naomiheck

Hmm, I'm used to wet dog smells at my house (that's why I'm always burning a candle or spraying air freshener). Hunting dogs smell bad even after a bath! I'm testing with 8 oz jelly jars and a blend of 30% WSP's SP wax + 70% GB 464. I just got my first shipment of IGI Victory Blend (R9798/6098A) so I'd like to try that too. If I like it, I'll probably switch over when my other waxes are used up. Naomi

I just got a shipment of a bunch of 1 oz fragrance samples, and I can't wrap my head around the best way to evaluate these. Should I start at 1.5 oz pp or 1 oz pp, or somewhere in between? What size candle do you make to test a fragrance sample, and what is your criteria for rating a fragrance oil as a keeper or a tosser? Naomi

Thanks, Stella. I don't feel comfortable giving away candles that mushroom as much as my french vanilla one (I don't sell...yet). I'll put the French Vanilla and Amber on my wish list. (I seem to order from Peak at least once a month even though I'm trying hard to ease up on spending. A sign of addiction, right?). Does the FV & A have a floral note to it? I want to keep the bakery emphasis. Naomi

Thanks for the CDN info. I just placed an order at JBN along with some Mexican vanilla. Thank goodness for credit cards! I can't wait to give this a try. Naomi

Are CS's CSN wicks the same as CDNs? I'm having trouble finding CDN's Naomi

That's the one wick type I haven't tried yet. Time to place yet another order! What other FO's have you tried with this combo? Naomi

Really?? And here I was feeling intimidated by the big commercial candlemakers!:rolleyes2 Last night was trick or treat night for our town, so I took the vanilla candle that was the worst with mushrooming and stuck it in our jack-o-lantern for over 4 hours. When I went to take it out, it was burning beautifully with hardly a shroom! Go figure. Naomi

Thanks, Steve. I feel better now. :smiley2: I may go to the Yankee store in town and get their French vanilla candle to compare. Naomi

I've made several french vanilla candles using GB 464 as well as a soy/para blend and various wicks (mostly CDs), and they all have the same issue that I don't know what to do. I use 16 oz wide masons and the Libby's pumpkin jar (I think it holds about 10 oz). I've gotten to where I achieve a full melt pool in the right amount of time, and the flame is between 1/2 and 3/4 inch, but they all get multiple mushrooms. Some are pretty big (I can tolerate a slight mushroom). I am currently testing 8% and 9% FO (from Fillmore). Should my next step be to decrease the FO load, or should I wick up (or down)? I'm beginning to think I'll never be able to make a decent french vanilla candle! Naomi

Thanks for the link. I've been looking for cutouts like those. :smiley2: Naomi

I just posted a reply to another thread a minute ago about blending a soy-paraffin wax (WSP's SP wax which I wasn't thrilled with) with GB 464. I like the preliminary results - nice smooth glossy look and good throw. My next project will be to blend a little bit of paraffin (a friend gave me a block) to my 464 to see how that works. I want to keep my candle predominantly soy for the lower melting point. Naomi

Now that the weather is cooler, I've found that I get a lot of air pockets under the surface even though I always cover the candles with boxes and sometimes towels after pouring. I got tired of repeatedly using the heat gun and poking bubbles with skewers, so I am currently testing candles with some WSP's SP wax (soy-paraffin blend) added to the 464. So far, a 50-50 mix makes a beautiful candle with great CT and HT (I only cured for one day cause I was impatient to see how the wick would burn). I just poured a 25-75 last night and I got some wet spots but a nice smooth look. I will try to wait a little longer to burn that one (but I don't know if I can be patient enough. ) Naomi

Thank you all for the advice to cut back on fragrance. I repoured at 6% 2 days ago, and it's already burning much better and smells great (I couldn't wait any longer to cure)! Naomi

The 1 + 4 ratio is what I always start with. If by a week it hasn't soaked up completely, I'll add more beads. The only fragrance oil I had problems with (took several weeks to soak up) had vanilla in it. Everything else soaks up in a few days, sometimes quicker. Make sure you make it early in the day so you can shake the jar quite frequently, otherwise they might stick together and get gummy. And if you use candle dye (liquid), the color will disperse more evenly with the frequent shaking. The last test batch I made was with NG's Hot Baked Apple Pie. It's looking good. WSP Christmas Wreath and SC Nutcracker and Christmas Spice also worked well for me. HTH Naomi

