msant

I love making sugar scrubs but am looking to use body safe dyes that won't stain the skin and will work with my recipe.  It is oil and butter based with emulsifying wax and fragrance.  I'm not sure if its best to use micas, dyes for melt and pour or cold process soaping.  If anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it!  I have used dyes for melt and pour soaps but not sure if these are in the best form for the scrubs.

Thank you everyone for your input! I will revisit Lone Star Candle Co. as well as the other companies mentioned. Maybe get some smaller sizes to try out. I've always make un-dyed candles but a couple of people asked why not color them? They seem to think that the color satisfies the visual customer and also helps identify the scent. I'm not sure.

Hi Everyone! I have been making soy candles for a couple of years now but have not ventured into coloring them. I'm curious to try adding color to my candles. Does anyone have a favorite form such as powders, micas, versus liquid? I'm assuming liquid dyes are better. If anyone has a favorite form let me know!

thanks!

So in my never ending quest to produce a candle that has the scent of the sea. I think I found one that I really like and would love to make a fragrance oil that smells similiarly. I wanted to know if anyone knows of companies that you can mail a candle or scent to and they can duplicate it? Does anyone know the cost I should expect to pay? Turnaround time etc?

Thanks!

I posted this in the 'Business Side of Things'. But I wanted to reach other veggie wax makers too in case someone misses my post!

I really need advice on this one. I started selling my candles last year. The soy candles are double wicked in the 8 oz country comfort jar. I've gotten feedback from a couple of people. It seems that people have had issues with one wick not working right, or the label is not bright, or the logo looks like a big splat of color instead of an image. I'm also not 100% happy with the candle look and double wicking, and now container/function. The cost is $18 which is high for that size and I know I have to redo the cost analysis and choose more affordable materials.

Anyway, my question is this...my husband advises me that it would be best just to go to local gift shops and stores and try to get the candles in a couple of stores so at least I'm still promoting my business. I am having a hard time going out with a product that I am not 100% satisfied with and with a company name, logo, and packaging that I'm testing to change. Wouldn't that ruin the trust between myself and the store owners if I'm promoting this product and then turn around in a couple of months time with all these changes? Don't know what is the business way of looking at this that would be best.

Hi Everyone,

I need advice on this one. I started selling my candles last year. The soy candles are double wicked in the 8 oz country comfort jar. I've gotten feedback from a couple of people. It seems that people have had issues with one wick not working right, or the label is not bright, or the logo looks like a big splat of color instead of an image. I'm also not 100% happy with the candle look and double wicking, and now container/function. The cost is $18 which is high for that size and I know I have to redo the cost analysis and choose more affordable materials.

Anyway, my question is this...my husband advises me that it would be best just to go to local gift shops and stores and try to get the candles in a couple of stores so at least I'm still promoting my business. I am having a hard time going out with a product that I am not 100% satisfied with and with a company name, logo, and packaging that I'm testing to change. Wouldn't that ruin the trust between myself and the store owners if I'm promoting this product and then turn around in a couple of months time with all these changes? Don't know what is the business way of looking at this that would be best.

Thank you in advance for any feedback....any input would be so greatly appreciated!

Maira

Just an update. I ordered the scent by the same company Beeluxe called Shore Thing and it was definitely not the same scent.

Hi Everyone, I posted this in the fragrance section as well but since my wax is C-3, I thought I should post here as well. I am searching for a sea/beach fragrance. So far I have ordered all the Rustic Escentuals Ocean-like scents and none are it! I have recently smelled the EXACT fragrance I am searching for in a Target candle by a company called Beeluxe. It's their Sea Spray scent. I thought...BINGO that is the smell I smell on my way to the beach here in Florida! Anyway, most people associate a clean, perfumy smell when you talk about the beach or the ocean but there have been no fragrance oil so far that smells like a 'natural' sea/beach smell. This candle scent has an element that I pick up when I go to the beach!

Has anyone smelled this candle or know of this scent?

Hi Everyone, I am having a hard time describing to people the scent I am searching for that reminds me of taking a walk towards the beach. It is a natural, sweetish scent. Very clean almost a 'green' scent. Every time our family goes to the beach I declare...That's it! That's it! What is that? My husband looks at me with a blank expression...

Anyway, I just smelled a candle that captured that scent and it's Beeluxe Sea Spray found at Target. I can't get a description of the scent but that is THE scent. Does not smell like men's ocean scents or other perfumy 'beach' scents.

Does anyone know what I am talking about?

That's funny. I have the same problem. I use soy wax 415/c3 with 3% beeswax. I also use CD wicks. I'm very conservative with my testing so I don't think I'm over wicking. Have no idea what it could be either!

