daniedb

The manufacturers of each preservative put out a usage rate on their literature. Most wholesalers will also put that in the info on the website. Bunny also has a great sticky with preservative info at the top of the page that should help. All else fails, google the name of your preservative with the added words usage rate or percentage and voila!

Oh yeah, if you're not using any water (just the butters and oils), you don't need stearic or ewax, and both of those will cause what you are experiencing. Report back, if you don't mind, with your results!

I use the plain crystal clear labels for my laser printer, they aren't waterproof, per se, but they have never smudged or run in the bath, I use them on almost all of my products. I get them from www.onlinelabels.com

For your MC list, Balsam & Spice is fabulous! It actually ended up being my second best seller last Christmas, which really surprised me. I just needed a neutral/masculine scent, but almost every person that bought it was a woman, and it was almost always an indulgence for themselves.

I like just "Island Baby", I think that's adorable! Island to me means anything tropical, fruits, berries, whatever. And "Island Baby" conjures up a little nekkid toddler meandering around on the beach with nut-brown skin and a longish, sun-bleached hair with nothing but a diaper on. Other ideas:

Tropical Baby

Baby in the Tropics

Havana (or another specific island or tropical place name) Baby

Sounds delish, I wanna use some!

Hola! I am here! I managed to get a nice MP and great throw with EZ soy and a titch of b/w with a CD 18 or 20. Tins freak me out, though - I am STILL testing them after a year, because they just get so durn hot when they burn for too long. It seems that an 18 is just a tad too small and a 20 just burns sooooo hot with such a giant flame. Haven't found the perfect solution, but I hope to - I sure do love them.

I use my container blend (97-98% pure soy and the rest b/w) and it's an absolutely perfect consistency. It pops right out, doesn't flake or get filmy and looks purty and smooth.

LOL! Good question about whether or not we're ever really satisfied. I have to say that it's really one of those "one day at a time" things....like being in recovery from an addiction. I have to admit that I am powerless over what I cannot control, accept the things that I cannot change, change those which I can, and pray for the wisdom to know the difference, LOL!

Seriously, there are great days, when you are cranking 'em out like a champ and you're not getting one wet spot, seeing perfectly flat tops, getting amazing throw and everything is rocking and rolling, and then there are the days when you pour just a 1/2 degree too hot and you get brainy tops, horrid spots and you just want to throw up your hands.

It took me quite a few months to be happy with my containers, happy enough to sell them and be proud of how they looked, so yes...it happens. You just have to remember that there's NO such thing as perfection, but you can get awfully close. You just reach that moment where you look at this row of almost perfectly turned out candles, and you realize that you might actually be content with what you've created! It's a great day, but it takes a while! Hang in there, and keep on doing what you're doing, with the effort and time and consideration you are obviously putting into it, you are going to reach that point sooner than a lot of newbies who just kind of flounder around (including myself a few years ago)!

What kind of printer (laser or inkjet), and where did you get the paper?

Yeah, the silpats rock, but they're a little pricey up front - I just can't choke out $25 at once, I'd rather buy the parchment for $2.50 and ignore that I could save money in the loooooon run, LOL!

That makes total sense about the glycolic peels! I'll have to write that down in case I get any marks with this one. I didn't get any with Henry (rub, rub), and so far, with this one, I'm also mark-free, but I've still got the major stretching to go, so I'm trying not to jinx myself. My mama didn't get any either, but you never know...I was always convinced I would get them in pregnancy because when I was in HS, my breasts went from an A to a C within 3 months, then grew to a large D within the next year, so I have some nice stretch marks on those puppies. I figured I was screwed when it came to having babies, but so far, I've managed to stay out of the woods (knock wood, cross fingers, whatever I have to do)!

That's so funny! I would do something like that.

Have you tried using parchment paper? It won't leave a mark and you can also reuse the sheets a few times, if they stay clean and don't get dark marks from the heat (which would indicate that it was getting too hot and could ignite if you reuse it). It's next to the foil at the store.

Ambra del Nepal is really nice in wax, it's not blow-your-doors-off strong, but it is a very romantic and steady scent. 'Spensive for candles, though. I mixed it with some Buttercream Crunch from WYW to enhance the throw and it was pretty delish, if I do say so.

What the frick is a "pee bug"? Does she actually call it that?

