Lizzy

Wow, I was just emailing with Loren last month and he ensured me he was looking for a replacement wax still. Sad to see that customers mean so little to them. 

22 hours ago, jaybear said:

Thanks for the info,  I'll give that wax a try.  with so many different waxes out there, its great to hear from others!

I have been using 4794 since 2006 so if you need any help, feel free to message me. I don't check this forum daily but will get back to you

Try 4794. It's a Votive wax. Makes excellent votives. You could add 10% soy if that is a must for you but 4794 on it's own is awesome. It does have shrinkage so you'd need a repour. 

On 3/29/2023 at 1:04 PM, BenderSF said:

FYI @Lizzy and anyone else who might be looking, I finally found a Mountain Lodge dupe.  Kind of.  It's not supposed to be a dupe, but it's close enough for my nose: NorthWood's Snowy Mountain Cottage.

https://northwoodcandlesupply.com/products/snowy-mountain-cottage-premium-fragrance-oil

 

I wasn't even looking for Mountain Lodge when I got this.  It's not described as a dupe and the description isn't even close.  It's still not quite what I remember the original smelling like, but it smells pretty darn close to me.

 

(I hadn't tried NorthWood before, but they have some really nice scents.)

Thanks for the heads up! I'm about to order at Northwoods after testing a few of their samples so I'll grab a sample of it.

I have noticed a trend with these suppliers lately....they all make it out like candle and soap making is super easy and if you just buy the supplies (from them of course) you can be a pro in no time and make millions of dollars. So much misinformation.

I have been on this merry go round since 2004. I'm NOT a pro. I am still learning every single day. 

7 hours ago, TallTayl said:

That kiln load had normal people stuff too, like a new place setting I’m hoping to tweak one more time before replacing all of my kitchen dining pieces.  The size and depth are exactly what I’d hoped.  It took me so long that I’m out of leaves in the gardens for the year. Each setting has a different plant, and the glaze goes with the plant.  This setting was Mahogany Splendor Hibiscus that I grew from seed this year.  It was the most gorgeous foliage plant I’ve ever grown. 

the glaze need to be applied much thicker than what I thought was enough. And the leaf impression stain burned out more than usual, but the food tasted mighty good on it tonight. 

 

This color is phenomenal! Love it!

4 hours ago, TallTayl said:

This is part of the reason I struck out on my own a few years ago with some favorite fragrances. It’s not easy or inexpensive with all the duping work. It is comforting, though, to not have my favorites lost to closed shops or discontinued scents.

I just spent a couple of hrs going over my sales for scents from NG and it won't be as big a loss as I thought. So it's all good. 

This is my que:

"I know you have a choice – lots of choices in fact – when it comes to who you do business with."

Time to look for replacements. Sadly. I never was a big TFC customer bc of shipping costs but I did order tons from NG. It's frustrating bc they think they have us in their pockets and we will put up with it. 

So this email just came in....didn't even know TFC had sold out too. Damn. 