I would love to provide my customers with samples of my candle fragrances in the form of tealights. Eventually selling packages of tealights too. I have done my research and it seems the consensus is that the metal tealight cups are much safer than the plastic. I'm all about safety but can't help but feel like the metal tealight holders are so thin and cheap looking/feeling. They dent so easily and I guess don't look as pretty when burned on their own. I ordered the cups from Candlescience. Does anyone know of tealight cups that are metal but sturdier? Better looking?

Is there such a thing as a safer plastic-like substance for tealight cups?

Thanks! I hope someone has come across this issue too.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I've decided to put my phone number, website, city/state on the bottom warning label of my candles. (Thanks Jackbenimble for input on location being important for local customers...didn't think of that!)

My business cards also don't have my address and I'm thinking of getting a post office box as things progress.

Faithful Scenter in my candles I have C3 as the predominant wax. So it comes out to 70/30-ish. I like the creaminess of C3 better.

Fantastic information from everyone. Thank you! I have come away with the knowledge that I do need to do my research to cut cost as much as possible. One example...I also was considering the longer wick and wick tabbing to utilize the complete length and it's great to know others doing the same. Ordering in bulk is another idea I need to take a look at. My concern is the higher initial cost but the savings may outweigh that. Fragrances are killing me. I have 2 fragrances from Sweetcakes that I love and I'm trying to see if I can factor those into my line. One is the Christmas Spice scent. Have not been able to find a substitute anywhere else!

Thanks everyone! I ordered my Presto Pot with Spigot from Southern Cross on Ebay. Have yet to test it so I will post any interesting info when I break it in!

I also mix 415 with C-3. I love the mix and the scent throw is great. Plus the tops stay smooth!

Ok..I sat down today to recalculate my cost to produce my candles. I took into account the shipping cost of my materials as well. (Unfortunately I'm in Florida and suppliers do not exist here!) I've hit $3.88 and have yet to add my fragrance cost and my labeling/packaging cost! I'm assuming based on prior calculations that this may add an additional $1.50. Plus I haven't even paid myself! Which I've read is part of determining cost of production.

So if this is the case if my candle costs $6.00 to make..$1.50 for my labor = $7.50!

Wholesale is $15 ?

Retail is $30 ???

What am I doing wrong? No way is anyone going to shell out $30 for a 10 oz Country Comfort Jar Soy candle!

Now I can't sleep!

I just found this site from a prior post by Lovelylathers. Not sure if this only applies to cosmetics though.

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/CosmeticLabelingManual/ucm126438.htm

**Just sent the US Consumer Product Safety Commission an email with the question regarding home addresses etc. Will post answer when I hear from them!

I'm paranoid about doing the right thing! LOL

Horsescents in regards to your address on your label: That is my concern as well. Somewhere I read that legally as long as your business name and address is in your city's Yellow Pages you can just list the city/state. I'm not 100% sure though.

Hi everyone,

So from info gathered from a prior post I am including this info on my front label:

Logo

Name of company

Net Wt in oz (g)

Description: Hand-poured Soy Candle

Website

*My company is in the local Yellow Pages so to my understanding I don't have to print my whole address?

Can I put my Company Name with City/State on the bottom label with warning instructions?

Or is this overkill? LOL

Thank you in advance!!

I am ready to start the production of labels for my soy candles. In doing research on the forum I have several companies to order blank labels from but not any info regarding companies that will print it as well.

I found Planet Labels? Does anyone have a company that provides the information preprinted for them?

Thanks!

Thanks Everyone!

I have some options now. Good to verify the validity of the brass spigot! Very good to know..

Hi Everyone,

I am tired of the double boiler method and am ready to graduate to a Presto Pot. Alot of posts lists merchants that no longer carry it. Does anyone have a place that they trust? I am looking for one with a spigot.

Should it (spigot) be solid brass? I think I read something about that somewhere.

Thanks in advance!

I agree SliverofWax. I hope my question was not misinterpreted. I would never ever ever assume anything regarding burn quality, wick size, or safety based on a tart burn or other method. That would be insane! I just wanted a way to eliminate fragrances that would not combine well with my wax in terms of throw etc. before making full size candles to begin testing. Almost the way we open a bottle and sniff...then decide whether it's what we are looking for or not. I want to take it one step further before the testing begins. (To see if it even warrants testing).

But you do have a point...the wick burning is a completely different reaction than burning of a tart to evaluate a fragrance. It may tell a part of the story, but not the full story. It's making me think....

The Elemental Jar are the cutest things! I've been searching for a 4 oz jar that looks good with the Country Comfort Jar line and I may have to give these a try to add to my line of candles and to test fragrances before the bigger jars! Thanks rjdaines!! Am also looking to get a tart warmer to test those fragrances too. See which method works best.