deb426

I use Pumpkin Souffle from CandleScience. It is sweet instead of spicy (to me, anyway). I could send you an ounce if you want to try it. Just PM me. Not sure about this combo, though. Who knows, maybe its a match made in heaven! Deb

I have to add leather to my list.

I believe if you review the contents of the board, you will find a lot of sharing going on. I always try to help if I can. I think that if you are going to participate in a hobby, any hobby, it is good to educate yourself by getting your hands dirty. You can't just go the easy way because you won't understand why things happen. Then you are limited in your ability to branch out. If this is the case, you're not really trying to become a chandler, you just want to work on a production line. I'm not talking about you personally, I just mean in general. Testing allows you to understand what others mean when they try to help you. JTTH Deb

I agree about CandleScience. They are just a great, quality company to work with. Their oils are awesome. I've never been disappointed in quality, even if I didn't care for a scent. Deb

Trappeur, the 64 ounce are a bear to wick, let me tell you. I only started because I had a friend who begged. So far, I've only been successful with one scent (Snickerdoodle from C&S at 1.5 pp). I find that this oil is my lightest oil for wicking. After numerous attempts at triple wicking, I finally settled on double wicking with ECO 12. The jar burns nice for the first third, nice for the last third and "bubbly" for the middle. I think that is the level where oxygen runs short. If I wick up, the jar gets too hot at start and at the end so I kind of had to settle with the middle third burning a little weird. I think the problem is that since soy burns down and then out, it just burns weird in a large jar like that. I probably should do a blend or just paraffin and forget soy for that jar but I am determined to succeed or drive myself crazy, one or the other. I am now working on cinnamon. The cinnamon is very frustrating because the wicks are clogging about half way down. I think I need to back off on the oil (which I hate to do) or maybe try one without dye. I use a lot of dye in my cinnamon containers because my customers like that deep burgundy color. The other problem is sooting because the top of the jar is smaller than the body. I wouldn't mind perfecting about three scents for these jars for my customers who power burn candles. I think these jars are perfect for the all day burn. If anybody has any tips, I'd sure take'em and try'em. Don't mean to hijack the thread, though. Maybe I should start a new one? Deb

I agree. I use it in C3 and it throws great. I don't know why they rate it only 2 leaves. I use 1.5 pp. My customers love it.

Okay, now that I know what you're going for this is a little easier. I think we were all on different pages before. Based on what you have said, I think your label with your wife's picture and the border is the best. Maybe just tweak it a little. Like Desertrose said, the scent name can be smaller and not shadowed. Maybe a simpler font for that one as well. I would try a couple of different fonts for the words on back. They look a little blocky compared with your other fonts. IMO, I probably wouldn't put the warning about reading the warning label on the tag. Just how many times do we have to warn people not to be stupid?:smiley2: I think this label will look nice with your beads. P.S. I really like Trappeur's design as well but I would be concerned about using all that black ink if I were printing them at home.

Just a thought but maybe you could use the word Nature in your name instead of Natural. It kind of brings the idea to mind without the worry. Other similar words might work, too. Something like Earthy or Simply (Simply Nature).

I think Desertrose is on to something here. You need to decide who your target audience is and design your label accordingly. I'm not sure you're going to find a label that will attract the New Age crowd AND the prim country customers. The clientele are very different. With that being said, I do think the "earthy" look may appeal to both groups as well as others. Perhaps think about going in that direction, with kraft paper labels, a very small pentagram which would not be too apparent to people who may not be pagans/wiccans but obvious to those who are, and a simple font in black which would allow your candles to take center stage. I think you might be trying to make your labels stand out too much. Your product is your candle. I love the beads, though. But the red lettering on top of the pentagram is not readable. (BTW, for New Age festivals, I kind of like the label with the pic with your wife) HTH Deb

My tops are smooth on all my containers except for the one that is five inches across. When that one is burned, I get some bumpiness after about the fifth burn, despite double-wicking. I think its because I purposely underwick it a little. Its a 64 ounce jar. I don't sell that one, its just to fool around with.

I have sugar cookie from CS and it smells good but I think its a little weak in my C3. Its better in a parasoy blend.

I don't have a problem with tunneling but I agree that sometimes C3 isn't the prettiest wax after a burn or two. I don't worry too much about that because I don't think my customers care. They just want a candle that smells good and throws well.

I really like the beads but I agree with Scented that the label overpowers the candle. Maybe using the beads alone would make the candle "pop" like you want. Maybe you can still use your old label or a smaller tie on label made of off white or kraft paper. And possibly you could tie the label to the side of the jar instead of the front so you can see your pretty candles. HTH

Gosh, I remember going to A.C. Moore and getting this big slab of plain paraffin, wicks that were whatever, and little tiny bottles of oil that cost a fortune. Trying to research stuff in books (no internet then) and just trial and error. Those were the days. Hope I didn't burn someone's house down. I cringe thinking about it. Deb

That's not just her opinion, it happens to be a fact. There is no easy, fast way into candlemaking, unfortunately. It takes a lot of testing and testing costs money. You can cut down on your cost by researching the art of candlemaking, reading books, looking at tutorials and reading this forum. I admire your daughter for wanting to participate in something that is positive and that she can continue to enjoy as she gets older. But as with any hobby, no one becomes an expert overnight. The costs associated with candlemaking include the wax, the fragrance oils and the containers. Limiting yourself to one type of container (or votive, tart or pillar if that's what you prefer to make), one type of wax that is designed for your choice (votive, pillar, or container) and just a few fragrances will help keep your costs down while experimenting. You can then research what type of wicks seem to be working for that type of wax/container combo. Your questions are just too broad. We'd like to help but making candles is just to complicated, with too many variables, to give you one easy answer. I'm sure the same could be said for many hobbies. I also like to garden and, believe me, there are a gazillion ways to plant a pansy. HTH Deb

Do your jars usually have the beads or is that part of the label? Can you show a candle with your usual label on so we have something to compare?

Me too. I heat to 185 and pour at 165 or so. I usually don't have to do a second pour unless the container is very wide. I hate pouring slushy. I usually get distracted while waiting and miss the slushy stage. Then I have to start all over. Its hot pour for me or forget it.

Sometimes if your melt pool is too deep you might be burning off your scent too fast. If you determine candlenose isn't the problem, try pouring off some of the melted wax and see if you get scent when the flame hits new wax.

My customers like them too but I just don't want to make them. So what i do is buy white hand-dipped tapers (two on a string) and dip them in scented/colored wax to make them whatever I want them to be. Maybe you could try something like that while you perfect your tapers.

Maybe this site will help. Found it on google. naturesflavors.com

I love your soaps. I don't make them but if I did, I would want them to look as nice as yours!

Here's a fun question (hopefully): What scent do your customers LOVE that you absolutely HATE to have to make? For me, it's cinnamon. Of course, it's my most popular scent. Also, is there any scent that for you is just not worth the sale? In other words, do you just refuse to make it because you can't stand the smell? (for me it's rose)

TexasBrat, I just love your cute bags...and I'm not even a "bag" person! Do you sell them online? Deb

Think of it this way, Richard...you wouldn't need a fire to melt them!

You have to be careful using glass jars that weren't made for candles because they might not be able to withstand the heat. You can get glassware at most candle supply sites and they usually sell them by the dozen. HTH Deb