sycamoreboutique

>>>>Does anyone here know for sure?<<< I just received a response from them one day after I emailed to check on their status. They may have downsized but they are still in business, and a bit upset that comments are being made to the contrary. I for one am super relieved - one of my best FO's comes from them - Vibrant Violets - it is a fanatstic violet scent that has a bit of a woody character - my customers LOVE it. I also love their Pomegranate & Rosewater and the Black Currant & Peony, very spa type fragrances. Don't write them off yet - they have good stuff, including a few interesting marketing items like "scratch n win" stickers you can use for customer promotions. I guess I am partial because they are one of only a few suppliers left in ILL

MZPickles Yes - forgot to mention that - I did notice it was for floral water.

Hi SoyCrazy That would be great - just a sniffie would be fine. I am new here so I don't think I can PM or anything yet to give you my address - maybe I can just send you pre-paid envelope ?

Yes, night lights take a 7 watt, you need the 15 to be hot enough. Not the same thing. I could see doing a group buy on those this year too - I kind of slacked off on them due to the min needed for discounted shipping.

I agree, sending a refund is not necessary. Apologize, ship at once and include something extra and you are golden.

Might skip that last one - based on this review there >>This is the one product out of my order that I was disappointed with. It does not smell at all like a Linden tree in bloom. I used to love smelling the blooms in the spring and was hoping to find a fragrance that smelled like what I remember.<<<

I didn't find anything in a search - so asking for supplier suggestions for Linden Blossom FO I want a true-to-the plant scent, as there is a Linden tree just outside the door of my store and I want to replicate that scent in my product line. It is a very narcotic, sweet floral with a lot of green notes. Anyone here do this fragrance - and know what the real thing smells like - to make a comparison ? I see it at SOS - but nowhere else. There was an Ebay seller that had good reviews and a good price on it - their listing for Linden Blossom FO showed up in a Google search but they apparently are on vacation (though the notice said back on Jan 8th) and still not selling or answering messages.

Clover & Aloe (I think I am using WSP - but might be SOS)and I call it Irish Clover. Great, fresh, clean green scent that has a general appeal. Also Fresh Cut Grass - Mill Creek

Hmm - interesting. I did the WSP version because it was the first supplier I saw that carried it. Did about 1.2oz pp in C-3 soy and I would say it is a "medium" scent. Nice - kind of different - can't say it would be a personal favorite. Guess I should have gone to BBW first to see how it compared but I was in a hurry. I colored mine a deep, muted blue-grey to match the color of the woods the picture in a lot of the publicity photos. I used Country Blue (a blue-grey) 8 drops, Ivory 2 drops, Black 2 drops per lb. It kind of looks like dark storm clouds and kind of matches the image on the WSP site - but not as blue.

I had been getting Dragon's Blood from NuScents - but once again they discontinued something that was working for me ( I don't get too many FO's from them - most aren't up to snuff). A customer commented that this was the truest Dragon's Blood he had smelled in ages (figures - now I am out of it). I got the DB from Elements - ok, but definitely not the same in richness, depth and character. I will have to check out SGS then - sounds like it might be comparable.

Too funny, I do the same thing - can't let it go to waste. Sometimes when I am pouring a custom order while a customer waits I wipe the bottle lip with a tissue and give it to them to put in their car.

I too love the Blue Sugar from Bitter Creek, just amazing. I like it better than the pink. It is kind of sweet, VERY vanilla but has a really unusual quality that makes it a bit unisex. Great scent.

I guess for me it is how far the scent travels, like how far out of the room it goes or how big a room it can scent - presuming the diameter is sufficient. I often notice that a candle that doesn't seem to be terribly strong in the room I am in has actually scented 1/2 the house because the fragrance seems to carry on the warmer air and rises above where I am sitting - goes out the door and even down the stairs. It could also be just leaving the room and then coming back you notice the scent because you are in an area of no scent. So I guess I measure it by "reach" or how far the scent carries.

