CandleKat

Try BNL Olive Blossom from BitterCreek North

Misty, CB135 is the only wax I've use since switching to soy. I really love it. I haven't experience what you are talking about. I don't use any additive except a uv stabilizer w/vanilla's. I use CD wicks and have never had a mushroom problem. I find that 1oz pp of FO is plenty. I pour at 105- 100. What degree are you pouring at?

How depressing . Hope our clients understand what seems to be our inevitable price hike. - That is for those of us who can hang in there. Kathy

Arggg! Yes. Thanks Tereasa. My mother has me do a lot of her "webbing". I should just combine our identities .

Kelsey, Check out this thread from yesterday. It should help clear it up HTH http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68489 Kathy

I've heard about using stabilizers, but have never had to. I'll give it a whirl Thank You!! Paige

Wow! Those look amazing. So.........I guess I've just added another project to my list of things to do.

:embarasse Sorry fellow Texan!!

Babean, I primarily use only 8oz tumblers and 16oz apothecary jars. For the 8oz, I use a CD 10 for most of my fo's. I do use a 12 for my vanilla's, cinnamon's and other heavier fo's. For the apoth's, I double wick with 2 10's or 12's for heavier scents. No mushrooming, no torches and great throw.:yay:I must say though, that I don't use dyes, so I think that makes a difference. I think that those who use dyes actually start out w/12's and wick as high as 16 or 18. HTH Edit - I just saw a post on the Scents section and RS said she is getting hang up with the 12 on her vanilla. I've been using the same wicks for a couple of years and don't get any kind of hang up- must be the good ol' West Texas air. So you may want to start w/12's and 14's Kathy (Also, note that I made an error on that post. I meant to say that I get wet spots, but not frosting)

Sabrina, Not sure which type of wax you are using, and I haven't tried Olive Leaf, but BCN has an fo called Olive Blossom (Bubbles N Lights) that's a killer in CB135. HTH Kathy

R.S., I too have trouble w/vanilla's turning my CB135 brown- grrr! It doesn't matter who's vanilla it is. I wonder if anyone else has come across this and had any success. Also, about the wicking question with Very Vanilla, I mostly use 8oz frosted tumblers and 16 oz apoths. For the the tumblers I use a CD12 and for the apoths I double wick w/2 12's. HTH Kathy

Woops! Trying to type and think at the same time. Thanks RS, because that could really be confusing! Should have read "I do get some wet spots, never had frosting". Kathy

I've used CB135 since starting back. I do get some wet spots, never had shrinkage. I think they bother me more that anyone. I get great h/c throw w/CD wicks. I've used Eco wicks and the throw is really good, but most of the time w/the mushrooming, they're torches if I want a decent MP. I have heard that 135 will have a better throw in larger containers. I notice that on some scents and will probably try EzSoy for my smaller jars that won't throw well w/the CB135. But over all I really like the CB135. Well, I guess I didn't answer your question, but w/soy there will always be those wonderful little character flaws we love & hate. Hope you can get it figured out. Keep us posted Kathy

DebK, GB 415 is GoldenBrand's name for their product. HTH Kathy

CD is just another brand of wicks. I don't do tureen, so I wouldn't be much help there. Also, yes...too much fo does affect throw. This is a case of less is better. HTH Kathy

Tootie, I use the little frosted tumblers all the time. I just love them! I don't use a label on the body, just on the bottom. They are such elegant little containers, and my labels just don't seem to go w/them, so I incorporate my warning label w/the scent and my info on the bottom label. Then, I use clear wrap and tie it off w/a hang tag. Best of luck! Kathy

MileHigh, I'm w/ FunFlames........keep that hair in your pretty little head for the time being! I use CB135 and have since I started back candlemaking. It seems to me that that's quite a bit of FO for the 135. I'd cut back to between 1-1.5 oz. The vanilla's won't usually throw with more than 1oz pp. I heat my wax to 175-180. Also a lot of scents in 135 need extra curing time. I usually let my candles cure for a full two weeks. Some people don't like that long of a curing time, but if I really like a scent, it's well worth it. FunFlames is on the money about the CD wicks. That's what I've been using and they great with most scents. I also use eco's. They do very well with the 135. HTH Keep in touch and let us know how things go! Best of luck, Kathy

Thanks so much, Jameel for the tips. I do usually test in different areas. It may well be the fragrance. I order from Bittercreek and CS only. It's also been brought to my attention that it could be the wax, a bad batch. I've had problems w/scorching when using the vanilla's, even w/smaller wicks. I'm curious to what you mean by getting your FO's from the manufacturers (sorry for my ignorance:o) What would the advantage be? I'm fairly new to all of this and want to tap into the wisdom and knowledge of the seasoned chandlers. Thanks again!

Jameel, I have started using CB 135 and get some great cold throw. I've figured out 16oz apoth's and get wonderful hot throw w/a couple of weeks cure. Even w/vanilla. But I'm having a bunch of trouble with 8oz jj and 8oz frosted tumblers. I have to practically stick my face in the jar to smell anything. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom? I'm using 6.5oz of wax, .50 fo and eco 8 wicks. I've also tried CD 10's, and w/vanilla CD 12. TIA!!

Also, soy has a long cure time. Sometime 1-2 weeks depending on the f/o. How much f/o are you using? Kathy

That's what started me also. I burn all the time and wanted to save some money by making my own. How hard could it be? Melt some wax, add some fragrance, stick a wick in a container & pour. - HA! What's testing? Oh, brother, was I ever that green?!! But you're right Kat - I find it therapeutic; and sort of like being on a mission looking for the right combo. Thanks to the boards and the experience of the seasoned chandlers, I've learned a whole lot. So, hang in there Purebliss, making a candle is easy, making it actually work is not. But loads of fun anyway. Glad to see you're starting out on the right foot. Good luck!! Kathy

Has anyone tried Wick your Wax from Bittercreek or anything from Wellington? These are a couple I've been thinking of trying. Thanks! Kathy

I'll try that, but on the apoth I'm having a very slight hang-up on one side and actually thought about wicking up. Sound like I better not. Thanks Isbennis. I'll give it a whirl Kathy

Thanks a bunch girls. I wish I could get to the bottom of this. It may be as R.S. suggested that it is a reaction of the fo to the heat. I was also wondering if it could be the type of wax, like a characteristic of the CB 135. I guess I could put some dye in it to hide it. It really does look ugly!! Thanks so much for the input. Kathy

Hope someone out there can shed some light here. I received some CB 135 from someone going out of the biz. I made up a bunch of test candles. On two of the candles, the tops turned really tan after the first burn and the subsequent burns stayed that way, and I'm not sure why. The first I used 15 oz of soy, 1oz of Vanilla Velvet and 2 CD 14's in an 18oz apoth. No dye. The other was an 8oz jj w/ 6.5 oz wax, .56oz of Grandma's Kitchen, an eco 10 wick, also dye free. Both burned well and had good mp's. although I didn't get a good hot throw on the Vanilla Velvet. When the mp hardened on both, they turned a tan color. The VV also has some major brown spotting. I added the fo at 175 and stirred both for 3 minutes, poured at 105. I hope someone can tell me what happened?? TIA Kathy