Rae Ann

I'm not using EZ soy but I am using soy with beeswax and I don't cure for 2 weeks, a couple days is plenty for me. I too have found that I pour a little warmer with the beeswax added - seems to get slushy a little sooner.

The really funny thing is I'm now full circle with container wax right back to where I was over two years - good ol' KY125. I've just not found any soy's or container paraffin I liked completely (no hate mail please) so I'm just gonna deal with it and use that - which I always thought was one of the best "regular" soys IMO.

Wierd - I've just gone back to KY125 too. Been through Joy, Joy/Soy, CB Advanced, tested GL70/30 and CB135 and have found that "good ol' KY125" burns cleaner, scents stay truer, and is just more reliable in general for me. This is one of the first waxes I used. I've quit coloring my candles too so I don't have frost issues and use a more colorful label instead. I really like how they look with the brown kraft labels.

The rusty Mason lids from BCN are nice. They are really rusted, in fact if I don't wipe them out inside I'll get rust specs on top of my candles. A little pricey though - I think I paid $10.60 for 12 the last time I ordered but they are cute. I don't like the apothecary lids they have now. They have these cheesy plastic fitments that look like they've been cut with a scissors. I get my Mason jars from the grocery store or Walmart. They have Kerr on one side but the other is smooth for a label and no shipping!

He's gone country, look at them boots.......

BNL's Vanilla Sandalwood is about the sexiest thing I've ever smelled - don't know about on a guy though. I do love when my hubby showers with Peppercorn soap........

KY's Hot Apple Pie is really good. I think it's spicier than Snowtop's Baked Apples.

I don't change it either. I think people get a kick out of it.

Rae Ann- I've been testing lots of pines lately for my diffusers and haven't found one I'm happy with since i need it to have a kick butt cold throw. Anyway, I want to try balsam fir but wanted to try a couple more for soaps. What is your oob opinion on the

white tea - is this on the sweet side

lavender berg - more lavender or berg?

lemon verbena - more flowery or lemony

frank & myrhh - I like lebermuths but it is pricey - do you know if this compares?

Thanks for any help!

Lori

Hey Lori~

I'm not great at descriptions but I'll try...

White Tea - yes, kinda sweet but kinda earthy too.

Lavender Bergamot - this is coming from a lavender hater but I actually sort of like this one - I think the bergamot tones down the lavender some. It has a citrus like note to it.

Lemon Verbena - definately not flowerey. Very lemony, smells great. Not Pledge like at all, I think this would be great in soap.

Frank & Myrhh - woodsy and a little sweet but not perfumey like some I've smelled. I've never tried Lebermuth's so I can't compare but I do like this.

And definately try the Balsam Fir, it's the strongest pine I have ever smelled out of bottle - VERY realistic too. I've never made diffusers but I think this would be awesome.

Hope this helps. If you email Laura she may be able to help you more. She was really nice and very willing to answer my questions.

I have just started using beeswax at about 3% in my soy and it seems as if the scent throw is actually stronger. Is this possible or just my imagination? Have any of you that use beeswax as an additive noticed any difference in hot throw? Just curious...

Thanks

Pomegranate and Fig is really nice or I bet you could mix it with some sort of spice to get more of a holiday scent.

Just another thought... have you tried any other type of wick than the CD's? I find that I get more flickering with the self trimming type wicks than I do with cored wicks. CD's are nice wicks and burn well but in my experience the wicks that curl do a little more jumping than the ones that stay straight (zinc, cotton, paper etc.)

Got my oils yesterday and they are FABULOUS! Renee, you were right about the Balsam Fir - that is the most authentic pine scent I have ever smelled and way strong. I also got samples of Lemon Verbena, Lavender Bergamot, Pumpkin Butter, Frankincense & Myrhh, Maple Sugar and White Tea. Haven't poured any yet but I have no doubt they'll be great in wax.

Thanks for the tip Renee - I'll definately order from them again!

I love the Scented Bean's Cranberry. It's not sweet like some I've tried - more on the tart side. To me it smells like real cranberries and it's very strong in soy.

Not a straight teakwood but I really like JBN's Citrus & Teakwood.

I like paper or cotton core wicks in straight soy. They don't bend at the tip and give me a more even burn. I'd start with 2 - 51 paper or cottons in an apothecary.

I'm burning Just by Nature's orange vanilla right now. It's sweet, creamy, delicious and no fuel. Love it!

