PAgirl89

I use 464 and I found mine have better HT the longer they cure. I'm testing new jars and I have better luck with smaller ounce containers, than larger ones. The wicks and HT seem to be better with the smaller sized containers. My preference isn't an over powering candle, though. I prefer the subtle scent, but I don't want to have to stick my nose in the jar to get a smell of the scent, either. I've been pleased with the 464, so far.

I never leave mine on overnight. I always unplug the pot and reheat. I just picked up 2 more pots today at Kmart for $29.99 each.

I had someone ask me today at a craft show, how I get scent in my soaps.

I made my own potpourri with whole all spice, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and star anise. I'd half fill the cupcake cup with the mix and fill the cup with scented wax.

Instead of the cookout, maybe you want to do a wine & cheese party or something of the like. Do you have any local wineries? Maybe you could pair up with one of them and it would be beneficial to the both of you.

When it comes to dealing with the public, it's "keep it simple, stupid". There is always someone you talk to that asks the dumbest question regarding the product you are selling. There are people out there with zero common sense and those are the ones to watch out for. Always put warning labels, ingredient labels, and whatever else you need to do, to keep it simple for people, cause you just don't know who is buying and using the products you sell. Sometimes I just have to shake my head and say "here's your sign." LOL

I use 464 for my container candles too, but for tarts, I was using Ecosoya PB, but recently switched to the para-soy blend for tarts from RE.

For comparison, this is my display at a show 2 weeks ago. I had two 8ft tables. As for my tarts, I have displayed a couple kinds of tarts. 2 ounce cups, that I display in wooden crates that I got at JoAnns, the clamshells displayed on a grid type spinner, and wax brittle that I have set up on wire racks. I also use burgundy napkins that match the table cloths, to cover up the display units, like wire racks and wooden crates.

They aren't heavy at all. The base spins really nice, and I don't find it tipsy at all. I use the metal hooks for mine. http://www.azardisplays.com/productcart/pc/4-All-Wire-Hook-p1364.htm And they're two sided so you can put 12 clamshells on each side. The 4" hooks I can get at least 3 clamshells per hook.

This is what I use for my clamshell display - http://www.azardisplays.com/productcart/pc/CLOSEOUT-Neon-Pegboard-Counter-Unit-8-w-x-20-high-on-Revolving-Base-Gem-Blue-354p2931.htm - but mine is white. I can get 12 scents on each side (3 clamshells across / 4 clamshells down).

If I was making the 16oz for $5.71, retail price would be $17.00. I try to get at least 3x my cost.

Welcome to my world. LOL I seem to have the same problem about 10 days before a craft show. Everything seems to go wrong, out of stock or just can't find. Whether it's wax, embeds, jars, or lids. This time it's wax. I've spent the last 2 days doing nothing because I'm waiting on wax, thankfully it's arriving today, and I can finish what I started on Friday but couldn't finish it because I ran out of wax. UGH! I hate when that happens. Not too mention the FO's I've been using are running low and I had to order more. It's very stressful from Sept. thru Dec. and I go through a lot of Aleve.

I've been 'baking' today. I made some loaf candles and also some mini pies for a craft show coming up on Nov 3. The mini pies are peach, blueberry, cherry, and strawberry. The loaf candles are chocolate chip cookie and strawberry shortcake.

I offer two sizes 8oz and 16oz, however I'm going to introduce a 12oz at this year's craft shows. The 8oz are smooth sided jelly jars, the 16oz are wide mouth 'Elite' ball jars, and the new 12oz'ers are smooth sided canning jars. I'm finding most buy the 8oz jars rather than the 16. Hopefully the 12oz'ers will be an alternative to the 16. If the 12oz goes well, I'll discontinue the 16.

When I make grubby loaves I use the small aluminum loaf pans you find in the bakery isle at the grocery store.

I have found out the local zoo is having an OctoberFest type festival in October. There will be live music, wine & beer tasting, and local food & craft vendors. The organizer told me they had 1300 people attend the festival last year, and they are estimating 1500 people this year. I asked to see a list of craft vendors that are currently going to attend, just out of curiosity. Scentsy is at the top of the list, but there are no other vendors that would be competition for the handmade products I would be selling. I'm just not sure how much product I should display/have available. It's a 1 day festival, 10am to 4pm. How many scents? How many candles per scent? I'm thinking 8 scents, 3 candles per scent. Not enough? And should I take 16oz & 8oz? Thoughts?

I make my own tags and print them up on clean edge business cards.

I would suggest going to Nature's Garden to start. They are located in Ohio, so shipping shouldn't be so bad for you. You can find them here - http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/ They have a wide variety of soap bases. I use their Natural Goat's Milk soap. They also sell different kinds of butters, oils, herbs, powders, and dyes. It's my 1 stop shop for soap supplies. And many of their fragrance oils can be used for bath & body products.

I melt, mix, pour and cure candles and soap in my kitchen. My 5 bedroom house has 1 functional bedroom, the other 4 are storage rooms and the one bedroom looks like a UPS store. At the moment the living room is set up for a home show I had yesterday. Good thing I live alone with just a dog, she doesn't much mind the candle/soap clutter.

They are a little spongey, like marshmellows. And a tip, the mixture gets like taffy so be careful with your beaters. I used a hand mixer, it may work better with a larger mixer but my beaters were thick with mixture till I was done whipping. I used sugar so it may be a different consistency with sea salt.

Thanks! The batch made enough for 5 jars of 6 cubes each.

I order my FOs from Nature's Garden and RE/AH, exclusively. I used to use oils from several suppliers but it just got too expensive and confusing, so I narrowed it down to just 2 instead of 4 or 5.

I made these cubes on Tuesday with a recipe from WSP. They have a sea salt scrub scoop recipe that I used and subbed Turbinado sugar for sea salt. I used a wax paper lined 9x9 aluminum pan and cut it into cubes. They are scented in Kiwi Watermelon. Here is the link for the recipe I used. http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?RecipeID=137

I only sprinkle on decoration for the birthday cake scent. My soy candles are dye free. Wax tarts are colored depending on the scent.

My ultimate goal would be to renovate my home to have a walk in retail shop and a workshop, maybe not inside the home but on the property. I have the space inside the home to have the workshop and the retail shop, however the layout of the home isn't quite what I need, renovations need to be made to make it an ideal situation. I also have an extra large detached garage that is not being used. It's an ideal location and really could warrant a walk in retail shop, but because of financial reason, it just hasn't happened yet.