AlwaysWondering

Looks easy enough but I have no idea how to put the "code" on each page of my website. I don't know HTML.

Hi! It is true that you will have to test but there are suppliers that get more positive reviews rather than negative and vice versa in general. Off the top of my head..... Again, each has good and bad but overall, Bert's, Nature's Garden, Aroma Haven, DayStar, Candle Science and Kentucky tend to get above average marks on this board. Wellington and Just Scents tend to get average or below average for scent strength. Bitter Creek North seems to be a toss up but I've seen many posts about customer service issues. Not sure what the issues were, though. This is just my observation and even Wellington and Just Scents have some real winners.

Thought I'd bring this back to the top. I tried the Vanilla Rum Cake from Cierra and the Buttered Rum from Candle Science. Nope on both accounts. Has anyone tried the Buttered Rum from Taylored Concepts? Or the Hot Buttered Rum from At Wix End?

Is it easy to use? Has it helped you in any tangible way? Have you made adjustment to your website or advertising because of it?

Thank you. I breezed right by that one. Can you smell the apple in that one? I'm worried that apple butter is heavy on cinnamon.

I've begun my search for an Apple Pie FO and need to place an order with NG and plan to order a sample but can't decide between their Hot Baked Apple or their Apple Pie. Reading their description, I wonder if their Apple Pie has too much cinnamon in their version. I like to smell the baked apple and the crust and not all cinnamon.

It is a really crazy addiction. Over on the thread in the Business section about credit cards being hacked into, those of us who got compromised are posting which suppliers we've been ordering from to see if there was one in common. I thought everyone will think I'm nuts when they read how many suppliers I order from! Them I realized we all probably have the same addiction.

AlwaysWondering - illegal purchase made on 3/3/11 for $80 at G Potato out of Ireland, video games. Bank America Visa Debit card. This thread made me check and I discovered it today. I consistently order from NG, CS, C&S, ICS, KY, Aztec, TCS, DS, WSP, MW, AH, Elements, BCN, CMS, BS, Berts, SS, Tenn, SweetCakes, MMS, Peaks I'm sure I'm forgetting a few I've used in the last year. The hacking could have just taken place in the past few weeks but as another poster said, the transaction with your credit card could have taken place anytime in the past! Oh, and I never ever order from Amazon with this card.

unfortunately, I'm joining this thread. My card was compromised, too. I've ordered from about a dozen suppliers in the last month replenishing my Spring and Summer oils and lots of samples. My card was a Visa and the fake charge was from G Potato in Ireland which is video games. I think these criminals sell the CC numbers to anyone and everyone via internet and that is why all of our fake charges have no rhyme or reason. Bank is sending me a new card.

Yes, you will Yes, you will Yes, you will

I don't think a tea light will help you sell your candles. In my opinion, tea lights don't throw scent well regardless of quality. Maybe if used in a very small, confined area like a powder room. Your clients then might believe your full size candles won't throw strong scent, either.

Ohhhhh! I noticed some of my FO bottles, even some that are just a month or two old, get that sucked in look. Had no idea what that was. Thanks, everyone.

I wonder if, for all of us, clamshells will start selling better now that Scentsy is "educating" the world, one home party at a time, on this type of tart and packaging. I've read on some consumer boards that tart customers will pick up the plastic scent from tarts in clamshells.

I have ordered and like them and they are strong. If I don't reorder, it is not an issue with strength or throw but more that I don't like their version of the scent which is personal to each sniffer! These are the ones I like and use: Butter Brickle - a great bakery, sweet type scent, caramel notes. French Vanilla Latte - this one is my favorite Hawaiian Tropic Type - very mellow, nice, not too much coconut Pearl Garland - this is not a Christmas scent to me, just a pretty, feminine almost romantic scent yet not perfumy. Teakwood - my favorite Vanilla Pumpkin Pie - a very nice and not too strong pumpkin with perfect balance of spices. The vanilla makes it creamy. These are the ones I won't reorder: Barnwood - too perfumy Butterscotch Brulee - good but not enough Butterscotch Coconut Cream Pie - smelled more like cream cheese with a wee bit of coconut Egg Nog - no nutmeg notes so not quite an egg nog scent Pumpkin Souffle - almost too much egg notes like in custard but custard with too much egg Red Velvet Cake - like NGs better

I don't recall asking about a complete switch to soy before. If you'd rather not give me any advice, then I suggest you skip my posts. If you read my post carefully, you will see that soy has only caught my interest and I acknowledge that it is not enough customers for me to switch but enough that I'd like to learn more. Where I come from, learning and asking questions are good things.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on teh ecosoya pb. I'll keep reading this board and take notes.

I only make tarts and am getting more inquiries about carrying 100% soy. Right now I use a paraffin soy blend from Kentucky wax. I'm not getting an overwhelming request but enough that it has me thinking about all soy. I might order a small order of soy wax (any recommendations, supplier doesn't matter) and experiment. How is cold and hot throw compared to blends? Should I only buy FOs that indicate they were tested in soy? Will I need to use more or less oil than I currently use? Will I need to stir longer, pour cooler, pour hotter, etc? I'm very concerned about both hot and cold throw but mostly hot throw. I've read good things about Candle Science's Ecosoya PB Pillar Soy Wax. Any comments about this wax would be appreciated. I'm just looking for general answers and general advice as I know it will vary and I know I need to do my own testing.

I made a test batch in each of these and letting them set up a few days to cure. I know they will smell delightful but I just wish I could target a scent for them other than "sweet." Those of you who sell them as is, do you rename them?

Thanks, Sliver of Wax. I think I'll stick with the tins since pulling the lids off is a little easier for sniffing purposes.

I don't make candles, I make tarts. I notice that most of my competitors and myself sell wax tarts at "about" $1 per ounce. I have no idea if that rule applies to candles in containers. You probably know this but I think a good way to start is put together your "pretend" orders as if you were going to make 100 8 oz candles in 8 scents. Wax, wicks, fragrance oils, dye (if you choose to use dye), jars, lids, labels, and if you are going to ship them, packaging materials. Include shipping from the suppliers! Add it all up and divide by 100 and that would be your cost per candle. Of course, this doesn't begin to cover your time! You also need to account for one time purchase of equipment like wax melters or double boilers, thermometers, stir sticks, pyrex cups or whatever. Now take a look at some hand made candle sellers on etsy or ebay and see what they are charging for container candles and see if what they are selling for is in range to cover your costs and to make a decent profit per candle. I also understand that candles can be very tricky regarding the right wick to take up enough of the fragrance and not burn too hot or too cold, etc. so your initial start up costs might be high as you experiment with wicks or waxes as well as finding oils you like and throw well with your wax and wicks.

Good to have you back on board. I'm kind of new but Craftserver has quickly become a favorite spot of mine.

As usual, you are all very kind with the replies. I think we'll jump in and do them. The big ones for Spring are booked but looking to do the big Fall shows. I do very much agree that Scentsy is a positive to the tart business!

I'm toying with the idea of doing some very large, well attended craft fairs. I would be selling wax tarts, clamshells, and souffle cup tarts. My prices are easily half that of Scentsy. I wonder if Scentsy customers will nibble at non-Scentsy wax. Has anyone done tarts at craft fairs and how is the reaction?

I've been using glass bottles to blend my own fragrance oils but after one too many accidents, I'd rather use plastic. I know I can't use PET plastic but is HDPE or LDPE ok for fragrance oils?

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to use the tins that have pull off lids.