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Hello.  I've outgrown my presto pots for melting beeswax.  I need to melt larger volumes and have been researching melters.  Does anyone have a recommendation or experience they would share?  My wax comes in 2 lb. blocks from the apiary.  Thanks so much 

A local business has asked me to create a custom scent (soy candle) for their store.  They have asked for a scent similar to Fresh Fern or Dandelion & Clover.  Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to smell them myself.  I think they're probably Paddywax.  I'm hoping someone is familiar with these scents and could offer me a recommendation on similar fragrance oils?  Thanks.

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with making soy wax pillars?  I'm using Eco soya PB.  They come out beautifully and are wicked correctly, but if I get a small crack near the edge while burning all the liquid wax runs out and the rest of the candle is useless because there is no way to manipulate the wax to repair it.  Make sense?  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks for the suggestions!

I live in a historic New England town and the local Historical Society has asked me to create a candle (and scent) just for them. They have very definite ideas about the kind of scent they are interested in. I'm not in 100% agreement with this choice but, of course I'm happy to comply! They are looking for an earthy, woody kind of a scent. Kind of a mix of old barn, hay, dirt etc. I've tried different kinds of combinations but I'm not happy with the results. I want to please them but it also needs to appeal to the general public. My latest attempt is straight Cedar wood from Bittercreek, but I'm hoping for something with a little more depth. Any ideas or insights would be much appreciated!

I turn my crock on high and add the oils and butters, when they have melted I add the lye water, I stir the mix with a spatula off and on for about 20 minutes and zap test, it is usually done at this point, makes for a nice smooth HP. This is done with a 3 pound batch.

At what point do you start stirring?

I've gotten so much information off of this forum so I'd like to give back and tell my experience with 464 and then C3. This seems to be a topic of much interest. After testing several soy waxes, I settled on 464 and have been working with it for about 6 years. I've been selling for the past 2 years in my little shop (also my workshop) in the center of my town. 464 makes a beautiful candle, no wet spots, decent scent throw. However almost all fragrances will frost after a period of time and the post burn is ugly...but that's soy. I've also always gotten air holes and required a repour (tall jars). I've been able to control my environment (temperature, sunlight etc.) so far and have been selling a beautiful product. This summer I have been asked to wholesale my candles at one of my local "dream" locations! I'll not be able to control the environment and was very concerned about this. I just didn't trust 464 to keep looking nice. I'd been testing C3 from time to time with a little USA (so Thanks, Stella for the recommendation!) and was pleased with the results. So this wholesale stress has made me step up my C3 testing full force and I am so happy with the results. I am getting a nice white candle, no wet spots or frosting, great scent throw, much improved after-burn appearance, and best of all NO holes. Every FO I have tried ( nearly all my Fall scents) has worked beautifully in this wax. I always knew I'd like to switch waxes one day (and was dreading it!) because 464 was good, but not quite what I was hoping for. I'm really liking the C3.

Oatmeal Milk & Honey from Millcreek. I've been pouring this for about 5 years and it's still my favorite. Luv it!

No kidding! Actually, it does need to be an eo. I'm using it for aromatherapy applications. My testing is getting expensive, so I was hoping someone has already found a sandalwood that they really liked. I've been testing with a 3% dilution, but I would like to buy undiluted. Thanks!

Can anyone recommend a favorite sandalwood eo? It's for use in body products. Thanks!

I use either an Eco 8 or Eco 10 with 464 in my 3" containers. Great burn.

I use 464...but, the CS Gardenia doesn't smell anything like Gardenia to me. I haven't tested any others.

I started out with that wax....ended up with 464....I say bail

My favorites are Grandma's Country Kitchen and Oatmeal, Milk & Honey. Both throw very well in 464 and are great sellers!

Re-stocking my shop: Pumpkin Buttercream, Pumpkin Cornbread, Pomegranite & Peaches, French Vanilla & Amber, Harvest Spice

A touch of peppermint?

If you're making it specifically for the Chemo patient, keep in mind a few things: What is soothing to one person may not be soothing for another. Have your customer ask her friend what her favorite scents are. Or at least what she absolutely can't stand, so you know what to avoid. Second thing is that people going through chemo will sometimes find that certain scents will make them feel ill again. So that's probably another question to ask, if certain smells will bother her. After all of those questions, you'll have your options set down a bit better.

Now to some of the things that people will find soothing: Some like baked scents, it reminds them of home (depends on the person of course). Aromatherapy often uses Lavender and Chamomile for relaxation. Some folks use sage in small amounts. Others use vanilla. I've used jasmine for customers in the past for soothing projects too. Again, most of this is hit or miss depending on the person receiving the candle.

I agree. I will definately get more information as to her likes and dislikes. Thank you so much for your helpful replies.

Hi, I have a good customer who has asked me to create a candle in a scent that might be soothing for her best friend currently going through chemo. I was wondering if anyone here has done anything like this? I could use some suggestions :smiley2:

Hi, It looks like Backwoods has alot of great new FO's. I love their scents! The FO's I've used so far do so well in soy. Any recommendations on the newer scents for soy?

Thanks :smiley2:

I buy from both of these farms...great product!

www.brushymountainbeefarm.com

www.betterbee.com

Good luck

Yes, I have always tempered my 464 in the past with great results, but recently pouring at such a low temperature (as recommended for tempering) yields a candle totally covered in frost. So now I pour at a much higher temperature and get a beautiful candle that may frost weeks down the road....very frustrating.

By the way, Excel is a new wax for me...no frosting, just seeping.

Thanks for the reply, Candybee. I'm using 7.5% FO with no dye and getting a great hot and cold throw. ( in the 464 and Excel separately ). I would rather not use paraffin. That frosting just drives me nuts!

Excel makes a darn pretty candle, especially post-burn.

I'm just wondering if anyone has mixed gb464 with EcoSoya CB Xcel with good long term results. I love the 464, but I'm getting frosting weeks / months later with some FO's. I also like the Xcel, but don't like the seepage issue. Thanks!

Thanks for your responses! I'll give it a shot..