Caramel

Sorry for the late response! I'm using wood incense and I think letting them dry longer helped with one of my fragrances. Still a little (tiny) smoking, but not as much, so that's progress! Plus the sticks aren't as dark, so I think they weren't as dry as I originally thought. Ugh, I dislike waiting so long, but it will be worth it if I get a good smell, light and burn (almost 55 minutes!). Thanks, as always! Now if only making candles were this "easy".... *SIIIIIGH!*

I'm driving myself CRAZY! So I tried more DPG than FO. I dipped, then dried... fragrance wasn't strong and still some black smoking when first being lit. At least with the other batches (50/50 blend I allowed to soak for 24 hrs, then dry for 24 more hrs) had one or two FOs that didn't smoke (as much) and the fragrance was strong. So I went back to the 48 hr method and tried a 50/50 with a new FO blend and the fragrance was strong, but the dreaded black smoke when being lit (when on fire) came back. What the hell is going on?! I guess I'll try to up the DPG again and see what that does... so frustrated. At least I have something to do between incense, candle testing and jewelry.... *sigh*

I just saw this after I posted. I guess I'll sit these to the side and try testing my other 3 testers. Thank goodness I'm not dealing with dye, too... I think I'd curl into a ball and cry! LOL

@IwantItgreen- I was SOOOO hoping it wasn't the dreaded cure time. *siiiigh* LOL I searched here and some of my old notes and sites. But thanks for the response! I'm concerned about the mushrooming, too. I don't think I should wick up higher than an ECO 10 (concerned about glass being too hot). Or do you recommend trying a ECO 12 or switching to CDs or CDNs? Should I continue to test burn these even if there's not HT? Thanks for the help!

So I had to put this hobby on hold for a long while due to being layed off and looking for a new job (no extra cash). I recently began testing incense and thought to start testing my candles again with unsuccessful results... so here goes my findings: __________________________________ Scent: Apple Melon (NG - personal FO mix) Wax: 464 |Wax Amt: 8 oz. |Wick: ECO 10 then switched to ECO 8 |Jar: Libbey 6 oz. (2 7/8” dia.) Heated: 180* |FO Added: 180* |FO Amt: ½ oz. |Cure time: 24 hrs. I was unable to get an accurate temp reading, so I gave an estimate. I poured 6 oz. while hot and got a medium to strong scent. I allowed candle to set up for 24 hrs. before first burn. Good CT and smooth tops. - Test #1: During 1st hr. with ECO 10, the candle reached a FMP and the glass was warm; stopped test and decided to melt down candle and re-wick with ECO 8. Uneven/pocked top when cooled. - Test #2: Allowed to burn for three hrs. Achieved FMP during 3rd hr. Flame was steady; the jar remained luke warm/warm, no mushrooming and some hang up on the jar. All seemed successful with exception that the HT was faint. Smooth top when cooled. - Test #3: Allowed to burn for three hrs. Achieved FMP during 3rd hr. Flame steady, but low; jar luke warm/warm, no mushrooming and slight hang up. Still no HT improvement. L ____________________________________ Scent: Tropical Violet (CSci - personal FO mix) Wax: 464 |Wax Amt: 8 oz. |Wick: ECO 10 |Jar: Libbey 6 oz. (2 7/8” dia.) Heated: 180* |FO Added: 180* |FO Amt: ½ oz. |Cure time: 48 hrs. I was unable to get an accurate temp reading, so I gave an estimate. I poured 6 oz. while hot and got a medium to strong scent. I allowed candle to set up for 48 hrs. before first burn. Good CT and smooth. - Test #1: Allowed to burn for three hrs. Achieved ¼ “ FMP during 3rd hr. Flame was steady and fluctuated between low-med; the jar remained luke warm/warm, no mushrooming and no hang up on the jar. All seemed successful with an ok HT. Smooth top when cooled. - Test #2: Allowed to burn for three hrs. Achieved a little over ¼ “ FMP during 3rd hr. Flame was steady; the jar remained luke warm-warm, large mushroom developed and no hang up on the jar. No HT improvement. L _______________________________ Scent: Blossoms (NG - personal FO mix) Wax: 464 |Wax Amt: 8 oz. |Wick: ECO 10 |Jar: Libbey 6 oz. (2 7/8” dia.) Heated: 180* |FO Added: 180* |FO Amt: ½ oz. |Cure time: 72 hrs. I was unable to get an accurate temp reading, so I gave an estimate. I poured 6 oz. while hot and got a medium to strong scent. I allowed candle to set up for 72 hrs. before first burn. Ok-Good CT and smooth top. - Test #1: Allowed to burn for three hrs. Achieved ¼ “ FMP during 3rd hr. Flame was steady; the jar remained luke warm/warm, mushrooming developed and was large at end of burn and no hang up on the jar. No HT. L I’m thinking that my wax may be a problem (it was left over from when I was testing over a year ago) or the FO (about the same age as the wax, but it smelled strong OOB). I also had some off-center wicking (either this or the curling wick). I’m really stumped and the only thing I can think of is to buy new supplies and start over… *sigh* Any suggestions? (Will add pics later- having trouble loading them)

