from a few other places. Should be getting them soon and I'm hoping they are much better. Sorry you were disappointed. You just never know until you order samples though and try them.

Thanks Ingrid ~ I think I'll place another order with her to. I don't know what I bought from her the first time, but I only ordered one FO. Strange! Connie

Thanks! I'll try those to. Placed an order for samples today with a few others, keeping my fingers crossed.

Good Morning ~ Has anyone ordered from this company? I have only ordered her Banana Nut Bread last year and it was EXCELLENT. So strong it almost ran me out of the house, LOL! But, from what I've been reading on many threads, many of the BNB's are very strong. She doesn't really carry FO samples at a low price, so thought I'd ask here first. I just changed to a 50/50 blend so I'll have to retest everything now. Connie (and no I'm not the Connie in Connie's Candles)

Jay_me0007 ~ I live about 30 minutes from Florida Soy Solutions. Infact I called and talked to the owner last Wed, she was quite helpful. Sorry, I can't remember her name (getting old here). I've not heard a lot of good things about Enchanted Lites waxes either, but according to her, of course, it is the best. She said she had a guy that drives from TX to pick his wax up to save on shipping. I kind of wonder with the higher temps and humidity if maybe that makes a difference in the waxes. Just a thought, no prove! I am going this week to pick up just a few samples of wax, wicks and FO's to see what happens. I'm NOT having any luck with any of the other soys that I've bought from northern companies. Not to say they aren't great waxes, just not working for me. I'll post the results when I get them and test. Connie

Hi Pawz ~ I rewicked my 16 oz w/m yesterday with the 62-52-18Z and tried again. No go! Melt pool was way to deep in about 30 minutes. I set it aside and rewicked my 32 oz w/m that I had been having problems with, with the same size wick. It burned beautifully! I was so excited, so I relit it again this afternoon and within 2 hours I had black soot around the top of the jar, Sighhhhh! Going to try to wick down one size and try again on both. Now get this, pitiful! I poured another 32 oz w/m mason jar today. BTW, if you are wondering why I am using such big Mason jars, I grow my own veggies and can every year, so I have tons of jars (the jars are new and have never been used)! Anyway, I used the same formula, did everything exactly like the last one. Looked and smelled great for about 3 hours, then the center cracked and sunk in like a sinking ship!!! I'll be in my grave before I figure all of this out, LOL! I also live in FL, so do you think the humidity and climate have a lot to do with my problems? So, that's where I am again with these candles. I think I need to try another wax!

Thanks Pawz ~ I tried that wick with my 32 oz w/m mason jar and I had a 2 inch deep melt pool within an hour. Never tried it with the 16 oz cause I figured it would be to much, but I definitely will give that one a try also. I'm just not getting this whole wick thing. Guess that's the whole dynamics of it though. Going to get my candles now...hopefully, this one will do the trick. Thanks!

Thanks for all the advice, I so appreciate it. Guess I'll order the CD wicks to try. I've never used anything other than the zinc, so this is going to be another learning adventure, LOL! While I have this post going, can I ask another question. I found a local wax distributor not far from me. They sell Enchanted Lites wax. I believe that is the correct spelling. I did a search on here for them, but there weren't really many that used it. Has anybody tried that wax with much success? Sure would save lots of money on shipping, but the last thing I need is a new wax to try to learn. Again, thanks for all the help.

No, the wax was very soft. The knife went right thru it. I even mentioned to Becky at JS that I pushed on the wax after I had let the candle sit for a few days and it would make an indentation. She laughed and said to stop doing that. It just appears to be so very soft, which makes it melt so quickly.

Hi Deb ~ I cured each candle for 4 days, a couple of them for a week. I used JS's zinc wicks, Medium - 51-32-18-Z; Small/Medium - 44-24-18-Z; Small - 36-24-Z; All 6 inch wicks. I double wicked it today with the small 36-24-Z. I also tried a couple of the medium and small wicks from NG. Its so frustrating! I can make beeswax candles with my eyes closed and gell candles. Soy and Parafin, good grief, you need a degree. I'm melting my wax at 175 degrees. Adding color block at 170, FO around 165 and pouring around 160 degrees. Warming my containers to, not hot, just warm. Becky at JS said to lite them within hours, but I haven't tried that. What am I doing wrong???