I have a couple of 16 oz mason jars with the narrow tops the same size as the 8 oz jelly jars, and was wondering if they would work with candles because of the long depth compared to the diameter of the opening. So while I was at Walmart, I bought one on sale to see how theirs burned (Candle Cottage brand). I think it's paraffin with a zinc wick (I use GB464 and am not familiar with paraffin). But I just extinguished it after only an hour because the flame is an inch tall, major dancing, and there's a very big double mushroom. Whenever my candles burn like this at the top while testing, I replace the wick. But I'm suspecting that maybe further down the jar, the flame will become smaller and more acceptable. Those of you who are experienced chandlers, what is your criteria for an acceptable candle when the burn is different at the top compared to further down the jar? Naomi

I absolutely love the smell of CandleScience's Cranberry Marmalade, but am frustrated at the fuel-like smell that develops after burning. I'm using it at 8% in GB464 as well as SP wax, and have tried HTPs, ECO's and CD's. 8 oz jelly jars and 8 oz square masons. I've heard that citrus scents can get that fuel smell, but I didn't expect this with all the rave reviews about this FO. I even called the company, and they of course recommended their ECO wicks, saying they've never heard of it getting an off smell. It's great in tarts, but I'd love to be able to make a candle out of this! Naomi

Steve, I just found the 12 oz. salsa jars at a supplier an hour away, near where my daughter goes to college (Fillmore Container). Thanks for the idea. The price is good (39 cents a jar and 27 cents per lid). Nice compromise between 8 oz and 16 oz. Looks like I'll have to go visit DD soon.

Thanks, Debbie! I'm going to pour the square mason right now with a CD 10. Can't wait to try it. :smiley2: Naomi

What percentage of Pumpkin Souffle are you using? I tried 7.5 and 8% and after a few burns, it starts smelling toasted. I tried a CD-8 in a jelly jar and the flame was too big. I'll definitely try the CD-10 in the square mason. I'm not sure by how much I should cut back on the fragrance oil. Naomi

I love the look of the 8 oz square masons too. Great for tying on ribbons. I've had similar problems with it though, I guess due to the temp difference between top and bottom due to the pinched neck. I gave up on them a while back, but may play with the few I have left and compare more closely to the 8 oz jelly jars. Naomi

After buying several cases of 8 oz jelly jars and testing like crazy the last few months, I've decided I hate them. I love the cute look, but compared to 8 oz tins, they are harder to test. The wick performs so differently at the top compared to half way down, and the scent throw is weaker due to the smaller melt pool diameter. I would like to go to a different small glass container, preferably with a primitive look. Any suggestions? And those of you who use 8 oz jellies, what fragrance oils are super strong (I use Golden Brands 464 soy)? So far I like Peak Amish Harvest and CandleScience Blueberry Cobbler in the jelly jars. I like CS Pumpkin Souffle but can't find the right wick and percentage yet. I'm about to give up on that one. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. The candles are taking over my house! Naomi

I heat to 180, add the FO, and pour at 150/160. Then I cover with an inverted box so it cools slowly overnight. Peak: Amish Harvest (my favorite, 6%), Cool Citrus Basil (8%) Candles and Supplies: Lavender, Sage, and Rosemary (6%)-cured 6 months, not on purpose, but the throw is very nice CandleScience: Mango Papaya (8%) WSP: Sleep Time (EO Blend) 6% is strong

I used to Ecosoya CB Advance, and I switched to GW464 (which is a little cheaper). I think the CBA has a weaker scent throw in comparison, although I like the looks of the tops better with the CBA (smoother after burning). I would first try letting the candles cure longer before changing other parameters. I've found that with some FOs, curing longer than 2 weeks helps, but definitely a minimum of 2 weeks. If I'm just testing wicks, though, I'll burn after 3 or 4 days. I've gone crazy buying 10 different kinds of wicks, which I found was really unneccessary. I keep going back to CDs and HTPs. Just be sure to have a wide range of sizes of each type. Some FOs I've tried work fine at 6%, others better at 7 or 8%. If I have to use 9% just to get any smell, I don't use it (or I save it for tarts and sachets). HTH Naomi

I'm using 8 oz jelly jars and 16 ounce wide mouth masons, with 8% fragrance. It's the cranberry marmalade from Candle Science that I'm having the most trouble smelling (I love the fragrance!). I'm trying zinc, CD, and HTP wicks. When I stick my nose into the once burned jar with a zinc wick, all I smell is the burnt wick for cold throw. I just burned a 16 oz mason of Spruce Christmas Tree at 8% (Peak) with a zinc wick yesterday, and I was able to finally smell it. The directions for the wax says maximum FO 10%. Wow, that's high. Anyone use that much? Naomi

I am not getting the good scent throw that people rave about with this wax. I've tried 6% and 7% fragrance load. What fragrance load are you all using to get that good HT? Naomi