doglvr

that's surprising. I've never ever had a problem with them, just the opposite in fact. I think they are in the process of moving into a new building (I think it was them) so maybe someone just isn't watching right now, but that's not a good excuse really. Sorry you had a bad experience, though.

You likely aren't doing anything wrong and that's what makes even making tarts so frustrating and so expensive. Scents just are not all created equal. I can also have some that blow the doors off and then I can get some from fantastic companies that I can hardly smell. I can excitedly place an order for what someone else has said is fantastic and then I put it in my wax and go huh??? I've just decided after reading all the posts now for over a year, that it's just the way it is. I don't know if I'm picky and I know I have a good blend, but for about every twenty scents I try, I might keep only one or two. Sometimes none. What works for someone in their wax might not work for someone else using something different and then sometimes even the same wax! It's mind boggling. Peak, Lonestar, Nature's Garden, Candlescience... you're going to find some that won't work for you no matter what. I do recommend using people as testers because the more you do this the more your nose is going to fool you. I've selected some scents based on what testers tell me (say four out of five people) because I often can no longer smell anything at times. One ounce per pound is average. Some scents might need to take more, but there's a limit on what waxes will hold. With tarts you can get away with going to the upper limit over candles and all the wicking issues. Plain cellophane might be part of your problem. Cello bags must be made out of polypropolene - as well as portion cups - or any other material than that can suck the scent out of your finished product over time. If you're using a plain ziplock baggie then you're losing scent because it's the wrong material for storing scented wax. Most candle places sell polypropolene bags as does Papermart and other places when you buy in bulk. Good luck and just keep trying. And get a loan.... LOL (just kidding though sometimes I think it's necessary!)

I would be very interested in this as well, so I hope someone can reply!

crazzie, I will PM you, thanks. Luckily it's been a week of just working, taking my mom back and forth to the nursing home to see my stepfather, getting home in enough time to go to bed and then the next day is a repeat performance. I imagine next week will be the same so it hasn't given me time to worry about what is happening with my site, which is NOTHING just as I expected. I haven't even emailed her back yet.

Goddess is an absolutely beautiful scent. One of my favorites and has great throw.

I hope someone says they are terrible, don't bother because I drooled like in fifteen seconds looking at their long scent list. Are they for candles though?

Thank you everyone for your input and ideas. It appears that finding good and honest people can be a problem, doesn't it? How sad. Right now much is going on with a family member near death and the funeral that will follow, so I'm just sitting on this and see what she does within a week. I plan on contacting Mandi when things settle down. In the meantime I don't want to even respond to this woman in fear that she will mess something up. I need to find out what I have to know to make it retrievable for someone else so all is not lost. I changed my password at Network Solutions and wrote down where it's hosted as that does appear on there. I don't know if I need more than that or not. Because her response to me was riddled with excuses for down the road I realize what a problem it's going to be to get her to do anything should it need to be done and that's the impression I got from contacting some of her clients in her long portfolio. She does do excellent, beautiful work, but that doesn't help later when you might need it.

I use a metal whisk as well and just wipe it off between batches with a paper towel. Speaking of stirring though.... do you guys stir gently or really whip it up? I've never known what is best so if someone could help answer that question it would be appreciated. Thanks!

I left a rather firm message yesterday and here was my response: Hi Jackie - I am sorry - my computer crashed and I had to order a new lap top and it just got here today - as you can imagine I am WAY behind on everything including just answering emails. I finally got the internet to work on it but it is an allnew windows so going to take me a bit to get use to and use. I have to install all my programs I use and get reorganized which will take me a few days - i can finish adding your products for you then. thank you and i apologize for going missing - all of my contact information for all clients was on the computer so I was left here missing a brain and arm I haven't replied yet, but want to ask how you can install my pictures when they're on the "crashed" computer. This worries me about any help I will need down the road. I did call three people who listed numbers on their site who are clients of hers. Said she has so many irons in so many fires she doesn't devote much time to this anymore. They have a hard time getting her to change anything once the site is up and running. So, would it be better to get her to finish it and then have someone else take it over or jump ship now and find someone else recommended by someone else? Does anyone know what I would ask of her to find out where another person or company could go "retrieve" it? What computer lingo I would need to ask? That is what happened before, it remained lost in cyberspace. I did go to Network Solutions and login and found where it's hosted. Is that what would be needed or could she do something to that? I should change my password so she can't get in anymore right? Help!

I need to give a little background. Over a year ago, I had a company doing my website. It was a week away from being finished and she died suddenly. It took months to get the daughter to give me the location of where it was "stored" and then get the files off her mom's computer so someone else could finish it. I looked around and found a good named company that has done many candle sites and even contacted her clients and got glowing recommendations from this woman. Two months ago I contacted her and no problem, might have to make a few tweeks but you can be up and running in a week or two. Sent her all the pics again, text files and everything else she needed. And of course, sent her my money which I had to do and have found that with other places as well. I'd already paid once to the poor gal who passed away, so this is my second time now paying for a website. I send emails, I call, and I get no response. Once in a while, some tiny little thing is changed on the site so I know she didn't fall off the face of the earth. Her site promoting her services is still up and running and she has a huge portfolio and I've checked these sites out and they do have her company name at the bottom giving credit. In fact, several candle and tart companies have her. I don't know what to do! Truthfully, I don't want to piss her off and demand action because she can just tell me to get lost so I feel like I'm being held hostage, but wth??? (sorry, I get very upset about this) am I supposed to do? I call, I cry, I beg for communication and nothing. I truly can't afford to do this again so I'm treading lightly. Talk about non-existent customer service! I can't believe she's held her clients this long if this is how they are treated. I even said on the phone if there are personal problems, I will understand, just please communicate something to me. At this point does anyone have suggestions on how this should be handled? Thanks so much, Jackie

I found it much cheaper to order Clarus direct at the time I was getting it. A lot of saving over ordering from Connie's. If you try the oils, let us know please! I'm going to test the Soapalooza scents I poured starting Saturday. This waiting is horrible..........!