OK! Well I double wicked the candle using small wicks. Within 25 minutes I had a full melt pool, 1/4 deep. I just think this wax is to soft. Moving up to a 75/25 blend to see what happens. Lord knows I have enough wax around here to try anything. Connie

I single wicked! Really, double wick huh. I didn't think the jar would be big enough, 3" wide. Thanks for answering, I'll give it a try. Will that help the scent throw to? I used FO Black Cherry and I couldn't believe I didn't get anything. Thanks, Connie

Hi again! I am ready to pull my hair out. I've poured several 16 oz wide mouth ball jars and NOTHING. Nice cold scent. But No hot scent throw on some FO's that knock your socks off just opening the bottle. Have rewicked every imaginable size and I can't get a full melt pool. It seems to melt off to one side and down leaving a crater and not burning down on the other side. (No my cabinets aren't unlevel, believe me I checked) LOL! I've talked to Becky at JS, tried her directions and I'm just lost. ANybody else use the JSB 50/50 for containers that is having any luck? I ordered samples of this wax on different ocassions, so I don't think its a bad batch of wax. What NEXT? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Connie

Oh Good Grief Bruce ~ I read that manuel over and over again. Where the heck I came up with the large 6" wick, is beyond me now. I even wrote it down several times. Well that is why you are the expert and I am the beginner, LOL! I can't believe I did that, no wonder the wax was melting so much. I "Promise" to pay more attention to the details in the future and where my glasses. What kind of candle would even use a large 6' wick, I suppose pillars. Haven't gotten that far yet. Thank you again for finding all my candle and (reading) faults, I seem to have a lot of them, LOL! Going to try this again with the correct wicks and see what happens. Connie

Sorry, that didn't turn out right. Wick Size & Number of wicks Candle Container Size wick # 28 oz. apothecary jar 6" 44-28-18Z 2 16 oz. apothecary jar 5" 51-32-18Z 2 10 oz. Clear apothecary 2 1/2' 44-28-18Z 2

Bruce ~ I based my info on having a 32 ounce wide mouth jar with the 28 Apothecary jar they listed. Do you have a different view from what they listed as far as using 1 or 2 wicks? I am going to take your advice and try one wick next time. I know they're a candle supply company, but people like yourself that make them all the time, I feel more comfortable with trying your way, if that makes sence, LOL! I think Deborah Ward who wrote the manuel has probably only used NG's waxes and this is what she found to be the best within NG. She has a wealth of info there, but, I'm not using their wax, not yet anyway! Copy and pasted from NG ~ This is in their Candle Manuel written by Deborah Ward. Wick Size & Number Candle Container Size wick # 28 oz. apothecary jar 6" 44-28-18Z 2 16 oz. apothecary jar 5" 51-32-18Z 2 10 oz. Clear apothecary 2 1/2' 44-28-18Z 2 10 oz. Frosted apothecary 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 2 5 oz. apothecary 5" 51-32-18Z 1 Flowerpot 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 1 1.5 oz. Hexagon 1 3/4" 44-20-18Z 1 4 oz. Hexagon 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 1 9 oz. Hexagon 6" 44-28-18Z 1 4 oz. Swivel Jar 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 1 Country Jar (4 oz.) 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 1 8 oz. Cylinder 6" 44-28-18Z 1 Votives (15 hour) 2 1/2" 44-28-18Z 1 East Coastie here and I gotta hit the hay. I'll check back in the morning though. Thank you so very, very much for all your time and help. I really do appreciate at!!! Connie

Hi Bruce, I agree! So, you're saying that the melt pool should only be about 3" wide across the top of the candle in a 3 hours time period? Gosh, I achieved that in about 30 minutes. I knew it wasn't right when I seen it had gotten so deep. According to Natures Gardens wick tips, the size jar I used called for two large zinc wicks. So, that is definitely wrong. Could be the wax I used to. Thanks for clearing that up though. I definitely need to wick down! Connie

Hi, Me again! Thanks for the advice. All these different waxes, wick #'s, different companies, my gosh its mind boggling. I've been researching everywhere including many of the posts here for the past couple of days now. I stepped back, took a long look at it all and decided to just go for it! I've been doing my testing completely wrong. Pouring my container candles with the wicks. No way to pull them out. So, I ordered samples of wicks from a couple different suppliers. Strange how one company will tell you to use one large wick and another will tell you to double wick the candle, GEEZ! Guess its going to be a long process getting it all correct. But, I still do like the 50/50 for JS. Going to pour and try more testers with what I already have and different wicks and maybe, just maybe it'll work this time. Burned my candle again today and had a 2" melt pool in about 90 minutes, so that was definitely burning to hot. Anyway, I looked but couldn't find anything on the controversary on the 50/50 container wax from JS and C&S. Can anyone point me in that direction. I would love to read what they are saying about it. I don't want to order more of it if there is a potential problem. Just wanted to say thanks again for the help and advice. Connie

Thanks Tess ~ The jar wasn't that hot after 3 hours. Think I'll try again tomorrow and see how deep the melt pool goes. I guess I should have poured one candle with just 1 wick. Maybe next time. Connie