Also, I have to admit, I'm such a boring woman that for the first whole page of your thread, I thought the man ran a dirty store...as in he didn't clean well. I was so confused about why she would care that your candles were in a store that didn't stay tidy.

Deana, I LOVE it! It's beautiful!

Someone just recommended MC's Caramel Apple to me, it sounds divine, and the person has already poured and tested it, and had great feedback.

It is freaking hard to find that stuff at ours - it usually makes brief and much-clamored-after appearances for a few limited days. I've wondered the same thing, but after studying the ingredient list, my conclusion is...lots and lots of chemicals and other unnatural stuff, which isn't interesting to me to replicate. So, that didn't help, but I just thought I'd throw in my $.02.

Also, I've been very happy with my rinky dinky foaming bottles that turn regular liquid soap into a nice lush foam - I use castile soap and dilute the heck out of it, use it to wash my boy, and it's awesome. He loves to play with it, and since there's only about an inch of actual soap in the bottle, it's not a bit wasteful.

I haven't used the square ones, but I've used regular tins from both SKS and Specialty Bottle, and the SKS ones are much nicer, IMO. I like SB for lots of other things, but their tins are just not as nice looking as others I've seen.

Lemon Verbena from MMS

Mandarin Neroli EO blend from SC

Sugar Plum Berries from BCN

No answer about the Vybar from me, just a big ole fat shoulder to cry on - that really stinks! I'm sorry that you have an uphill battle now with your marketing because of two people that just decided to screw around with candles. Perhaps, if the issue comes up (like the customer about the "other" soy candles), and you are not the one who brings it up (thus avoiding impropriety and the appearance of badmouthing), you can mention that, you have knowledge about their formula and lack of testing, and that both of those contribute to a candle that may not be up to the standards that you impose on your candles. If you don't already, you may institute a money-back guarantee.

Again, I'm sorry for the problem these women caused, that is really frustrating.

I've heard raves about BCS's Christmas/Country Spice - it's supposed to be a great spicy mixer, and even terrific on its own, it says on the site that there is some fruit in it, but I've never heard anyone say they can smell it. I've not tried not, but I plan to use it this year.

Doesn't BCS also ship Priority if it's less than 2 pounds? I know BCN does, and I'm pretty sure that BCS does as well, I can remember getting Priority Mail from them. They don't offer it as an option in the shopping cart, but all you have to do is put a note in the Notes box that you prefer Priority Mail if it's 2 pounds or less.

LOL - I make candles on the other side of the gate while the baby hangs on (to the gate) and hollers to be let in and the toddler shows and tells me about every toy and topic she can think of.

Quiet time indeed.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, that's hilarious.

Thanks so much for the input so far...I knew that there would be a sense of loss when I decided to dial it down, but I am just heartbroken at missing this upcoming season, I didn't know I would feel this way. You people - you knew it, didn't you?!

ARGHARGHARGH! I'm so frustrated! I know that I made the decision to quit business and keep up B&B and candles as a hobby, and I felt really great about that decision, but now I'm second-guessing it. I've really struggling with all the talk of Christmas, I am really having a hard time sticking be my decision. This is my absolute favorite time of year to make candles, and I get to pour scents that I only pour at this time - and I was going to add 2 new Christmas fragrances this year. Also, as with most of us, this is my biggest money-making time. Flip side, I'll be having a baby at the beginning of November, BUT if I get in gear now, and limit my offerings, I can actually get most everything made before then. I have a store here that carries my candles and gift boxes and last year they did CRAZY sales at Christmas, and they just mentioned to my cousin that they need me to check in with them for more stock.

So, I'm thinking that I might be able to keep it up on the wholesale side, and if I do Christmas this year, I'm not committing to anything big - I haven't sold off much of my candle stuff, and I have enough B&B stuff that I kept to make plenty of Christmas lotions and creams....ARGH!

I guess I'm just looking to ramble and blow off steam, and tell you guys how mad I am at you because you keep talking about Christmas FOs and gift sets and stuff, LOL!

Don't feel obligated to answer or to give me any kind of real advice, I'm working through this and will definitely be able to come up with an answer that works for my family, so it's not like I'm leaving it up to y'all to decide, but if you have an idea or comment that will help, by all means, chime in!

I would base your EO usage on the liquid amount instead of the sugar weight - how much oil/liquid are you using? IN my deep cleansing oil, I use 2 mL of TTO per 4 oz of oils.