Hi. I’m Sue Buchta and I’m the CEO of IndiMade Brands, a company made up of a group of sponsors – including some of the founders of our family of brands – that owns Nature’s Garden, The Flaming Candle, Wholesale Supplies Plus and WSP’s own family of brands.  It’s nice to meet you. I joined IndiMade as it was formed 7 months ago, and all these amazing brands have been part of the IndiMade family since before then.  IndiMade was formed to provide new leadership, strategy and investment for our companies, all three of which are still operated at independent locations in Wellington, Ohio; Independence, Ohio and Hiram, Georgia.  Each business maintains its own identity, brand promise and team of dedicated humans that love our industry and customers. I wanted to take this opportunity to clear up some misconceptions that we have seen on social media. 1. Each of the founders and past owners of the businesses now in the IndiMade family chose, for various personal reasons, to place their company in hands that would continue to support the industry and serve their customers for years to come.  They felt this was a good way to see their company grow and thrive.  There were no hostile takeovers and no forced sales.  I personally have met and have an ongoing relationship with several of them and I know how lucky I am to have that.  2. I understand that over the last few years past ownership may not have done everything well or right. Perhaps you think they got a lot wrong. IndiMade and all our employees are working very hard to improve the business and invest to provide a better experience for our customers – no matter which brand is your go-to.  We just launched a new website for Nature’s Garden that, when completely transitioned from the old one, will provide a faster, better shopping experience and we’re so excited for new features and benefits coming your way soon.  IndiMade will continue to invest to provide better service, offer more products and do all we can to help your business grow.  Your success is our success, and we’ll continue to be dedicated to helping you achieve your dreams 3. Like most companies we’ve experienced rising costs in our business this year. In some cases, we have had to adjust prices to keep offering the quality products you’ve grown to love. I can assure you that any price increases reflected recently are necessary to keeping our brands healthy, we are evaluating pricing across all brands, and we are always looking for ways to offset inflation within our business instead of passing it on to our customers.  The fact is, we’ve recently decreased prices on some products. 4. With few exceptions, the same wonderful humans you have worked with over the years are still with IndiMade (yes, Melissa at Nature’s Garden!).  While we’ve brought some new talented faces to the company, please know that we have amazing employees who are passionate about the industry and our customers.  They are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, partners and siblings and wonderful human beings – just like you. 5. Sometimes, when it rains it pours, and we’re no exception.  In these past weeks, we’ve had a power outage that impacted shipping at Nature’s Garden, a major transportation issue at The Flaming Candle and other unexpected challenges with new systems that impacted processing times and shipping costs.  We are working diligently to fix these issues.  It may seem like a lot of coincidence, but it was a series of unfortunate issues hitting us all at once. I know you have a choice – lots of choices in fact – when it comes to who you do business with.  We sincerely want that to be us and will work to continue to earn your business and trust.  I hope you stick with us as we make improvements.  It won’t happen overnight but I promise we are working on making it better every single day. We are also committed to keeping the unique and wonderful personality and promise that each of our brands offer the same – if not better – and continue to bring you great product and great service from those brands. I would love to hear from you if you have feedback or ideas.  Please email me directly at feedback@indimadebrands.com.  I will personally read the emails and appreciate honesty and candor, though I ask you to be constructive and kind no matter how hard the feedback may be. Our industry is poised for great things in the future, and as we work hard on our own journey we look forward to being a part of yours!

Sue Buchta CEO, IndiMade Brands

12 hours ago, GoldieMN said:

Wholesale Supplies Plus has priced itself out of my market.  Besides, I have ordered from them multiple times in the past but my account says "no orders".  Had problems logging into another fragrance website after they took that company over.  Just venting a bit here. . .

GoldieMN

Vent away...I get it. I dropped RE, JS and now probably NG too. 

10 hours ago, TallTayl said:

I could not find any press releases to say the investor group who holds WSP added more to their portfolio. Two sigma holds WSP and the other 4 bought out last round, but I could not find any mention of NG.  

The sites look similar in layout, but the locations are different. We’re they always in Ohio?

Yup in Ohio. This is what someone posted in the NG Group.
WSP is listed as the parent company.

Yes, this happened. NG sold (out) to WSP. Plan accordingly especially with processing and shipping times. Prices went up again and people are being charged insane amounts for shipping...in some cases being charged twice! 

On 10/18/2022 at 5:36 PM, Ernie said:

Yah I think it is one of the best pre blended paraffin for containers , definitely one of the prettiest tops ( 2 pour unfortunately).  Only problems I have with it is the high flame you get off the first light and it gets tiny bubbles some times. I like the semi translucent look it has. It looks old fashioned in clear jars. Must be a good wax because I see it sold out everywhere.

The Candlemakers Store is stocked. That’s where I get it

2 hours ago, Ernie said:

I used to love the 83 about 2 years ago, but now I keep reading the formula has changed and every batch is different. Is this true or have they finally got it dialed in?

That I can't t tell ya. I have just started playing with it after initially not wanting to bc of it's texture. I cringe at soft waxes.

I like it as far as burn and throw is concerned with 8% FO load and no dye. I've made about 10 test candles and all have been consistent after my initial wick test candles. I did get a smidgen of soot with a powerburn. Nothing too concerning. It's just one slab though, not a case (or cases) that I'm basing my results on FYI

I purchased this wax in hopes that it would be similiar to my previous container wax (which hasn't been available from my supplier for months now) ...and it is... with exception of it being in slab form. My previous wax was just as soft but in small pellet form (that I didn't have to touch...LOL...I could scoop out of it's bags) Did I mention I cringe at soft waxes? 

