schmoopie

They are the best best best! Yes, use the valve! I'm ready to puschase my second and am excited about the digital therm. !

Hi all, Finally broke down and tried the Bohunk recipe...... Love it BUT....... my little family (my testers:wink2:) thought it was alittle too abrasive, which i can fix by adding less sugar.....and that it needed to glide on better. Its stiff like a paste/frosting. I'm not sure if just less sugar will accomplish that. Here is what I did as far as tweaking 10% e-wax < up this to 11% because I don't have cetyl alcohol 8% stearic 7% each cocoa butter and, shea 17% coconut 30% pk < didn't have so I used equal parts of apricot kernal and SAO 17%sunflower 2% frag 1% phenonip <used Germall plus, from what I read I thought this would work.... if anyone knows differently, PLEASE let me know! Made a whipped up base...... only added sugar to a bit of it as a tester, which was the one they said was abrasive and not enough glide..... At this point could I add something to the base for glide or you think just less sugar? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

I had questions on this awhile back...... Do a search and you'll get some good advice BTW I couldn't run my business without mine!

I can't imagine charging full price to family. Immediate family gets product at wholesale prices......friends get 30%, and parents just pay cost. During the holidays I just ask that everyone orders early, so I can make them when I have time or am already pouring a particular scent. Why would you even give out a coupon? I would feel pretty silly handing out coupons to relatives.....if they want something they know my number and my website.

Your in MI so go with Benchmark. Very affordable.

You can use your ivory liquid dye and make your own wax dye chips. Just add a drop to an ounce if wax......let harden in a muffin cup and then cut in to 4ths. Make a few so that you have them. That way if you use one 1/4 per pound you will alays be consistant on your colors. HTH

Teri, I ended up getting one of these and it is awesome. I've got 35 lbs ready when I need it. I turn mine off when not in use, but when I need it it only takes about a half hour to melt. I did follow other peoples advice and put about 4 lbs of melted wax the first time, but now when it gets low I just load it up. I keep it set at about 190. Always poke relief holes before turning it on to melt wax, and leave the lid on until wax is melted (wax will spurt alittle from melting from the bottom up) I got mine at Bass Pro Shops for $100 and didn't see a black one. Would go stainless so you don't have to worry about black specks in your wax KWIM? Good Luck!! (you will love it!)

Check out tayloredconcepts.com HTH

I get what you are saying Lorrie. But I did mean it more as a Happy Holidays/Seasons greetings type of thing. I already have cards picked out to that affect. Great ideas all......keep them coming! I least I'm "getting" from a few of you that you do at least do something and not just a card.... and I am assuming it is tax deductable as long as you don't go over your $25 gift allowence per client. I will run it by my accountant!!

Anyone out there give little gifts at christmas time to the owners of shops that they have wholesale accounts with? Not sure what the protocol is with this...... We are a newer company, but have gotten 30+ wholesale accounts since we started our wholesale marketing blitz:rolleyes2 in March. What do you do? Cards? Small something (not candle related)? One of your products? Or nothing? I was maybe even thinking of one of the new products we will be bring into our line in spring...... get 'em interested.....lol! Shout out wholesalers!!

Black Raspberry Creme would work..... I would always rename a scent possible.

Good luck with your started kit. BUT you may what to look else where for your soy wax....being so far away from them. I am one state over and was ordering way over 200 pounds of wax per month, that should have had the hundred weight discount..... I sure didn't see it. I was paying OVER 20 dollars a case for shipping. I will still order a few of my FO's from them (because they do have some good, unique ones) but they are losing my business on wax and other things due to inflated shipping costs..... Found a company a FEW states over with shipping almost half the price. HTH good luck!

I use the KY wax for tarts. Great scent throw......sometimes the wax can get a little leopard type spots on the top, but they are not that noticable. I think it depends on the temp you pour at, but since mine are wrapped and labled I don't mind it. And it comes in granuals so it's super easy to work with!

If it's container wax, I'd say no. It is so hard to get out of the melter. But if your just using it yourself or to give to a family member, and they know to pour it out of the melter while it still in liquid form when they are done with it, go for it! Personally, for my container wax, I keep a few tart tray molds out and every time I have any leftover wax I just pour into these. Then I keep them in bags according to scent. Then if I run short on a candle batch, i can melt these to finish off the job.....instead of having to make 3 oz more or some thing (which is a PITA!!) Also use them if I get a small candle order.....IE: yesterday I got an order for 8- 4 oz. tins, each a different scent. I melted 4 "container" tarts in my presto for each and was done ! Didn't have to measure, weight, color..... Hate getting an order for 1 of something I don't have and having to go through all the steps for one little candle lol. HTH

Island Girl- Does Gateway have a website??