I remember finding some here: http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/StoreCategory.aspx?CatalogID=2&GroupID=11&CategoryID=2132&CategoryName=+Cosmetic+Additives+-+D+to+K

http://www.saltworks.us/sea-salt.asp

The same! Rubberband or twist ties over a pan (I cover the pan with foil so it catches the oil and I can drain it back into a bottle for storage until I use it again). I use our small 1/2 bath downstairs for soaking/drying and it makes it and the house smell great when the door is open. The mister loves them and has been encouraging. I'm so excited by this project!

A week... really? Wow. So I let them dry for a day and a half and lit two scents. One was still a bit smoky, so that needs some work (but the cherry based scent was good and strong). The other wasn't but I notices teeny sparks(?), but it worked great! (this lime based scent may need work or not suitable for incense, just candles). I think I'll keep working from 50/50 until it's just right. Thanks to you all for the help- and helping me keep my sanity! lol

I saw that, too, and thought, "No way, no how!". I would be insane waiting. I wonder if adding additional DPG to the ones I already made will fix the problem? At this point, it can't hurt...... (right?)

OMG, so I've been following the wrong directions?! I used the guidelines from Wellington Fragrance... so now I've wasted product thinking I was doing it right... UGH! Thanks so much for the help, ladies. I was pulling my hair out! @ ProudMarineMom- YES, the curing stage KILLS me. Candles and incense should cure quicker for those of us who have no patience. LOL

Hi all, LTNS! I'm in the process of making and testing incense, and all is going well; however, I'm experiencing lots of smoking when I first light the stick. It seems to take a few seconds longer to light, then it's a high flame with smoking before the stick glows. Anyone else testing/making incense have this problem? Should I be adjusting the DPG? My current batch was made at 30% DPG/70% FO. My next batch is at 20%DPG/80% FO (I have to wait until Thursday to test). Any advice is welcome! :smiley2:

I had an unknown allergic reaction a few years ago that lasted some years, but eventually went away. My skin is still sensitive (always has been, but this reaction took it to the extreme), but it has cleared up and is manageable. And, yes, doctors can suck. I would leave the FOs alone and see if this is the problem or try wearing gloves. I hope you feel better!

Ok, as of today, I have one tester burned to the end and it looked good from my (inexperienced) POV: ECO 10 - No MR, steady flame that was either low (mid-way before FMP and a bit after) or slightly high (closer to the bottom). Glass was luke warm and got warmer as it neared the end; was comfortable to pick up and move. Seemed to burn faster than the other wicks and, at times, I felt lke I couldn't smell the scent (could be candlenose). This is what the end result looks like: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11368946 CDN 12- No MR, steady flame that was either low (mid-way before FMP and a bit after) or regular. Glass was luke warm and was comfortable to pick up and move. Has lots of hangup on sides that seems as if it is slowly melting, but I am not sure if it will melt in time for the wick to reach the bottom (and the glass get too hot), Still had problems where I couldn't smell the scent (could be candlenose). This is what the end result looks like: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11368948 Both have been burned at the same time for the same length of time. The other sizes I am still burning, but there is SO much hang up on the jars and does not look like it will get better.

