Stephanie

I was thinking of making a linen spray with Lavender EO and Chamomile FO - is that okay to do?

I can't vouch for them since I've never used them but I just came across this link and bookmarked it for future use:

www.incrediblelabels.com

Check the fragrance load on that particular wax. It probably can't hold 6%. Try 1/2 oz per pound next time...

Those are gorgeous! Someone is going to be very happy to get that as a gift.

All right - that makes sense and definitely gives me good direction. Thank you both for the valuable advice.

I just started testing tins. How do you decide what wick to use? I ask this because I had different results each burn. I didn't make any judgements after the first 2 hour burn. After the 2nd burn, a few hours, there seemed to be a clear winner, full melt pool, no mushrooming. For the third burn I let them go for a really long time, like all day, and the winner was no longer the winner. And the wicks that seemed too small initially were fine - full melt pool, no mushrooming. But I'm wondering if that is a realistic way to test. I'm so confused. Because for the first two burns of the smaller wicks - they were definitely too small.

Oh boy - this is what I was afraid of :undecided Too many to choose from. Guess I'll be trying them all . Thanks everyone!!

I know I'm going to get a ton of different opinions, but I'll ask for a starting point . Can anyone recommend a really luscious, buttery, strong vanilla? I did a search but didn't come up with exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for any help!

Thank you - I think it's all great advice. I will definitely call first, send info/set up appointment and go from there. I know that I won't be approached because I simply don't have the time to dedicate to craft shows. I can barely fit in the one I do each year.

And Country Crafter, it is very helpful to hear it from a retailer's perspective too. Thank you!

Thanks everyone! I'll give them a try.

Kristine: are you using the SOS in candles?

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you gave her a couple boxes of inventory, what have you got to lose? She's going to do the legwork, right? Go for it!

If you're going to see her over the holidays - get to work! Avoid all those shipping costs.

What is the most effective way to get a wholesale account based on your experiences? Obviously this would be after scouting the shop to make sure the products would fit. Would you walk in with a box of samples, and follow up later? And how many/what size samples are appropriate? Thanks so much for any advice.

OMG, that sounds so awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! I'll let you know what my sister thinks too!!

BTW, where can I find olive butter? Thanks!

So can I just order some goat's milk soap base, add safe FO and color and that's it?? I love that!!

Do you have a recipe for the belly balm? My sister is only 28 weeks so she still has time and since this is her first I'd love to make it special for her.

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking in the B&B forum for a couple of weeks and getting very anxious to start playing with stuff. I'm planning a baby shower for my sister in February and since I make candles I know she's expecting Baby Powder votives so I want to surprise her with some kind of bath & body product. I was thinking glycerin soaps (I have candy molds for baby favors). Is there an easy recipe, or something else that someone can recommend? Thanks for any help!!

for those who do both b&b and candles: do you find that customers like candles in one scent (or category of scents) and b&b in another type of scent? For example, do you find customers like "clean" candles scents and "fruity" b&b? Or do customers want b&b in the same scents as their candles?

Guess I'm the odd ball - I do mine in white. I already have mulberry (burgandy) and red clove (red) and spruce christmas tree (green). It sells okay here. Wonder if the color has something to do with it? I bet that's an interesting thread - if color effects sales, hmmmm.

I'm going to place a small (fingers crossed) order at Save on Scents for FO. I've never ordered from them before so I figured I'd try a few recommendations. Do you have any? I'm not looking for food fragrances. TIA!

Oh where to begin. I think the obvious are: never trim the wick, burning too long.

I'm sure you'll get a mixed response. My set includes 3x3, 3x4 and 3x6. I have 3x9, but don't sell many of them.

This is an interesting thread because I have recently gotten tired of candles (Pillars), but haven't been able to admit it aloud yet, and am getting very interested in B&B, although soap seems like a monster I'm not ready to tackle.

I usually put my molds in the oven before pouring so they're warm. I just poured a batch of Red Clove at around 180 so we'll see how they turn out. I had been pouring as high as 200, thanks to what the supplier told me because I called about getting the pinholes. Thanks for the suggestions.

Try www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com

or www.specialtybottle.com

I'm curious - are you happy with how they look right now? I ask because I usually have an edge about that thick and I hug the candle as I test it so it consumes itself. But my sister, who burns a ton of my candles, doesn't hug them. The edges, or at leasat one side, ends up bending over as the candle melts down. So I'm wondering if I should actually wick up?

Has anyone needed to increase the pour temp for 1343 in cold weather? And if not, at what temp are you pouring for mottles? I'm having a heck of a time with pinholes (still!) throughout the entire candle - on the top and inside, but not on the sides. So I'm either pouring too hot, or too fast. Help please!