In my shop I keep a card file for regular customers and give them a "rebate" after each 4th purchase. For the store a small box with index cards works for me - I write down their purchase amount on the back and on the 5th one they get 7% of the total of those previous 4 orders. Then it starts again. For internet orders I would think maybe you could file your invoices by name - customer number or some other way that would group their orders together, then when they reach a certain dollar amount send them a "certificate" for 10% - or something - off their next purchase. Will your shopping cart allow for coupon codes ? That would automate the discount part.

Anyone have anything new to add to this thread ? I still order from WSP - NOT happy at all with the new shipping included pricing - BUT - it does seem that maybe the costs have come down. Anyone have something new to add to this discussion ?

Cinnamon Stick from Mill Creek is pretty accurate. Smells just like the real thing.

Yes, I get my wax ( C-3) from Nuscents. It is a pain to have to drive to WI - but there is a great liquor store just south of them on the ILL side that has great sales on wine. International House of Wine and Cheese. Check it out next time you have to make the treck. I would say we should do a group buy on wax, BUT, they don't offer any discount past 1 50lb box. Weird. But I have to say , they are lower priced than any others I have checked - and - they are the only source in this area. The FO's are hit and miss. I smelled all the testers when they had the ILL office - and made notes about them. The ones I tried were good, but some of the others were way off - and quite a few of them all kind of smelled the same - as if maybe they were blending their own scents. But - just when I found a few I liked - they discontinued them. Literally within 1 year a scent would come and go. Not a good practice. For example - in the past 1-2 years they dumped: Santa's Pipe, Chardonnay, Cabernet & Dragon's Blood. And those are just the ones' I was using. Turnover like that is frustrating, so I have quit buying FO from them - though Graham Cracker was exceptionally good and they still have it (and I don't care for bakery myself).

I wonder if it is similar to the "Moroccan Sand" scent. I think I get that one from Wholesale Supplies Plus. It is a sensual amber, sandalwood & patchouli blend that smells wonderful on a man (I make my husband wear it ). Does that sound close ?

Darbla Long hair here too (just made waist) and thick, wavy. I have had good results with grapeseed oil. Just a few drops in the palm, and smoothed over the ends. It really makes a difference in shine and smoothness. I think I ordered some Argan Oil too. Just forgot where I put it ...

Then there is the "membership" thing. I haven't ordered for awhile but presume it is still part of their deal. You have to order what, $60 a month in FO's to remain a "member" and get better pricing. That part is a turn-off so I only go to them when I need a special dupe.

I too would vote for Mill Creek. It is a nice, clean grass scent - just like the moment you cut the lawn - not days later. Customers are always amazed that it smells so real.

I tried searching for a thread on this subject but can't find one. New here and glad I found this forum I posted on a few other threads re: suppliers in ILL but the subjects were very old - by a couple of years - and some of the posters seem to be out of biz. Figured I should start a new topic to see who is actually still here from ILL or So Wisconsin to discuss supplier options. Angela

Oh that is a shame, they had some fabulous FO's - one of which I am going to sorely miss when I run out - Vibrant Violets is one of my best sellers. Dang it all.

A co-op buy on C-3 would be excellent if anyone else is interested. I am stocked for the moment, but maybe next month or two ? Angela

So glad to find some other Illinois people here - and - to read a review of NuScents. I thought it was just me they were rude to. They actually have been a bit better since they moved to WI (yea, I get to drive further now) - their general mood has improved. I would much rather buy my C-3 from someplace in ILL - so suggestions or co-buys would be wonderful news. I get a few B&B supplies and some glassware from them because I can pick it up - for the most part their FO's are not too hot. A few scents, yes but nothing you can't find elsewhere - and they discontinue scents ALL the time so I have learned not to rely on them for a product line of one fragrance. Hey - PM me if you are in ILL - would love to compare notes. Angela