kandleindulgence

Hi Jennifer, I typically add 1/2 teaspooon pp of wax to my candles using 464 and have received very good test results. One way in knowing if you have added enough UV Inhibitor is to really allow your soy candles to sit under UV lighting for an extended amount of time. I make dye free candles so if I didn't add enough my candles would turn yellow. I'm sure since you're using dye you will see a difference in the color. HTH, Jameel

Hello, It does depend on the wax you're using. With soy wax you definitely want the wax to burn/melt completely to the jar the very first burn to allow for a full melt pool on each and every burn thereafter. I have seen on soy candles and even on mine in the early stages of my making soy candles that you don't allow it to burn to a complete melt pool...your soy candle would have a tunneling affect. HTH, Jameel

Hi, Check out the Jar Store...they carry nice containers. HTH, Jameel

Hello, I'm sure this has been mentioned but I recommend EcoSoya 135 or GB 464 work the best. HTH, Jameel

I have to agree that I was not impressed with Beanpod candles either. I had a customer bring one to me at a trade show here in Atlanta and she wanted to compare mine candles to Beanpod. I pointed out a few things and pretty much allowed her to observe the difference in the candles. The cold throw of Beanpod's candles were not the greatest as I had expected. In my experience in testing my candles up against the big companies is once they grow they begin to cut corners on the most important part of the candle...the fragrance! Jameel

Hello, I agree that Millcreek has a nice musk fragrance as well as Candle Wic and both throw well in GB 464 and EcoSoya 135. HTH, Jameel

Hi, I totally agree with Debra with the fragrance list. Over the years I think I have tested over 300 fragrance oils from maybe 9 different companies and I have found Candle Science, Just Scent, Mill Creek, The Scented Nest and Candle Wic would be my Top 5 choices then the rest of the companies. I have had some customers say my candles smell extremely strong from the cold throw and they assume it would be too strong when it burns. They are pleasantly surprised the fragrance is a nice soothing aroma that fills several rooms of their home depending on the size candle. HTH, Jameel

Hi andy123, When making tea lights use CS TL 28 or TL 30 works very well using GB 464. HTH, Jameel

Hi jwn6w, It's very well possible it's the fragrance oils causing the irritation. I have experienced some skin irritation in the past with various fragrance oils...I suffer with eczema so my skin is quite sensitive to anything fragrant. I hope you get better soon! Jameel

Hi Jen, GB 464 and EcoSoy 135 are very good waxes to use in making soy candles. Both waxes in my opinion throw extremely well...again as previously stated the fragrance throw is contingent on where you get your fragrance oils from. There are several companies out there that offer exceptional quality in fragrance oils. HTH, Jameel

I use NiceLabel software and once you have a full understanding in how to operate it, it works fine. For clear labels: I print my clear labels on a Canon photo printer and these come out extremely nice.

Thank you all for your kind words!! You all are right in terms of taking a break...definitely in need of a good vacation! I will weigh out the pros and cons. Wow, 2007-2008 has been a very challenging, devastating time for me in my personal life and with all that went on it seemed to have wiped out all of my energy and love for all that I do. So here I am now trying to hold on to the one thing that has always helped me to get through...my candles. I have experienced so much heartache in my life that the candle business was like my baby, my escape from the world. The candle business has been very good to me and my son as well as VERY costly. I thought about switching to the other side and teaching people how to make candles and that's kind of why I wrote my book on it. This is definitely a big decision. I also think I have too much on my plate. I'm back to working full-time again, I'm in school taking 3 classes and going through a healing process from some situations that have occurred in my life. Thank you all again for your kind words...it feels good knowing I'm not alone. Peace & Blessings, Jameel

Hi All, I have been struggling with this for the past 6 months in selling my business. I feel that I have totally lost the passion I once had with my business. I have been making candles since I was 17 years old and I will be turning 30 in April...I feel that I'm ready to move on to other things but I'm struggling with letting go. My parents feel I should continue with the business since I have had some success with it but it also has come with a hefty price. This year was the first time that I really took a leap in purchasing some big ticket items such as a 100 lb wax melter, LX810 printer, HP laser printer, professional pictures, etc. for the business and now it's a struggle just to fulfill orders. I have had limited help in growing the business because my family lives in another state not to mention they are more focused on their own careers. Has anyone felt like this before and what have you done to overcome it? I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks! Jameel

Hi All, I actually own the LX800 and I haven't experienced too many problems with it. I usually print 2" circular labels and 2x2 squares perfectly. Right now, I have a customer that wants a 2.5" circular label that I'm struggling with. I personally feel the amount of money we have spent on these machines, the company should be able to offer more precise information on all labels especially the ones they carry. Jameel

Carrie, I wish you all the best! I totally feel where you are coming from because I have been struggling with the thought in selling my business as well. I am totally burnt out with my candle business. After doing it for 11 years and turning 30 soon, I'm ready to move on to another venture. So I totally agree with where you are coming from.

