Lighten Up

Scrambling is exactly the right word. Got the last fundraiser out of here and have 2 stores to deliver by the end of this week. With the change in the soy wax, I have lost most of my season, but the fragrances I have figured out, I am pouring like crazy and running specials on them. I generally spend Jan & Feb on R & D, so I'm ready to dive in.

On ‎12‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 9:39 AM, TallTayl said:

I have a question about that suggested method of "evaporating" water from molten wax. Water sinks to the bottom of the melt po as it has a higher specific gravity than wax.  You can often see if water is in there as contained bubbles on the bottom. how will it ever evaporate if trapped by wax?

I was going to say the exact same thing. The water will sink to the bottom of the melted wax. When I got my pallet of 415 in Sept, the first box I opened had condensation all over the inside of the bag. Of course, I was freaking out and called the guy from the wax lab at AKA. He told me to open the boxes ahead of time and let them air out. Thankfully the other boxes were dry, but I'm still opening them and airing them out.

Even though I don't use your wax, I feel inclined to chime in here. I'm one of the lucky ones that has to redo all my testing with the 2017 wax.  I've been using 415 for over 10years and this year's wax is like starting over. I will agree with you bout the consistency - mine has gone from a clear/oily to kind of an creamy/opaque. It's also fussy and I am always fighting bubbles. I did also experience a little sweating in the warmer summer/fall temps, I just made sure I didn't rush to lid them. That all being said, at this point, I am quite happy with the wax so far(ht is possibly even better than before), and kind of wish I had started with it. Not happy with the re-testing though, I've lost most of my season.

I like to work with 4lb batches and often have up to 10 going at a time. I try to stagger them so they aren't all ready to pour at the same time, but, quite often I have to warm them up(sometimes fairly solid), so I keep a few old crockpots on low and just set my pour pot inside. Works out nice, as I don't have to really watch it while I'm doing other things and the scent doesn't burn off.

2 hours ago, moonshine said:

Do you use any additives with 415?

I have been having success so far keeping my normal wicking hardening the wax up to slow the burn - haven't tested them all yet, that's going to take FOREVER 

Nope, no additives. I am pretty happy with my new wicking, but so tired of the testing.

I'm about a month into my new 415, this wax is so NOT like any other 415 I've ever had. It's a different consistency, not unappealing, but very different. I am getting the hang of it, wicking is mostly sized down 1 (some 2), although one is wicking way up. Still have my HT (thank you God). I have had to put all my business on hold just to get the fundraisers out.

2 hours ago, GoldieMN said:

@Lighten Up Good to hear about your hot throw.  So you are using CDs and 415.  Which fragrance did you have to wick up on?  I have been having problems with two apple oils from Rustic Escentuals--McIntosh & Apple Pumpkin Streudel; but, I only wicked down with my 464.

 

GoldieMN

Both of my apples tested so far are wicking down. My problem is CS Lilac, it's bizarre, I'm just going to wick it in my last years wax for this order, then replace it with Lavender on my fundraisers. I am so over this season already.

On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 5:48 PM, GoldieMN said:

@TallTayl  Maybe @Lighten Up has info on what AAK is doing differently with the soy.  (You mentioned bleaching in another thread.)

GoldieMN

Just an update here. 

I do not know anything about bleaching, that was never mentioned.

This wax is NOT the same, it is very fussy: pouring temp, bubbles, etc. I am still getting a good hot throw, thankfully. I am wicking 1 -2 sizes down on everything except one fragrance that wants to wick up. Crazy time here.

I get quite a few from NG, but Apple Pecan Sage might be my favorite. Also love their Rum Ripened Raisin & Carrot Cake.

26 minutes ago, kandlekrazy said:

I had to take a deep breath, after much cussing and swearing, and consider my wax a New Wax that I was just beginning to test.  It's the only thing that got me through, literally if this happens again next year I'll be totally over it.  I had an order for wedding candles in those cute little love masons and thought I'd be bald by the end of testing.  Definitely done with weddings.

Now that I've figured this jar out I think it's the only one I'll sell

Which wax are you using?

Now that I have a handle on wicking this 415, I had to order a new batch of wicks. What would be your normal protocol for testing them? My neurotic self would test every fragrance again. Is that overkill?

I am ready to choose between 2 wicks, and thanks to you guys and your posts, I am choosing the cooler of them. I have seen a couple random burns struggle, but catches up well on the following burn. Also, they aren't needing trimming until the bottom half of the jar, even then, they aren't too hot.

1 hour ago, Trappeur said:

I can go with what you do Goldie...makes sense....

Mine are probably 3/8"......

 

Trappeur

I go about 3/8" as well.

Also, I always trim my wicks down when I lid & label. I am always curious when I see other candles with long wicks, why leave them so long??

I've been wicking for people who follow instructions, but I think with all this testing of the new 415, I'm going to take the opportunity to change that. Everything I've known, for the last 10 years, no longer applies with this wax.

... I mean really, who do you wick for- people that trim or don't trim? People that burn the appropriate amount of time? People that follow the instructions? People that burn all the way to the edge of the jar? People who have no clue?