8 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Despite the terrible range of quality from lot to lot, I’m still a Coco83 gal. I like it blended either with Midwest soy, c1 or sp487. 

I've been playing with Coco 83 on the DL (shhhh) LOL
It's actually quite nice now that I've gotten over the texture. The paraffin in it makes it worth it. 

I got mine from VCS and they claim it is NOT Accu Blend but who knows. I like Zinc wicks best with it. The CDs didn't give me the same (amazing) throw as the Zincs.

48 minutes ago, Laura C said:

I don't understand how they can trademark such common things as a state name or a zodiac sign. Maybe it's in combination with something else as well? 🤔

That's what I'm thinking. 

And it's hilarious how they themselves use trademarked names. LOL

1 hour ago, TallTayl said:

A while back someone tried to trademark “soap loaf” and was defeated by the masses who use the phrase. Hopefully your quest to use existing terminology is successful.  

reminds me of Yankmee when they trademarked "Tarts" LOL

These were made using a rustic cold pour with 1343 back in the days in 2008 or 2009....sigh....how I miss the old time candlemaking. LOL

Seems like it was less complicated back then

I've always used 4794 for Votives and used metal molds with wick pins. 4794 shrinks/pulls away from the sides so unmolding is easy but it does require a top off where you pour to the "lip" of the mold. Then it's unmold, remove wick pin and insert wick then cover wick tab with warning label.

They are supposed to burn across like a container in a votive jar...as stated above. 

5 hours ago, franu61 said:

Midwest waxes are supposed to be the same waxes that WERE enchanted lites.  Regular 100% soy and the millenium blend.   THOSE waxes were wonderful, especially millenium.  I don't recall having to wait even a week for a 2 room filling scent.   NOTHING is as good as it used to be     

 

I've been wanting to try the Millenium. Simply because I am a glutton for punishment. Sigh.

2 hours ago, BenderSF said:

 the ebay one is a Scentsy dupe.

 

I don't remember Canwax popping up when I was googling around before.  I'll give them a shot and report back.  Fingers crossed.... 🤞

 

Thanks!

Oh didn't even see that it's a Scentsy dupe. Whoops

Please do! 

6 hours ago, BenderSF said:

Has anyone found a dupe of Yankee's Mountain Lodge?  C&S used to carry one but discontinued it before I could try.  The Candlemaker's Store has one but it's not even vaguely similar to the original.  I've collected a lot of lodge/cabin/woodsy scents in the hopes of finding something at least similar, but no luck.

 

I'm surprised it's not more popular.

This is what popped up for me in Google. If you order any pls let us know if any of them are spot on  I like that scent too.

https://www.candlesoylutions.com/closeup.asp?cid=8&pid=1201&offset=3

https://essentialsbycatalina.com/mountain-lodge-fragrance-oil

Ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142717440172?chn=ps&var=443628787672&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1MtxikCYMT86gjr4DiDSeng9&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=443628787672_142717440172&targetid=1584739241414&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9003229&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1584739241414&abcId=9300697&merchantid=8520214&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmouZBhDSARIsALYcouoa_WuNby0t5dau2LF8aepJkL0OiwqMY5ugfX9ulNete5inVBGJ9FsaArpbEALw_wcB

Canada:
https://www.canwax.com/Fragrance-Mountain-Lodge-Yankee-Type-_p_2837.html

I agree with TallTayl...I've poured 415 like that.

Love that scent! Screams COZY to me. It's heavy on the smokey note to my nose


Cozy Comfort

Cozy Night(s) by the Fire

Cozy Campfire
Cuddle Season
Cuddling by the Fire
Woodsman Blues
 

11 hours ago, Darbla said:

I miss Bert's Heaven Scent, Peak, Scent Works, and now I went to order from Day-Star the other day and she is once again closed for a while on top of having many things out of stock.  😪  I think an email I got after that said she was closed until sometime in October.

Bert's and Peak for sure  It's all the old schoolers that are disappearing it seems. BCN changed a lot too....barely any paraffin waxes. It makes me so sad.