The_Dallas_Texas_Dean

I have some of the fragrances you have listed "on hold" waiting for time to test....nice to see the review.

other than the Ergo we talked about, I LOVE Red Flower candles!!! Diptyque is pricey but well known and a good seller for the shops that carry them here.

Congratulations!!!! It has a good "feel".....I am excited for you! And in San Fran???!!! I am SO jealous!!! This is the fun and exciting stage!!!

Glad you found them. I just realized I spelled it wrong! Is the price much better buying direct?

This is just about the most asinine statement I have ever heard....but Lord knows we have heard it before from her. In the first place, it is just false....obviously spoken by someone who knows as much about luxury candles as they know about people. (Unless, of course we are talking about Flea Markets or garage sales.)...one dimensional thinking at it's best. Craig, not only is there is money to be made from selling brand recognized products in your store, there are other benefits as well. It is certainly a good idea to start with the end in mind and create the image you would like to project. It sounds to me like you are on the right track. WHY NOT enlist the "help" of companies that have spent fortunes building that brand and image? There are many successful stores that carry several brands and types of candles....GREAT stores.The brands you have mentioned are in a league different from the BBW IMO. When you look at stores like Amen Wardy, Gumps, Forty-Five-Ten...and many many more, I think they are doing some things very well...and one of them is offering consumers a CHOICE. If you were going to invest your hard earned money in a tire store, would you want to carry Good Year and Michelin, or "Rhonda's Rubber Rounds" and "Micky's Git Mor Miles"? Godiva or Sally Sues? Green Giant or Remarkable? Dell or Armandos? AND, before anyone gets in a tizzy....my OPINION has nothing to do with BASHING Flea Markets,Rhonda or Micky.I make candles and have a company just like many of you, and am just as proud of what I create. I just have a different take on having my candles displayed next to Diptyque, Slatkin&Co. and DL&CO than some of you do. I think it is a great idea....and I think those companies have done an excellent job. Short answer....Yes, they sell.

Craig. Votivo uses Charisa glass. You can get it at www.tayloredconcepts.com for around $26.00 a case of 48. Excellent price! Fun tumbler to work with. I love them. You can also get it at Reikes. I am sorry but I do not have the contact information for them.

I think it depends on what your plans for the future are. IMHO if you are building a business around this, shipping is of major concern. I continued testing waxes that were available in my area so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping....so you keep changing until you find the one that works best for you considering everything...including costs. Another factor is time. You could possibly spend the rest of your life chasing after the perfect wax or the perfect blend by blending your own. At some point you have to decide/choose and go with it....and try not to look back. Continue to test everything new and improved..and as you learn and grow, make the changes you can.

My business has taken over my house.

Fed Ex fan here. I researched them all before I made my decision...(and have used them all..and opened accounts with them all). From time to time I check the rates with UPS, USPS and Fed Ex using the same shipping information...and every time Fed Ex is less expensive. There is a learning curve with the Fed Ex site but it is fairly easy and always accurate for me. I do like it that with Click and Ship they will pick them up at my house but for some reason can't get Fed Ex to pick up. ( I think it is because I am too small at this point) it IS worth the savings for my customers for me to drop their packages off however. I have never sent anything to anywhere that Fed Ex did not deliver.

I get mine from Taylored Concepts in Dallas so I don't have to pay shipping. You get 10 cents off each one for purchases over 25 total number.

I L O V E Patchouli and am always playing with combinations. It is the most awesome base for blends (although of course I love it by itself) My favorites are: Sandalwood, Vanilla and Patchouli Sandalwood, Vanilla, Amber and Patchouli

YOU are SO GOOD! Great work, Trish!

To be honest, I am not crazy about it. Smells like that plastic-fakey lavender to me.....and I really love lavender. I like many of the Peaks fragrances, but Lavender is not one of them. JMHO

I was given a sample of Cranberry Chutney from candlesandsupplies.com along with their reeds at one of the shows. I appreciate the freebie, but it just smells like yet another "tootie-fruitie" to me. Personally I think you should completely and QUICKLY forgive yourself for buying the candle. I buy candles all the time...and hopefully I will never even want to stop...it is just one of my favorite things to buy and always has been. I love trying new candles...and purchasing my old favorites. I have never quite understood why just because we make candles it would make us not want to buy them anymore. Just don't get it. If you learn how to sew would it mean that you would never buy clothes from a store again? Even IF you think yours are as good? I guess I am in the minority about this one.To each his own I suppose. Now, you SHOULD be ashamed for buying the Yankme...there are much better out there!

How much could it possibly help her if you did give her a list of your suppliers/manufacturers? If you are like most of us you probably use several.It is odd to me that she can't find jars and bags in Texas. And labels? How hard are they to find? We have many options here....if she found her way here all the way from Georgia you would think she could find anything she could possibly want. It just seems odd to me...really odd. This part was clear: "how you make your candles "...and I love how it seemed so nonchalant. LOL I probably couldn't resist giving her so much information it would make her head spin....or just reply back with " Girl, I know what you mean! I can't find supplies at a decent price either! And BAGS, OMG, don't EVEN get me started on BAGS! Labels....now THAT is my WORSE nightmare!.....and on and on and on......KWIM?

Raisin sounds like a good one for blending. I never thought of it but can imagine it mixed with a variety of things. Hummm

Paul Mitchell makes a Hydrating spray called Awapuhi Moisture Mist. I love it!

I guess you would have to evaluate how you learn best. Some people can go to a site and read to get all the information they need. Others do better in a classroom environment with someone to answer and explain their questions. Personally I think it is ALL good.(if it is a reputable company) Can't get too informed, right? The $75.00 is tax deductible.

I have single wicked the 16oz Tins with a few fragrances. ( I think I might have posted a pic when I was going through this) I think it was a CD 22...huge honker! I agree that if you can't single wick them, triple beats double!

broadzilla....you wouldn't happen to have any information available about those houses would ya? I am interested in learning more about them. TIA

Great job AGAIN! The waves are way cool!

Thats it! Thanks, Kim. I remember now, it was them! They let me choose some samples when I ordered. Awesome! Thanks! M

I had a sample of some Egoiste and poured it a long time ago. I was not impressed by the cold throw, so it landed in the reject graveyard. I ran across it the other day, and decided to fire it up. Not bad...not bad at all. My challenge is I dont have a clue where I got the sample. Does anyone use this...or seen it anywhere? It is the Chanel Egoiste for men dupe.Would love to find some Platinum as well.

Personally,I like BC, and have never had any challenges with them. They have gone out of their way to answer my many questions since I started this. I appreciate that they carry a huge inventory and seem to be a fairly "complete" supplier. I think that they carry one of the best FO lines on the market today ( WYW )and it seems as they continue to grow they just keep getting better and better. I like their message boards and look forward to their convention this year. I know what it is like to experience growing pains with a company. Once you have reached a point that you are relying on your staff to represent you in a professional manner, stuff happens.(Regardless of how well you train and educate)They seem to be quick about rectifying any challenges that come up. I believe they truly care about their customers and appreciate our business. I would say that almost everyone I have met in this industry uses BC for something. That speaks volumes to me. They have a long history of going the extra mile to help us all succeed. JMHO Michael

I have never met anyone that belongs to this. The concept is not a bad idea, however fragrance is a very personal choice AND there are too many downsides to the way it is set up. IMHO I can't imagine paying $295. up front without having tried the oils I would be purchasing....having a complete list of the oils available...and on and on. Seems to me there would be a LOT of blind faith required to sign up for this. $295. annually + cost + 30%. umm..nawww