denetteb

Nice! I love the pattern and colors!

I really like the jars you used in the third pic! Beautiful products!

Mmmmm, they look good enough to eat! I LOVE the one with the cookie!

I just pulled the trigger on my first batch of candle making supplies! Yay! I have been making my own wax melts for about a year and have really enjoyed it, and I think I am ready to take it to the next level. I ordered from Peaks and bought some sample packs of IGI 4627, an HTP wick sample pack, a case of 8 oz square mason jars, and a case of 4 oz jelly jars. Oooooh I am so excited! Anywho, I thought that I would try to pass the time, as I try to patiently wait for my package to arrive, by typing up my candle testing sheet. This is the information I have so far (please keep in mind that I do not plan to use any additives or dyes…just jar, wick, wax, and fragrance). Jar – name and size Wax – name and weight used to fill container FO – name and % used, also noting actual weight used Wick – type and size Temp that wax was heated up to Temp that FO was added Temp of jar at time of wax pour Temp of wax at time it was poured into container # of days cured before testing Ok…this next part is the part of my testing sheet that I am sort of stuck on. I want to note what is happening during my burn, but I am stuck on how to document it. I have so far something like… Day #1 30 min into burning Flame height Melt pool width Melt pool depth Scent throw 1 hour into burning (note the same things as above, and then doing it again at 2 hours and then 3 and then 4 hours). Is that too much? Should I just take notes at the end of my first burn (aprox 3 or 4 hours)? Hmm…what do you recommend? Am I missing any bits of information, or am I on the right track? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I have used their Kettle Corn in wax melts and LOVE it so much! It is nice and strong, and I don't detect any off notes. I have given melts to both my mom and sister-in-law to try, and they both love it too! I have not tried any other supplies kettle corn FOs, but I don't think I need to because of how much I LOVE this one! Definitely give it a try!

My favorite gingerbread is Iced Gingerbread from Southern Soapers (now Soapalooza...it is listed under the "New Fragrances" section of the site). It is more of a creamy gingerbread. You can definitely detect the vanilla icing in this one...yum!

Just thought that I might add that AHRE just added a new FO called Sweet Potato and Brown Sugar! I have not used it, but if you find you don't like the Aztec one, you can give theirs a try. I have a sample bottle of this FO from Aztec and plan to get it in some wax next week when my SIL and mom come to visit and we do our semi annual wax melt making marathon! I really like it OOB and hope that I doesn't disappoint in wax.

I just popped over to their site to look up a scent description, and noticed that they had a FO on the sidebar with a star rating and review! I didn't see an email about it, so they may have just rolled it out for test, but how great it that?!?! I love sites with reviews! I just hope they wont be one of those sites that doesn't post negative reviews.

Ugh, so would I. I love this scent and have not been able to find a suitable dupe for it. Shhhh, don't tell anyone, but since I can't find a dupe for it, I may or may not buy one of these candles every year...because it is just that good!

Of the ones that I have tried, these are my favorites from AHRE: Apple & Pumpkin Strudel Blueberry Muffin (SnC) Candy Cane (LW) - smells a lot like Slatkin's Twisted Peppermint Cherry Mist (CM) - very good cherry (does not smell medicinal to my nose) with a hint of spice...possibly cinnamom. It is a yummy blender with vanillas! Flannel Sheets Kettle Corn - so incredibly yummy! Mabel's Mint Sugar Cookie - I detect an off note when I sniff OOB, and it is more pronounced when I mixed it in my lotion base. I was about to give up on it when I decided to mix it with some cob for a car sachet...let me tell you, it was AMAZING!! I have yet to put it in wax, and hope ever so desperately that it does well because it smells soooooo very good! Satsuma (Body Shop) Southern Sunshine Toasted Marshmallow (KY) Welcome Home White Cake My AHRE wishlist is shamefully long, and I am having a hard time picking just 20 (my budgetary limit)...and this thread is not making it any easier!

I really like your jars...and the ribbon on the top is super cute! Your labels are fantastic!

I really like the leather strings and washers...nice touch!

I love the colors that you chose...they blend together perfectly! Are they unscented or scented?

They look wonderful! I love that you scented each layer differently, and I bet they smell amazing!

Snaps for AHRE!! I love them too, and they have top notch oils to boot! Of all the suppliers I have ordered from, their oils make up the majority of my collection...and with their large selection, I feel as though my wishlist is always growing.

Oh no! At least it didn't make more of a mess. BTW, your logo and packaging are super duper cute!

I am so glad that you asked this, as I have been wondering the same thing. I have the CS version and I smell almost all chili pepper when I sniff OOB and when I smell the CT of my tart (I have not had the gutts to melt it yet!). I only make wax melts for myself, so my FO stash is relatively small, and I keep all my 1 ounces in a plastic tote...whenever I lift the lid of the one that holds this FO, all I smell is this FO and it sort of smells like movie nachos to me! LOL! I hope I get more orange when I warm it...if I ever muster up the courage to do it!

*gasp* They are lovely! Thanks for sharing your pics!

I second your request! I would love to find an exact dupe to this AMAZING candle. Anyone come across one yet?

