zeoplum

Suzy, that is such a beautiful and inspiring picture! Love all the color! Do you have any Sweet Orange Chili Pepper in that batch? That is my favorite one that you do. It sounds exciting and the color you do is so spot on! zeo

Thanks PAgirl89. I actually really like the size and shape of the 1.5 oz shallow cups....at least from looking at the pictures. I can't wait to see them in person. A Scentsy cube weights about .35 oz and most people use 2 cubes at a time which is approx .7 oz. And from what I've read online, a Yankee Tart is .8 oz so I would think a 1 oz. tart should be more than enough. And if I'm not mistaken, a 1.5 oz cup holds about 1.2 oz of wax. I'll be sure to take some pictures and share so others can see how they look compared to the 2 oz. cups. I'll also put something common like a dollar bill next to it so viewers can visualize the size.

I did a LOT of searching for online vendors who might still have the clear 1 oz. ellipso's in stock and this was the only one I could find: http://www.foodservicefiresale.com/Ellipso_1_oz_Clear_Oval_Plastic_Portion_Cups_p/nwse1001.htm But they don't have the lids so I bet that is why they haven't sold out yet. You can get the lids from webstraurant.com so if you really wanted to stock up on what appears to be the last of the batch, you have an option.

The individual tarts I'm making (from a silicone tray) are just my temporary plan and my long-term plan is clamsells and portion cups. Well, after looking at the prices for polypro zip bags (yikes!), I realized it would be more cost-effective to scrap the temporary plan and just order the portion cups since those will work just as well. I just don't know what size yet. I'm going to try 2 oz cups and 1.5 oz cups so see which size works best for me and my friends/testers. Thank you everyone for your help!

7-8% depending on my wax recipe.

Oh, I'm glad I asked! Thank you for the links! I will make an order. Was kind hoping to get some 3x3 bags anyway so now I'll just get a variety of sizes.

While, I am testing, I am storing my tarts in Ziploc bags but I have no idea if they are polypro or not. I can't find anything on the box or their website can't find the Recycle # 5 anywhere. And I've searched through the forum and didn't see anything. Anybody know? Do you think the scent will be ok? Thanks! zeo

I have decided that while I'm searching for the right tart wax(es) for me, I want to use the same FO in each test batch to reduce the number of variables. I know that still won't help me with future FO testing but I'm thinking it's at least a good place to start. I will be ordering from Candle Science. So does anyone have a suggestion for a good FO that performs well in most all soy waxes? Preferably one that would appeal to a wide range of testers (both male and female)? Thanks! zeo

Ok, thank you all for the feedback. I feel better now knowing it can be done. I could get excited about a milder scent that is longer lasting. So I will keep testing with soy for now. I initially bought a bunch of 1 oz. FO samples from Candle Science but I think if I'm really want accurate comparisons, I need to order a larger bottle of *one* FO and use only that one (dang that will get boring! hehe!) while I'm testing. Now...to find the right FO for such testing. I think I will start a new thread.

Hi, I saw that no one replied to your question and even though I don't know much I thought I would say that RE/AH recently acquired the KY line of waxes so it's possible they are the same or very similar. Have you ordered anything yet? Maybe someone will add more info (or correct me if I'm wrong...hehe!) now that this thread has been bumped.

I've read through a LOT of threads here and even though I didn't bookmark the comments, I have read quite a few people saying their tarts are better than Scentsy's. My goal is to come up with something where the scent is at least 80-90% as strong. Can this be done with soy? The reason I ask is because I've been testing with EcoSoya XceL and PB. There are other forum members who use these with success. But I'm not getting a HT anywhere near what I get from my Scentsy wax. I've tried 4 different formulations for XceL/PB: 1) 70/30, 60/40, 50/50 and 40/60. The 40/60 XceL/PB combo seems to work the best for others but it was still only half as strong as my Scentsy wax. I have ordered 5 lb. samples of 135, 415 and 464 and I plan to try each of those with my PB and see how it goes. But if nothing works in that group, then I may switch to Parasoy. I understand that soy is a little tricker to work with and I'm ok with that. I don't mind putting in the time to test other waxes. But my question is, for those who say your tarts are better than Scentsy, are any of you doing soy only?

Has anyone ever sold clear ovals and black ovals at the same time to see how customers respond. Just wondering which one would be more appealing.

Yes!! That's the one! Thank you sunharbor! That is exactly what I was looking for.

When surfing around and checking out supplier websites, I saw one that listed 5 pound samples and there was a drop-down window where you choose which brand you want to order. And I believe there is a $25 minimum. But now I can't find it. Does that ring a bell for anyone? Thank you! zeo

I tested the first batch today. This is the yellow ones with 60% XceL and 40% PB. I had scented at 8% and the cold throw was so amazing it was almost overwhelming. But the hot throw was pathetic. My tart was a little bigger than 2 Scentsy cubes. I tested in my office where I normally only burn 1 Scentsy cube and can only stand to have it on for about an hour. Their stuff is so strong! My tart which was twice as big was only 1/2 as strong in HT. So mathematically, that is 1/4 as strong. I understood that I'd have to work with Soy to get the HT right but I didn't realize I was going to be THAT FAR OFF right off the bat. I'm going to blame the XceL since a lot of people who tested that at 100% in their containers said it was weak. My 2nd batch was the pink hearts but it had even more XceL 70/30 XceL/PB so I'm expecting even less HT. Not planning to report back until after I test batch #3 which is the 50/50 blend. I also did a test batch #4 and it's still curing. It's the blend Suzy uses. 60% PB and 40% XceL. I scented that one with CS's Vanilla Hazelnut. I didn't really like it OOB but in my tarts, it's very nice!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! I would have done the same as you and would reacted the same. So this thread has been very helpful to me. zeo

I don't make or sell candles but can I vote, too? I really like #2 a lot!