Well, I for one, am ready to start using Candle Sciene for my wax..... Just ordered 4 cases (asst. wax) from Bittercreek North, my shipping was quoted at $78.84 (before hundred weight discount), so I am expecting it to drop some after it ships for the hundred weight discount. Instead, I get my order and it went UP to $96!! I called and they said they had been short staffed so there was some kind of error and they refunded me only $12...... so I still paid $84.... more then quoted, don't see that I got any kind of hundred weight discount. This is not the first time this has happened with them. I call and complain and point out that I spend HUNDREDS of dollars with them every month, but they are pretty non-responsive. Never been called by a supervisor about these matters, I'm thinking they must be making so much money that the money my company spends there is of little consequence. Well, they have finally lost my business! There are some fragrance oils I HAVE to buy there, but I'm ready for some reasonable shipping and better customer service. Let me know what you all think of Candle Science and of the Golden Brands 415 as I currently use some Ez Soy in my line! Thanks for the RANT!! (just balttled with them yesterday, so it was still, oh so fresh!!)

I just love the idea of these! But my line is very simple and not at all country, but I thought I'd love some for myself so I soaked regular clothespins in fo for a couple of hours then dried them. I did about a dozen. I now have them clipped to wire shelves in closets, on the visor of my car, to the lip of the bathroom trash, linen closet etc. They can be clipped anywhere! I have 2 clipped in my walk in closet and WOW it smells great!! Any of you out there with more of a country theme.... I think these would be great sellers if you were to put them in a small mason jars (stuff in like pickles), cut the FO with something (maybe the stuff for reed diffusers?) and call them pickled clothes pins? maybe lol?? Instructions: lay out to dry, put anywhere and everywhere and then when they lose their scent return to jar to "re-pickle"... they could be used over and over again. I think though that you would have to use the old fashion clothes pins, like Robin did, or else the metal would rust. Really liking this idea.... too bad I can't do it, but I hope someone else can! Thanks for the inspiration Robin, every nook and cranny in my house and car smells great!

Same here....didn't fit any. I do 7 oz and 14 oz, not one of 7 sizes fit mine, and the sizes I do are pretty standard. Plus I think the cost of the lid would be more than the tumblers themselves, as I buy mine in bulk. I've been searching for over a year, but besides the plastic one ( which look very cheap and cheesey IMHO) I haven't found anything. If anyone finds anything of interest, please share!

Wouldn't operate without it!! Thanks for reminding me.... I need to renew : )

I have some I'm not using, if your interested in testing.....pm me if your interested.........

AND a 6 oz. tin is so small, you would never have to double wick it....... you may have some hang up at first, but once that flame starts reflecting off the metal, you get catch up, BIG TIME!! So be careful not to over wick. Can't really help you with size though, as I do 4 oz/8 oz. tins abd use RRD wicks.

I agree with underpricing......I took everything into respect when I priced mine and then forgot labor.....lol!! Never sell yourself short, or sell yourself so short that the rest of us look like yankme....lol

Or even those containers with the holes in them that they use in italian restaurants for the parmesan and crushed red pepper(not the big ones some are using for bakery candles), with a couple tarts crumbled up inside them.....and a few with coffeebeans for in between sniffs. Would be cute, cheap, re-usable......... could try a restaurant supply store, either locally or online........

Hey All, Just wanted to share, cuz I'm so stoked about my stuff!!!......found a great place for embroidery! The prices on the site reflect the item with embroidery.......no set up charges, no minimum, great fast service. You can get a whole range of quality of products.....go cheaper if need be, or heavier in weight if you can. I got 2 top quality, heavy weight polo's embroidered with shipping for about $50....and a couple of really cool "vintage" washed sweatshirts for about $60 (with shipping) I really think embroidered stuff looks so much more professional, would never go the silk screen route. So, if your looking check out: www.superjoe.com They are a small businesss (like most of us) but top notch work and CS. **will try and post pictures of my stuff, but it always says my pictures are too large and not sure how to size:undecided**

I did use a shallow jar. It is only 2 inches tall and about the same across the top. Don't see how the 8 oz. mason jars don't blow. I am on to tins!!