Testing this year's soy has(for the most part) given me the choice of 2 wicks that are adequate. My tendency is to go with the cooler burning one, even if I get a burn that struggles, but catches up the next burn. I also like to wick for the bottom third of the jar. I am finding that most people do not trim their wicks at all, I even had one person refuse to trim, if you can believe that.

Any thoughts?

On ‎10‎/‎4‎/‎2017 at 2:50 PM, TallTayl said:

There is is not a straightforward answer. While technically bigger, the cd14/cdn14 produces smaller diameter melt pools in my candles, but the rate of consumption is more. 

 

generally, the sizes are incremental upward with the numbers, all I can figure is the cd14 in my waxes is better able to draw up the melted wax fuel and burn more efficiently than the 12. 

 

Others may may have different experiences with the 14's, but that has been my experience for the past7 or so years that I have been using them in soy and parasoy.

Thanks for this explanation. I have always wondered why the cd14 seemed consistantly 'lower' than the cd12. I can almost use them interchangeably, but the12 is def up a little for me. I need to find something between the 14/12 and the cd16, is there any? An LX(or other) perhaps?

18 hours ago, wthomas57 said:

I have recently installed a basketball hoop over a trash can where I do testing. Let's just say I have become a very good shot

How big is your trash can?  

18 minutes ago, 8-GRAN-ONES said:

This is so sad...

I really feel for those that have built a business with these different waxes..

i wish all of you the best of luck with your testing.

but you all are keeping such a jovial attitude. I admire you..

i have about 20 fragrances that I also spent months testing, just to have for my own use and give as gifts.

I started making my first candles about 10 years ago.

And to be truthful, I don't know if I have the heart to start over retesting.

I just may use up my remaining fragrances, into melts..

I don't know about the jovial attitude, I might be ready to snap. I did get some good burns today and I'm playing around with wicks. I think my business will be down 1/3 to 1/2 this year as I don't have the selection to promote. I do have a few hundred lbs. of last year's wax to fall back on, so that gives me a little wiggle room. I am also reevaluating my fragrances(prob 100 tested) and jars(of course I just ordered a pallet) and will def have to scale back. I am a little sick to my stomach right now.

12 hours ago, moonshine said:

Thank you he is a quarter horse bred from the finest and then neglected pretty much left to die 

we rescued him for a temporary time period so the owner could get her crap together and he went home a couple years ago 😔

His name is Arthur and did my daughter well through her equestrian years after we brought  him back from the half dead 

Well, he's a beauty, and what a blessing for you all to have saved him and given him his life back.

48 minutes ago, ComfortandJoy said:

As I've said before, my heart goes out to all of you dealing with this recent horror with soy wax.  I'm in my own testing hell with learning, but I'm new to all of this.  I can't imagine having an established business and going through this. 

I actually told my husband today that I would quit if I could. I'm over 10 years in with an established clientele, and we depend on it, so I guess I'll soldier on, lol.

3 minutes ago, moonshine said:

All I can say is Keep on keeping on...

I am running a series of tests adding additives to see if it tames the burn enough to be able to keep my normal wicking in place and not lose more ht than I already have - otherwise I will be testing every single Scent over as well but with only 2 jars thankfully - wicking down 1 size is working so far in the ones I have done but I am hoping the additives work consistently to keep the norm in place 

your lucky you haven't lost ht....I have and normal wicking is causing my wicks to droop into the wax and curl up as one- it's disgusting and frustrating 

Absolutely very thankful to still have my HT, that is the only thing keeping me from a total meltdown right now, and the fact that I don't have time for it. Right now I am only testing 2 jars, so it's simple enough, but soooo time consuming.

On another note, lovely horse in your pic, what kind?

43 minutes ago, TallTayl said:

I hate to laugh, but moonshine and I have been going through the exact same thing since April.  Just know I am laughing with you and not at you. One day I will share a photo of all of the failed tests.

It's OK, you can laugh, hopefully I will be able to join you soon.  Thankfully, I'm still getting a good HT, even on the ones that are struggling.

Is Testing Hell a place? I think I might be there. I've had this year's 415 for over 2 weeks now and I am just realizing the enormity of testing every single thing. This is the first time in over 10 years I've had to retest across the board. I run 75- 100 fragrances and about a dozen different containers. So far, I have focused on my fundraiser orders, which in itself, doesn't seem overwhelming. Wicking down one size has been good for most, but of course a couple of fragrances struggle and one is too hot, so starting over with them. I've used almost a whole case for testing, boo. Thanks for letting me vent. Suggestions?

5 hours ago, moonshine said:

So you are having to wick down from your norm and your noticing a difference in ht?

 

I certainly can get by wicking down as well and the throw is okay but nothing like it used to be before the new FDA regulations....which completely blows because I know what it COULD be like but it's just not anymore 

My wick testing is down 1 size across the board -based on my first few testers with the new batch of wax. I feel the HT is more than adequate. Also, I have a couple friends that test for me once the candle can leave here. I'm getting good feedback, so far. I don't know if I am noticing much of a difference, but I am not unhappy.