PurpleHippie

I've been reading the information concerning the FDA requirements for lotions being free of mold, fungi, dirt before selling. I would think this means that before selling products need to be lab tested and the results maintained for our records? Maybe I've been reading too much and have over looked the information but what I haven't located is if this testing is just for lotions and creams or does it mean ALL products? Such as bath oils, body mist, linen sprays(which indirectly touch the skin), soap. Does anyone know if the testing is required for ALL products?

With the added cost for all products(especially the wax) and the shipping I can't afford the increases and keep my products at a price local people will be able to afford. I live in a small community and it was already difficult to compete with the prices at the farmers market/craft markets. I'll continue making things for myself and family but this will be my last year opperating as a business. The prices for supplies will probably just keep rising and I can't compete any longer.

I've read that Orange, Sweet Orange, Grapefuit essential oils are Photosensitizer. But I have seen them listed as ingredients in lotions and other B&B products without any information concerning sun exposer. Should that information be listed on products?

I hope they do! I don't have the bottle with me right now but there is one of their scents I just love! It is a plum, maybe plum vanila. DS has purchased some FO's from other suppliers that have closed I hope they get these.

I believe this company internet address is listed as Creative Iluminations but the company name is Gelluminations. Internet search is Gel Iluminations.

I thought this company went out of business? I think I got a message stating they were closing?

I really liked some of Solas scents for B&B and was sorry to hear they closed. I didn't order often but I was always pleased with my orders. Has another supplier purchased their fragrances? I hope so.

I just throwing out an idea here, not saying I am correct. What about a requirement that the small business must carry insurance for their products? Most of us have insurance but I know alot of these fly by nighters like the type mentioned in the above post and they certainly don't have product insurance. I am just thinking that maybe if they had to invest something($) in getting insurance they would be the type of people interested in truly learning, studying and testing their products. :undecided Miss Mary, I love your avatar!!

Several years ago I order small tester size bottle of FO from this company and several tested very well, good throw. So I ordered large bottle of those FO. This was all in a 2 week time period, total of 3 16oz FO's. I made a big mistake and didn't re-test the new FO's. I wrongly assumed that since it was only a matter of 2 weeks the FO's would produce the same scent throw. I made a lot of candles using the same % of FO, same wicks from the same package, same wax from the same case that I had previously tested the small sample size FO's. I sold the candles and didn't have any repeat orders from those scents. One day I decided to burn one of the candles in my home and there was NO scent throw. I had cold throw but absolutely no hot throw. I called one of my customers that had purchased some of the candles made with GL FO's to asked how she liked them. She told me that she just didn't want to complain but some of the candles didn't have any scent throw. The ones she mentioned were the ones made with GI FO's:embarasse . I had one candle left that was made with the sample size FO that had enough for a couple of hours burn time. I re-lit it and I had good hot throw. So something definitely changed between the small sample size and the larger FO. I don't know if they started diluting the larger batches, changed supplier or what but there was certainly a difference. I didn't complain to the company, I should have but I just never ordered from them again. I read that someone else had this same type of complaint with there being a difference between the small sample FO and the larger ones purchased from this company. So I know it's not just me that this happened to. Has anyone here ordered in the past(last year) and ordered again recently? I am just wondering if things have changed.

Maybe it might take forever, maybe not. I personally believe that we should do all that we can before it is too late. It's all about big business IMO. Push the little guy out and only the big corporations can afford those prices. I almost hate to say this but I think our candle maker friends might be next. JMO. It's good that it's being talked about on other forums. I hope everyone tries to get the word out as much as possible. This will also be a problem for suppliers. We are the main source of their business I would imagine.

This really disappoints me. Please watch the You Tube video on FDA Globalization Act of 2008. Fees of 12,000 for selling soap, cosmetics, lip balm... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW9SlqiA_DI

LLC is my absolute favorite FO from SW. I've tried it in paraffin wax and didn't find it gave a very strong HT. Plus it's just too expensive to use in wax IMO. I'll save it for soap.

