Angelam

just curious, but how do those of you who make tons of candles afford to have the labels printed with the scent name on them too?

I mean, if you carry 50 different scents in two or three different sized containers, do you have 5 million different labels to accomodate all of the scent/weight combo's?

I just saw tons of colored sand at Hobby Lobby last night too.

Okay, that will be my first step tonight, until I get my new wicks in, and then I'll try that too if needed. Who knew there were so many crazy things that contributed to a good candle!! Before I started this I would have thought it was a cinch!!!

This is so pretty! I love it, but I'll stick to having bear candles, not bears at my windows! yikes!

(yep, I was using C-3) I hated it. I LOVED the fact that it was in chips, but oh well.

I am using 10% FO for the 4627 because I was told that was the max that it would hold. (my mind says more=better :rolleyes2 ) The scent throw is amazing, but this smoking has to go! SOO, would it be better to just try different wicks, or cut down the % of FO nomatter what wicks I'm using?

Too much FO could be a possibility. I really don't think they are too big. One more thing to try....cutting back on FO.... yeesh.

Top, yea, I thought it was a sensible question,(in my unsensible brain) but I totally see your point. This wicking thing is confusing! I do have some eco's at home, but haven't tried them. I have some zincs, but they seem to be smoking unless I cut them into tiny little nubs, so I will try the eco's and as far as the HTP's I was thinking of trying 52's and 73's. (thanks for the offer kandlekrazy!)

Maybe one day I'll get it figured out!~

After trying a couple of waxes, I have decided that I like 4627 the best. I have read posts on how to wick this, and see that some of you really like the zink wicks. The supplier I go to suggests the HTP wicks..... does anyone have any experience with this combo?

Yes Vicky , that's exactly the thing I was talking about. What you said makes much more sense. So the reason a candle wouldn't smell all the way to the bottom has nothing to do with how you put the candle out, right? if it doesn't smell all the way down does it mean that you didn't mix it good enough?

At leat I think that's what they are called. While shopping around this weekend I came upon a lady who made her own candles. So as I am sneakily smelling and comparing her candles to mine (hey, I couldn't help it) I overheard her telling a customer that the reason a candle doesn't smell all they way down to the bottom of the jar is because you blow the candle out instead of using a wick dipper. She told her that when you blow a candle out, you are cooking all of that stinky smoke smell back into the candle, so that the next time you burn it, that's what you smell. I have never heard this before, and wondered if she was just "blowing smoke" up this customers skirt. ???? Is this true, and I just don't know?

I ordered a sample of this wax too, and it is SO easy to work with I think! (much easier than the C3 I have been trying to use) I got the mushrooms on the ones I've tested too though. and the wet spots. The mushrooming I can deal with, but I'm wondering how to get those wet spots to a minimum too....

I smelled a monkey farts candle this weekend, and I agree...YUM!!! Rediculously dorky name though. I felt stupid saying it out loud!! haha~!

Thank you! it's so nice of you to help me!

I may do that, order some sample packs that is. It can't hurt anyways. I ordered the ECO's first because they were all natural, but I wouldn't be completely heartbroken if something else did better....

What kind have you found that works the best for you with the C3, (unless you mind me asking) ??

Thank you for your help btw, everyone here is so helpful!

They are actually doing really well besides that. I did have one octagon shaped jar that smoked a little, but I do think the wick was too long in that one now that i think about it. And that may be the case with this one I burned last night too. I tried to wait two weeks before burning them so I could just test the wick and the scent at the same time, and I had mentioned that I thought all of the wicks in those first candles were too long....

My husband doesn't think we should try any other wick type because "what the supplier says has to be right" :rolleyes2

Well, just for an example last night i tried buring a 16 oz apothecary jar (3.5") using an eco 12. that was what the supplier recommended.

In fact, on all of the ones we have tried, we just did what the supplier recommended, figuring it was a safe place to start.....

Another newbie question, but we are using C-3, with ECO wicks, and no matter what size wick/container, when we burn they have tiny air bubbles all around the edge of the glass... what are we doing wrong?

My friend saw today at Bloomingdales that they sell only natural colored candles. (like a cream color) in all different scents. Do you think it is trendy, or boring? And I wonder if they (or anyone for that matter) would sell more if they were in different colors?

THANK YOU carolk!!! That is an awesome tip!!!

I would loove to mix my own, but I'm still new to this, and have no clue how to do it! I tried to mix my own sandalwood vanilla last night, and it was not pretty. But then again, I'm sure I was a total nit wit about it, and just mixed 50/50.

My SIL requested that I make her these two scents...

Anyone know where I can get some good FO for soy??

TIA!!

OKay guys, I am back with the info!!

We are using Cargill Nature Wax C-3

The container I am testing right now is an oval hex shape smaller container.

we used a ECO-4 wick in this one.

As far as our temps, we are heating/melting wax at 160-180

Adding FO/color once it reaches around 140-160

(using color drops, not blocks)

and pouring right then (after stirring for about 3 minutes)

thanks for all of the great replies so far!!! I can see this is going to be lots of trial and error fun!!!

Thanks SatinDucky! I am at work right now, so I don't know the exact names/numbers of the wax and wicks, but I will definately find out and post that info!~ We bought all of our supplies from LoneStar Candle Supply, since they are local, and we just had to drive 40 minutes to get there! I thought we couldn't beat that. Plus they were all very nice and helpful....

I will definately check out the veggie section! Thank you!!

Hello! I hope no one minds me just jumping in and asking a zillion questions...

My husband and I have just started trying to make candles and have hit a few snags.

We ordered what the supplier said was "top notch" in wax, and wicks.

We decided on all soy wax, and vegetable wax dipped wicks. We put the maximum amount of scent that the wax would hold (according to supplier)

At this point we are just trying to get them to look right. They are all container candles (so far) and look great until you get to the surface, and they form sink holes, looked ridged, etc. We've tried adjusting the temp of the wax, adjusting the temp of the jars, repouring the top, using a heat gun, and none of it seems to get that professional smooth look to it.

Also, even though we are putting the max amount of scent, they just seem to smell like wax, and not much more...??

Any tips for a newbie on what we're doing wrong???

TIA! This looks like an awesome site!!