sbs

LIKES

Day at the spa (in my warmer now, ahhh relaxing)

oakmoss and amber (smells soo good to me)

baby powder (super strong)

nag champa (reminds me of incense but in a good way because I don't like incense Lol..)

DISLIKES

cinnamon buns (light to me, like Lonestars better)

kiwi (way too light for my taste and doesn't smell too much like kiwi to me)

Chardonnay (I don't know who gave this 3 leaves but this scent is WEEEEEAK in 464)

Overall I LOVE CS and looking forward to my 99 cent samples!!

All of you are HILARIOUS... now on my way to CS.:tiptoe:

I did not read this, I did not read this, I did not read this.

:laugh2:

All great advice and info. Thanks you guys. I will let you all know how it turns out (and take pics :smiley2:).

Thanks again!

Why would you want or need to close them before the wax has hardened?

I'm curious too. I wait until mine are hardened.

I like the way this sounds. Thanks! I'll do it for the few people that are coming so that they can take their candles and rub it in the faces of the people who aren't coming. Then when those people want to buy them they can buy them at regular price.

We do candle parties pretty regularly and most people who are hosting the party when you ask, say that there about 10 - 14 people coming. Don't be dishartened as the number of people at the party really does not have too much baring on the overall sales as crazy as that statement seems.

One of our best parties had 1 person turn up and one of our worst had about 15. It really depends on the day, the people and how much they like candles as well as how much they have to spend.

We also offer mobile card transactions for Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and plain old debit cards and I reckon in doing so our sales have probably doubled. Many people dont carry cash, but offer them card facilities and they seem to spend with willful abandon

Let us know how it goes, but I am sure it will be ok.

Thank you!! Yes I just signed up to be able to take credit cards so I'm hoping this will be a good thing for sales which I'm sure it will. Thanks also for the reminder that few people can still spend more money. :smiley2: Even if they don't at least it puts my name out there.

Depending on what you're selling and how much your cost is, sell them for $5 just to get them to try yours. If you are selling something in the 8 oz range, you should still make a little profit, and hopefully, they will see how much better yours are than what they've been buying.

Assuming you're fairly new to candlemaking, you have to prove yourself. Nobody ever said it was easy.

Yes true. Thanks. :smiley2: I sell a 8oz tin for $8, 16 oz apothecary $15, 26 oz apothecary $20 (which I plan to discontinue after I sell the 12 I have left), and then the melts and tarts. I don't mind discounting for the sake of proving myself. I actually gave a few away free to friends and family (in Cali and NY) and they turned around and ordered more... now I have to work on the people in Georgia. :tiptoe: Maybe I will knock the tins down to $5 for whoever comes to the party...

Out of 80 invites only 5 have confirmed they will be there and the party is next Saturday! Most people have already said they can't make it for whatever reason. Sucks to have friends with no money or who are just not that interested in candles lol.. I had one person tell me they've never spent more than $5 on a candle. They just get them from walmart. I do have tarts and melts under $5 but of course they require a warmer. I plan to make the best of this but not expecting many sales. I think the party itself cost me more than what I'll get back. Oh well... does anyone else out there have "friends" like mine? If so, how do you do the whole party thing? I want to be positive about the situation but right now it's hard. I'm extremely shy and meeting NEW people is going to be hard but I guess it's what I must do to open the doors to more parties. So another question, how do you promote parties and let people know you do them?

Thank you! My hubby asked if I can make soap for our household ( I only make candles) and I thought sure, why not! I plan to do the lemon soap first. Perfect thread for beginners. Thanks.

Creamy Shea Butter Soap

1 lb white base

1 tsp castor oil

2-3 tsp shea butter

1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin

2-3 tsp fragrance oil (optional)

Melt your base then add the shea butter and stir until melted in base. Then add the castor oil, vegetable glycerin, and fragrance oil and blend thoroughly. Pour into your mold then let base cool completely before demolding.

Tips/Notes: Shea butter adds wonderful emolliency and moisturizing to any soap. The castor oil adds an additional element of moisturizing and wonder creaminess to your lather. The glycerin aides moisture retention for your skin. This is a very moisturizing bar of soap that is gentle enough for any skin type.

You can save time by adding the shea butter in before you start melting your base.

Great thread Candybee! I know this is old but I'm glad I found it. Should be a sticky (if thats what you call it). Now for my question. When using ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, honey, etc.. are these just the ones you buy in a regular store or do they have to be raw or organic or does it matter?

For those of you who use square, do you ever have an issue with customers looking at you funny when entering their credit card info into your phone? Or swiping their card on your phone? How do you explain security or do you have to?

Thanks..

Maybe it's your camera, but they look like bright orange to me.

Ditto

Why do they want you to smell the lid, I noticed that when I was in a Yank store, the salesperson said to sniff the lid that was were all the scent was, do they put extra scent on the lid?

Smart. The lid does smell stronger for SOME reason. This may be it.

edited to say - if you are after a good country cothesline, BCS country clothesline!!!! ahhhhhh! so good! a best seller

Thanks!! I'll have to try them..

I use the clear labels too. Are you setting the paper to "transparent" or "glossy photo paper"? I have to do this each time I print and mine don't smudge. I use inkjet too.

Your candles look awesome up there!

I occasionally have people in my store who take off the lid and sniff it instead of sniffing the candle.

Makes me want to slap the candle out of their hands.

I suppose that's better than the nitwits who pick up a candle and sniff it without taking off the lid. Those idiots make my head explode.

Lmao!! That's funny... And everytime I went to Yankee that is the first thing the store clerk would do, stick a cap in my face! As for smelling through a jar?? :confused: Wow never heard of that Lol..

What scents did you get?

From them I used:

Momma's Blueberry Cobbler (Yum!) No chemical smell

Key Lime Meringue Pie (Doesn't smell so great but no chemical smell)

Gain Laundry (smells good, no chemicals)

Warm Sugar Cookies (once again no chemicals)

Monkey Farts (completely diff monkey farts than I'm used to but no chemical smell)

Did you have any of these?

Yes, & you're right. I prefer my handmade soyblend now - except for a few I can't dupe yet...still a sucker for the tarts in Soft Blanket , I'm guilty.

It's ok.. Lol.. Fluffy towels smells pretty awesome too with no dupe. Clean cotton, flannel sheets, and Gain laundry don't smell like fluffy towels... Next I'll have to try country clothesline. :smiley2:

And either their formula changed or my standards. Before making my own candles I was a die-hard Yankee fan.. paying $25 for a large jar, buying 4 at a time I loved them so much. Sparkling Lemon was my favorite.

Yesterday when I went in.. the strength didn't hit me as hard as it usually does and while walking around the store taking sniffs I was surprised at how not strong these candles really are. Sure I could have had candle nose from all of my own candles and FOs at home but it was really like I didn't smell the quality I was looking for.

I wanted to buy a tart to compare it to mine but my husband made me put it back... :tiptoe:

Have you visited your Yankee store lately??

Aroma Haven has one but hasn't been tested in soy yet. I wanted to try it but haven't yet.

Over the past 5 years going to shows I have noticed that there isn't even a candle booth at most shows anymore, only Scentsy.

Good luck in whatever you decide to try.

Really?

Have any of you noticed that their wax feels greasy? I've never seen a soy wax like that, maybe they came up with their own blend.

They use soy???

Why OH why did I have to read this post!!! I knew from the title I didn't want to enter. BUT I DID! And now look at me. I'll be into my savings before you know it. Oh noooo....:tiptoe: