PurpleHippie

Well at least it looks great! I once made some really pretty soap and forgot to add the FO.

Same here, I've had some stored for several years in a cool dry location and they were ok. IMO it depends on the oil. I have a gallon of Olive Oil and the exp. date was 5/09. Shortly before the expiration date it started to smell odd. Can't really explain the scent but it was very strong. I didn't feel comfortable with it so into the trash it went. I won't use Avocado or Evening Primrose oil pass the expiration date simply because they have such a short shelf life. On the other hand I have had Palm oil and Meadowfoam that was stored for long periods of time and they were perfectly fine. I only make soap for myself so I feel comfortable using my oils. Sharing or selling would be different and I would never want to take a chance with out dated oils.

Thanks everyone. I like the way avocado oil products feel on my skin and even in some hair poducts. So I assumed when she said it was the avocado that was indeed the reason I loved the soap so much.

Thanks everyone for the help. I had read on other message boards that babassu was suggested in place of coconut oil for those that have sensitivity to it. That is why I thought I would give it a try. However, after learning that it really is very similar to CO using a high % might cause the same sensitivity. Top your explaination was very helpful. In the past I had experimented with several recipes using 20 -30% CO. The soap caused my skin to itch. I kept experimenting with the CO % and the soap recipes with no higher than 12% CO did not cause the itching. At least that is what I thought. After reading your explaination it may have actually been the CO and the balance of the other fatty oils used. I no longer have that recipe so I am starting from scratch again. Thanks for your help!

I haven't been to their site recently but Millcreek had the best banana scent of all the ones I have tried. MC is usually a big hit or miss with me on their oils but the banana was awesome.

My skin is very sensitive to coconut oil and to a lesser degree palm kernnal. I am considering using Babassu in place of coconut oil or possibly both the coconut and palm kernal. Are there any problems with using Babassu at 40-45%? The price of Babassu isn't a problem because I am making the soap strickly for my use. I only make very small batches.

I used a bar of soap that had very creamy lather, little bubbly.The creamy lather felt great on my skin. I asked the person that made the soap what ingredient made it so creamy and she told me it was the Avocado oil. When using a soap calculator what range in the creamy catagory should I aim for when trying to create more creamy lather versus bubbly?

That's lovely!

Nice job!

Those are cool. You should send a few to Gene Simmons. He is and excellent businessman. Maybe he would be interested in you making some official KISS candles!

I'm pretty sure it's CP. I don't think that would be possible with M&P. Your work is fabulous darlin! I wish you would do a demo on how to swirl. Mine are NEVER 1/2 as good as yours.

Yes, that's one of the problems I had with it. Plus, previous tested wicks suddenly didn't preform the same. That was with using the same % of FO and same containers. I had problems with major wet spots that I hadn't had in the past. When I contacted the company with questions not only did I not receive any help they didn't seem to be very experienced in actually making candles. I was told just to expect those problems with wax! No way! I can't afford the time or the wasted product to have start all over from scratch each and every time I ordered wax from them. I quit using Joy! It's a shame because Joy use to be an excellent product in the past. However, I do find that in general with soy can be inconsistant from batch to batch. Sorry you are having problems. Good luck.

I've contacted the supplier to get a specific age but they told me that they were not aware of age usage. I sent a message to the manufacture. Haven't recieved a response yet. I belive Rosemary and Peppermint EO's can also cause problems. Not sure in what strength. Orange and Grapefruit I believe can possibly cause problems if skin is exposed to sunlight after use. I've never had any problems with these on my skin but I've read that there can be. EO's really need good research to be done on the makers part before using them in products. I think some are not suggested for use while pregnant or have high blood preasure and other medical conditions.

Unfortunately this type of practice is one of the reasons the FDA is trying to put a stop to B&B at home business. If the Globalization act is passed(and it looks like it will be) there will be such high fees, red tape and restircitions that most small business can not afford. This relates to candles because I get this strong feeling that as soon as they have put this into law they may start investigating the candle industry. I do not support the fee requirements that most of us could not afford. I do however think some sort of competency test and safety measures should be enforced before a candle product can be sold. It is truly frightening to know what's being sold and how little testing some people put into producing a product that could possibly contribute to someone's home burning down or loss of life. With that said, ordering supplies as I am sure you already know can become very expensive. The shipping cost as well as the wax cost continue to rise with no end in site for the near future. To anyone out there considering this as a business my advise would be to please check your market/selling area. See what's available and the prices. Right now my area is over saturated with candle and home fragrance products. There are people at craft shows selling large candles for 3 dollars or less. I don't know where they get there supplies but it isn't worth my time and effort to sell a large candle for those prices. It cost more than 3 bucks for me to make a candle. My area loves Walmart and people here compare selling prices to what is available at Walmart. You can explain tell the end of time the difference in quality and people here still want a bargin. That's just my area and yours may be completly different. With the wax I use currently being sold at 99.00 a case plus 26.00 shipping to me, price of FO per ounce, wicks, labels, time and effort to produce the product...selling a quality product that can compete with the low cost products that are available in abundance here is almost impossible. After all of the time and money I put into testing this wax, FO's and wicks I really do not want to start the whole process all over again with another wax that might be cheaper. There is no such thing as a perfect candle. I have never made nor used one! I've purchased craft store home made candles, expensive designer candles, discount store candles...they all have their good and bad qualities. I do think sometimes we candle makers can be a bit too critical when it comes to the competition candles. However, the most important issue is if the product is safe! Once again my experince is based on my area but it the over saturated market is something that you might want to consider. I wish you good luck.

