Dana Mae

Hi All, I haven't posted as much recently as I have been having fun pouring and testing my container candles. Although I finally found a wick that burns like I want.....I keep getting some smoke/soot no matter what I do. I have read that some FO's smoke more than others, some wicks do, maybe it is a combination my wax and all of the above... but I don't know what to do or try next if there is a way to totally avoid it. wax: 4627 container: 8oz jj I have had the best burn with ECO2 but have also tried HTP (so-so) and Zinc (bad) Any insight/suggestions for this newbie would be appreciated! Thanks Dana

Thanks for the links! dana

I think you'll get as many preferences as there are people on this board. Have you done a search? Try doing a search with your type of wax and type of candle and see what people have shared. Posting your type of candle and wax will be helpful, as it is all relative. HTH Dana

The FBD Amazing Grace and Baby Grace were good though. I got samples of them on a whim as I like them.......just was SO looking for the Amazing Grace. Thanks for your input as well...Guess I'm back to buying the real thing... lotion for $40/16oz for great smelling, not so great lotion!:rolleyes2 dana

I'm going out on a limb here........but I didn't realize pointsetta even had a particular fragrance.......not a recognizable one anyhow. Help anyone? dana

Now that I think about it, I'm a bit worried about glass/wet jar in the bathroom. I'd hate to break it (or worse, for my mom to!) and have someone get injured. Otherwise a great idea!!! Thanks, Dana

Thanks for the input, but they are closed for the holidays...and honestly if I knew what I wanted to put into it I'd just order those ingredients lol I would still like the satisfaction of "making" it myself......even if from a kit. Thanks though I have heard wonderful things about SW and will certainly consider them in the future! Have a great day and thanks again dana

I emailed Jen at lotion crafter about the kit. She said if I can make soap (yes) than I should be able to make the butter lol! I think like you there might be an easier way but the butter I like is an emulsion, and that is more complicated from what I read than just a whipped butter, etc. I'm also concerned about the right preservatives, etc. I'm still on the fence, lol! I think my biggest drawback from just making my own is trying to decided between all the various butters and oils, and it will be expensive to order all of that, even in small quantities. Ah, decisions decisions! Anyhow, keep me posted what you end up trying! Thanks for the ideas about the squatty canning jars also! Dana

Thanks for replying Yes it is hard to compare if you don't have the original to compare to. The version I have doesn't smell bad oob.....just off. And in my soaps so far it is nonexistent at .7oz pp. I will try it in lotion/butter too, maybe I'll have better results. Thanks again for your input, Dana

Has anyone used any of the lotion or butter kits from Lotion Crafter? I can't bring myself to use a pre-made base, lol, and I'm over whelmed at the variety of butters and oils to make my own lotion and/or body butter. Any input is appreciated Thanks Dana

Wow these are gorgous!!!! I've been hedging on whether to buy THIS mold from Paul or just the tiny newbie mini log mold since I'm just starting out and I only make small batches. This sure swings things in favor of this particular swirl, although I doubt I can make anything this gorgeous anytime soon! Wowsers great job! Do you just love the TOG mold?!!~ Dana

I was curious as to what size container I should order for my body butter. I'll either be making a butter or a very thick heavy lotion. This is not for resale obviously (my first to make!) but for myself and my mom to use. I got looking at all the jars, containers and tubs and got overwhelmed. The recipe I'm using makes a total of about 33 oz I think. Any help and/or advice on what I should get to try, and the best place to buy in small quantity, would be much appreciated! Thanks Dana

This is so encouraging. I really want to make a body butter/cream/heavy lotion and right now that is the ONLY thing I want to make (other than my soap and candles, lol) but I have been totally overwhelmed by all the steps and products and such. Your creation looks delish!! Bravo dana

