nadiap

I use the NG Gardenia in the 135 and it is super strong. I use 464 sometimes (have been testing it using colours) and it seems to do ok for me... I love Gardenia though One of our suppliers in AU also sells Gardenia and I find that super strong too - but not sure who they buy their bulk orders from - but could be CS Not much help I know, sorry

Thanks for the update elliecat and also to Stella for some info regarding how to get the manufacturer / distributor to take notice... I've used up all my 135 now and in any case, I purchased in 5kg bags the last few times, and these do NOT have a batch number but it is certainly something to keep in mind if I get in any more. At the moment, I'm trialing 464 and it's not doing too badly

There are a few of us in Australia too, that are finding the exact same issues with the 135, the sink holes and also glass adhesion - never had as many problems with 135 as I have this winter / coming onto summer in the years I've been using it... I loved this wax, but am now in the process of testing another one, as the 135 is just not performing as well as it used to I personally, would love to know if you hear anything from NGI as to whether anything has changed... our supplier here says that nothing has changed, but with quite a few chandlers having the exact same issues - I kinda don't believe them lol

Nothing wrong with starting off with a votive glass container and these make lovely little gift sized candles I think you'll find that you may be able to go down to a htp 73 for that size (pictured) or a cdn 6 or 7. If you're in Oz, then you're only choices are htps or cdns as you know

Thanks Richard - that's what I meant I use the paddle pop sticks and use a paperclip to hold the wick in place... may not be enough pressure from the clip though if I want to twist as well, so will invest in some of the reject shop pegs as well me thinks

I love reading Stellas' posts - always learn something new and this is one of them I've a couple of the twisting wick threads, but have to ask a couple of things if I may lol In a pillar I can see how to twist and hold in place with a bit of wax - tip by Stella in another thread, but how would you do it in a container?? Twist and hold in place on the centering device?

Jonsie, sorry to hear about your problems and hope you can salvage the majority of your jars I've remelted in the oven and not had any cross contamination with foodstuffs Tammy Oh it's smelled for a bit, but I leave the oven on with door open to get rid of any lingering smells lol I also often add a bit of extra FO to make up for any possible evaporation of the FO as well. As for EOs, there is a company in WA for EOs that I've heard good things about, but I don't buy EOs in large quantities, so this company may be ideal for you if you buy in bulk: Range Products I agree with Bart also, the suppliers *should* notify their customers if any stock has changed in any way. You ring them up asking questions, and all they tend to do is fob you off - esp. if you are 100% sure that there is something different about a particular product you've purchased before. I have a question in an FBook forum of one of our suppliers about an FO that just doesn't work right. In a recent post, she claimed that they had tested every FO they carry - but when I queried one of them, she admitted it was one of their earlier ones and that no, she hadn't tested it - and that I should use additives to get the wicking right.... ah no thanks ! if going from a cdn 10 to a cnd 14 doesn't work in a small jar, why should I use an additive in the hopes that it works - I'd already spend enough time and $s testing something that doesn't work - I'd rather just not use the FO, not go and buy MORE product in the hopes that it works - easy lol. I'd rather they would be truthful right up front, they'd get a lot more respect, and ultimately more business from me. PS: Sorry about the length and not quoting.

Thanks ! yep, that helped I'd love some of the lids for the 500ml bottles, was it the 28mm width tops you got? they would fit the 500ml ACS bottles? Postage is a bit on the expensive side, but hopefully with comnbined postage it may help if you buy small items... LOVE some of their pillar moulds

Jonsie, I just checked that link and a few items, but all said no international shipping? How along did you buy from them may I ask? I'm liking some of their warning labels

I have lots and lots of wicks lol Keep them in the ziplock bags they come in but stand them up behind each other in size order in a box. I also label the front of the pack with the size jar I would use them in. Works for me

I agree ~~ spill !! I seriously need some glassware and everywhere has run out

Thought I'd ask here under this thread - as it is aimed at the Aussies does anyone here use the 135 from NCS? Lots of people - including myself are having horrible problems with this wax lately. Sink holes, wax around wick popping up, terrible wet spots, bad frosting, hairline crack (circle) right around the wick and various other issues? We are thinking a possible bad batch of wax or they've change the formulation without telling customers. I've been using this wax for a few years now and never ever had these problems before. Anyone else?? Nadia

Same, I was hit on my Mastercard Credit Card, not linked to any accounts. They tried a small amount of $24, then tried for $1500 but my card would have been well over the limit so didn't go through. Few days later, another small amount, then they finally managed to get $450 converted to pounds and yes hit with a conversion charge lol The only reason they got that was cause I moved money to the card to pay for some NCS good The bought some airline tickets apparently - Sheesh !! wish I could afford to buy some airplane tickets for myself !! lol Still waiting for fraud paperwork to come through, but received my new card today. Know another lady who purchased from the soap company - which I believe may be affiliated with the candle company (or some believe anyway and her card was also hit. Hopefully you were told you'd get that back - I was. Well, all fees associated with the fraud would be refunded is what I was told. Also, be careful using paypal, don't leave to much in your account - there have been reports of that being targetted also - no-one /nothing it appears to be safe. It does appear though, that it's not just candle companies - it is very wide spread and small / large businesses have been hacked and their customer info has been compromised. Geez, for all we know, it could actually be the banks that have been hacked into - they'd never tell us would they LOL

