ktaggard

I am one of those who hated the scent at first - But I am slowly falling in love. I like it more and more every time I smell it. Crazy. I am not a patch fan, but things change, right?

Darla- I want to change it for both reasons stated above - by moonshine and justajesuschick (love the names BTW - should have been more creative with mine). I want a name that is earthy or nature like but everything I come up with doesn't seem right. WB is, imo, dark, heavy, earthy with a bit of sweet and spice. Moonshine-I do like your suggestions-those are good possibilities.

I am stumped on an alternative name for Witches Brew from Moonworks. Any suggestions from you Witches Brew lovers out there?

Great points. If I labeled those as a good "old fashioned" hand made soap, lard would probably be expected as an ingredient. Thanks - this is like a evolving brainstrom session. Love it. Keep it coming.

BTW - Does anyone have a fancy way to list Lard in their ingredients? It just sounds so -- greasy.

Ok, wow. This is exactly what I wanted to know. I think I am going to list saponified oils, plus other common name ingredients. How is that for twisting all the guidelines together? I think that will do for now. When I start making my millions, I might have to revisit this issue again. Thanks so much.

Thanks, Candybee. That makes sense. I am currently working on soap labels for a little craft show in my home town, so this is good news. This will be the 1st time I sell my soap or any of my products, for that matter, so I want to do it right. Thanks again!

I ran across a soap at a national health food store that announced on it's label "NO Sodium Hydroxide". Curious, I turned over the label and looked for ingredients. It stated that it used Saponified coconut oil and saponified grapeseed oil. Hum? Are you allowed to hide sodium hydroxide(lye) in that way? Maybe if it is rebatched? Seemed dishonest, but on the other hand, I would love to not include lye in my list of ingredients. Thoughts?

Welcome. I'm a stay at home mom, too. Just a word of warning - this can become an obsession. My kids tell everyone that I love candles as much as I love them. It is too funny. Anyway make sure you set alarms and time limits. I was 10 minutes late picking kids up from school today - Got too involved in making soap. -- My kids know I love them more than soap and candles. ( But just barely)

I made tarts yesterday with straight 4786 - Poured into clamshells and silicone mold. I got smooth tops. Heated to 185 and poured at 150.

I totally would.

Brad Ford at Clarus Wax. He posts on this board from time to time, but the best way is to call him at Clarus. He will send you a 10 pound slab to sample - all for free. That is some product confidence. Clarus must figure you'll be back for more. (which I have -hee,hee)

I tried the 4625/4630 mix and never got it to work for me. I'm currently using 3022-70% and 4794-30% and pour into clamshells or silicone molds. 3022 is a parasoy container wax so the tart is softer than a typical tart, but it holds its shape fine. There is enough 4794 to get it hard enough to pop out of clamshells. This wax has held up to 12%FO, but I'm finding that anywhere from 8%-10% FO is working well depending of the FO. I know these wax combo is not conventional, but I'm happy with it.

Happy with my tarts, finally! Still working on candles and wicks:cheesy2:. After a year and a half of pouring, mixing, experimenting, testing, giving up, and then trying again,(you all know the pattern) My tarts are throwing like crazy. I'm so happy!!! Thanks to all of you that continue to post and give advice. I don't post much, but I read almost everyday. I feel like I know many of you. Thanks again !!! P.S. - an especial thanks to Steve (Chuck) for introducing me to 3022 wax. I love It!!!

Forgive me in advance---but this thread is hysterical !!!!

I think I've come to my senses. I am just going to stick to ordering it - from people that know what they are doing. The more I researched it - I thought "why would I do that to myself?" It will probably take a lot more time and money then I need to spend. Thanks!!!

Has anyone tried making a M&P base? Does anyone have a recipe they are willing to share? I saw a video on Youtube - looks a bit complex, but I'm wanting to give it a try. The video had ingredients but no measurements.

Hi, everyone. I have been attempting to make candles and melts for about a year now. I am so DISCOURAGED. How do I get them to smell like Yankee or BBW candles? I have tried FOs from Nature's Garden, CS, JS, Peaks, KY and TCS. Also a varity of wax - 415, 444, ECO PB, TCS blended, feathered palm wax, 4794. I have mixed waxes, put different FOs percentanges in. But to no avail. Do I need to use additives? Do I need to buy more expensive FO's? My main goal is to have a yummy, great smelling candle or melt. Advice, please!!!

Hi, everyone. Inspired by this thread, I just poured some feather palm tarts this evening. I pored into muffin tins and silicon square molds. I have never worked with palm wax before, so I am not sure they look right. They are all crystal looking on top with some hollow cracks. I am not liking the look. Is this typical of feathered palm wax? Do your tarts have a crystally top? I will post a picture if I can figure out how. Oh - I did melted wax to 200-210 and added fragrance. I poured at various temps ranging from 150-200 degrees.

I love The Candle Source container wax. Makes great tarts, if that is what you are lookin for.

Thank you to all who replied. I am learning so much. I am still experimenting and testing almost everyday. I am so obsessed. I think I had a break through when I bought two metal tealight warmer at a rummage sale. I tried them and I could finally smell my tarts. I think Scentsy warmers don't get warm enough. Too bad, I have lots of them. Have any of you found a wax that works well with the Scentsy warmers? Just curious. My next purchase will probably be tin warmers.

Ravens, your tarts are awesome!! They are part of the reason I am so disappointed. I can't get mine to throw like yours. Do you add any other additives? Kudos to all you successful smelly candle makers. It takes skill and experience. Hopefully someday, I will be among you.

Using about 1 oz FO per pound of wax. I wait at least 2 days before burning. The last few days, I have been testing some that have cured for 2 or 3 weeks. No good throw with any of them.

Okay everyone, How do you really make scented tarts? Give up your secrets!!! :smiley2: I have made about 25 batches with different wax and FO combos and none of them throw very well. I consider myself quite crafty - so this failure is making me crazy. Let me tell you what I have done thus far: 1. I have ordered about 40 different fragrances from Candle Science, NG, TCS, Peaks and KY. 2. 3 different waxes - KY Parasoy blend; IGI 4794/415 combo at 75%/25%, 66%/33%, and 50%/50% ratios; and I have used TCS blended container wax. 3. Heated waxes to a variety of temps ranging from 165 to 190 degrees. 4. Stirred in FO from 1 min to 3 min. 5. Poured from 150 to 170 degrees. 6. I have poured most tarts into clamshells or plastic candy molds. 7. Let them dry and harden - I sometimes put in freezer for 5 min or so to get out of molds easier. So what do you think? What am I doing wrong? Or is there some secret ingredient that I am missing. Please be gentle with me - I really don't want to give it up. I'm still obessed!:smiley2:

Ravens, I haven't seen your email. Maybe it got lost out there in cyberville.