elfcat

They have some very different scents. Some of them throw well in my blend others were not as strong in candles but were awesome in soap.

Elfcat, I was planning on buying some of the low sweat white and clear from BrambleBerry....can I ask why you didn't like it (you may save me some $$!).

I think it was the feel of the finished bars. They felt chalky to me. They set fine and the lather was OK.

I've tried the brambleberry bases and they were nice. The only one I didn't like was the Low sweat white.

I don't make a lot of soap at one time so I usually get the sampler when I order. (1 lb of 7 different types for 20.) There shipping is very reasonable and they also always throw in a sample of FO.

I found this site when I first started out that gave me some great ideas:

http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/recipes.asp?category=11

You can add anything from coffee grounds, herbs, spices, salt, tea, oatmeal, cornmeal, loofah pieces.

The sky is the limit. My favorite is oatmeal and different herbs.

Now I'm in the mood to make some soap.

A couple of years ago I bought a soap kettle (Life of the Party) It is basically a crock pot. Lighter and made from cheaper materials. I can only use it if I am doing more than a pound at a time.

I buy scrubs and lotions all the time from etsy. I love them! I also buy tapers and pillars from others because.....I HATE making them. Seriously, I suck at them so bad.

So yes.

Ouch. I always love how even in soap there are the high and mighty who must try and make themselves seem better or more important.

I do both and I can honestly say I prefer M&P. I love the range and the really neat looks you can acheive with M&P. I've spent hours trying to acheive a look or an effect. I always feel very limited in what I could do with CP.

Peaks red clove is awesome. Love it.

No frosting, beautiful candles, fast cure time and great CT and HT. Fairly easy to wick. It does still have some issues with some wetspots. Overall I just love working with parasoys.

I love the one from CS. I smell spice more than juicy fruit. Of course it's been awhile since I've smelled juicy fruit. So who knows.

Customers love it.

I don't know if it will help but there was this thread going on about insurance:

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66484

I use Benchmark but I don't think they cover you out there. Just the east coast.

I have one and have never had a problem with it. I did upgrade to get rid of the ads and I purchased a domain through them. It was really easy. You can also add paypal buttons so people can purchase straight from your website.

I'm still using it in my 50/50 at 7% and it is throwing like crazy! I bought my last bottle in october and it smells just as strong. Could it be your wax? I know I've heard of changes in wax that could cause it.

Peaks all the way!

I've always used a heat gun to fill in holes in my C3. I know others don't like that method but I hate doing repours. Eventually if you work at pouring it at different temps you will get the hang of it. It takes a lot of paitence and experimenting.

Right now my 6 and 8 oz's are selling like hot cakes. (for me) I do still get an occasional request for a 16 oz jar after they've tried the 8 oz and want more.

I would use the DPG. I tried doing without for some out door sticks and it did not burn well. It smoked badly and kept going out. It's really cheap at NG.

Now I know what to give my brother-in-law for yule!

Well it is about time! I mean really, how am I supposed to find out how it is if you don't test it for me!

Sorry, I have had a lot of candy corn lately and I tend to get a little crazy. I can't wait to hear your results. I have about another months worth of the 6036 before I need to narrow down my new choices to start testing.

Yes. In fact, I think everyone should close up shop. That way there would be less competition.

Seriously though, you have to do what makes you happy and if this no longer makes you happy then take a break and refocus. Life is too short to not try new things and new adventures.

Hi elfcat, thanks for the welcome.

I would absolutely love to go wild in some of the candle supply stores and buy a lot of new things. I often will go look at all the luscious things they have to offer, and maybe some day I will. But right now I would be unable to justify the outlay of so much money for something that I consider a hobby and have no way to recoup the expense. I also know that if I were to start....

I was looking at some of the very appealing waxes but would find it hard to justify ordering a few slabs when I currently pay an average of about 10 cents/pound now. LOL, of course there is that unknown element in not knowing what I am getting, but if a used candle has burned well, there is little risk.

As to FOs, I can be allergic to certain scents and now always give the sniff test to the used candles I buy. I get only those that are unscented or non-allergy producing. I would love to be able to use a lot of FO's because some can be very nice, but that likely isnt in the cards for me. I've had to get rid of some of the candles I've made when I was less careful about scent.

And yes, it is very addictive. From the time I saw my first tapers and votives in church when I was a kid, I've been hooked. I've made candles on and off for well over 3 decades and have boxes and boxes of supplies in the garage.

Just loving it.

I don't know what I would do if I were allergic to FO's. I would probably have a lot more money from NOT buying so many.

I'm currently using a parasoy blend for my jars but it has been discontinued so I'll be searching for another or mixing my own.I really like the parasoy blends over the pure soy. My tarts are pure soy using a blend of soy waxes I have left over. When soy only is requested I use C3 for jars and have had pretty good luck with that as far as frosting and wet spots but it took a lot of work.

People don't seem to mind the frosting as much with the tarts. In fact I think it makes them look cool.

Hi and welcome!

One of these days you should try your hand at buying some new supplies and FO from one of the many great companies out there. That way, you know exactly what you have. Starting out with a slab of wax and a couple of FO and wicks. There is nothing quite like starting with fresh batch of wax and new FO's. It's like christmas morning.

Warning, it is very addictive and then you can't stop! :embarasse

When I heard about CS discontinuing the 6036, I wrote to aztec to see if they planned on keeping it and they responded with this:

"So here is the deal with the 6036. It was originally a lot cheaper,

lower grade version of the 6006. With the recent price increase it is now

the same price and may actually end up a little higher than the better grade

6006 so for all exstensive purposes we will be getting rid of it too. Please

let me know if you have any questions about this."

Sales Associate

So you might have to consider something else, unless they changed their minds!