Margaritamama

The fragrance oils that appeal to me the most are clean, laundry type scents - It would be hard to pick a favorite! Rustic Escentuals is my supplier of most fragrance oils, but there are also a few that I get from Candlescience.

I use soy for melts and the hot and cold throw is awesome! I have been using a container wax GB 444 and loading it to 12% FO, then curing for 7-10 days.

No I haven't. I really just started using the wax for melts because I had SO MUCH of it and didn't want to make candles anymore. I have read that adding soy pillar wax works well, but I have had so much success with my 444 that I really don't feel the need.

I don't use commercial laundry detergent or softener, and to prevent static I make laundry balls out of wool. I add a drop or two of FO before each load and it smells heavenly and clean. I generally use Clean Cotton FO.

Yup! This is pretty much what I do. After pouring, I heat my pitchers in the water presto and wipe it out with paper towel. I have never experienced scent blending of any sort.

I generally let them sit for 7-10 days before using them, but I have had friends tell me that they use them 2-3 days after I've poured and they still smell amazing.

For years I made paraffin candles, but a year or so back decided to move away from burning paraffin for health reasons and decided to try my hand at soy tins. GB 444 was recommended by a fellow candlemaker and it worked tremendously. As per usual I ordered it in bulk so I was overrun with soy wax flakes. I decided that I didn't want to burn the soy either and moved onto clamshells/melts. Owing to the fact that I had about 40lbs of GB 444 I decided to use that for clamshells. It has been a resounding success. I load it up to 12% FO and both the cold and hot throw is amazing. Yes, I do have a lot of frosting, but I make them exclusively for myself and friends/family who request them, so aesthetics are not high on my list as a selling point. Fragrance is King! Not the prettiest, I'll give you that, but certainly fragrant. Edited to say: I read in another thread about not adding color and just leaving the wax natural ro allow for the color fading and frosted look, and think that is something I may do in the future. The uncolored melts look awesome.

I know this post is a few months old but I thought I would just add my .02c worth...... I use 444 for melts and have been for about a year now. I load them with 12% FO and generally just a few drops of liquid dye, and to be honest, I've never had mine last for anywhere close a year so I couldn't really comment on how long the scent or color lasts. I would say that the longest I have waited until using a clamshell is probably around 4 months and while the color looked pretty much the same to me, the scent was decidedly stronger. That being said, I do not sell - they are for personal use and for friends and family that have requested them after enviously commenting on how delightful it smells in my house.

I heard via the grapevine that NGI is discontinuing production of their EcoSoya PB wax that I have been using for my clamshell melts. Now I'm at a loss as to what other soy wax will work. I have tested a few that I made with GB 444 and they seem to have worked pretty well, but I'm not sure if it's a long term solution. I don't sell my melts. I use them myself, occasionally give to those family members who express jealousy at how good my home always smells, so perfection is not required, and I would prefer to not have to blend with paraffin. Has anyone had any luck using a soy container wax? And which works best? I would appreciate some guidance so that I don't have to waste a lot of money buying a whole lot of wax that may not get used. TIA.

Good point. Guess I was just hoping someone would have the easy answer! LOL! I think I may give it a try in the new year. I still have so much of the 4045H wax that I really don't want to waste, so tarts it is, and test, test, test..........

That is correct. It is a blended wax for mottled pillars. I used it for years to make pillars but no longer burn candles. My question was whether or not it can be used for melts/tarts, or if it could be mixed with soy so that it could hold a higher FO percentage. As it is it only holds 5%. Not sure if that's enough of a load for tarts.

Honestly, I remember the days of melting wax over a double boiler in the kitchen, and I celebrate the day I discovered the presto melters. And those with the added spigot are a godsend!

I stopped burning candles in my home a few years back for health reasons, and have in the last few months been trying wax melts. I still have a 50lb box of Candlewic's 4045H wax and wondered if it was possible to blend it with a soy wax, or is the wax itself suitable for making melts. TIA

Type of Soy or Soy Blend you use? GB 444 Additives if any? None Preferred dyes? Candlescience Liquid Preferred wick (Not sizes)? ECO Pouring temp you recommend? I pour between 135 and 140 What you do to prevent frosting? Not an issue What you do to prevent rough tops? I don't often get them, but if I do it's nothing the trusty heat gun can't fix. Do you do anything to prevent wet spots? Use 8oz tins only.

Those are fabulous mottles!

I think they're awesome! I love it when my candles come out totally different to what I expected, and I really like the "rough" and rustic look. I would display those with pride! Good job!

Those are gorgeous!! I have 3 or 4 bags of palm wax lying around, I will have to give it a try.......

Those are gorgeous Pam! I love the color combinations......

Excellent! Well done.

That tilted rustic candle is gorgeous ~ Well done!! And I love your gift bags......

Stunning Sabrina!

Very pretty presentation!

I must admit that it looks really lovely, and makes a great decorative piece, but I do share the concerns of other as to how it will burn once it reaches those embeds. I think Scented is correct when she said there is a probability that something will go wrong. Make sure you burn that candle when someone is around to watch it ~ I would hate for something bad to happen.

Yup! CandleScience is my go-to for fo's. I have always found them consistently good.

I have a friend who lives in NZ and she is considering making candles. Unfortunately she can't find any good suppliers so I was wondering where most of you get your waxes etc. Any info would be appreciated!