JLynne

Especially because they are so close and I can drive there, I use Starrville in Tyler, TX. They have some wonderful fragrances. I only use 1 oz per lb. and I get great results. I use a 75/25 mix of 464 and 4627 and also add CO. The Country Clothesline that they have is so strong I have cut back to .5 oz because it was hurting my nose:smiley2:.

The longer your candle sits the stronger your fragrance will be. It takes a while for all the molecules to get happy. I also add coconut oil to my wax to improve my scent throw. I have heard resting times anywhere between two days to two weeks. I use 75% 464 and 25% 4627.

I use 464 and HTP 105. I tried 83 when I was testing and didn't get a full melt pool out of it. 105 works good with most of my fragrances. I am testing ECO 10 in my 12 oz jars now because that is what the wholesaler closest to me sells.

I am also one who pours hotter with the 464. I heat to about 185 with about 1/2 of my wax. Then pour in the rest and melt it to 185 again. I add my fragrance and bring it up to 185 again. Then I pour it at about 135 sometimes into warm jars and sometimes not- depends on how cold my house is that day. My tops are pretty good doing it that way. But it's just trial and error.

JLynne

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Luckily I am not out to impress anyone. I have just seen so many threads from fellow candlemakers that seem ready to tear their hair out and have come to this community to see if someone somewhere can keep them from doing that. If my small post from my small corner of East Texas can help someone think of something they have not thought of before, then I praise the Lord! That is what I wanted to do.

JLynne

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GB 464

1/2 T of coconut oil per pound

Liquid dye

HTP wicks

Pour at 135

CO to prevent frosting

CO to help with rough tops

don't do anything for wet spots

I just wanted to encourage anyone who is having trouble with their candles not turning out and mention my recent experience.

I use 464 and have had good success melting it to 185 degrees, adding some CO and cooling to 135 to pour. All of a sudden and for no apparent reason I am dealing with air bubbles and "pot holes" all over my candles. I have changed the temperature of the room, the temperature I melted my wax, the temperature I heated my jars, tempered in more ways than I can count, took out dye, fragrance, jumped through many hoops and still could not get rid of the problem. I think I even started singing "This Little Light of Mine" for inspiration. I spent hours searching this forum for answers. It has been this way for about a month. Then my darling husband helped me discover the simple answer... I have two candy thermometers that are exactly alike- or so I thought. The newer one that I bought is registering 20 degrees cooler than the other!!!!! So I am actually only melting to 165 and pouring at 115- which was not working for me at all.

I say all that to say this: Look for the easy answers first before you get so frustrated you want to give up. And be patient- as I have seen on this forum, we that work with pure soy are like chocolatiers. And they can make some pretty cool stuff!

JLynne

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I use 464. I like it because I can get really good candles without jumping through too many hoops. I guess I am one of the lucky ones in the world. I live 1 hour away from Starrville in Tyler and have really great success with them. It's nice when you can develop a one on one relationship with your supplier instead of going through a phone. I think you get better customer service that way. You can also learn little tricks of the trade if you stand there and yack for an hour!

JLynne

For centering from the bottom, I made a template out of cardstock that has a wick tab sized hole in it. I line the wick tab up with that. I use the big craft sticks on the top with a hole drilled in the middle of it and keep it tight with a clothespin. I'm all about thrifty (you should see me grocery shop )

JLynne

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When I "inherited" my candle business, there was one 12 oz jar with a very small opening (2 1/4") that the 6 oz gazebo lids fit. I have customers that buy the 6 oz from me and really want them to come in a larger size- but- I can't find that jar anywhere!! Does anyone know what I am talking about? Do I have the only jar with that size opening in existence? That would be my luck. I apologize if this question has been answered somewhere but I am an impatient little Texan- too impatient to wade through all the links that have "12 oz jar" somewhere in the text.:smiley2: Thanks for your help.

JLynne

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I love this company! I spent a full hour in there just talking to one of the reps. Being new at this he had some good advice for me and just knowing that I was doing some things right made me much more confident. I had a very limited, new business budget and was only able to buy $100 worth of stuff (GB464 being one thing- I just tested it tonight and WOW!!!). They also said their Creme Brulee is the best around. I bought some Red Hot Cinnamon, Love Spell and Bird of Paradise. I am really excited about doing business with them. I had some of their products already from the estate sale and have had lots of compliments.

I be bustin' out some candles!!!

JLynne

Has anyone ever used Starrville Candle and Soap Co. in Tyler, TX? I live very close to Tyler and could save on shipping costs, but if they have poor quality mdse., it would not be worth it. I started making candles in November when my husband bought some supplies at an estate sale. Since then I have been learning quite a bit from websites and forums like this. Now my brain is mush but my candles are pretty cool! Thanks for any info you can give me on this company.

JLynne