kandleindulgence

I think a smoke or black would be nice.

Hi All, I personally feel her process in candlemaking is too long! Using hot glue gun when you can simply use Glue Dots is a much easier process. A lot of times the flaws we see are often overlooked by our customers. Like many have said, we can all have our opinions of her process however she seems to be successful. Jameel

Hi Lynn, It is very frustrating and many of us can totally understand. Please know that with any soy wax you use and even adding coconut oil it can still cause frosting whether it's summer or winter. Unfortunately, that is the make up of soy wax. In the winter or colder temperatures the frosting is far worse and especially when dye is added. The only way I have seen it eliminated is by adding a teaspoon of beeswax to one pound of soy wax. I hope this helps! Jameel

Hi, I do add beeswax to 464 and like some of the previous posts you do have to be careful with the amount you add to avoid your candles cracking & separating from jar. I typically add 2 TBS per pound of GB464. I have been doing this for years and I have not experienced any problems with burn quality or cracking. Hope this helps you!

Hi GaryPC, Are you adding your fragrance oil while your wax is still on the heating source? If so, this isn't a good idea as the fragrance burns off. I don't think the C-3 wax has to stay at the 185-190 range long to release the bubbles...the wax simply needs to melt to that temperature to release the microbubbles, right Stella? HTH!

Hi Mzphee, I do agree with the previous posts in testing too many waxes but your questions does not pertain to the number of waxes. My recommendation would be to test all 3 waxes (since you're doing that) in the same jars & same wicks first. Do a process of elimination as to what wax burns better over the other (personally recommend GB464) to those particular wicks. Then once you have determined what wax burns better then move into doing the different wick testing based on container. HTH,

Hi Tabitha, You can purchase an electric hot plate at the following stores: Wal-Mart, Target or Home Depot. I would not use a gas stove top at all for soy candle making. You can use the microwave but it's not a very good use of your time when you get to the point in filling orders. HTH, Jameel D. Nolan

Hi Luci, I decided at the very last minute to attend. Well, maybe next you will be able to. This will be my first time attending but I'm a vendor but luckily they are allowing us to attend the seminars.

Hi Everyone, I have been meaning to post my pictures of unscented shea soap I made several months ago for myself and my son. I was extremely happy with the results. The soap lathers up nicely and I was extremely happy when I could stop using Dove soap on the sensitive areas of my body. My girlfriend wrote an eBook on how to make soap and so I followed her directions and was very pleased with the results. I did, however, attempted to make soap with charcoal blend and that didn't come out very well.

Hello, I was checking to see if any of you were attending the Soapmaker's Guild Conference this week in Miami?

Like everyone else, I too eliminated using dyes in my soy candles in 2007 and my customers embraced wholeheartedly. There are a lot of things you can do to really minimize the wet spots such as heating your containers and the temperature in your candle-making area. Now, when you start setting up at fairs/events where the temperature changes are out of your control them you really can't avoid the wet spots. What's interesting is that we are more concerned about the appearance than the customer. I remember when I started making candles I was really anal about the appearance but quickly realized it's all about how well the candle burns as well as scent throw the customer is concerned about. So if you can focus on mastering the burn and scent throw then the appearance of your candles will all align soon.

Hi, I have to say that 464 is a really good wax. Now, for my business I use a blend of two different types of soy wax and I have always achieved a really strong scent throw. I have worked with C3 and to me that wax has a flaky top too much for my liking. I would say blend the different waxes you have you will be surprise at what you come up with. I often hear so many crafters say that soy wax does not have a strong scent throw when it does using the right wax. It's all trial and error. HTH, Jameel Nolan www.naturalbodypastries.com

With the soy wax you're using Eco wicks work very well!! LX wicks are terrible and will never give you the right burn using EcoSoya so stop wasting your time and money on those wicks. For an 11 ounce tumbler try starting with Eco 6-8. HTH Jameel Nolan www.naturalbodypastries.com

Hi All, In my research I have found the market prices change daily if not weekly on soy wax from the manufacturer's. So I'm sure CandleScience has had to set their prices to adjust to the current market rates. HTH, Jameel D. Nolan

Hello, It is not necessary to add vybar or any other additive to soy candles to achieve a strong scent. It's simply a matter of using high quality undiluted fragrance oils and the right soy wax. HTH, Jameel D. Nolan

Hi Everyone: I'm not quite sure if I can post this (if not then I'm sorry). I'm looking for someone who can make soap for my new business. My preference is for the soap to be 4 or 5 oz. in weight and nearly natural outside of scents I will select. I currently have a company where I'm purchasing my soap but I would like to get my products more uniformed where my soap scents will match the other scents of my products. You can either tell me what scents you offer or I can provide the scents I'm interested in having. Please PM me! Thanks, J.

That's right! Lavender EO is very strong and I only add approximately 1/2 oz per lb of soy wax. It's great! It's amazing to come home after having a stressful day then burn a lavender soy candle and your entire mood changes.

Hello, I have made soy candles using pure EO's and have had no problems. I have tested Lavender and some custom blends I have created using pure EO's from RM and SA with no problems. My Lavender Chamomile candles have a great scent throw and very nice to burn after a stressful day.

I agree with the above post. You are using an appropriate wick size for the container. I have heard of incidences where the glass shatters simply because the customer has allowed the candle to burn far longer past the 4 hour period. The glass can get very hot and may crack over time of burning it for extend periods of time (somewhat rare). I have been making and selling candles for 13 years and I have never had a customer say a container shatter when using soy wax. I will tell you that customer do not often read the warning labels provided which prompted me to create a postcard with the burning instructions. Don't get frustrated...customers will always find a reason to say something about your product. It's the nature of the business. Most of my customers were accustomed to burning traditional paraffin candles and kept comparing the soy to paraffin. And there was one complaint after another. Jameel :smiley2:

Hello Nadiap, As to why one would want "cupless" tea lights really makes no sense IMO but to each its own. To make "cupless" tealights you would use a pillar soy wax and you can either use the clear or aluminum tea light cups. I would use a TL28 or TL 31 wick for this. Allow these to set up for 24 hours and they should pop right out. I actually made some by accident years ago because I switched my wax around. HTH,

Hello Dustpuupy, If you're using liquid dye and trying to achieve lavender I would actually dip a wooden skewer in the dye and then place into your liquid wax. IMO you basically want very little liquid dye as possible to achieve the lavender color. This is the way I have always done it and it works. HTH,

Hello, I highly recommend using Glue Dots. These are fast and efficient. I have tried to use the glue gun and IMO you don't always get the wick secure to the jar and it takes too long. I have been using Glue Dots for 12 years and will continue to use. HTH,

Hi ashleylynn8888: Do not be discouraged. I use GB 464 and th e 16 oz. Apothecary. I have found double wicking helps tremendously. I have found Eco 4 or 6 wicks work best. Using Eco 6 will cause the candle to burn a little bit faster than using Eco 4. HTH, Jameel

Coconut Oil is definitely a good additive to soy wax either CB 135 or GB 464 to aid in the scent throw. A little goes a long way. Thanks, Jameel