My favorite ocean scent is Salty Sea Air by RE. To me there is no perfume, just salty air. I love it and its my favorite scent.

I'll pm you, thanks!! That's wonderful your melts sell so fast! Are they soy or parasoy?

I thought you meant your "work" shop.... LOL, but loved seeing your real shop. How cool for you! Very nice! Your colors are so vibrant in the votives. Will the tarts lose scent being out in the open like that? Wish I could jet down there for some of those gorgeous five dollar earrings I saw! Great job and you sure have been busy!

I would love to see someone else's shop! Always looking for improvement in my own. Maybe you could upload to youtube or what is your site? I "think" I have mine pretty organized with files for every scent and small and large labels made for each, the shipping all in one area, tables for molds to lay flat, etc. Still it remains a mess most of the time even though I have shelves for the oils. Let us know where to look and thanks!

You hit it right on the head. I was so shocked she didn't know what wax melts were I could hardly believe it. I've been hooked on them for over twenty years so I assumed everyone knew about them. I will work on improving my pitch for them. Yes, if she would use a melter in her shop so people could walk in and fall in love with scents she'd have a seller there for her, but I rather doubt that will happen. It was a very good learning experience for me. One thing I learned and I can't believe I could have been so stupid........... when I had business cards made up a year ago I didn't put my phone number on them!! I hadn't wanted it on there for boxes I mail out so I just put the website, but for people I talk to personally it needs to be there. Duh!

We did both learn a lot. I don't want to come off as I was totally annoyed with her. I was gracious and spent a lot of time explaining wax melts. etc. but at the same time I was indeed somewhat put off because even though she sells flowers, I would never walk into her shop and make her spend almost an hour telling me what a flower is. I think she might have done some research before I was contacted, but I'm new to this and maybe this is how it all works!

Oh....... I forgot to add that she was highly disappointed that depending on the scent my melts could go from 8 - 12 - 16 hours and not thirty days like a Glade plugin. Maybe that's what she was thinking wax melts are???????

Well. It was interesting doing my very first wholesale pitch. Got a lot of questions thrown at me I wasn't prepared for and I'm kind of still shaking my head. Ok, I live in a small town, but I had to tell the woman what wax melts are and how they work in a warmer. She sees my warning label on the back of the bag and says, "Are these dangerous?" I told her no, they don't even have a flame like candles (she sells candles!) but they are warm wax. "So they can burn people?" I explained how you turn the melter off and they get hard then you dispose of them. I didn't dare tell her I grab a paper towel and pour mine out while it's still liquid! So then she says, "They so big, I'm not sure how I could display them. Do you have a rack for the singles?" No........... I don't carry a supply of display racks and if you buy them YOU display them. Didn't tell her that of course. So she wants to know then if I can make them smaller. They're only an ounce, typical wax melt size in various shapes. I explained they are made in molds and no, can't make them smaller. Can I get smaller molds? Not for one account, no, and then the scent strength would be effected anyway. I said maybe the clamshells would be easier for you to display. "They're too plain, I want only the shapes." Ok....... Halfway through I'm thinking about how my dogs are starving at home (I went straight after work) and that I'd much rather be there about now feeding them. She said she thought it would just be a little display like earrings. She saw them on my facebook page and contacted me, so that one really had me stumped on what she expected. She had no warmer, so I'm glad I brought one to give her, but I kind of think this was all a waste of time and waste of my money. Good experience though, I guess. I have no clue what I'll hear from her. If she took everything home, maybe she'll fall in love with wax melts. I just don't know and I don't know how I could have handled this differently because I don't think anything was going to please her except some little bitty display that wouldn't take up much room. I did make suggestions of baskets, etc. so maybe she'll think about that. Thanks, Jackie

Thanks! I did place an order. Most of them do say excellent in paraffin. They have so many interesting sounding ones and after discovering how good Elements oils are, which are mostly for soaps, I decided to give them a try.

Soapalooza has so many interesting fragrances. Has anyone tried them for tarts or candles? Thanks!

Not straight soy, but I use a parasoy and its wonderful

I've got my samples box all ready to go along with my scent list and descriptions and a typed letter thanking them for their interest (in case the owner isn't there) and I specifically said in it that should they be interested we can talk about a wholesale purchase at that time indicating I will not be interested in anything consignment. I need to let some cure I just made today so I won't be dropping it off until the end of next week. Thanks everyone for the GREAT advice! Jackie

That is a wonderful idea ! Group damage control for Ubure. It would be easy to post "wow, I'm willing to give someone a second chance. If I ever do wrong, I hope I get a second chance" and make that woman look stupid for what she's doing. Of course then she'll bump people from her site (if it's her site) but better than nothing.

Geez, I hope I never tick that lady off! Talk about someone with mental health problems, it's her! I feel so sorry for you dealing with this. She's displaying the same cyberbullying kids go through and look how it effects them. How unfair that you can't post to stand up for yourself but that's how it works with these people. Hopefully her groupie following isn't that large, but unfortunately those groupies also spread her word. This is unbelievably cruel and immature. I wish I could tell you something that would help. Does she have a facebook page you can message her on? That could backfire on you, though. It might be hard, but I think I'd leave it alone. Wow.