I know that children usually have more sensitive skin than adults and that special care has to be given to infant skin. Are there age restrictions for certain B&B products such as soap and other products that contain fragrance oil? Someone mentioned that M&P soaps shouldn't be used on infants but there wasn't a reason as to why. I've looked on the FDA site but didn't locate any information. Their site isn't that easy to find clear cut answers sometimes

Does the beeswax make it lather less?

I just wanted to add that Top's explaination of the melt point makes perfect sense. It may also explain a problem with another wax. There is/was a very popular container wax that in my testing produced very tall flames no matter what type of wick I tried. Others insisted that they were very pleased with their results. That wax has a very high melt point, especially for a container wax. Now I think I understand why I had problems with the flame height. Thanks again Top!

I didn't mean to ask for your trade secrets such as a specific wick and size for the pillar that I am testing. I was just wondering if there were any wicks with that type of burn. I will keep testing. Thanks again for your help. :smiley2:

I know that some people mix soy and palm. Why is this done? Doesn't the soy change the crystal look of the palm?

Thanks Top, I always learn so much from your post! I am going to continue experimenting with additives as you suggested. I've tested with stearic now I am going to try vybar. Which wicks are more likely to burn out rather than down? I have CD, Eco, zinc, RD, LX, probably many more:grin2: . Other than mixing different waxes is there any other way to lower the melt point in order to produce a wider burn versus one that burns more down?

I posted a topic on the act some time ago. I do hope our voice is heard. I can understand some regulations but the fees are what get me so angry. It isn't taking into consideration the VERY small business person. Producing a quality safe product has nothing to do with affording an expensive fee. With the economy being in such a mess being able to supplement my family income(in a small way) by working at home helps a bit. I've said this before but...most of us selling already have liabilty insurance. Requiring libility insurance along with maybe some other regulations would help weed out the fly by nighters that don't bother testing. On another message board someone that doesn't live here in the US stated that they are required to pass some sort of test, maintain testing records and have product liabilty insurance. Selling without following the guidelines results in expensive fines. IMO that is more fair to small business person.

Thanks everyone! I tested the CD wicks but they bend and burn more to one side then I like. I always get lop sided big bulges. So far the LX are producing really large, tall flames. Even with constant trimmings. I may continue testing them just for comparision. Top - thanks for explaining the FO issue. I've often wondered if there was more to the FO problem then simply being quality. I've have many mid range FO's that produce awesome scent throw. I have also tested MANY expensive FO's from a few suppliers that receive very high marks here. Their oils work great in my B&B products but they always give me poor hot throw. Now I understand that it's not just a matter of quality and cost.

I have been experimenting with IGI 1343 for pillars. I was told that the max it will hold is 3% FO. I've found that to be true and even sometimes 3% may be too much. I am also finding that the scent throw is not that great. I am using high quality oils that are awesome in regular container candles but low throw in the 1343. Is this normal for this wax? I have tested various wicks. For those of you that use this wax, what wicks do you prefer and why?

I prefer no preservatives in what I make for myself. That's just for me I don't share these with anyone. I would never give or sell anything like that. I know that bases already have the preservatives in them but if I were going to give or sell them my products made with them I would have to put a lot of faith in the base being ok. Since I don't have a lab to test and make sure I just don't use them. I am sure they are fine but I dont want to take a chance. I agree that some changes need to be made but this globalization act is a bit too much. It's going to put alot of us out of business. Including suppliers I would imagine! If things change concerning the location of where we can even manufactor products then those of us that need to work from home will be out of business. It's making it so that only big business with the big bucks will be able to continue. If fees of 2,000 plus are required in addition to lab testing. Last I heard they wanted even higher yearly fees. Once again the little guy gets mucle out.

Ah, thank you! I make lotion and body butter for myself but not for sale. I make the butters without a preservative because it's just for my use. I've also had people ask that I make them some without the preservative. I won't do so because I know how easy lotions can get contaminated. That's one of the reasons I'm leary of pre-made lotion bases. Just been considering what would be involved if I do decided to add preservatives for selling purposes. I think I will just stick to making my own products for myself.