I never had the "spongy" look, but I did get this weird "waving" pattern on the tops, but I think that was due to the FO. I always heat to 185-190 and pour at 160, so I cannot relate to a cooler pour temp (they were awful, for me, when I tried to pour cooler... I had issues *L*). Hope it corrects itself, for you... maybe an off day. *crosses fingers*

Hey! The ECO 10 tester does have a film. I was not liking it, but it is very thin and as I get closer to the bottom, it seem to get thinner (almost transparent). I am hoping this is a good thing- I will be posting pics soon. The ECO 10 jar is almost gone, hopefully by the end of this weekend. The others finally got a FMP after 6 sessions but there is still thick hang up at the top of the jar... though it is getting thinner, but it is still too much and I don't think the jar will get warm enough to melt it. *sigh* So, once the ECO 10 jar is done, I will pour another two testers and do the "power" burn on one and do another regular burn on the other (to also get the burn rate)... see how it goes. I feel a bit encouraged. *lol*

Candle Science. I used to get the two CS companies mixed up. Sorry.

Oh, jen08, welcome to my world of tester hell... come sit by me- I will share my snacks. *L* I am where you are in the sense that I got the nubby wicks when trimming, at times. I also have gotten weird results with this vanilla-based FO (like you, I am using 464, but my tumbler is a 6 oz with a 2 7/8" dia). Recently, I have been testing ECO10, CDN12-14 and CD 12-14 and almost all of my testers, except the ECO 10's, has lots of hang-up on the jar and barely burn hot enough to achieve a FMP after several 3 hour burn sessions (the glass is barely luke warm). The ECO 10's jar is warm, but comfortable... the only problem is that I think it burns quickly and consumes the wax/FO faster than it probably should; it is much lower than the rest, but never gets deeper than 1/4" and I got a FMP during the 3rd burn session. I think most of the frustration is not really knowing if what you are looking at is correct... even if you are sorta happy with the results, you wonder if it is truly acceptable. *HUGS* Hang in there! Oh and post pics, if you can. It has helped me when asking for help.

I had gotten a Pier1 brand from a friend as a gift and I wanted to know how to make them since the store ones were SO expensive (and I was already trying my hand with candles and had accumulated a bunch of FO samples *L*). I bought bases from JBN and WSP and really didn't like the results I got. I, recently, tried CSci and I have gotten better results in all 4 of the scents I tried (2 are CSci FO, 1 JBN and 1 Peaks). IMO, the mixture wicked up faster and I smelled it within the hour; the more it wicked, the stronger it got (I, also, tested 3:1 and 2:2 ratios to test which I liked better and both worked well, depending on how light the FO was, of course). Also, I found that CSci is compliant for my state (after reading their site on this and finding that my state had regulations for this item). But so far, I really like them and making them for the house. I have used a 3 oz (triangle) and 4 oz (flat, round) bottle and filled them both all the way (a little below the neck) or between half and two-thirds full. Hope that made sense... and that it helped. *L*

Really? Because it is sorta drowning (the flame gets low and blue). I will keep going with the 12s and let you know what happens. Thanks again for the response and advise. You guys rock!

I'll take the pictures now and post them in a bit... ETA: This is after the 2nd burn test session (burned for 3 hrs each) CD10: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228382 CD12: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228373 CD14: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228374 CDN10: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228380 CDN12: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228375 CDN14: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228376 CDN16: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228378 ECO10: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=338137274&albumID=963670&imageID=11228379

(double post)

Is this normal: So I tried CD12-14 and CDN12-16. NONE of these are working... and I doubt further burns will help. They are not burning "hot" enough to get past a 1" burn pool after two 3 hr burn sessions. So it seems that I am going to try the remaining CDN18-22, just for kicks, at this point. *sigh* Or should I not bother? I tried the ECO10 again and it did ok (I trimmed the wick lower, by accident, and it burned better). I think I will try the ECO 14 and see how that works. If it is too much, I know to get some ECO12s (I actually will need to look at trying these, again).

Catlover- OMG, I am having the same issue. I tried Citrus Strawberry in the same jar and the CDN 8 and CDN 10 worked better (still got shrooms, but not as bad), but this fragrance I made had vanilla and OMG... those two wicks nearly drowned and shroomed like crazy! So I am back to the drawing board. Stella- I was trying a range, but I didn't think I needed to go high because of the 8/10 decent results.... fooled me! *L* And yes, I usually fall off, too, but I figured throwing myself off the stool in a fit of frustration would hurt less than jumping off a cliff somewhere. *L* (Thank goodness for the braids- they protect the hair... and only fear of the cops keeps me running in the street clothed. *LAM*)

OMG, I feel silly now because this is so simple and genius! I may have to try this... I so was afraid to ask for fear of being told it was stupid. But it makes a lot of sense, especially when testing additives or just wax and blends, in general.