Lighten Up

On ‎3‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 9:58 PM, bktolbert said:

I use AAK 415. It is just plain soy wax:

https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/aaks-golden-wax-415-100-soy-formerly-golden-brands.html

 

I am also of the belief that adding fragrance to wax at high temps (150F+) burns off volatile scents, so I add my fo 100-120F. Other people may have luck with higher temps, but this is what works for me. You may want to try doing everything (adding fo, pouring, etc.) as cool as you comfortably can to see if that changes anything.

 

Best of luck!

I use 415 and I give mine 24 hrs.

12 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

Fingers crossed it continues to work for you. 

I know, right?  I'm having a little anxiety to be sitting on this much wax, but, weighing the alternative of starting over in the fall with a new lot... I think if I don't, I'll wish I had.

Thought I'd share an update, if anyone is interested:

This batch of 415  is really nice, very consistent, good cold & hot throw. It doesn't seem as fussy as the previous batches, not having the bubble issue(so far).

I've tested about 15 fragrances in 2 diff jars, only have one that struggles a little and it's a cinnamon. I like it so much I think I'm ordering another pallet of the same lot, that will get me through the whole year.

I'm on my 3rd Lilac.

I started with the incredible Lilac Blossoms from Snowtop, and it went away. Then I moved to Lilac from CS, which was a fantastic seller for years until I had some wicking issues(and the price increased). So, now I have just tested the very pleasing Lilac from NG, and will be adding that to my line this spring.

Lilac is must have for me, a year-round best seller.

2 hours ago, Gary in Canada said:

You are a brave soul...I hope it works out for you!!

Idk about brave, but definitely stubborn. Are you a 415 user?

26 minutes ago, lovelyscents said:

No!  But I will now LOL

Be careful, you'll want to eat it.

Have you tried White Cake from Indiana Candle Supply? It's fantastic in soy.

1 hour ago, moonshine said:

I ditched it a long time ago....at the start of all the changes in soy 

as sad as I was and mad, I had so many scents tested, like over a 100 and so many jars already permanently wicked and ready to go for 415 and I just couldn’t bring myself to settle for the “new” norm with this wax 

been over a year testing new waxes and finally think I’m there and it’s so worth it because now I feel my candles will be so much more consistent and overall better in every aspect but I also do this more on the side than as a full time business not depending on it for income so I had enough old stock to keep going while I tested new  

if it’s working for you and your customers are happy you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it to you and your business to switch because switching isn’t a overnight thing - it takes forever I’m sure you know to learn a new wax and know how it’s going to behave a month - two- 6 to a year down the road - but then again the new 415 is to be determined as well how it will perform down the road 

I, also, had over 100 fragrances tested in 415 before the changes which I saw with my 2017 batch. I think I now have about 50 tested out and am weeding out some(still have some older wax for that) and trying to streamline a little bit. That change did almost cost my mental health, but I have been pretty happy with the 'new' 415 and my product, after I got my wicking figured out. My 2 batches of wax from 2018 have been very consistent.

I do depend on the candles to supplement my income(hay for 25 horses), so I really didn't have a choice but to figure it out. Can't imagine starting with a new wax, I've used only 415 for 12 years. What wax did you end up going to?

That all being said, I did order another pallet, wish me luck.

Where do you order from? Are you happy with the recent batches? Pricing?

I need to order another pallet and am checking options.

Thank you  

I have to shout out for NG's Cranberry Relish.

That is super cute.

Yes, I am noticing price increases on almost everything, as I am getting orders together for spring fundraisers. I read somewhere that we could thank the tariffs and the fire(s?) in Europe that has affected the raw ingredients in fragrance oils.

I've been using CS Banana Nut Bread for years, it's been one of my best sellers. But, it's just been reformulated and I haven't tried the new version yet.

That is adorable!

On ‎10‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 8:05 PM, TallTayl said:

The CSN sizes are like a number size down from their number in a CD. CSN 10 is like a cd9 if there were a 9

CDN 12 would be like a CD 11

and so on.

 

at least in my waxes. 

CDN are similar.

Thank you! Do they curl like the CDs?

18 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Forthe in between sizes, have you tried CDN or CSN? Those tend to be half way between sin my soys. 

