Judy, USMC

That company is in violation of Federal Regulations. They are not complying with 16 CFR Part 500 which states the net contents needs to be put on the label. This is the link from the Cornell site. Pulled this up just because it's easier to read than the actual statute from the federal site. http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/500.6 Couple of things can be done. You could forward the information to them or you could report them to your state AG or kick it up to the federal level. I know of a chandler who handles it passive-aggressive. She sends them a letter saying she weighed the jar, burned the candle, cleaned the jar and then weighed the empty jar. The label said it was A ounces but the wax only weighed B ounces. She cites the CFR regulation as justification. Then she requests a refund of the purchase price equal to the missing wax. She has not only refunds but free candles! If she doesn't hear back from them she does report them. Extreme? Yes, but she absolutely hates being lied to.

I took the past 6 months off from everything. Welcomed the break, too. But recently my cousin contacted me for advice about how to do MP soap with her granddaughter - and then fall has snuck up and I haven't gotten any testing done! So now the vacation is over ... and I'm back.

GE Silicone - Cures in 6 hours - adheres up to 450 degrees F 2.8 oz for $4. Resealable squeeze tube with the saran wrap tip mentioned or a nail placed in the hole. Been using it for years with zero failures. I prefer this because it is clear. Home Depot link: http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Silicone-II-2-8-oz-Kitchen-and-Bath-Clear-Caulk-GE284-3TG/100004845#.UjetX4LD_IU Glue dots have not worked for me. Wick Stickers from CS have worked very well but I've only applied on cleaned glass. There was a bad batch of stickums but that was reported a long while (years) ago.

Yep, they are pastilles. If I wanted to duplicate the look I'd go with the ELs.

YEARS AGO we had a melt/votive/soap swap here. I made square melts that had a textured top. One of the other participants posted a critique and gently told me that it didn't lather when she took it in the shower. That memory still makes me smile. Since it didn't dissolve she kept it and eventually melted it after I told her what it was. Learned that I CLEARLY have to label what it is and how to use it ... especially when it looks like soap.

I believe it all depends on how the FO works with the wax. There are some aromas (Berries) that throw wonderfully well in any medium. But then you can get a strawberry from one supplier that is dynamite - and another from a different supplier (who has a different manufacturer) that will be a dud. It all depends on how lucky you get. Asking for recs here is great - but I usually only went with the FOs that people mentioned worked in the same wax I use.

I had the same problem with labels that wouldn't stick to my Elipso cups. Wiped with lighter fluid and that didn't help. Then I realized that I was using different labels. I had just purchased the Avery's but in the past I was using the less expensive store brand. Once I started using the store brand again the problem went away. I don't have the package in front of me but it was either Staples or Office Max. HTH

I pour paraffin, soy and palm. I have different Presto melters for each. I prefer to completely empty the soy pot. The acidity of the palm causes a chemical reaction with the exposed metal on my spigot that I don't want affecting my other pots. And paraffin is so very stable it can stay in the pot. I find the reference to "contamination" interesting. With so many people experimenting with making custom blends I think that word would bring a smile to these intentional contaminators! I can and will use the same pour pots and votive molds; just wiping them out is sufficient. And they are poured at the same location (sometimes even at the same time!) And they all carry a separate name. My Company Name is on the soy, NameA on paraffin and NameB on the palm. Names A and B also carry the tag line "Manufactured by My Company Name." I did have to register Names A&B at the county registrar's office as doing business under an assumed name but as long as all the sales tax was paid under My Company Name there wasn't anything else I needed to do. That being said, you may need to ask you local tax office what needs to be done. Also contact your insurance company to see if any modifications need to be made. HTH

Since it's a blend my guess would be 4627 and 4630 or even a harder density paraffin. Would completely depend on playing with ratios, I think.

Polypropylene (recycle code #5) are the only ones that I know for sure will withstand any warping from FO or cracking from using waxes or wax blends that have a higher acidic rate. HTH

8-GRAN-ONES and I both rebottle into amber glass for storage. My bottles came in a case of 96 so I had to find another way of storing them. At the local Family Tree ($1-type store) they have a plastic file box that has a handle on top. The snap closures are very secure and I can fit a dozen bottles. I run my alphabetical list off on the computer and tape it to the box. I have a separate box just for holiday specific FOs. Hubby put extra shelves in the closet and that's where the 8 boxes are stored. The smaller ones (1-4 oz) are grouped by supplier in a smaller box and grouped by supplier.

Mulberry is a year round seller for me. And I'll also take a piney aroma, too. Guess it will depend on what you consider "Holiday" scents. There are many aromas that suppliers sell with holiday specific names like Santa's Cookies that would be a year-round seller with a simple name change like franu61's example.

If you don't like it when you get it pm me ... I know a good home for it!

Yep - happens to me a lot. I'll load up on a fragrance that people have been after me for and it will just sit. I'll pour just a few of aromas I simply hate and it will sell out in an hour. Or invest in a spot at a "hot" festival and find out that you were there the one year they had the lowest attendance EVER but the next weekend go to a small Church festival and make 15 times the table rent. Agree. You just never know!!!

Sorry to say the samples didn't get out until Tuesday. Put them in the mailbox Friday and they were picked up but were put back in my box Saturday with a kind note from the Postmaster wanting to know what was inside. They also cautioned me there was no guarantee that the envelope would not be damaged. They don't locally hand-cancel anymore and it may get caught in the machine. Needless to say Monday was a holiday ... sorry again. GOOD NEWS is that the discount is good through Feb 22nd - so you should get it in time to sniff and order!

I decided on 1 # for now. I do wax and get my soap & bombs from a buddy of mine here who just ordered a couple of pounds. I'll just be making some lotions for gifting. Need to test some in wax.

I use 75% 135 with 25% PB and get a good throw at 10% FO load. Never tried straight 135. HTH

OOPS! I just checked my records and I didn't get them from ICS - it was Mill Creek who said they had their own mold. Sorry if this mis-led any of you. These are the larger ones (3.2 oz like the Impact 1524C) with the indent on the bottom. Never had an odor problem.

I've seen (and always wanted) a sewing station like this. When I saw some commercially made laminated fiberboard ones similar to this they were at least $600. Hubby did a great job - I envy you!

So there's a new wax melt/tart maker at a local shop. She has a handout saying that her fragrance oils a phthalate free. OK, that's good to know but ... She also is claiming that they are "UltraPure" because they don't contain Zinc, Parabens or BPA. :undecided All I can think of is it must be a new fear-factor marketing ploy. Sheesh, maybe I should market mine as being "Ultimately Pure" since they don't contain DDT, Plutonium or Human Growth Hormones either! Wondering if anyone else has noticed these types of claims or is this something isolated?

Thanks! So nice of you to share.

Since it is already on pre-buy I'm sending out the samples tomorrow. Looks like everyone is a soaper so the sliver should be enough for a wash or two so you can see how it "sticks". Just remember the Goddess is the last on the pre-buy list ... it's not in alphabetical order. Green Tweed is on the list ... so what else for a candle maker would you recommend?

Beth - It's just an overpouring method to use purchased votives or re-inventing excess votive stock without doing a remelt, rewick and repour. I've done it a couple of times. It is a quick & easy method you usually see in the dollar store imports from Asia.

Now I'm just waiting for someone who really knows Polish to tell me what a bad job I did.