Hi there, I have done a ton of craft fairs both super big, big and small. The super big craft fairs I was told they generally have 75K-100K of people in attendance and so I tried to make enough candles to not only make the investment back but also a very good profit. Well, I made up 1300 candles in one weekend for this show that lasted 5 days. Needless to say, I sold 600-700 candles plus took some orders. I was left with over 500 candles that I had to get rid of. The show was last summer and I'm now down to 2 cases. So long story short, I recommend first making enough candles to recoup your costs, i.e. traveling, booth fees, decorations, business cards, samples, etc. then once you have that done I would factor in how much profit you would like to make and make those amount of candles. In the 12 years of making candles and attending these shows I have found that it's best to sell out than to go home with product. Best of luck at the show! HTH, Jameel

Hi DaisyChain, I totally understand where you're coming from...I thought the same way when I started my business many many years ago. The bulk of my business is wholesale, so when I do receive retail orders from my website my customers typically place large orders. It's very seldom that I sell tarts or anything like that. Although, my prices remain competitive to other's, my price point still allows for a cushion in terms of profit and offering free shipping. The idea is to get your customer to spend more by offering them something free, but it has to make good business sense. HTH, Jameel

Very nice Ann Marie!! The candles look beautiful! Jameel

Thank you Holly for the compliment! Jameel

Hi CandleKat, When you're test burning these candles where are you doing it...the sq. ft. of the room? When I initially do testing on my candles, I first line all of the candles up in one room and I begin to test first on the wick. Is the wick too big or small for the style container I'm using, burn quality, etc. Once, I have completed the results on that I then test another set on scent throw. Depending on the size container I will place each one in a different area of my home. For example, the 16 oz. apothecary are double-wick and I place this in my kitchen and it scents up my entire main level which is approximately 2000 sq. ft. When I'm upstairs on the 3rd level I can smell it. My 4 & 5 oz. candles I place in the powder room, master bathroom, smaller rooms and these have scented up as well. CandleKat, it sounds like it could be the fragrance you're using. I use to make 8 oz. jj using Eco 6 & 8 wicks with the same fragrances I currently carry and I have never experienced any problems with scent throw. Side note: One lesson I have learned throughout this whole candle making process is not purchasing fragrance oils from a lot of different suppliers. I'm now in the process of getting my fragrances from the manufacturers but before then I was getting from CS, JS, FNWL and CW and I never ever received a bad fragrance that didn't throw in my soy candles except for one. So when you find a good fragrance supplier stick with them, especially those that test there oils in soy. Let me know if you have any additional questions. HTH, Jameel

I thank everyone for your comments...the good, the bad and the whatever else. You all are entitled to your opinions and I respect you for it. It's helps us to grow in our business so thank you! As far as the background, my customers love it, my candles are selling and so if it's not broke why fix it! I spent years making candles that contained dye, taking pictures with different color backgrounds, etc. etc. I have been down the road you all have mentioned but I have to honestly say when I changed over to dye free candles...sales increased, when I had professional pictures taken...sales increased. Although, it wasn't expensive to have the pictures taken it was definitely money I would have preferred to put elsewhere. It took me 10 years to have professional pictures done and in the end it was worth it. I can definitely agree with many of you with the background. The d**n photographer used some shiny fabric that I did not like but unfortunately it was too late. Someone mention spending the money verses a digital camera...the photographer charged $15.00 a pose and it included hi-res digital copies on CD (FREE) as well as 1-10x13, 2-8x10's, 2-5x7 and 4-3.5x5 prints. This is a company that is nationwide! Because of the small changes I have made in my business I now have professional sales reps representing my product line something I didn't have before, my business is growing and I'm providing my clients with what they want. At the end of the day is about business, producing a quality product and educating my customers about their purchase. Some may disagree with my approach in the content on my website and that's fine. But I'm just like everyone else doing business. You have competitors and in business you have to explain why this customer should buy from you verses your competitor. I'm sure many of you have purchased candles from Wal-mart, Target and any other store out there and has brought it home to compare to your candles...and by far I bet your candles were better than those. Heck, I do it. And as a candle maker you can tell the difference. I'm not here to go back and forth with any of you as I have seen happen on this board with people simply trying to network with others in the industry and obtain feedback. I have gone to several of your websites and I could critique each one about something but the bigger picture is you worked hard to illustrate your hard work, your talent, etc. what gives me the right to tear you down over something you worked so hard at doing? It's one thing in offering suggestions and it's another when you intentionally are just being rude and insensitive. I thank you for taking the time to view the pictures and your critiques. Have a wonderful weekend! Jameel

Your cane is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Congratulations. Jameel

Hi Everyone, I finally had some professional pictures taken at a local studio here after researching photographers for over 2 years. Check out the new pictures: Jameel

Hi, I used to use dyes a lot. I started using liquid dyes as previously mentioned these are easier to work with in achieving the right colors. I then switched to dye chips from Candle Science and found that some dyes worked extremely well and some didn't even tint the wax. HTH, Jameel

Hi, Candle Science has the best Lavender FO and it smells very very close to an EO. Have you tried Lavender EO from Rainbow Meadows or Sunrose Aromatics? HTH, Jameel