Jeana

i used Hershey's cocoa powder for some chocolate macaroon soap I did the other day. I think I used about 2tbsp for 2 lbs of soap. I just poured it in actually but it looked about that much. I thought it would be too much but it turned out really nice brown. I had some of the natural colored soap to swirl white into the brown. I think you'll like it.

What would you say would be successful when burning a 2"? How long is the burn time of tapers? I ask that because someone told me that the 2" pillar is similar to a taper.

I like the idea of buying cute soap boxes. You should sell them.

are you planning to put pictures up? I would like to see this one. What does vanilla voodoo smell like? It sounds like it would be a cross between dragon's blood and vanilla.

I was wondering if any of you use natural coloring to make lip balm. Tonight I used some beet powder. It made the balm a really pretty pink but it doesn't color your lips at all. I don't want to use dye to make the color show up, I was hoping there would be something else available to keep up the natural thing.

Yes, I used bubble wrap. I make the boxes out of card stock. I usually can get two to three boxes out of a sheet.

Your soaps are OUTSTANDING!! I love them!

Can you explain more about making the box? How do you fold them? Is there a bottom or does it just wrap around?

Last night I was looking at some of my old test candles (pillars) and I wondered what other people who do vegatable wax pillars look like. I felt like I learn a lot from looking at how they burned and the transitions between the different wick sizes. I have only used store bought parrafin pillars before making my own pillars, so I don't have anything to compare mine to. I know it is really pretty to put up pictures of our new candles, but would it be too weird to put up pictures of the ones we like how they burned? I think it would be really informative and helpful. Please let me know what you guys think.

I was looking at a place in India. They had some great prices - better than most of the wholesalers here - but their shipping for about 8kg was $150. Plus I could't pay with credit card, they only take wired money. I have been through the wringer with another EO company - which I will be glad to let anyone know of I they are interested who it was - so I am really skeptical for now about going as far as India. That why this shipping is so great for me.

wow that is really cheap shipping. Now I definitely want to try them. Thanks!!

Crafty1, do you notice your soap tracing really fast when using titanium dioxide? I have only used it once and the batch turned out really nice in the end, but It set up incredibly fast when I was pouring it. It is a very hard bar of soap with lots of bubbles now. I like the idea of having the contrast of white with other colors, but I am nervous about working with it again.

I was told to pour the old cb 135 @ 125 degrees by a distributer to get less shrinkage and smoother surface. Maybe the advanced soy works the same if you pour it cooler.

sorry to have so many questions lately I am just now starting to notice the colors in my candles, that started out being vibrant and deep, turning very pale a couple of weeks after making them. I have noticed it with two different brands of color chips, and I even get some slight fading with the liquid color. Does this mean I need to add a UV inhibitor? And if this additive will stop this, will it change the way my candle burns? I didn't notice the fading before summer began, even though the candles are only inside the house. Does anyone else have this issue? If so, how do you resolve it? Thanks

Maybe another idea would be to use a clear label - a little larger - over your colored one. I do this with my lip balms and it works great.

I like the LX series for my pillars maybe start with 24 or twenty eight.

But maybe you could try using your CDs first before switching. I would start with what you wick your 16 oz container with. My 3" pillar wicks are similar to my 16oz jars. About one or two sizes up.

I hope that gives you at least a start on which wick to pick. I like working with spools when it comes to pillars. You can cut the lengths to whatever size you need.

You don't need to have sustainers with pillars (Maybe you know that).

Candlewic.com has a really large selection of spools, at a decent price.

They will also send you samples if you want to try something new.

I keep remelting the same candle to try the different wicks, so I don't waste a bunch of wax. Good luck

I am doing some testing for my wicks and it is far more humid than normal here. Does anyone know how much this may effect the results? I am still working on my 2" pillars - finally, they are doing well. But I am wondering if it has something to do with the humidity.

If you use a pillar blend for them they will have a nice shiny appearance. And they come out of the molds easier too.

I just made a container soy candle with lavender EO. I have been burning it for many hours now and have not smelled it at all. I've made lavender pillars that had a stronger smell than this container which seems weird to me. I have never had any problems with them being combustible. I just assumed they would be used at the same amount as FO.

And I have mixed them in my CP soaps. I really like the effects. Sometimes I do a (EO) Lavender/Rose mix. It is far too expensive to use EO rose.

Is the only reason to cure a candle to make the scent stronger? I have seen some postings in the past about cured palm candles getting harder, and reducing their shelf life. Is this true?

What is honey powder used for?

Thanks for sharing that website. I will give them a try too. What is their shipping like?

I got a wood miter box from home depot. I still cut uneven sometimes but it is alot better than doing it free hand for me. I'm still new so I hope I get better. The wood is nice because you can mark the size you want on the sides so each one is measured out.

Do you guys use preservatives in your lotion? If so what do you use?

All my lotion batches have gone bad shortly after making them. I have used rosemary, gse, and vitamin e and none of them kept the batch from getting mold.

Personally I believe RRD wicks burn down better than they burn out. I use LX 18 for my 5oz containers and LX 28 for my 16oz. Maybe try a wick other than RRD.

I didn't think to try Beeswax. I may give this a shot. As for the pariffin, the candle store I went into to ask what they do uses parrafin. I bought one just to see how theirs burns but I think the palm wax is the best so far. I have gotten them to burn up to 3 hours without overflowing. I guess I am just confused on how other people would be buring them. Most candles in general tell people not to burn longer than 3 or 4 hours, right? So when I am testing them what should be the amount of time to test them to say if they work or not? Anyone have any ideas?

I was wondering if anyone makes 2" feathering wax palm pillars. I am struggling to get the wicks right. Some have a weak flame, others overflow after about 1 1/2 hours. I have one that starts out weak but after it burns for a while it gets better. This one doesn't overflow, but I don't like how wimpy it starts out. I have found Lx 16 is too small, Lx 18 is too big. RRD 40 is too big and RRD 34 is too small. I did find an RRD 37 I am going to try.

I was just wondering if anyone has figure out the secret to wicking 2" pillars. I started out using soy wax but found the palm was harder and burned slower. I have visited candle stores that have informed me their 2" pillars can only burn for a short time. This has me wondering if it is even possible to have a longer burning one.