I have not tried the CDN or CSN, I have tried some HTP and LX, and always go back to the CDs. Do you have a suggestion on sizes that would be closest to the CD10, or smaller or larger?

6 hours ago, strugglebrother said:

 

To me, having to rewick a whole line of candles just due to that the wax is changing is almost like starting again. You end up between wick sizes, when you wick up you sometimes get soot, really bad mushrooming etc... Or is it maybe just me and I'm very unlucky?

 

Pretty much all of our own private line has been on hold for 6 months now... 

 

But I'm not crying. We got the chance to reevaluate our whole wax situation due to these problems. We forced ourselves to find even better fragrance and wax. Without these major errors, we could have been selling the same soy wax candles with a bad throw and kept on thinking that it was the best we could do. I'm very excited to relaunch before Christmas with 11 candles which has great performance.

 

This forum has been a great help. As sellers keep on pushing out bad products it's very helpful to be able to share information about the quality. 

 

I had to make some major changes with my wax last year. I was up to about 100 fragrances and now have streamlined to focus on my fundraiser fragrances & one jar. I still dabble with the other fragrances, but they take the back seat. I also have a few boxes of wax from '16, so I can use that as I am phasing fragrances out in my smaller jars.

I totally agree about the 'in between' size wick. I use CDs and I could use a 9 & 11, if they existed.   When in doubt, I'd rather see a little struggle than a torch. I wick for the bottom third.

I may be slowly finding the joy in candle making again, last year almost ruined it for me. I would have quit if I could have. This year, not so bad.

This whole thread makes me sad. As a long-time user of 415, it's scary to think that a bad batch of wax could sink me. So far, I have had no horrible issues except for re-wicking everything beginning with the 2017 wax. I've bought wax from 2 batches in 2018 (Feb & June), and (so far) no issues except minor wicking adjustments.

10 hours ago, Moonstar said:

Hows the Carrot Cake? Is it mostly spice or does it smell authentic ? I see Aztec has one too with good reviews . Ahhhh decisions, decisions  lol !

I find it to be very true, I can smell the carrot cake and the cream cheese frosting. 

22 minutes ago, GoldieMN said:

I had a young relative die a month ago; and today, my SILs youngest sister is hours away from dying.  She was my flowergirl years ago.  Maybe all of that has affected my desire to pour.  However, I WILL try again with the ECOs I ordered which are already in the mail!  That may be all I need--good throwing candles--to get my interest going again.

 

On a positive note, the aroma bead ornaments sold really well at my occasional sale.  No wick needed! hahahaha

 

Thanks for your sharing thoughts. 

GoldieMN

Wow, Goldie, that is really sad. I'm so sorry for your losses. It's hard to get up in the morning and pretend it's all OK. Thankfully, I have many demands that require my participation, the candles being one, lol... a blessing or a curse?

23 hours ago, GoldieMN said:

And yet when I tried to get help from a supplier about one of their fragrance oils I had previously had good luck with but now is a dud, they said they were not aware of any changes in 464.  They sell 464 and even had to send me two new cases after I contacted AAK about the problems.  Ticks me off as now I wonder if any of their fragrance oils have been reformulated.  When I inquired, they said "no, none of them."  Can I trust them???

GoldieMN

I agree.

I have a hard time trusting some of my suppliers because I know for certain they have had complaints/concerns- because I have raised them!! Of course, they don't remember talking to me at all, so the issue must not exist. So, I take everything with grain of salt and test, test, test.

I no longer find the joy in candle making, and would have walked away from it last year if I could have. This year is not so bad... so far. My best friend died in Aug and the candles are a good distraction.

1 hour ago, Crafty1_AJ said:

KY 125 is no longer made.

Maybe I'm thinking of EZ Soy?

I believe KY125 is GB415? I've used 415 exclusively for almost 12 years. Did you end up trying it?

Has anyone had a chance to get Candle Science's reformulated Cinnamon Stick in wax yet? Opinions?

8 hours ago, Marleigha said:

Hello.  I had seen your post and wanted to ask a quick question.  ICS Plain White Cake..... Is it a deep vanilla cake smell or does it have cherry or an amaretto scent to it?  TIA

White Cake is a deep, rich, yummy vanilla cake. But, fyi, it does tend to darken, so I drop the 'White' and just call it Cake/Wedding Cake/Birthday Cake, depending on the occasion.