starlessjade

I also attack my boyfriend with them... "smell this one!" "smell that one!" It drives him crazy.

If you find out the weight of the empty mold, you could probably use the "container" calculator at http://www.candletech.com/calculator/container.php

Wax is denser than water, meaning that the same weight in wax will take up less space than the water, so there would have to be a conversion involved.

Whenever I get a new shipment of samples, I line them up on the desk next to my computer, and sneak whiffs of them while I lurk on the Candletech Fo-- I mean, work on homework.

I just can't put them away.

At least, until the next batch comes.

It sounds to me like one of your bottles might be leaking. I can't smell my FOs at all unless they are open or I at least stick them right under my nose. I had one that leaked during shipping, all over the other bottles, and the room smelled like it for a week.

So you keep repoking the holes? Is "repoking" even a word?! I've ended up doing that a few times but wasn't sure if it was right.

I haven't been able to find a good answer to this one, or get the hang of it myself... when do you poke relief holes and repour? I always end up doing it too early (candle is still liquid) or too late (candle has completely cooled, and it's hard to make or enlarge the holes)

Is there a certain sign that I'm looking for, like how warm the outside of the mold feels, or a certain time range? I'm also usually pouring in layers, taking up to 2 hours to pour the entire thing, so I would need to know if the time was measured from the first pour or the last one.

Right now I'm doing rustic pillars in a 3x4.5" mold with IGI 1443, 3 tbs stearic. Usually lots of fairly thin layers, but I've been also doing solids and 2-3 layers. Cooling naturally, no water bath or anything.

This is starting to really frustrate me and it would really help if someone could at least give me a starting point to work from. Thanks.

Yup, I poured my sample of the Bartlett Pear, and... wow. I was really impressed. My apartment still smells like a big green pear. I only ordered the two though- I think I'll have my hands full testing those. (although Spring Break is next week...)

I also got a sample of the Vanilla Hazelnut. I've already got two of them from different suppliers, and I need to compare, lol.

I'm in love with every candle of yours that I've seen. Gorgeous!

I finally took the plunge... well, two of them, actually... I ordered an entire case of wax, and some FOs in sizes larger than samples (Bartlett Pear and Ginger Peach from Peak)

I may never see a paycheck again.

I'm also planning on getting more Madagascar Vanilla Orchid from FOH and Pumpkin Crunch Cake from NG to play with, but maybe I'll wait until payday.

But, do you then fill up a whole online shopping cart & then quickly log off thier site, for fear that you might hit that paypal button & actually send a payment/order for tons more FO's that you truly shouldn't be buying? But you just spent the past hour clicking through all those descriptions & filling up your virtual shopping cart? Did I just admit that outloud?

I do it all the time. The worst thing is the sites that save your shopping cart *COUGH COUGH Peak* because then a few weeks later when I go back, my cart is already filled for me...

Yeah, I think I will pass on NG's then. Thanks! For some reason most of their oils seem fakey to me....especially the fruit and bakery scents. Not sure what it is, but they are not 'it' for me....maybe it is my wax, just not sure. Right now I only use three scents from NG--old fashioned banana pudding, butter brickle, and pumpkin crunch cake.

I gasped when you said that their bakery scents smelled fake, because the pumpkin crunch cake is so fantastic... but then you said you liked that one. Whew!

I think for me it is not wanting to miss the perfect scent that I know I will be crazy about. Just have to know what every last one of them smells like and who has the absolute best.

Ditto! If the perfect fragrance is out there, I don't want to miss it. I've been making candles for only about a month, and I must have 60 FO samples by now. Hopefully my candle making skills will eventually catch up to my FO collecting skills. :embarasse

I know some FOs are only allowed to be shipped via ground (low flash point or something?) so maybe you ordered one of those or they've decided to ship all FOs through ground.

Not very cool for them to charge you more for shipping after you ordered... was that at least specified on the site or the order form? There's a polymer clay website that I order from a lot, and they overestimate shipping when you order then send a partial refund once they find out the exact cost. I think that works out better because then you are sent a few extra dollars instead of charged a few extra dollars, and who can complain about that?

Honestly I think the best way to do it is to base shipping on either your order total or on the weight of your order, then charge you that amount no matter what. They might lose a little money on shipping some orders, but if they set it right they would also gain a little money on shipping other orders, and it would balance out. Theoretically.

I use a little paring knife to break up my hard slabs. If you push it straight in it does a pretty good job of making the wax split. The trash bag method would probably be a little faster though, lol.

My advice would be to expect to make mistakes and try to learn from them instead of getting upset about them.

But I guess that applies to any craft, and even to life in general!

Peak is awesome, but since you're on the other side of the country, it may not be your best choice for shipping wax. I love Nature's Garden for fragrance oils. I've ordered from about 10 different sites so far, and usually out of 10-15 FOs I end up liking just a couple, but I loved all the fragrances I got from NG. Plus they have a huge selection and great service.

Your bf did a great job - hope he's inspired to do more.

Today he was jumping up and down in the kitchen asking me if he could pour a layer of my candle... I guess that's a good sign. :DI could use a partner in crime.

It does look very professional! Nice job.

I grew up in Tucson

That's gorgeous. I wear my "fancy" necklaces with jeans all the time!

My mom made purses for a craft fair a few months ago... I couldn't believe how much work she put into those things. Especially putting in zippers!

Beautiful, I love it!

Still pretty! Sorry I was so unhelpful about the black dye.

I'd use burgundy

I'm waiting on my Jungle Love to cool I can't wait to see it out of the mold lmao patience with candles isn't one of my virtues.

I have to pour late at night so I'm forced to wait until morning.

Oh no, I just placed an order at BCN, without Witches Brew of course. Actually I'll probably just make the candles unscented. Easier.

I haven't smelled the Softsoap, but Pomegranate/Mango sounds like it would be fantastic.

I actually just found a recipe for mango salsa with pomegranate seeds in it!