Di_in_AZ

Very neat!

I used to let it bother me and get real pissed about the whole paraffin/soy thing. Anymore I just realize the people who say those things are just pretentious and I look at the source. My last show a few weeks back, there was another vendor who had a few candles on her stall. She came over and asked what my candles were and I told her a paraffin blend. She then pronounced with her nose in the air that hers were soy. Me and my friend just stared at her and didn't say anything. As she walked away we couldn't help but laughing. Dear god, they need to get off their high horses. I used to get into it, but it really isn't worth it--I think they need to believe it to make themselves feel special. The best thing was she was one stall over from me and several people walked in her stall and asked what was the lovely smell, and the lady in the stall between us would tell them that it was the scent I was burning in MY stall.

For the record mine have been made at 4,600 feet and been burned at sea level with no difference--they had a full melt pool and good throw. There is obviously a difference in the air at different altitudes (I think that is universally known--i.e. cookbooks) but I think it may be a greater disparity in altitudes that would show any difference (possibly going from 7,000 ft up and then to sea level)--I have never had an issue with this.

LOL I haven't seen one burn well anywhere!

I live at 4,600 ft--in the desert with usually under 10% humidity and I don't have a problem with tunnelling. I use J50 and 6% FO--if you want to pm me to try and work it out, feel free .

Those are very cute--I haven't seen those before. Good luck with them

I think people are more understanding than you think. When I raised prices they were. Some were even surprised I hadn't raised them earlier. They understand that everything costs more now and you can't sell at the same price. If they can't afford to give you a dollar or more each, then they really shouldn't be buying candles at this time anyway.

The whole green thing really has me thinking. Here you have all the people lobbying for the US to go green, they say it is cheaper and will save the world! So the US is converting to green and now the "green" is extremely expensive and it jacked up the cost of everything else to boot. Where is all the money going to and why if this is such "cheap" stuff, is it costing us and raising everything else? Logically if we switched off the not "green" commodities, demand should be down and the prices should have gone down. Now we're doubly screwed.

Well it can't be both ways, people slam the government and say they are not green enough, then when they start implementing green and it adversely impacts prices--same people blame government again.

It would give an easy reference point for when someone mentioned Wallyworld, you would just have to point.

http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm I use the ones from Coastal Scents--about medium size and easy to use.

Fairway should be good for you MM--I use them and they have always had wonderful service. All of their glass is also made in the USA, they don't import--which is nice, the dollars stay here.

It is a little more soft with the J50 added. I started doing that years ago, when I was done with a batch of candles, I would take the leftover wax, add the Astorlite V to harden, add the FO and make the tarts. I usually go about 1/3 J50 to 2/3 of Astorlite V. Works good and has a great scent throw.

They probably are, that is not a bad idea at all.

Site is nice, I like flowers and simple--very clean looking. I think you are off to a great start

Thanks...I wondered--I just couldn't stand spending money on a crappy candle LOL! I have never noticed that about the votives. I will have to pop into Wally world and go look now.

I use it but I blend with J50. I usually pop them in the freezer and the pop out, I use the fluted tart molds. Just have to be careful on the time in the freezer, cannot be long or they can crack. ETA--with the fluted molds, be very careful, easy to cut yourself on the edges when popping them out!

Don't they just scent the outside of the candle? I have heard that several times, never wasted the money to burn one to find out. I know in the past, having candles with no scent throw was what prompted me into making them in the first place.

I get the stupid Walmart thing as well. My friend was on hand when I had a woman tell me that she could get them cheaper at Walmart. I wished her luck--and told her you get what you pay for. My friend said it is the difference between driving a Ugo and a Mercedes LOL!

Best of luck--I love playing with B&B. Can't see myself ever selling, I don't have the time to invest and haven't perfected anything yet, but it is good to see someone get there

Yeah, you're right. I hadn't seen any articles that had that much in depth information. I was just a little taken back that the soy goes to China adversely impacting prices, the one country that has also cost us jobs is also costing us in many more ways. I also thought it odd that petroleum companies are getting out of the wax business--I thought that candles, etc. were selling more than I ever recall in the past. I could be very wrong there though, not basing that on any research, just my observations. It was a good eye-opener though.

Congrats to you, you sound well on your way Wish you lots of success in your new venture.

Did you try DryFlo/cornstarch? Also I see Coco said she ups the water a % and replaces heavier oil with lighter oil. I am going to play around and try lighter oils. Once I have time to make a batch, I will post my results.

In Candlewic's April Newsletter, they have a good article discussing the reasons behind increases in soy and paraffin wax prices. Just thought I would post the link for those who would like to read it. http://www.candlewic.com/candle-making-newsletter/0408.asp

That is a good idea--I still have one of the Lush's bombs that has them in and hadn't used it. Even though I know they aren't bugs, I still don't have good memories of that first bath! That will provide the solution--thanks