KMommy

I am just curious how long most of you tested before you felt comfortable giving and selling your candles? I have been reading post on several message boards from people that have just started making candles(few weeks) and they are already selling or planning to start their own business. I find this a bit scary:eek: The area I live in is truly flooded with candles and candle makers. Many are poor quality but new candles seem to pop up almost daily. I tested my candles for at least a year before I gave any of them away as gifts. How long did you guys test before selling or giving away your candles?

I've read that Palm is a very brittle wax and along with other factors that is one of the reasons there can be "blow outs" from the sides. So many people purchase pillar candles to use just for decoration and do not burn them for very long periods of time. Will the palm wax become even more brittle over time and the chances of blow outs increase?

I have used two types of electric warmers. One has the light bulb inside as the heat source the other has a small metal plate as the heating element. The problem with the metal heating plate is that it doesn't heat up enough to even melt the tart and release scent. I am not sure if they all work this way but I purchased several from a wholesale supplier and this was the problem with them all. Several people have also reported this on other message boards. I prefer the warmers with the light bulb. I imagine that there might be different recomendations for what bulb to use from the manufactor. The ones I have stated not to use anything above 40. Depending on the melt point of the wax used to make the tarts would be a factor. If using a low melt point wax I would think the 20watt would work fine. If it was made with a higher melt point wax a 40 maybe needed. Good Luck

Since the edit feature has been removed. I'll have to add this in a reply:undecided If there are different grades of unscented incense sticks I would liketo know which suppliers offer the best or highest quality.

I wasn't sure where to post this question so I hope this is the right forum. Are there different grades or quality of incense? I was in a store that sold incense and I heard a customer state that some of the products where made with a poor grade of incense. I thought the sticks were all the same. Are there different grades of sticks? For anyone that makes incense can you suggested a supplier?

Once again that shows how several people can use the same FO's and get different results. Cozy Lil Store and MiMi's Kitchen are my two favorites. There are so many factors that contribute to good scent throw, the type of wax, the wick, the amount of FO, our own individual sense of smell...As for adding at a lower temp. it really just depends on what the suggested temp. is from the manufactor. I use two different types of wax and one needs the FO added at a lower temp. and the other is very high. With that said I have discovered in my testing with the waxes I use that the FO's I have from DS work better for me in B&B products. I have had problems with throw in my candles using several of the FO's.

Top, santalol santalol santalol

Just beautiful Henry! I wish I had your talent!!!

Last week I used those darn Glue Dots for the first and last time. Even after applying several dots my wicks came un-glued after I poured the wax into the container!!!!

Did you keep the wick trimmed? Not sure if your warning label states to keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 or 1/8 but if you did so and it still produced soot it may be caused by too large of a wick(like others have mentioned). However, I have had certain FO's that no matter what % load I use they tend to produce soot more than others.

Very nice! Your colors are wonderful! The FO is not one of my personal favorite scent but I find that men tend to like it more. Also those customers looking for a unisex type scent - something non-bakery and not perfume like. It isn't an FO I enjoy testing.

FO's used are very good quality from a supplier mentioned on the board with many positive comments. They are strong out of the bottle. I also don't do bakery scents. I told testers to flip the reeds every 1-2 weeks. I guess a very light scent is what they are supose to produce. The problem is that with a product producing only a light scent the cost of supplies is far too expensive to be able to sell these at a price that would make a profit. No one is willing to spend very much on a product that produces the same amount of scent as potpourri. Customers comment that they can get a very large bag of that at Walmart for 5.00. Plus, Reeds are more common now in stores and some are sold well below the cost that I could ever sell them for profit. I think alot of this just depends on the market area. Just like certain scents sell well in one area and not in others. I am glad some of you are having good luck with them! Thanks for the replies.

Are you testing in a very small closed room? If it isn't your wicks it could be the room. I have one tiny room that if the door is closed no candle will stay lit. That room needs more oxygen/air circulation.

Well, my experience is the same as Linda's. I have tried numerous FO's and bases. All of the FO's are very stong OOB. I have explained to testers that the scent is meant to be light but that is the problem. No one wants to spend very much money on a product that is a light scent. They felt that they could purchase potpourri for a lot less and get the same light scent. Every market area is different so I am glad it's working out for some.

I am very disappointed in the Reed Diffusers. I have tested several different bases and I am not pleased with the results. Not one single person that tried a few testers in their home stated that they would ever actually purchase a set. The reason is because the scent is so light that they feel they would rather spend less money and get a candle. Honestly, I feel the same. Especially since the Reeds are now more commonly seen at discount stores. The price for supplies - bottles, base, reeds, fragrance, shipping... makes it almost impossible to sell these at a price that would actually generate a profit. Anyone else disappointed with Reeds?

I've often wondered if there was a way they could emboss(or stamp, some type of ID)the wick name and size on the tab. If you have every dropped a couple of bags of different wicks on the floor and had them all mixed up, some type of ID would really be handy. On the subject of DH's...mine wanted to help and that would have been great if it would have just been "Do as I tell you." Oh but no, he wanted to have opinions and suggestions. I just hate it when they think they can do that. LOL!

What a great job you did on those!!! I have tried and tried to do One Stroke painting. Even purchased the tapes and never could master even the basics. Those are beautiful!

Ah, thank you! I would have never thought of the 'do not light."

What type of warning label should be used on Reed Diffuser kits? I am assuming something stating that the oil can damage wood. I haven't seen these packaged and a search didn't turn up anything.

I did a search to see if I could find out how to scent the rocks and if I can dilute my soap dyes for coloring. I didn't find any instructions. Does anyone know?

Did you make CP soap with it? I had a really bad experience once using one of their FO's in CP. I learned the hard way that sometimes when a FO is listed as B&B safe doesn't necessarly mean it has been tested for CP use:tongue2: ! Live and learn!!!

The Pomegrante and Pear Spice she use to sell and the Berry Bundt Cake were always really good sellers for me. Wish I would have known in advance, I would have tried to stock up.

I have a large bag of this that I haven't used. Completely forgot I had it! There weren't any instructions sent with it and I see the company that I ordered it fromm no longer sells it. Can someone tell me if you add the FO to the dye and then dip or do you soak the rocks in the FO, dry and then dip in dye? I don't have large amount of soap dyes on hand. Can I dilute the dye in water and dip the rocks?

Her company is going out of business. I got an email and it is posted on her site. There hadn't been any new FO's added in a long time so I had this feeling this was going to happen. Where am I going to find a dupe of her Berry Bundt Cake???:embarasse

I love your colors!