Ok...so I have been reading the incredibly looooooong post on the general candle making board (the one titled "Emma Jar at Wallyworld"), and it has me interested in fragrance load. They are a couple of posts where they are discussing fragrance load and how newbies tend to thing that more FO equals stronger HT, but that that is not always the case, and that sometimes too much FO could inhibit the HT, and that it is best to test smaller amounts first (could yield better HT, and does not waste FO). Any who...I was wondering if this concept is the same for wax melts. I know that wicks play a part in HT, but for melts, do you think that too much FO would inhibit the HT? Or, is more FO better in terms of melts? I would love to hear your thoughts on this? On a side note...I just LOVE the previously mentioned thread! It is like I am a fly on the while of these two lovely chandlers as they go throughout their testing journey! I am only half way through the entire thread, but I have learned so much already. I have yet to make my first candle, but I already feel more confident and excited to get in there and try!

I don't know anything about beer (so I may be way off the mark on this one), but Bramble Berry has 4 different beer type scents. They are: Honey Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Pumpkin Lager, and Raspberry Porter. I have not used these FO's, so I can't speak for their performance, but I have used quite a few of their other FO's before and had wonderful results. If you decide to try them out, shoot them a quick email to see if they have ever been tested in candles and see what they say, or maybe someone here can comment on their performance and smell! Sounds like a fun project!!

I made a trip to my local Dollar Tree and did not see any status jars. Maybe they were just out, so I will check back later. Ok...I am soooo very glad you mentioned Fillmore Containers!! I have never heard of them until today (must have been living under a rock until now!), and I love their selection of containers and lids! Yay!! Thanks! Yes they do! I purchased samples of both the 4630 and 4625 when I was trying these two for my wax melts blends, and at the time I ordered them they did not have the 4627 in a sample size, so I put off ordering candle making supplies because I was unsure if I wanted to commit to 25 lbs of that wax. Now I don't have to because they have a 2 lb sample! That is great news about the HTPs! I wonder how many FOs I could buy with the money I would have spent on more wicks...hmmmm I actually just realized today that Peaks had an online chat feature! I will be sure to ask them about the containers. Thanks for the idea!

Ok...I am working on my first order of candle supplies and am having some trouble deciding on a container and wicks. I am ordering from Peaks since they are closest to me, so the shipping is cheaper, and they also have wax samples as well! I plan to get a sample pack or two of the 4627 wax to start out with. First, for the container...I have it narrowed it down to the 9 oz. oval hex jars and the 8 oz. square mason jars. Ideally I would get the 11.5 oz straight sided tumbler, but no lid is a deal breaker for me. I HAVE to have a lid. I would love to be able to find some flat metal lids to fit that jar, but I have had no success. Any ideas of where I could find a lid like that? I ♥ the look of a straight sided jar, like the prestige or status, but the price is a bit steep for me at this point since I am just starting my testing. *sigh* So...for now...I am looking at the oval hex and square mason, and I am wondering if they are both equally easy to wick, or is one more difficult that the other (for example, the oval hex jar appears to be less symmetrical - more oblong than square)? Have any of you had any issues wicking either of they jars? Second, for the wicks, I plan to get some of Peak's wick sample packs, and was wondering if it is necessary that I buy one of each of the packs, or could I start out with maybe 3 of the packs? The sample packs they sell are: cotton core, HTP, LX, RRD, and zinc. Are there any of these wicks that I should avoid with the 4627 wax, or any must haves to start my testing?

So...I decided this week that I have way too many FOs that have not been tested and are just sitting the tubs that I store them in. I really want to buy some more, but don't feel like I can justify the purchase until I try the oils that I have. I mean, what is the point in buying more sugar cookie FOs if I already have the best one...but don't even know it because I have not tried it yet. :undecided Needless to say, I am on a mission to test, test test! Well, all my testing thoughts has me wondering how you all do your testing. For example, if you are on a mission to find the best sugar cookie, do you buy a bunch of different sugar cookie FOs and test them all at once, or do you make a bunch of different purchases from various supplies until you accumulate a bunch of sugar cookie FOs and then test them all at once, or do you test whatever scents you are in the mood for, in any random order, and then keep some of the testers around to compare to similar scents when you finally get around to pouring all the similar oils? At this moment in time, I am on a mission to test all my similar scents (ex. all my cinnamon roll/buns, sugar cookies, chocolate, blueberry, etc.) so I can hopefully find a favorite and stop buying similar ones and use my funds to branch out and try new things! I have a feeling that no matter how much I test, I am pretty sure that I will continue to buy certain scents from every supplier I try, just in case I am missing out on a "good one." *sigh*

I made a handful of tester melts to test FOs to see if they make it to the "candle" list. The FOs I poured were: AHRE Chocolate Layer Cake MW Sugar Cookie Royal ICS Bear Claws ICS Camel Sticky Buns ICS Cinnamon Buns (classic) ICS Cinnamon Buns (ICS) ICS Cinnamon Donuts This was a good weekend to pour testers because I am on the tail end of a nasty cold and my nose is still stuffy, but since it is still stuffy, I can't test them yet.