Didn't know about this company, so many thanks

I have to agree totally - NG are terrific at packing their boxes - will get the most items into the box as they can. I order a variety of items besides the FOs and it's all packed up to utilise every bit of space in the box. I end up have to use a much larger box in some instances due to bulk of what I buy, but again, more bang for my buck in the way they pack it up for me - can't fault them at all ! May I ask who SGS is? I"m a FO fanatic and always on the look out for new ones lol

Thanks Bart, PM'd you a few mins ago with more info. An update for the others - Looks like nearly $100k has been skimmed from candlemakers alone - we found more people who had been skimmed after putting up Beware notices on all our Facebook pages. And it hasn't stopped, so be very aware of your accounts - even if you haven't purchased in a little while - particularly from a company who prefers offline mode for transactions (won't name names for obvious reasons). One poor lady hadn't used her CC for 2 years - but the number must have been stored on the system that was hacked, and she lost a heap of money before the bank cottoned on and stopped the card. Some very scary stories out there !

A lot of the ladies are worried as you can imagine so until things are straightened out, they will only be doing bank deposits... they have to anyway - until they get new cards or get reimbursed the money that was taken from them We are all being very wary as only 1/2 hr ago, we heard another lady's card was skimmed - about 5 lots of small transactions, but the bank picked up on it and stopped her card. Seriously worrying for sure!

If anyone is interested this is the breakdown of what fits into the boxes that NG ship out: medium $45ish large $58ish We can fit 8 of our 16 ounce bottles in a medium flat rate box. We can fit 13 of our 16 ounce bottles in a large flat rate box. We can fit 30 of our 4 ounce bottles in a medium flat rate box We can fit 49 of our 4 ounce bottles in a large flat rate box We can fit 13 of our 8 ounce bottles in a medium flat rate box We can fit 33 of our 8 ounce bottles in a large flat rate box We can approximately fit 90 of the 1 ounce bottles in a medium flat rate box We can approximately fit 150 of the 1 ounce bottles in a large flat rate box In the group I belong to - we do group orders to NG and it saves us all on postage costs as we split the costs between us. I also do orders on my own and even with freight costs, I'm still saving money. I do also onsell the fragrances on one of my FB pages I believe I contacted CS ages ago and they told me to contact NCS insead - as they do not ship out of US. Another company that will ship to AU is http://saveonscents.com/ Not sure if anyone here has tried them - but they have some lovely sounding FOs as well.

Hey guys, sorry to butt in with an off topic to what you are discussing (though I have some comments on those as well) but this is extremely important if you buy goods from either ACS or NCS or NG using either your CC or a debit card. I belong to a chandler group of 37 ladies on Facebook and in the last week 8 of them have had their cards skimmed or compromised - all cards were stopped by their respective banks. So this is more or less a heads up to keep an eye on your cards for any unknown transactions - they start off small $5 and then they move in for amounts in the 100s and one lady had an attempt at $17,000.... if you need any more details just PM me. Don't want to say too much on the board for obvious reasons.

I don't use any additives, but do have some of the Universal additive here (approx 350gr), but I don't believe it's the one you're after though - sorry !

I've purchased from Gala a few times now. If you don't purchase $400 worth of glassware, the delivery cost is $25 - which isn't bad when you compare it to either of the other 2 companies. This week I received delivery over 132 jars and a few other bits and pieces and delivery cost was the standard $25. One item of 36 jars was out of stock - they gave me an estimated delivery time - was annoyed as they didn't let me know at time of order - but after a phone call found it isn't too far away - and that as it was *their* problem, I will not be charged any extra for delivery costs.... can't ask better than that.

The clamshells you use must not be from either ACS or NCS ;-) if I pour wax over 130Fa (54C), I get an absolute mess leaks right through the bottom. I used to be able to pour into the NCS ones at 140Fa with no probs (ACS always had to be poured lower) - but they must have / had a new supplier, because I had to go right down in temps. Can't tell you how many shells I lost :-( In fact, even pouring a batch of say 6 - I pour 2 in a row at say 130Fa (54C), there is no guarantee that the 3rd and 4th (which would be cooler), won't spring a leak ! In saying all that, I have never tried any Palm in clamshells - I'm afraid I don't like the look of them myself (personal preference of course )

Strange that ! Shayne himself told me that they were not going to stock any honeypots in the future - when they sold out that would be it. I used to buy boxes & boxes of the frosted. Now ACS has been inundated with orders for these, and they've run out too, will be months before they get any more in so how can Shayne believe they are not a popular seller. I'm not into feather palm, so can't help with the co-op there, sorry

I recently read of this forwarder - not used them yet,but thinking about it :-) From what I read don't seem so bad - particularly if the company in US doesn't ship to Australia. http://www.hopshopgo.com/hsg/welcome.do?l=en&c=

Have you seen the prices of the soap fragrances ??? That is unreal !! PS: Had a shipment from NCS today and it came via Fastway - not Aust Post - looks like they changed couriers Tealights (clear cups) - forget them, I've been waiting ages and then they only offer in one lot of 2500 which has now gone - wanna bet they all end up for sale on ebay :-)