Coconut Apricot Creme Troubles..

[KCameron]

Hi everyone,

 

This is the first time I've ever entered a discussion forum like this, so you know it serious 😅. I'm new to candle making and have already experienced that love/hate relationship with candle making, especially in the beginning. I decided to use Coconut Apricot Creme as it seemed like everyone raved about its ability to hold more fragrance along with it being natural, etc. I'm using a 12oz glass container, a 3-part blend of fragrance oils from different (but seemingly reliable) suppliers, the diameter of the candle is .375 inches and I'm using a .02 booster wick. I get a decent melt pool, but I just can't smell anything unless I get super close. When it solidifies again, it doesn't have the same awesome cold throw it once had before burning. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

 

I heated the wax to 200 and mixed in the fragrance around 180 and poured at 170. I also cured for 2 weeks, so just really frustrated and hoping to get any advice/feedback at all! 

[BusyBee]

On 9/3/2021 at 5:52 PM, KCameron said:

Hi everyone,

 

This is the first time I've ever entered a discussion forum like this, so you know it serious 😅. I'm new to candle making and have already experienced that love/hate relationship with candle making, especially in the beginning. I decided to use Coconut Apricot Creme as it seemed like everyone raved about its ability to hold more fragrance along with it being natural, etc. I'm using a 12oz glass container, a 3-part blend of fragrance oils from different (but seemingly reliable) suppliers, the diameter of the candle is .375 inches and I'm using a .02 booster wick. I get a decent melt pool, but I just can't smell anything unless I get super close. When it solidifies again, it doesn't have the same awesome cold throw it once had before burning. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

 

I heated the wax to 200 and mixed in the fragrance around 180 and poured at 170. I also cured for 2 weeks, so just really frustrated and hoping to get any advice/feedback at all! 

I find that Coconut 83 is much easier to get stronger HT than Coconut Apricot Creme.  

*Warning:  Coconut 83's manufacturer is having problem with their machine, and its quality has been bad since last year.  It appears to me that they are almost back to normal again.  But still, be careful with its quality if you decided to try them.

 

Wooden wick .375" .02 booster wick works well for soy wax that is if it stays lit.  Coconut wax would need several size smaller wick than that.  Smaller wooden wick without booster might work better.  But then again, it is not easy to get strong HT out of Coconut Apricot Creme.  Some other candle makers were happy with small CDN wicks.  

[TallTayl]

Hello and welcome!

coconut creme - this is different from Ceda  Cerica, correct? Ceda cerica I would use a CDN or similar versus wood. I’d need to look into the composition for the creme. I get a little confused by what all the new and veteran resellers call the various blends. I changes from reseller to reseller. 
 

Wooden wicks seem to have a sweet spot with soy moreso than coconut blends IMO. 
 

more fragrance does not automatically mean better hot throw. ht comes from finding the balance between the wick and your fragrance and wax for the container you are using. Convection plays a big role in the actual throw. There’s a sweet spot of temps when Ht just magically happens. Wooden wicks in the type and size you need for your container might not be hitting the right range. 
 

I’ve been blown away by some waxes with as little as 2% FO, and severely let down with others at 10%. More fo often causes clogging in wicks that hinders Ht. FO is so individual it is hard to narrow your specific issue down without knowing where it’s from and what it is. Some FO notes just don’t throw well. 
 

also, most waxes benefit from a nice long cure. Ceda cerica, for instance, is usually mediocre at best until about 2 weeks. Soy and blends containing soy often need the same. Not sure what all is happening at the microscopic level, but it is important. Quite a few tester candles in my candle graveyard I was going to throw out as total duds blew me away when I lit them to use them up after a month or more. So frustrating! 

[BusyBee]

According to CalWax, The Wooden Wick Co. is the distributor of their Ceda Cerica.  But The Wooden Wick Co. does not sell Ceda Cerica.  Instead, they have Coconut Apricot Creme.  So, is it Ceda Cerica or Coconut Apricot Creme?

[TallTayl]

8 hours ago, BusyBee said:

According to CalWax, The Wooden Wick Co. is the distributor of their Ceda Cerica.  But The Wooden Wick Co. does not sell Ceda Cerica.  Instead, they have Coconut Apricot Creme.  So, is it Ceda Cerica or Coconut Apricot Creme?

