SuzyK

I don't make tarts, but I do purchase them from others. I have tried Suzy's Scent Shop, Lake Providence Lodge and Swanky Candle Co and I really like all of their tarts. This isn't to say there aren't other vendors here that make great tarts, but these are the ones that I have personally tried and enjoyed very much.

Thanks! I appreciate the shout out

I pretty much just use the ones I make.  I know it's good to try other peoples' but honestly it's very rare that I have my warmer going since I'm always making things and don't want to overpower my house with fragrance.

Awesome!  Looks really great. I'm glad you had such a great show.  Pumpkin Apple is a good seller for me so I'm sure it will pick up for you.

The video is great! It's funny about signs. I have the little chalkboard signs too but now matter how many signs I put up, people will still ask the questions that are easily read on the signs.

Your displays are always great and your products look like they sell themselves.   I'm sure they'll be excited to see some new fragrances.  Have fun!

LOVE THEM! I have seen them and thought about doing them but haven't.

Yours look great and I love the scent combinations.  The packaging is awesome too!

Those are amazing!  Love them!

Wow! You are on it!!  Everything looks great!!  I keep thinking to myself that I'm going to start getting stuff ready early but I haven't.  I did just order a ton of supplies and hoping to order more in a few weeks once more orders come in.   I'm thinking I'm going to be slammed as well and want to be better prepared than last year.  I have been extremely busy this summer and it's usually a lot slower.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm a church going folk and I love the name.   A lot of my customers are from my church and they like it too.  To each his own on this one though.  Some don't like it but they don't have to buy it. I don't really consider them prudish if they don't. There's a few that I've changed (Purple Hooters and Lick Me All Over) but Monkey Farts and Butt Naked are ones I've kept.  They sell so well, not just because of the name but because they're great scents. I sell enough of both of them that changing the name isn't really necessary for me.

You could always do both.  I like Banana Smoothie or Berry Banana Crush.

I use liquid dyes that are made for soaps. Most of them are micas in glycerin.

I'm no help but I was thinking I didn't need new fall fragrances but all of these posts about them are making me think that I do need more! Orange Clove sounds amazing.

Etsy hero. I like that. Thanks! I have more lip balm flavors coming, I just need to take pictures and edit them.

It took awhile to get to where I am.  It's A LOT of work but so so worth it.  I'm a single mom of 3 boys.  When I divorced it was my goal to stay home with my kids.  They had already been through a lot (my ex is a drug addict) and I just felt staying home was better.  There were many months where my income does not match my bills but I'm here and I'm doing it!!  I live very simply. I have no debt. I need a bigger house but where I live is inexpensive.  Someday!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do.  there are days where my motivation is no where to be found but I blame hormones. haha! 

With Etsy, it takes time to build a customer base.  Most of mine are new customers but I'm starting to get a really good amount of repeat buyers.  And then there are ,of course, buyers from a crazy place and I want them to shop somewhere else.   Adding new products often is key.  Having good descriptions, tags, and pictures is also very important. Make sure your prices and shipping are set so you actually make money. Pricing is hard because you think people will complain and maybe they will. But there are also people who gladly buy handmade and pay the price.

I'm coming in a little late to the conversation.

I sell pretty exclusively through Etsy. I tried my own site years ago and it did not generate the amount of customers that Etsy did and does. I have 2 shops on there and it's definitely worth it for me.  My shops are my only job, besides being a mom.

I also sell at a couple of big shows during the year and have a small customer base through my church. I don't do a lot of advertising there but they find me when they know what I do.

NG's Vanilla Sandalwood is really good but not very leafy or outdoorsy to me.  Their Fresh Outdoors is the most outdoorsy scent that I have without a fruity or cinnamony fragragrance added. 

Adding more beeswax will help. Also a harder butter like cocoa or kokum would help as well.

That's so exciting!!!  Congrats to you!!!!

Wow. That's crazy. I've never ordered from them before but definitely won't for sure. The places I buy from now have great customer service and I can't imagine them doing something like this.

You would think in the internet age and social media that people would realize that word of mouth is very quick!  I can understand that sometimes customers are not right and can try to destroy a business out of spite but this is obviously not the case here.  $15 isn't going to hurt their business, it seems they've done that themselves!

I don't see it as being a bad customer.  Nature's Garden sends out a scented flower with orders and people must have complained because they give the option not to now  I have to admit, some of them have not been good and I would almost rather not have it in my order. Just because something is free or a gift doesn't mean they HAVE to like it.  It doesn't mean they can be rude about it either but her letting you know she didn't like it is just that. letting you know.  There are certain scents that I get headaches when I pour so maybe it was something like that for her.  Clean scents and some flowery scents instantly make my eyes burn.

I think it's great that you offer samples like that, some people just want what they order and that's it. Not a bad thing, just different than what you'd expect.

Everything is just amazing!  I love seeing your work!

I absolutely love that first vase and the blue/red one.  WOW!

Oooh, I like that a lot. I'd love to have a few of those!

Wow!  So so cool!   I also love the table that it's on.

It's still there.http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/rf-60004/-orange-sherbet-fragrance-oil-.html

They have quite a few great orange fragrances also.  I have 3 or 4 of them.

Room sprays sell really well for me.  Yes, label all the ingredients.

I have a TON too but I also have a mineral makeup business so having a lot of colors is kind of important (well that's what I tell myself)  I should take a picture of all of mine too.  I have a ton of micas and then I also have a lot of liquid soap colors.  It's crazy but it's necessary, right?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter what temp you pour at.  The only reason you need to worry about it is if what you're pouring into is plastic.   What matters is heating it enough for the FO to mix.  I use an all soy blend and heat it to 185 and then add the FO.  I stir for a little bit (like 10-20 seconds) and then stir again right before I pour.  I wait a week before I test them.

ooooh.  I get asked all the time about body wash. I'll have to try this!

haha!  I have a nephew that bit into one once a couple of years ago.  He did not believe his mom that it wasn't edible despite the fact that it smelled like a dessert.   Lesson learned.