minx

Thank you everyone It's actually good to know that a decent melt might not be that far away!! Yay!! I think I will go and buy an electric warmer and compare the melts. I have been using a ceramic burner which encloses the tealight. I know those things get really hot because I tried to move one when it was lit and it was far far too hot for me to pick it up.( What a mess I made...lol) The distance from the tealight to the base of the burner is maybe 3". I don't know how popular the electric warmers are here in Australia hence why I was using only the tealights. Thanks again

No one?? Ah well will just have to try another fragrance and see what happens.

Hi guys, It's been a while since I have posted but I am still around. Saving and saving to continue buying candle ingredients. I have a question though. How long does your fragrance last when you use a tealight candle with a wax melt. I've only been getting 3 or 4 hours and getting a little concerned. I've wondered if it was cause the fragrances I have chosen were soft ones or what. I'm using plam wax. Blend of container and pillar. I have tried different ratios and there seems no difference at all between them. It's called crystalizing wax here in Oz. I do the correct temp thing and pour thing. Fragrances I have used are Frankisense and Myrrh, Lavender Vanilla, Mimosa & Mandarin and a few others but along the same scents. I have been using 9-10% fragrance. I don't have a electric warmer so was considering getting one of those to try, but at the same time I don't want to have so many different burn times depending on what warmer they are using. Am I using the wrong fragrance to start with? Or is 3-4 hours normal with a tealight candle in a warmer? Thanks for ANY info you have Amanda

This is great timing because I was wondering the same thing. I chose a double electric burner over a deep fryer because I could get a double burner cheaper than a single fryer. What is really the difference in just putting the wax in a pot on the electric burner? The element is hidden, just like a fryer. Temperature controlled, just like a fryer. So yer, I am going to give it a go and see how things go. Considering we never are supposed to leave melting wax unattended anyway it should be fine. You guys in the US are lucky with prices and such. Corded thermometer here I haven't found cheaper than $50. The fryer was going to cost me $70, not $20 like you guys can get them. And that was on special!

Why not frost the outside of the jars? (If you can't find anything to work with the baskets) You can also dress up the jars putting ribbons and decorations on the jars if you want them to look nicer. Or....find baskets that will hold your jars.

Bumping cause I'm interested in hearing how the testing is going too!

Congratulations!!!! They do look fantastic and the labels are really really cool!

I agree with Sliver. Being relatively new, pick one wax and type and stick with it a while. You need to test lots and try different things and you will get frustrated but it is all learning. Costs a bit too.....lol. Read read read this forum. Great information from lots of people and if in doubt ask questions....oh and good luck and welcome

Gee, wish they were doing things like there here.

I did try CO. But I've now run out of wax so am waiting for some more money to be available to buy some more wax and try again. And of course some more wicks and FO. I am basically then going to start from scratch again.

Finding USA is a challenge here in Aus. There is a supplier of UA who says to mix it with their soy wax for tarts and such, but I just am not sure about whether to try it or not. The tempering I am definitely going to try.

Actually I find the opposite. I seem to get more confused and mess up my FO percentages when I do it the required quantity way. That is why I thought I would try the 1oz to 1lb way. I found with wicks I got 3 of my 8oz tins poured. This also included the FO and 1.5tablespoons CO. (Trying to get C3 to look smooth after a burn...but now considering going the para-soy and adding some paraffin to my C3) ...but then did read it has something to do with the FO, but all seem to do it to me. Judy: The volume makes sense. I think sometimes I got confused with that aswell (yep...easily confused here, especially with trial and errror stuff!)

Thanks guys and girls Always learning that is for sure I guess I should find what is easiest for me and what works and then stick to it. Glad people do do it differently because then it wasn't really a stupid question. lol.

Thanks moonshine, Yep, that is what I meant. Weigh before the wax is melted or after? I sort of did it both ways, but wasn't sure everytime I read 1oz pp wax, if that meant dry or melted wax.

That is about right. You factor in any taxes you paid and any freight you paid into it. Sometimes you also look at an item and think if it is worth the amount you are charging. If you wouldn't pay that much for it, why would anyone else? hth:)

It's bugging me so I gotta ask. 1oz FO to 1 lb wax. Is the wax already melted? Or are you placing 1lb into the melting pot and then adding 1 oz FO when it is melted?? Thanks:)

I melt the wax and then measure into another jug and add the FO and found that pouring down the side of the jug helps to prevent the air bubbles. I cool them in a warm over overnight and the tops come out looking fine. I'm waiting to try the USA to prevent the wax looking horrid after the burns.

I'm going to use the burn time that I find when testing a candle. If people say anything at least you can honestly say that those are the hours you found when testing your candle. If I bought a candle and it said 30 to 35 hours I wouldn't be happy if I only got 25 out of it.

Neil, If you say all your wicks smoke on the second burn, no matter what wick, then I would think it would have something to do with the wax and any additives you are adding to it. It might burn well on the first burn because it is the top of the container. I know when you burn candles and let them reharden and then burn again the "look" of the wax can change, so it would be feasable(??) that your formula has something to do with it? What wax are you using, what are you adding to it?

Bart I have some htp's I can send you if you like? I have some 126, 105 and 104. Unfortunately I don't have higher ones. I use the htp126 for my 3" tins and they are ok, but as I mentioned in another thread I am going to try the next one up just to see. Maybe we could do swapsies? I would love a couple of CDN 12 and 14?

All too true. I liked the Baby one, but the second was nothing special. It does make me feel better and have more confidence in my product, or where they are going. Still have to test adding the oil and am going to try 3 other wicks and then I think I might have at least 1 fragrance done Yay!! I think it could go with the wick in has now, htp 126, but do want to check one size up with the htps and try the CDN wicks.

I use the htp wicks. They do mushroom a little, but I find mostly it is from the strands after the wick is trimmed. I'm using 8oz tins and going to try the 136 or 1212.

I did go and buy two. 1 is a tin the same as I make (from same supplier I am thinking, but going to change mine) and was $20. Not sure if that is expensive yet cause I am no where near costing my candles. The other is a small metro jar, but god some of the testers had huge star cracks in them and if they were my products I would be taking them away, testers or not!! I lit the tin last night, Baby Love and the HT was great/good. I liked it and was noticable all the time. However there were sink dents in the wax, and it had a FMP in less than an hour. That isn't good is it?? But then if they throw is there, maybe it is needed? Not 100% sure what wax they used but reckon I can find out. They mention kosher and there was only one company that described their wax that way. It does look nicer than mine when it rehardens. So that is something I will work on. Bought some vegetable oil, which is soybean oil, to try in the formula. Couldn't find cottonseed or palm oil and the baby oil ( mineral oil) had fragrance in it so didn't want to try it. The other I haven't lit yet. I have a feeling they use one of the Ecoya brands. They mention "Australian Certified" but haven't been able to find those exact words.But the finish reminded me of Advanced. I've also decided not to test result at work, better at home then all the testers are the same. But don't feel as downhearted now

They do look very good I do like the twists in the wick, really sets them off I think

Yes, this forum is trully a great place to learn, and I am sure we will all get there in the end