GermantownCandles

I use IGI 6006

Ok, so I have never used multiple wicks to make a candle before. My wife bought a very nice ceramic jar that she wants to make a candle. It's round and 6" diameter. What would be the best way to wick it? I use 6006 and the two sizes of wicks I have on hand are zinc core 60-44-18Z and 62-52-18Z. Is it doable with these sizes? Thanks for all of the help!

btw... I mostly use 6006

I've been searching for a new candle dye to use in my candles. I used to buy my dye from AtWixEnd and it was VERY concentrated, but they are now out of business :-( I have purchased some EVO dye from candle wic and it's really good for lighter shades, but I can't get the darker colors I got before without using almost twice as much as I used before. So, I would like to experiment with some powder dyes maybe? Anyone have any suggestions for a good supplier? Or maybe just the Pros and Cons of using a powder dye? I found CC Candle Supply which carries them, but after a search on the site it seems they have very poor customer service... Thanks for the help!

The heat will not affect your electrical appliances. Do not use your wax melter anymore! Unplug it! At least until you know what the problem is and get it fixed. It sounds like you may have a short with your heating element to me. Epecially since you are seeing sparks, there is a definite short in the system. I don't have any experience with this type of product, but I do have experience with electric in general and you need to service it before you plug it back in. You can test it yourself with some basic electrical knowledge. The way I learned was "Barnes & Nobles" and "Google". I know it's not much help, but please don't try to use it again until it's fixed!

Many companies will ask what price range you are wanting to pay. Say you want to pay $8/lb, then they will formulate the FO to cost $8/lb. They do not "cut" the fragrance per say, but they will use more of the "base" ingredients. Now if you tell them you want to pay $12/lb then they will formulate your FO at a higher concentration of the "active", more fragrant, compounds. The $12/lb will be a stronger FO than the $8/lb, but they will be similar. So it is all up to you. There are many fragrances that I have found that smell wonderful at a lower concentration and still have an excellent hot and cold throw, but there are also those that have very little scent throw when manufactured at a lower concentration, it's trial and error just like many other aspects of candle making. I would assume that this is what they are doing...?

As I was going through their website I checked out the FAQs... Looks like the prices are only temporary... What do you think? "How can your prices be so low? Currently, as we are adding the finishing touches to our web site, we are deeply discounting our products to encourage you to try us out. When will you pricing go up? Although our prices will go up in the very near future, you will find that we will always have the best pricing avalible on the market. "

When I see the term "triple scented" I also think of layered candles rather than "highly scented". There is a store in my area that sells "triple scented" candles, and they are 3 layers of different scents, so up until a few years ago, that was my only experience with triple scented candles.

Link them to craft server... If they are interested in making candles, what better place to send them?? But yeah, I would be kind of annoyed too

One really important thing to remember if you decide to use ink jet over laser jet: Ink jet inks are much more susceptible to UV light damage and they will fade very quickly if you leave them in a window. They may be cheaper, but this a lesson that I learned very quickly... I had to almost completely replace one of my first wholesale orders due to this. I never even considered the fading problem. I had considered it with the wax and added UV inhibitor to my wax, but that doesn't do you any good if you have a customer that wants to carry your candles and they want to display them in a front window and your labels disappear!

I use the HP cp1215 Color Laser... I use it for my labels and my fliers. I love my printer, it has settings for general printing, thick glossy paper, heavy card stock, and about 7 or 8 other settings. And it's fairly resonable priced too. Also, if you decide to buy, check out suppliesguys.com (or check them out for whatever printer you decide to buy) they sell refilled toner and ink, and I have used them for over a year and cannot tell a difference between them and OEM toner, AND they are about have of the cost as well. IMHO

Ok... I can understand the fragrance, I guess, if the formula is hers, she probably did spend good money on it and I wouldn't want to just give away my source... But what about the dye? Even if it were the same supplier as the fragrances that company wouldn't be able to sell that fragrance since it is specific to atwixend only. So what good does it do not leading your customers to where they can purchase the supplies that they have been using for years? She never mentioned that the business would be sold (which if it is, then you would think they would steer the customers to the new business). But I doubt that it will be sold, there is no mention of it any where and the real estate only where atwixend is located is for sale...