I also have to agree. Many times I have been disappointed by ratings given on other supplier sites. At least my experience with the FO's never matched their ratings. CS has the most accurate ratings that match my testing results. I use paraffin but I only use FO's that I feel are extremely strong for HT. I always find that if CS list a high rating for their FO's in soy then I will usually always be pleased with it in my paraffin.

Good job:yay:

What type of wax do you prefer for free standing votives? I use to sell them in votive containers and just used my regular container wax. I need to make some as replacements sold seperately without the container. Just wondering what everyone here likes and why.

Thank you, that was very helpful. I will probably look for a ceramic holder for the display. I just wish I could remember were I read the information concerning requirements for how the candle holder should be made so that the candle does not tip over at a certain angle. I assume they were refering to something with a well or indented surface instead of just a flat plate. I'll keep looking, if I ever locate the information I'll post here.

CS Hazelnut and GL Hazelnut

Some time ago I read information concerning requirements for candle holders. I can't remember which site it was so of course I can't find it. What I do recall is that it mentioned something about the candle staying in place when the holder was tilted to a certain angle. I believe they also mentioned that it had to keep the surface below cool. There was also a suggestion not to include flamable materials around the base so that when the pillar burns down the flame would not ever have contact with something that would burn. My warning label states that pillars have to be burned in a holder. I don't sell them but I would like to use the correct type for a display. Does anyone know what the rules are for candle holders?

I've always had a problem with their wick stickums. The only place that has wick stickums that actually stayed stuck for me was KY's.

Not wasting so much money on constantly ordering so many different FO's. The shipping cost alone for all of that was a major waste. I would also stick to testing one size container until I got the wicking down. In the begining I purchased several different styles and sizes and tried testing all of them at once. I would also try and get most of my supplies from one or two suppliers to keep the cost of shipping down. Last, I would not try to be all things to all people. Many times I've had a request for one certain FO. I would order it, which would often mean ordering just that one FO from one supplier.(There's that shipping cost again). Test, test, test. Only to have that one single customer purchase that one candle.

I haven't been around the board very much so some of the older post are new to me. I love this candle, it is beautiful. The only reason it may not be selling IMO is maybe because of the color. If that doesn't go with someone's color scheme then they pass it up. I agree with Stella, try another market. For example, the people in my area compare everything to Walmart. Very small area and the only selling market is an outdoor farmer's/craft market. You can explain until you turn blue that the quality can't be compared to Walmart but people who shop in this market want a bargin and constantly try and get products cost down to discount store prices. My out of pocket cost more to make the product then what they are willing to pay. I quit selling in that market. Try a more neutral color and maybe a different selling place. I think you created a very nice canlde!

I am looking for pink or gold med. or large size hat boxes or even heart shape boxes. I need them to be at least 8 inches in widith. Every site that I have located that has the round(hat) boxes for sale has them in sets of 3 with a small, med, and large. I don't need the small boxes. I located a few larger boxes at a local craft store but they are the plain cardboard type. I spray painted them but that awful paint smell doesn't seem to fade. Does anyone know of a source for these boxes?

I have never made liquid soap only CP so this is all new to me. I read the post with the class and the photos are very helpful. I noticed some mentioned using double boilers. Can liquid soap be made directly in the crock pot only or do you have to use the double boiler. I hate using a double boiler so if it can be avoided I'd love it. :smiley2:

I agree! For the most part it is a good concept. I use both types of wax. It's the false marketing that bothers me the most. Twisting the truth or just flat out lies. I believe in letting a product stand on it's own merit. I don't belive in knocking down and bashing a competitor's product just to make a sale. Especially if it is with false statements. One other area that tends to get under my skin is that no matter how much information I provide it is sometimes impossible to get people to even read it. In this case I gave a very brief verbal explaination of the products, a few hand out burning safety tips for candles sheets, and a detail Q&A supplier information packet, and wick trimmers. In the packet I covered the smoke issue and explained how some candles produce light grey smoke. If burned incorrectly(drafts, wick not trimmed, certain container shapes...)ANY candle has the potential to produce visible soot. If at all possible I like the seller of my products to have the answers for the questions that a customer might ask. It was obvious that she hadn't even bothered to read the provided information. It just proves that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink!

I checked on the supplier sites that I usually order from and they don't sell Babassu oil. Where do you guys get it?