spark-me-up

Hi! Before I came accross this site, I found the candle cauldron a lot of help...http://www.candlecauldron.com/ Their troubleshooting page helped me out on a few occassions Seems that you can find one piece of interesting/ helpful info on most every site, but trying to find ONE site that covers everything is difficult. I also like to read a few sources before I try anything, because there is A LOT of misinformation out there. Mostly though, I thank my lucky stars I came accross this place =)

I think there's something in the dye that breaks down plastic & rubber after a while. Any of the droppers I've used, that have the rubber "squeeze bit" (like the technical term there? =D) at the top, are stuffed after a few goes. That's part of the reason I use blocks. They are fiddlier, but way less messy.

Maybe they only have 5 scents because that's all she has perfected so far? Start basic with a few & build up... not a bad plan, if that's the case.

This is sad, but probably true. *sigh*

I agree. They could have charged a LOT more & gotten away with it. I was actually quite surprised! Nice branding etc. too... very polished. Still, if we had budgets like I imagine they would, I'm sure most of us would pull something equally as smart off. AS we know... up market packaging is always a HUGE cost... & drama =( Good Luck to them in going forward in such sad & uncertain times... thanks for posting this HorsescentS... interesting =)

I think everyone would like to be using certified glass, but the truth is, at this point in time, that type of glass is limited or hard to come by. So... we can only do what we can & those of us who are responsible DO! =) Test, re test... & test again, & then.... re test!!!!! I have often wondered, when glass IS certified "Candle Safe", what exactly that title entails. See, we don't even know what tesing measures are taken here either! (or at least I don't & have never been able to ascertain many facts).

Hi! I disagree with those who say take what you have already... sorry! You only have one chance to make a first impression & I think you need to have your product as "in keeping" with the stores image as is possible. You want to peak their interest straight up & show them something they want to have NOW! Also, some people have little imagination- you need to SHOW rather than TELL. You have enough things to think about/ worry about in cold calling anyway, why go in there with something else you need to discuss, when with a little effort you can "zap" that problem right off your list Also, be aware that the person "running" the store may not be their buyer/ owner. Unless you know for a fact that the person you need to deal with is there, I'd make enquiries to find out when they will be. It'd be awful to screw up your courage & walk in, only to be told the person can't help you, & you'll have to go back. Just my 2 cents worth =) Good Luck!!!

Maybe no magic solution Judy, but I appreciate your reply =) I was so hoping there'd be an additive I didn't know about or something! I have seen red & white candles that looked ok. It's just very frustrating when you run into a brick wall like this. Anyway... thank you!

Thank you Horsescents, I will track those down & have a look =)

Really guys??? No solution? =(

Nope! I do wipe them out with a microfibre cloth though... dust is kind of a given & the micro cloth prevents any particles remaining I have too many waxy test glasses to wash... I'm not going to get all finicky about new glass =)

Thanks JC... sorry to hear you had trouble too =( Hopefully there's a way around this... just have to find it!

Wow! SO infuriating when you don't know how it happened!?! Seems strange that this would only occur at the last part of the burn. Is it possible there was a higher "dye load" in the layer where that happened? Only thing I can think of...

Hi y'all =) I recently sent some layered pillars to a friend in the US & from reports, the colours have "leeched" accross the layers of wax. There was a red & white one that looks awful! (Yes, I know red is particularly "prone"... especially if teamed with white! But still...) I am assuming this is due the really hot days we had over here, the day after I posted them. Crap! They apparently showed no signs of having fully melted, but I guess they got warmed up enough to cause this. Anyway, I used a %50/ %50 Palm/ Para blend & I wanted to ask you guys... if I use a higher melt point (MP) paraffin wax, would this go a ways to preventing this happening? I believe that there is a "standard" MP for Palm, so I don't have any options there, but if I blend it with a higher MP para, will it make any difference? Or will the lower MP of the Palm still allow for bleeding/ leeching of dyes? Is there an additive I can use that would curb this? I am totally bummed now =( If I do change the wax, I'll have to go back to wick testing again... & it's taken me months already to ge these right! Any advice will really be appreciated, so thank you!!!

Just a thought... grab a couple of candles out of your inventory (& the same batch, if you can) & burn them... see what happens. This is very disheartening =( I hope you can suss it out... Good Luck!

