Mnhorsemom

I live on a 40 acre hobby farm in central Minnesota in a 110 year old farm house. I started doing B&B first then also got into soy candles. At first I wanted something "up northy" but couldn't find just the right name, then I cam up with Farm House Formulas and that one stuck!

I have done M&P in a round tube mold. I got mine off Ebay and the directions said to add about a half inch of soap in the bottom of the tube and let it set up then pour the rest. I have used the mold 3 times. Once I followed the directions and it worked without leaking. Twice I was too impatient to follow the directions and tried the duct tape etc and man did I make a mess and waste a lot of soap base :embarasse

From Peaks: Spiced Cranberry Amish Harvest Mango Papaya Cuke Melon Vanilla Mint Lime

When I made mine I used the mini muffin tins but I also used the mini muffin tin liners. The ones I got have the paper and there is a second "layer" that is tin foil. I took the them apart and just used the foil part. When you are ready to use the melt just peel the foil off like a boxed chocolate. I made mine in Peaks Vanilla Mint!

IS there someone out there that can tell me if FOs in linen spray have to be skin safe? Please and thank you.

Before I found this forum and got a lot smarter about candles and B&B I bought a bunch of sample bottles of Fo's as a lot off Ebay. Most of them come from a company in (I think) Houston Tx called Intercontinental. The samples don't say if they are skin safe and when I called the company they said I would have to talk to a sales rep and they were all busy....anyway I figured if anyone knew the answer it would be here. Also I am going to try just mixing FO with the cymethlacone (sp?) how much fo should I use for say an 8 oz bottle. TIA

If you used a credit card call your card company and dispute the charges. They can take the charges off and credit your account. You might want to call or email candlesandsoapstuff one more time and tell them you plan to dispute the charges, maybe that will light a fire under them.

I use Print Shop for mine. It's actually a fairly old version and I am thinking I want to get a newer one. They have tons of graphic and fonts. Only problem I have with mine is the smallest the font size goes is a 6 and when it's a tiny label you run out of room fast.

I have used a medium grain, and mine is American Sea Salt from the Great Salt Lake in Utah. NOt quite as good as the stuff from the Dead Sea but a heck of a lot cheaper Another question I have for scrub makers is what size jars do most of you use? TIA

With a ready made lotion base can you add oils etc without upsetting the recipe too much? I want to try to make a lotion with emu oil in it but really don't want to have to do it from scratch. I would also be adding EO to it. TIA

I have some M&P base that is specially made to suspend stuff in it. I wonder if you could just add powder milk to a bit of some kind of oil or even just add it and the oatmeal directly into a suspension base.

Last night I tried to make a linen spray. This is the recipe I used, not sure where I got it from... 1oz FO mixed with 1/2 oz PS 80 (said to mix and heat in micro for 5-10 secs) 4oz distilled H2O 4 oz alcohol ( I used denatured) add 3/4 oz of FO and PS80 mixture to the h2o and alcohol. Mix this all together and put in a spray bottle. Says it should be clear within 12 hours. Well....When I left the house to come to work it had not been quite 12 hours but the mixture was still very milky looking and all I could smell was the denatured alcohol smell. Any suggestions on what I might have done wrong or ideas on what I might try.TIA

on average how many fragrences do you offer. Also how many different jars do you offer. I currently have 2 jars that I have been testing since the first of the year(a 8oz square mason and a 10oz apoth) and I think I finally have the wick thing figured out. I currently have 4 scents that I have tested and 2 more that I am testing now. Do you think that is enough of a selection or do I need to add more to it. TIA

I got a block of rust color recently. the first time I used it I put in the normal amount I usually use and it came out a "creamsicle" color. Tried it again today and added more than usual and still didn't get rust but a pretty fall type prange color. Guess I won't be able to get a rust color to work in soy

I do mine with a refined shea, then I add some hemp oil, jojoba, and a small amount of sweet almond oil. I use cornstarch and also FO in mine too. I have not had a problem with it staying whipped. I usually melt the shea, add the oils etc them put it in the fridge til it starts to get s skin on top then I take it out and whip the day lights out of it. Mine does make your skin shiney when you first put it on. I don't use a preservative as I want mine to be "natural" but I do have an expiration date on it.

I have never tried waxing my legs but I do have my eyebrows done about every 4-5 weeks. Wouldn't you think after you had been yanking the dang things out for over 30 years they would give up and not come back I know even after all this time the brows hurt so I don't think I am quite ready to try whole legs

I make a copy of the Burt's Bees Lipbalm. I have looked at the label on the real thing and the comfrey extract is one of the ingredients along with I think rosemary extract. I didn't have either of them so didn't use them. That is the only place I have ever noticed it used.

My "note" book is at work but I think I have been using the RRD 50 in my 8oz square masons.I do get a mushroom, but I also get a really nice melt pool and a really clean jar so I don't mind the trade off. I am using 100% soy wax and FO at 1oz per pound. I have used several of the Peaks Fo's and this wick has worked well in them all.

Something I have tried for my car is a jar of smelly jelly that I just leave in one of the cup holders. When it's really hot you have to add water to them more frequently but it seems to work OK.

I have to agree, I got a sample of Eb's Soy Lotion in a swap and I really LIKE it. hmmm wonder if I live far enough away from her that maybe she would share the recipe

My two favorite BBW scents are Coconut Lime Verbena and Warm Vanilla Sugar. Does anyone know who sells a GOOD dupe of these fo's? I know Peaks and BC don't I have looked at both places. TIA

I found these instructions http://www.candlesupply.com/how2soappetals.html They are from the BCN website. I tried them with the tag board method and they were pretty easy.

I have only been doing soy candles for about 6 months and have always used the wick stick-ums. I have never had a problem with them sliding, as a matter of fact I usually have to pry them out with a knife or something when I clean my test jars to use them again.

I can't wait to get my stuff!! Pamperme, I made the Bee Good Lip Balm cause a friend raved about the Burt's Bees and this is supposed to be a pretty close copy. I personally am with you and like a smoother softer lip balm. Now I will have a reason to have to rush home and get the mail, it's been pretty hot up here in the Minnesota north country I hope my stuff doesn't melt