Exactly. So frustrating to not know what you are using. Makes or breaks a candle system when the wrong one is tested, versus used. Multiply this by many many many new resellers that popped up during the pandemic and it is a nightmare. 

[KCameron]

15 hours ago, TallTayl said:

Hello and welcome!

coconut creme - this is different from Ceda  Cerica, correct? Ceda cerica I would use a CDN or similar versus wood. I’d need to look into the composition for the creme. I get a little confused by what all the new and veteran resellers call the various blends. I changes from reseller to reseller. 
 

Wooden wicks seem to have a sweet spot with soy moreso than coconut blends IMO. 
 

more fragrance does not automatically mean better hot throw. ht comes from finding the balance between the wick and your fragrance and wax for the container you are using. Convection plays a big role in the actual throw. There’s a sweet spot of temps when Ht just magically happens. Wooden wicks in the type and size you need for your container might not be hitting the right range. 
 

I’ve been blown away by some waxes with as little as 2% FO, and severely let down with others at 10%. More fo often causes clogging in wicks that hinders Ht. FO is so individual it is hard to narrow your specific issue down without knowing where it’s from and what it is. Some FO notes just don’t throw well. 
 

also, most waxes benefit from a nice long cure. Ceda cerica, for instance, is usually mediocre at best until about 2 weeks. Soy and blends containing soy often need the same. Not sure what all is happening at the microscopic level, but it is important. Quite a few tester candles in my candle graveyard I was going to throw out as total duds blew me away when I lit them to use them up after a month or more. So frustrating! 

Hi! Thank you for your response, it's very much appreciated!

 

I believe the wax I am using is Ceda Cerica. I'm going to test out a lower % in FO, as I feel the wick I have is fine. Would having a thicker wick matter? For instance, instead of a .02, I go with a .03?

 

It's amazing the kind of testing that is needed for making candles!

Edited September 8, 2021 by KCameron

[KCameron]

14 hours ago, BusyBee said:

According to CalWax, The Wooden Wick Co. is the distributor of their Ceda Cerica.  But The Wooden Wick Co. does not sell Ceda Cerica.  Instead, they have Coconut Apricot Creme.  So, is it Ceda Cerica or Coconut Apricot Creme?

I had no clue these were different? I purchased two kinds actually, one does not say it is Ceda Cerica and the other does. I'm going to look into this a little more. Thanks for sharing. 

[TallTayl]

1 hour ago, KCameron said:

Hi! Thank you for your response, it's very much appreciated!

 

I believe the wax I am using is Ceda Cerica. I'm going to test out a lower % in FO, as I feel the wick I have is fine. Would having a thicker wick matter? For instance, instead of a .02, I go with a .03?

 

It's amazing the kind of testing that is needed for making candles!

Thicker wooden wicks burn very differently than their thinner counterparts. You don’t know til you test how it will be on your candle,  it is worth a try.  You may need a narrower wooden wick with the thicker one. 

[BusyBee]

1 hour ago, KCameron said:

I had no clue these were different? I purchased two kinds actually, one does not say it is Ceda Cerica and the other does. I'm going to look into this a little more. Thanks for sharing. 

Both of them should be same Ceda Cerica.

 

If you lost CT after first burn, then the chances are wick might have been be too big.  Try it by knocking off booster if you don't have one without the booster!  Coconut wax should work better with thinner wooden wick.  But then, I was not able to get strong HT out of Ceda Cerica.  So, I am not an expert with that wax.

[KCameron]

On 9/8/2021 at 10:43 AM, BusyBee said:

Both of them should be same Ceda Cerica.

 

If you lost CT after first burn, then the chances are wick might have been be too big.  Try it by knocking off booster if you don't have one without the booster!  Coconut wax should work better with thinner wooden wick.  But then, I was not able to get strong HT out of Ceda Cerica.  So, I am not an expert with that wax.

Thanks for your response! I figured that was the case, however, I tried a different wax and it already seems to be working differently.  I got a .03 booster and now I feel like it may burn hotter (which was probably the issue to begin with); will give a flat wick a try! Thanks again!