Oh, ok! Then that explains quite a bit. I had been wondering what the extra PB wax adds to the mix. Looks like I've got a lot of testing to do! I have read a lot of comments on the forum from people who are making container candles with straight XceL and they didn't like it because there wasn't a good HT. So if I DO have any trouble, I'm thinking that might be it. Maybe I'll have to test a 50/50 blend though....just to see how it compares. I'm a tester by nature (even in my job) so I'm not satisfied with something just knowing it "works", I have to know what works the best. I do understand I'm not normal and most people are not like me! :rolleyes2 You should see me at the grocery store. I can't just walk up to a display of products I've never used and just grab one and go. I have to look at each option to compare them back and forth before I can decide. Otherwise I'd always be wondering, "what if....?" I'm already itching to make my 3rd batch. Maybe tomorrow night! The problem is that I didn't order enough dye colors to really experiment with . But I just placed a new order with CandleScience and they'll be here on Friday. I do have a Vanilla FO that I could do and leave uncolored. Yeah! I think that is what I'm gonna do.

Hi Suzy, thank you. I will just stick with the same temperatures that are working for you since they don't seem to be killing of your FO's (which is what I was initially concerned with). One more question. I have made two batches now. The first one was 60% XceL and 40% PB. It looks great and unmolded perfectly. The second batch was 70% XceL and 30% PB but it was too soft and chipped up when I unmolded. But I see that you and Paul (OP for this thread) both settled on the opposite ratios of my first batch with 60% PB and 40% XceL. I was wondering....can you tell me what kind of problems I can expect with the higher amount of XceL? I'm just wondering what you didn't like about that blend. Was it the the CT and HT or did you have frosting issues? Thank you so much for your time and feedback! zeo

Another note (for anyone who comes along in the future and is researching the same thing), the 70/30 blend is showing slight smudging in my ziploc bag whereas the 60/40 blend is not. That's important to me because I really like these heart shaped tarts and the size is perfect. They're measuring about .75 oz which is just a little bigger than 2 Scentsy cubes. So if and when I start selling, I'd like to put them in a small individual zip bag and sell to those who don't want to commit to a clamshell. And if anyone is interested, I purchased the mold for the heart shapes at WSP. It has 12 cavities and it's called "Crafter's Choice Heart - Guest - Glossy Mold 1612". Their website info says each bar will weight 1.25 oz but I guess it depends on what you pour inside.

Thank you for the info on the mold release. As for your last post, it was the opposite. The yellow batch was 60% XceL (soft) and 40% PB (hard). (I just typed it backwards and corrected myself so it's possible I've gotten it backwards in other posts). Then I tested 70% XceL (the soft) and 30% PB (hard) when I did the pink. So I think it was too soft.

Thanks Holly! Here is the picture of the first batch where I used 60% hard 40 % soft.... I am using the same wax as the OP (which is why I dug up this old thread). Ecosoya CB XceL and Ecosoya PB. Both he and another forum member use these and both state they use higher percentages of the PB wax so that was why I was asking. The melt point on the pillar blend is only 128* and the XceL is 125*. I think I will stick with the 60/40 recipe for now and see how it tests. If I decide I want more HT, I may switch back to the 70/30 recipe and look at the mold release options. Are there any negatives with adding that? I'd want to know that first. As for suppliers, I am using CandleScience for now. I'm open to using Peak as well. Since I make cold process soap, I want to stick with a supplier that carries FOs that also do well in CP soap and those two seem to be the best. If I ever need to just order replacement wax, I will shop around to see if I can find someone closer. Thank you, again, for helping me! zeo

No, I don't know anything about mold release. I'm new at this. I haven't tried straight pillar wax. I haven't figured out what attribute is added to the tart by going with a lot of pillar wax. But since I'm new, I'm only putting bits and pieces together based on what I've read here on the forums. I thought the goal when formulating a tart wax recipe is to use a wax that is soft enough to hold a good scent load but hard enough to not have any trouble unmolding. So with that mindset, I was trying to find a recipe that would use as little pillar wax as possible. And since the 60% soft 40% hard came out of the mold with no chipping, I thought I would start there to test my FO's. Is there an advantage to using a higher percentage of pillar wax in tarts? Is my thinking off track and making me go in the wrong direction? This is fun, by the way! :smiley2:

P.S. Here are pics of the new batch. First one shows the top side. Second one shows the bottom where they were chipped from removal.

Hi Holly, thank you for that feedback. I had not thought about the issues of square warmers so I'm glad you brought that up. I will be sure to find a tester who owns one in that shape. I had a feeling that the harder wax would increase the melt time so that was why I tested my 2nd batch with a lower percent of hard wax. But they didn't come out as easily. The corners broke off. So it looks like I will go back to the 60% XceL (which is a soft container wax) and 40% PB (hard pillar wax) since the 70/30 split was too soft. The XceL holds more scent so I'm happy that I can use 60% in my recipe. I still need to test with my clamshells but I can't imagine them being any more difficult than the silicone mold I've been testing in. The cavities are almost 1 inch deep and this isn't a mold where you can pull the sides away from the content. Both of these waxes have a melt point of 125-128. Is that what you call low or is your low MP wax even lower? In addition to HT, my biggest focus is finding a formula that will melt all the way with a lightbulb warmer.....all while still using soy. If it can't do that, then I don't suspect my Scentsy folks will want it.