Hmmm... I have done a search & come up empty handed. Have any of you made those little candles that we put on Birthday cakes? Does anyone know where I can get my paws on moulds? I imagine they'd be really really fiddly to make... wicks would be tiny, but anyway... anyone got anything to say about all this? Thanks :smiley2: ETA: just occurred to me... maybe they are only made by dipping? Is that how it's done??

I had not seen these either @001. You are braver than I... I can't begin to imagine how I'd work out where the wicks needed to go... the distances in between & how fast they'd burn etc etc ETC!!! Mine would definitely end up an "inferno piece" !!! Let me know if you have a go... Good Luck! Thanks so much for posting the video. Took AGES to load my end, so be patient anyone who wants to have a look. Totally worth it though! LOVE this!

I'm in Victoria, so it's like "What Summer?" Damn!!! What got me interested? Well, it just seems so different to Palm n Soy... I am IN LOVE with it's natural smell & I was going to take a crack with wood wicks. Seems like a good challenge... (I'll be whinging my butt off in here about it in no time, I imagine =D Also, I know peeps are keen to buy these candles. The cost is prohibitive but if you keep them small... plus, many are becoming more cognisant of WHY they cost a bit extra, which helps! I may be able to get my hands on some local- BONUS, but I'm not sure yet. Having said all this, I read briefly about Walnut & Apricot wax & wondering if candles can be made from the stuff. I like all the obscure waxes it seems! Anyway, please keep us posted... exciting! Hope all goes well =)

Ha ha ha Jonsie! Beat me to all my intended beeswax experimenting I see =) I don't know, but if you have EO's in the mix, I think they ALWAYS need at least a week to settle in. I wonder, with beeswax- seeing as it's SO viscous, if it might need even a little longer? Who knows though. Mostly, my theories are proven wrong in this caper Hope someone comes along to tell you. Happy New Year!

The two of you like different things- there is no right or wrong. You CAN agree to disagree & there's a compromise out there somewhere... Sorry you feel so frustrated =(

Don't panic! I'd lay a big buck bet that it's the temperature drop. I went through the same thing... I developed a candle & got it exactly right, but this was during Autumn/ Winter. Come Summer, the candle is now carrying on like it's way over wicked =( I felt exactly the same as you & was thinking does it EVER end???? I am not sure what to do now, so I'm messing round with smaller wicks, now the weather is warmer & I am hoping to find a "Happy Medium", but what is THAT? It's so frustrating, but I seriously don't believe there's anything wrong with everything else you are doing. Good Luck... I'm not sure what the answer is because we have no idea when & where any candle we sell is going to get burned. Hot? Cold? Gah!!!

wierd & frustrating! Umm... what about trying one or two of them with a "canary" yellow ? Over he have a choice of a "sunflower" yellow too, but that's very "orange" to start with. Canary is kinda more "citrus". Anyway, whatever you do, write it down. Gets SO confusing when you're adding this & that, would be a shame to hit exactly what you want & then not remember. I have done that & kicked myself Only other thing I can think of is to add in a chip/ small drop of fluro dye, if you have some lying round? I have some here to test, but haven't tried anything yet. There's red, pink, yellow & orange that might do the trick? I am wary of these because you can only use a tiny amount before it can cause trouble, but that might be all you need & who knows? Could end up super fantastic?!

ok... my two cents, just to confuse things further I think you need to go for a "kick ass" fresh blood red, rather than a deep red, because it'll show up better against the black wax. If the blood colour is too "dark", I think you might loose some of the effect- it won't stand out as much. The red dyes (from a supplier here), both liquid & blocks, make a "flat" red, so I make my own... it has more "zing". If I want it a little darker, I add a TINY bit of blue! Anyway, Good Luck... sounds cool =)

In the end, I think it comes down to taking pride in your work, whether that's actually making candles or working in a store selling them. I'd be curious to know what was involved in getting any product to the point where it's on a store shelf! Otherwise, wouldn't your job just be a mind numbing drudge? Don't you want to talk to people about what you do & maybe get them a bit excited in the process? Not to mention at least wanting to appear professional? *sigh* I give up...

..."all they do is cook the wax for hours for it to become smooth."