kandlekrazy

I've found that the LX wicks leave stuff in the wax no matter which wax you use. I love the burn pool with these wicks, but I hate the shrooms and the "droppings" that turn the wax ugly!

I checked out the Accu Blend website and they also have an olive oil blend! I'm only about 45 minutes from South El Monte...but I'm not sure they will sell direct, looks like maybe just wholesale.

Very interesting! Coconut oil wax??? Wonder what they are blending with. Maybe worth a try when I get bored again!

I'm using 1 tsp coconut oil and 1 oz FO per # of wax...I would keep your FO same as you have been and start with just 1 tsp per #. I added it with my fo and stirred for about 4-5 minutes and then let it cool the rest of the way...stir again right before you pour. HTH!!

Have you read the thread on coconut oil? Haven't tried it in 415 yet, but it did make a big difference in both C-3 and Ecosoya Advanced as far as cold and hot throw. You may indeed have candlenose as previously stated. Sometimes I can barely smell them and someone comes into my house and smells them at the door. I really have the smell problem if I've been pouring 4 or more fragrances in a day! Try getting out of the house and into the fresh air...it's beautiful in Central CA right now...it will do wonders for your smeller.

1850 hairdryers work great...IF you like wax spattered all over the place! Don't ask me how I know this:embarasse ....Ace Hardware also carries an inexpensive heat gun that is really pretty nice....think it was 21.99.

While the heat response makes some sense...it doesn't explain why this happens only with 1 or 2 FO's...in 1 or 2 waxes...wouldn't it happen with all of them if they are all waxed and wicked the same? I just tell my customers ahead of time that the candle may turn grey after burning and it is a characteristic of that particular fo...which is the truth IMHO. No one seems to really care.

I also live in CA and I'm going back to using Cargill's C-3 only because I can pick it up from General Wax (or have it delivered for under $14.00/cs). IMO, with shipping and wax costs going up, buy what you can get reasonably and work out the issues. C-3 is really a great wax, I've learned to work thru the minor issues I had with it. I think I've tried almost all of them and spent tons testing...9 months later and I'm back to C-3 where I started...they all had an issue (I don't blend with paraffin.) The "perfect" wax really doesn't exist...although we all wish it did...then we'd all be HTH!

Jami, That is my biggest fear of using a heat gun! I really don't like them, even though I like the results. For the time being, I'm going back to using my micro torch...at least I can control it! Anita

You might also try cutting down on the FO by 1 oz...sometimes too much can destroys your throw. Try 1 oz in a # and see what happens....test, test, test...but how happy you will be when you get the result you want!

Jami, I've had the same thing happen with other waxes. JMO, but I think that if the wax is not kept air tight, some of the oils begin to evaporate...I'm bad about storing my wax! I'm also beginning to think that when I get a new box, I should mix it before using it (who knows how long it has been sitting in a warehouse?) Just a couple of things I'm going to try to see if it resolves this problem. HTH Anita

Since last week, I've tried various amounts of coconut oil, and in C-3 wax about 1 teaspoon per pound seems to work best (using the same ratio of FO 1 oz per pound of wax.) It didn't really smooth out tops for me (even with more CO), but after 1st burn it is incredibly smooth and it definitely improved the cold and hot throw. I'm waiting on a couple of fragrances that I had given up on to see if it improves hot throw on them (dang that cure time...wish we could burn right away!)

The gun itself cratered?

If you're looking for an inexpensive heat gun to see if you like working with it, check Harbor Freight Tools. My husband picked one up for me this morning for $9.99. It has 2 heat settings and works just fine for candles. They have stores in almost every state and also have an online store.

Also....YES...Great scent throw, both cold and hot! Love this FO.

Thanks for the info!

I had it happen with a smoke and odor eliminator, but as I said before only with the Ecosoya advanced wax. Used the same FO in other soy wax and it didn't happen. Also used several different wicks to be sure that wasn't the problem.

It must be something with the Ecosoya Advanced CB along with the FO, because it happened to me with one scent using this wax only...doesn't matter what wick I use (I tried about 6 of them!)still turns grey.

Has anyone tried the new white tea from Candle Science? Just wondering if you needed to wick up with it?

The liquid dye is definitely easier. The chips are next...blocks are the hardest as you have to really measure out how much you are using (or weigh it) to get consistency in color. I find that the chips and blocks do not always dissolve completely even at high temps and then the candle will have specks in it after it cures. I quit using them all for the most part. I do make a breast cancer candle that I still dye with light pink using the chips. I have a bunch of blocks and a sampler pack of chips that is barely used if you want to try some, I'd be happy to share a few.

The LX wicks work great, but I have a problem with huge shrooms with them also. You might want to try a tester package before buying a bunch.

Just a note on the wicks ordered....usually if you call the company they will send out wicks USPS instead of UPS and save you $7-$8 on shipping if that is all you're ordering. Once you get into wax and fo's, the weight makes UPS cheaper and you might as well order online. I always call if the items I'm ordering are light weight.

My second batch with coconut oil came out better. The tops still a little fugly, but I torched them and they smoothed right out and look great. 2nd batch also didn't bleed oil on top like the first batch did...only difference the coconut oil was cold the first time (right out of fridge) and at room temp the 2nd time I added so maybe it blended better. This might be a keeper after all...even with the C3 wax...need to see how it burns.

Did my first test burn last night and it was good. It slowed down the burn time ...2 hours barely put a dent in the candle. I'm going to burn for 4 hours this morning and see how that goes. The HT is nothing (as expected) unless you actually get on top of the candle and then a very slight olive oil smell. The top is very smooth and glossy. The wax also seems a little harder to me (don't understand how these oils harden the wax...but I"m no chemist!) I think it would be a great addition to those garden scents. I used 1/2 oz of EVOO in 1/2# of C-3 wax (same ratio as the fo's I use) I poured into a 3" square container and wicked with an ECO12, which was a stupid choice because I'm just starting to test this wick and so far haven't been getting the MP I want and it drowns in some fo's. I think I'm going to try it again and use a LX wick just to see what it does.

I have no idea what the olive oil will do, just wanted to try it for a friend who wants it! It doesn't have a cold throw at all, and I doubt it will have a hot throw either...just wax burning! I'd love to add basil fo to it but its pretty expensive so I need to see how this creature burns...tonight!!! I'm tired of waiting.