hellen

Thanks guys for all your replies... how do you actually use a leveller?? I have no idea whatsoever? I dont even know what it looks like..LOLOL Can you tell there are no men in my family??? Cheers, Hellen

Hi guys, I've just 're-started' making paraffin candles after years of using soy and containers.....for the life of me I cant get pillars to be exactly level. Round pillars I'm having no trouble with but the others are causing me grief. I'm using a flat tray and holding the pillars by the wick to try and level them but they are still not exactly level. Please HELP...I'm not technical at all...but I think I can buy some levelling tool? I'll need a carpenters type of one (I think) becaue is Aust we cant buy a candle leveler.... Cheers, Hellen

Hi Bunkie I PM'd you... Hope its helpful Cheers, Hells

Hi Circle, Do you buy from Natural Candle suppky also? Do you use Paraffin wax at all? I know of a good seller. He sells sasol (hardener for hurricanes etc)...he's definately the cheapest I have come across. He sells heaps of waxes...just not soy. I buy a lot from the States as well...source out whether it's cheaper to buy from there ..add the postage and see h9ow I go. My email is hellenr@optusnet.com.au if you want to know email addy's etc Cheers, Hellen

I'm a lover of jojoba so I use that...but if I was to use another oil it would be Apricot. Cheers, Hells

Where do you live circle? I don't know anyone else who loves making candles, soaps etc.

Hi, I buy from Aussie Candle Supplies...but the black just didn't come out black!! I bought black from goodness knows where...but finally I got it! I wish we had the same things as the Americans do....sob sob. Cheers, Hells

Hi guys.... I am sooo excited. I bought some black dye flakes from onestopcandlesupply and last night tried making a candle. Heaven only knows the hours I have spent just trying to make ONE really black candle. To date I can't find any black dye here in Aussie that works....so at the cost of $60 aussie dollars for 5 oz of dye....I DID IT!!! It is 'slightly' speckled on the outside. I am thinking I may have used too much Stearine. Next time I will use Vybar and see if that corrects the problem. I also used an incredible amount of dye...1/2 tspn for a 250gm candle (think thats about 6oz). I tried testing the colour in the freezer and it just didnt seem 'black enough)...but perhaps I was wrong? I haven't made a paraffin candle for yonks so I was surprised I did so well actually. I also used 10% Stearine...is that right? I have absolutely NO notes for paraffin candles...just went off what my fuzzy brain had stored somewhere. I am going to wait a week to see how it burns, scent etc...is that about the right time to wait??? I am SOOOOOOO excited!!! Obviously, small things make my small mind happy!!! Cheers, Hells

Hi, CDN's are all I use also. I've found double wicking the 10oz apocathery jar with 2 CDN 10's works much better for me than a single 22CDN Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, Primarily, I run classes. I often have people asking me how do do things without booking into a class....so here is what I do... I BAFFLE then with such a long winded explanation that they have no idea (but they are left thinking they should).... I go on about wicks, waxes, containers...pillars, blends, fragrances etc etc and then at the end of the saga throw my hands up and laugh about the work involved. That stops them...because to THEN ask me more questions would be amazingly rude.....and for the odd few that do....I then say "It's all explained in workshops, it's too lengthy to explain here" Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, I have absolutely no idea what a lotion parfait actually is...can someone tell me??? Cheers, Hells

Gee, I cant believe the trouble I am having just trying to make a black candle. I've been at this for years.....never thought of making a black candle until recently.....and EVERYTHING I am trying isn't working. I am getting shades from green to mauve...then I started using straight paraffin (Duh...trying with soy was never going to get me anywhere). Still NO BLACK...a 'purply kind of colour. I casnt find pigment here in Aust and I have tried colour tabs and liquid dye. I am pondering buying another black liquid dye and seeing if will make some kind of difference. I am soooo stumped....PLEASE Help...hehehhehehe Cheers, Hells

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou... It worked!!!!! Cheers, Hells

Hi, I am trting a 50/50 blend in a 10oz Apothecary jar. I'm wantng to double wick it and am thining of starting out with 2 x cdn10 wicks. We don't have a large variety of wicks over here so I need to work with what I can get. I have two questions: 1) How far apart do I set the wicks? 2) the base of the jar is about 4" whilst the neck is 3". I'll need to ensure the wick flames are both within the 3"?? Yes??? Stumped...never even tried double wicking anythng before Cheers, Hellen

Hi, I just bought 100g...about 2.5 oz...... I'm cackling wondering whether I'll notice any difference either..... Cheers, Hells

Glass baby food jars??? At least she would be recycling...and I guess you could get those for free if you ask everyone you know to start collecting them. Coconut shells, oyster and mussel shells, food tin cans....recycled cups and glasses from the local Salvation Army Store? Just throwing some ideas around.... Cheers, Hells

I just bought some silk.....how much do I actually put into the lye?? Cheers, Hellen

Hi, I dont buy candles anymore....however I do burn them in my ny home for exactly the same reason that I used to buy them for...for the ambience they create. I adore the light....the flickers..... The scent is, and always has been secondary to me. I don't get myself all worried about the mushrooming or the flickering. The scent I am quite casual about...I put 10% in everything!!! No worries...even the wax people say not to..I do...they burn well, smell well, flicker just enough...GREAT candles!!! I even make my melts with container wax....people love them...I love them...why worry???? I think lots of people love candles for the same reason I do....the ambience...the soft light...the tiny flicker.... Love what you do.....try not to get too much wax sticking to the walls of your container (it effects the mood..heeeee)...relax and enjoy. Try not to compare to others...learn as much as you can so you make products YOU adore. trust me....others will as well Cheers, Hells

I'm an Aussie and I buy HEAPS of things from the States. I always try and go for the priority mail boxes..it seems the cheapest. When I have been unable (due to size and weight) I usually pay priority USPS...seems the cheapest. Cheers Hellen

Thankyou, thankyou....why on earth was I trying 50/50???? Tomorrow it'll be paraffin....wish me luck and THANKYOU for all your help. Cheers, Hellen

Hi guys, I've never tried making a black candle..I've certainly added black to 'richen' other colours...but I am trying to make a black candle. NO SUCCESS. So far I have ended up with a dark grey, a 'purply' kind of colour and a dirty water colour. How do I make a solid black candle??? I'm using 50/50 and a 10oz apocathery jar Cheers, Hells

Just thought I'd share.... i bought some Xmas glass holders (for want of a better description) that are about 4inches high and 3 inches in diameter. Anyway....I thought the other day I'd just PLONK a 50/50 blend of soy and paraffin and see what I think. WELL...I wish I had paid closer attention....it is burning wonderfully!!! In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's the best container candle I have ever made. No wax on the sides, tops are perfect, scent throw is fantasic and it's been burning so far for over 35 hours. Just wish I could remember what temp I poured at....sinking suspicion I ust melted and poured. At least I know the wick size...cdn16. We dont have a lot of choices for wicks over here so I am never in a dilemma about which wicks to use...hehehhee Cheers, Hells

I add sasol to my paraffin when I make t-lights. (Sasol is the wax hardener I use when making hurricanes. Just mentioned it because I know sometimes our wording is different). Anyway....I like my T'Lights to be long burning because I'm not particularly concerned about scent...I just want them to burn. Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, Not too sure if my question belongs in this section, or the business section...but here goes. I'm in a MESS!!! I have little pages of notes scattered everywhere and I am wondering how others store their notes for easy referencing? Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, Done the oil burner oils and people love them. I never would have thought of adding water to the mix....just water in the oil burner and then put the frangrance oil into the burners. Cheers, Hells