If you were a supplier and you were going out of business and one of your customers asked where they could get a certain supply from (now that you will be closing your doors!), would you tell them, or not tell them? I had posted earlier that atwixend was going out of business, and I liked their dyes and one particular fragrance. So I went in this morning and asked where I could continue purchasing these two items, and she wouldn't tell me All she said was that we buy in bulk, and you can't buy in smaller quantities using their supplier, and I told her that was fine since I only was interested in 1 fragrance I would have no problem buying 25lbs at a time. She kind of smiled and nodded and said that they owned the fragrance formula and had a special product code to buy the fragrance. Unless you were planning on continuing your business, or selling it, (which I guess is a possibility) it seems like you would want to help your customers out. It's just a little frustrating, lol sorry about the rant!

none taken... I searched for atwixend and didn't see any posts about it going out of business, that's why I posted. I totally agree about their stock issue. I stopped using them due to the fact that they were always out of the supplies that I needed, especially during the holidays... Nice place and very nice staff none the less... I will miss them

At Wix End is going out of business... I liked using their candle dye, so I would always use them for that. I went there the other day and a lot of their inventory was gone, and I asked and she said they were going OOB! They have some sales going on their website, not a lot of choices, but still some left. They were my very first supplier :-( They were in business for 15 years, hard time for everyone I guess... atwixend.com

Who would you guys say has the best candle liquid dye. I would like nice concentrated colors and I would like to be able to buy at least 16oz bottles, but not necessary. Thanks for the input!

I do have a Creme Brulee that I am comparing it to. I don't smell any cinnamon or chocolate, so I would definitely put it more on the buttery side.

I posted in the fragrance discussion forum, but I didn't get a response so I was wondering if someone here could help me... I have been wanting to make my own Creme Brulee fragrance by mixing some fragrance oils... I have mixed Caramel FO and a Vanilla FO and it seems to be pretty close, but it is missing something... What all would be in a creme brulee scent? Thanks!

I want to mix my own fragrance oils to make Creme Brulee.. I have mixed a caramel with vanilla and it's close but it is missing something. What am I missing? Thanks!

I use 6006 and I sometimes get sink holes as well, but I don't use Madison jars though. I have found that if I don't let the wax cool before pouring, I get a lot less sink holes. I just did a craft fair last week and we made about 300 candles for the fair and I only had about 5-10 end up with sink holes. Trial and Error has always worked best for me! Good luck!

I have not bought anything yet myself. Have you checked out The Perfumer's Apprentice? I have been debating whether or not to buy one of their kits, just so I can get the basic understanding of how it works. They have a list of carrier oils used in the fragrance indistry as well along with a description of how each one is used.

Cedar Lea, I too have been spending a lot of time on perfume message boards. I called The Perfumer's Apprentice and spoke with the owner, Linda, and she said that they are basically one in the same, she also said the flavor formulas are also very similar other than the carrier. I think you and I have a lot in common, I have been searching the internet to answer these questions, but there really isn't a whole lot of info out there. I want to learn how to make my own as well. I have also looking over sites like The Good Scents Company... Maybe one day we can work this out, if you have any questions maybe we can help each other. Thanks for replying!

What is the difference between the FOs that I use in my candles and the ingredients in perfume? i.e. If I had a chocolate FO and a chocolate perfume, what's the difference other than the alcohol in perfume? If you don't add the alcohol, is a perfume a fragrance oil? Thanks!

We use SquareUp as well... My wife uses it all the time as an Independent Contractor in a hair salon, we ran the numbers between CC processing companies vs SquareUp, and with our volume SquareUp was the better choice. Our fees would be about equal either way, but with the Square app there is no contract or monthly fees or credit checks or equipment to purchase (we already had DROIDS). It has been an AWESOME app, and we love it!

Thanks for your input guys... I went out today and bought the side covers for my canopy, the only thing that was disappointing was the fact that I had paid $109 for my canopy last year and it was on sale for $59!! ( So I bought another one too ;-) ) I will also take one of my tarps to cover the tables at night. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!