Someone here posted about The Natural Artisan having a wonderful Balsam Fir fragrance that was 90% essential oils. I emailed them with a couple questions late last night (I've never used essential oils before) and had an in depth response early this morning. I placed an order this morning and just got an email that it was already shipped! I'd never heard of this company before and thought I'd give them a try. They have some really nice sounding oils, prices are reasonable, and she said they all work well in soy. Just thought I'd put in a plug for them... I love a company with great customer service!

Just poured this and it is DIVINE! This, to me, is the essence of Christmas. Smells like pine, cinnamon and just a touch of sweetness. Love it! If you're looking for a great Christmas scent you may want to try this. Super strong too.

I just got an email from Julie at Julie's Candles and she sells a 1275 wax that is 50/50 paraffin/soy. It sounds like a really nice wax. She said it is not prone to sink holes which I've had a problem with in some of the parasoy blends. Candles and Supplies in PA also sells a 1275 "Production Pour" wax - not sure if it's the same one but it would make sense since they're both called 1275. Julie is very nice to deal with and has other supplies as well. There are some posts on here about the 1275 from C & S if you do a search.

Here is Julie's response to my inquiry:

Thank you for your interest in our 1275 one pour wax. The 1275 is a 50/50 blend with soy and paraffin mix. A wonderful quality with the 1275 you always get a smooth creamy finish to your candle, no sinkage, or holes. Holes usually come with a temperature control problem but with the 1275 its not temperature sensitive. Another great quality with the 1275 it will absorb more scent. Let me explain, when you use a paraffin wax sometimes heavy scents, like vanilla, cranberry cobblers, you have to back off on your scent if you don't the wax won't absorb all of it and you will have the scent sink to the bottom. With the 1275 you can use the 1.5 oz per lb of wax with even the heaviest scent and it will not bleed out. Now with the 1275 since it does have soy in it some scents don't throw well. But the scent throw would not be any different then what you are already used too.

When burning your candle the only way you will reduce your soot and smoke is to use 100% soy wax. Even if you are using a 50/50 blend or 60/40 blend. As long as it has paraffin in it the candle will always smoke and have soot.

I hope I answered your questions, if you have more and need more information please let me know. I will answer them the best that I can.

On a side note, your wick can also play into your candle smoking too. I don't know which one you use but an HTP will reduce the smoke.

Thanks Julie

Sorry I forgot to answer which size wick do you have to use. Since the 1275 is a 50/50 blend you don't have to up your wick size for your candle to burn correctly. If you are pouring into a jelly jar then a jelly jar wick will work.

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried this company's oils for candles? They are in Ohio and have some really interesting sounding scents and prices are pretty reasonable. Any opinions good or bad? Thanks

I just got a bottle of this yesterday. Haven't poured it yet but oob it smells great - very Christmasy and very strong. To me it smells like pine, cinnamon and maybe some citrus.

NEW! Cinnamon Vanilla--Popular blend of heartwarming cinnamon sugar mixed with undertones of cherries and buttery caramel frosting over sweet cake wrapped in spiced clove and warm vanilla spice.

I just saw this new one at Millcreek. Might be worth getting a sample...

I've tried two on your list - Vanilla Pear and Hillbilly Homebrew and I think they're both great. The Vanilla Pear doesn't seem super strong in the bottle but it does have a very nice throw in soy. I use the Hillbilly Homebrew but rename it Mulled Cider, great fall scent.

Finally got around to pouring my 464 sample last night. I used 2 16 oz. apothecaries and a regular mouth pint mason jar. Liquid dyes in all. Tops look great - no need for heat gun. The apothecaries have no frost on the sides at all and adhesion is complete, no wetspots whatsoever. I poured a few candles with a different wax at the same time and they already have lots of wet spots. The mason jar has some frost on the sides and is also the one I used the most dye with (burgundy). The tops have a very slightly lighter color, I wouldn't really call it frost though - going to keep an eye on this as I have a feeling it may worsen with time. I poured these all at 150 degrees and this seems to be a good pouring temperature. Cold throw is very good.

FMP with no hang up after a 3 hour burn!!

2ND Burn was perfect too!!! No soot, FMP and tops looked smooth when extinguished.

Is this in the mason jars? Can I ask what type and size wick you used - just looking for a starting point. I'd planned to pour my sample this weekend then got too busy.

Those look great Islandgirl - thanks for posting them! Just got my wax yesterday so I'll be pouring some tonight. Has anyone had any sinkholes or air pockets with this wax so far? That was the biggest problem I had with the 444 - hidden air pockets.