I don't have an answer for you, but you might want to try a search with body butter in the title. I myself started a similar thread just a week or so ago because I am wanting something similar to the body butter that the Body Shop sells. That said, after all my reading and searching I am totally confused as to what to do! lol I have not really seen a body butter base, but if you want to try making one, lotion crafter makes a body butter kit: http://www.lotioncrafter.com/store/Body-Butter-Bliss-Kit-pr-16473.html It sounds a lot like what I'd like to make. However, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the process of it all and all the ingredients! Hope this, and any subsequent searches help. There are quite a few threads on here about butters. Let us know what you'd try.....I know I'd like to know what you find! HTH, Dana

Hi Vio I'm glad you are enjoying the test process. I'm doing 3 hour burns on mine with a complete cool down in between. So far, with the same container and fo/wax combo I've made 7 different candles with various wicks. I like to burn them at the same time and compare when I can. Now that more wicks have arrived Ifinally) I can test some more this weekend! Although still a complete and total newbie I feel like I learn and understand just a wee bit more with every test. I've got a long way to go, that's for sure, but hoping the new wick size I want to pour this weekend will be JUST the ticket lol~ Keep us posted on how you are doing. I really learn a lot from other new people who share their experiences....good and bad. Dana

Nah, I didn't take any pictures. Just plain ole 8oz jj......LOTS of notes and many wicks later, I'll be pouring more this weekend that I hope will be THE wick for this jar/wax/fo combo! Yours is lovely Dana ps I'd be happier not using jj. I chose them b/c they were recommended as beginner shape/size, and they were cheap. But.....I am not a jj fan lol. So they burn good and smell delicious but I don't like to look at them (pout)

I tried the Fragrances by Design Pure Grace and so far (in CP soap) I am very disappointed.....even OOB it is definitely off. I was hoping for better results in soap. Perhaps lotion? I am ultra picky as I wear the original scent myself, and was hoping for a great dupe. So far I feel this is not anywhere near the real thing in scent. Anyone else have tips/ideas? The Amazing Grace and Baby Grace are much more close to the real thing OOB, although I haven't used them yet. I adore that clean, soap and water smell that Pure Grace has. Sigh, I am SO disappointed. dana

Yea! I'm so excited for you! I'm starting along with you and I'm a candle pouring wick testing machine lol. I have made SO many already just trying to get the wick just right, etc. I so admire all the chandlers here, it is a LOT of work but I love love love it! I too thank all of you for giving me such a good head start! Dana

http://www.fragrancesbydesign.com/

I can't speak for the other fragrances but I just got all 3 of the Philosophy dupes. I normally wear Philosophy Pure Grace as perfume, I don't know if I can say the dupe is dead on, but it is good. I just cp'ed with it this weekend and both my batches failed miserably lol. Let me say though that it was a new receipe I tried as well as my second time soaping (1st time went perfect lol). I am going to try again tomorrow. Amazing and Baby Grace smell dead on OOB. I am going to revisit Pure Grace because that is my fave and I really wanted it in soap and lotion/body butter. Glad to hear all the other reviews as well! Dana

I just ordered samples of all of these dupes from fragrancesbydesign....I'm a die-hard pure grace wearer (searched years for that soap/water clean smell, lol!) I am anxious to smell their version of these scents.....esp my fave! See how close it smells to the real mccoy. I do like Amazing Grace too. Dana

I am pretty new to this but I was told the suppliers of the "real" wick stickums, the good kind, all come from Bitter Creek. Hopefully someone will chime in and help you out! FWIW, Dana

If you do a search on "mushroom" you will get a few threads with pictures...especially if you search titles. Gee, wonder how I know.......(and going back to test burning...) HTH Dana

Thanks...my issue was that the wick suggested by CS was only a 3" wick, so I had to substitute......that said it has really been informative watching how all the different wicks perform and seeing all the things people talk about on the forum actually happen, it makes it a lot easier to understand the process. That and the fact that everyone has been so kind along the way....:smiley2: And...my house smells heavenly!!! Thanks Dana

Thank you for the recipe Ann-Marie! I'll try it!!! Dana