Lantern Light Mama

Thanks Stella! A styrofoam cooler is a GREAT idea...it would contain any mess that might occur too. My space is relatively small, so I just couldn't picture a box over the top of it all. Oh...I'm so excited...I'm going to pour some right now! You're the best!

Grrrrrrr! My new digital camera software is being a PITA!!! I can't download off of it, so I can't post the picture of the feathering palm candle. But I swear...it looks exactly the same as my crystallizing candles do! Darn it! There is a gorgeous picture in the gallery right here: http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66914&highlight=palm+wax

I want it to look like this! I heat to 200, and generally pour at 180-190, usually closer to 190. This time things got away from me and I poured at 170, but I still got great crystals. It just doesn't look like the one in the photo above. I use aluminum molds, I don't preheat them. The high temperature of the wax would overwhelm anything I did to preheat. I let them cool on my table on top of a cookie sheet so wax doesn't go everywhere in case it leaks. But honestly, I get that pattern at the top of the candle where it touches the cookie sheet (cooling faster presumably) and at the bottom of the candle where it cools fast. I thought it was supposed to look that way when you cool it slow. Any thoughts? Maybe it's time to pull out a cardboard box to cool in? I don't do this in the kitchen, so I really don't want to cool it in the oven.

Thanks Stella...I was hoping you were lurking tonight. I can't wait to pull it out of the mold then! I won't be able to sleep now! I asked JBN if they could verify where their wax comes from and it still seems they have no clue. "somewhere in Malaysia" they e-mailed me back. Oh well...I tried.

OK...I feel really dumb. So it's been a year since I ordered palm wax. I always got the crystallizing wax from JBN. The cost has gone up (big surprise), so I did some searcing around, now that more suppliers carry it. I found mostly "feathering palm", saw pictures, and figured it would have more large "fireworks" in the candles. Not the Starburst effect, but larger fireworks. I got it from Nu-Scents. It came in exactly the same bag that JBN sends! So now I'm thinking it is the same thing, just a new or different name. Are they the same? Or does the feathering wax really have a different look than the crystallizing wax?:undecided

I use #1/0 square braid wicks in my 3inch palm pillars. No one seems to really use these, but I just swear by them! They burn very slow, no huge flames, no dancing, and by the time the candle is halfway down the top edges are very thin and artistic looking. I have pics on my website in the gallery...I should do more. They are so unique looking...I just love the palm too.

The Vibe jars are very similar in shape, but the studio jars are made by Anchor Hocking, like Vicki said. I have the big ones, and I just love them. I use 100% soy C3, square braid wicking, 1oz/lb FO, and color chips. I get differences in burn depending on the FO, but other than that, they work great. They are more expensive than other jars though too. Cierra Candles carries them (or used to anyway...have to check).

I use the Palm from JBN and have never poured twice, and have never had an air pocket in one of them. I actually have been pouring them wickless to use as scent and color samples for wholesale accounts. I do get the air in the pillars and poke relief holes, but not in votives. Phase of the moon...?

Genwax has tumblers without lids... www.genwax.com

Each of my candles is different and it depends on the price of the glassware it is in. I have a 5oz tumbler that is $7, a 4oz lidded jar that is $9...etc. I take my cost per candle (jar, wax, color, wick, FO, wick sticker, labels, etc)and multiply it by four. If it seems high for where I live, I might do X3 or X3.5.

I'm with Stella...I do the same thing. Some fragrances are naturally stonger than others anyways. But if it's not strong enough, I get rid of it.

I spoke with Danny at JBN with the very same question about a year ago, because one of my wholesale accounts is for a green company. He said that it is virtually impossible to find this out. The wax comes in big shipments on boats that are not labelled as to what farm or area it specifically comes from, so unless the distributors care enough to make sure they purchase only from sustainable farms (which would be difficult to do) and then publicize that they do this, it seems to be untraceable. Maybe other companies can track this down...I'd be curious what Swan's would say.

I love the chips in my soy! It feels like they are "pre-measured" for me. I love being able to mix them and have them be so exact each time. Sometimes I do break them in half to adjust a shade. I've never really had any trouble with frosting or anything. They do come out paler, so if you like really dark colors you may have to fiddle with them. Over all, I find them easy to use.

I use square braid wicking...it's kind of hard to find, but works really well with the viscous vegetable waxes. I use tumblers and round jars...I've even used some square tins. They burn really slow, so I just love them!

The easiest thing to do if they are just for gifts is to buy a kit from one of the candle supply manufacturers. That way you KNOW it's all supposed to go together and give you a great candle...sans the stress and money wasted!

I use #1/0 square braid wick in my 3in pillars. they burn really slow, so it takes quite a few hours to get anywhere near where yours are at 4 hours. they look great though! Great job!

I use about 1 tsp/lb of USA and 1 tsp/lb of coconut oil in my C3. The coconut oil does give it a creamier look, and seems to help it set better.

Mine are from JBN...it's like $2.50 or so for 100 of them.

I get mine from Just By Nature, and they supply these neat dropper bottle caps that you can buy separately. It fits on all of their containers...I'm not sure what size they are, but worth a try. www.justbynature.com

I premeasure my wax in 1 lb increments, and use 1oz of FO per 1lb wax. I heat the wax to 200 (I use palm wax from JBN), add 1 Tbsp of palm stearic acid, and my color chips. Once all that is mixed and at 200, I pour in my FO. This is all happening in a Presto. I stir very well, make sure it's still at 200, then put in a pouring pot and pour into molds at room temp. My candles scent the room just by sitting in them, nevermind buring them. Good luck. My FO's are from JBN as well. I just love them.

I love Banana Nut bread, but can't seem to sell it here. They say it's too sweet. I've sold apple strudel in all sizes, and lots of peach (how bizarre!). hardly any christmas tree or cranberry balsam (also bizarre) You can't trust your own nose...it's all up to the customer and what they want that year. You did great! Pat yourself on the shoulder and keep going!

You are in New Jersey, I am in California...but Kent Landsberg does this. I don't know how far they reach.

One thing I've done that's helped is to participate in sample boxes - for example, http://www.thelittleblackboxes.com, or http://www.simplypinkbox.com, or http://www.thecandlebuzz.com

Thank you for the great info!!!!!

I love JBN too. Their FO's are great. I've had trouble wicking the peach ones, but a favorite all the same. Have fun!

C-3 is better for jar adhesion...give that a shot. That's we use...we have some trouble with wet spots in our tumblers, but we pour at about 150F or below. We wash out the jars with an ammonia based glass cleaner, and don't preheat them. Good luck.