Newbie that needs your professional input

[coolspringcandle]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the candlemaking business and I need/want some suggestions from all of you pro's out there. I will be making soy candles in 10 ounce Candlelina jars, 16 ounce as well in the future, as well as "Mini-Tarts" (1.3 ounce), and Votives (2.3 ounce). I will attach pictures of the candlelina jar, votive(larger size) and regular size tart, mini-tart as well as a 8 ounce jelly Jar that I tested with.

I found some cute little molds that I thought would make adorable tarts. There are 5 different shapes and when you weigh them all together it weighs 1.3 ounces which is .5 ounces bigger than the traditional tarts out there. My thought was that customers could take these Mini-Tarts and mix and match scents with each other or you could just put them all in as one scent. What is everyones opinion on these? So far the feedback i have received from family and friends is very positive becuase its different from the normal tart, especially with the opportunity to combine scents together.

Also what in your opinion "HAS" to be on a lable and what "NEEDS" to be on a label? I am guessing I need to add a phone number and/or address to it. Eventually I will have a website as well. Also take a look at my hang tag, is it just me or is it to big? Is the label too plain? I was wanting to put a label on the jar itself but because of the curves of the jar I couldnt get anthing to stick without wrinkling, any suggestions? I would love to go the clear label route as well as I want these to be simple but elegant.

Ok I thinks thats all for now. Please feel free to email me or respond here any suggestions that you may have.

BTW I included pics of my Yankee collection as well as my burn pile, he he!

Thaks so much,

[Candle Man]

WOW!! You have spent $1,000's on all those Yankme candles and when tested against mine aren't worth the high dollars they retail for.

I'm sure you can (with time) make a better candle that thires.

[Candle Man]

About that hang tag it looks good but to big for that size jar.

[coolspringcandle]

Thanks Candleman.

Yes I have literally spent thousands of dollars hence the reason for me getting into the candlemaking business. Yankee just raised their prices yet again! A 22 oz cost $22.99, 14.5 oz. is $19.99, Tarts and votives are now at $1.79. I cant think of any reason why they would need to raise prices on tarts and votives considering the small cost at producing them. I have been collecting Yankee for like 4 years now. I am hoping to make my own, not only because in the long run it will be cheaper but they keep on retiring my favorite scents!

Do any of you other guys have the candllina jar, ever get a lable on it? I was thinking my hang tag was a bit big. The size of it was 2 X 2. I will reduce the size of it so its not so in your face. Compared to the other stuff posted on here I can tell I am so much a newbie. Some jars I have seen are just down right beautiful!

[chauntelle]

WOW u really love those candles huh? I think the tag idea is much better than labels and agree that there slightly too big, but i thought the jars looked nice!! I'm sure it won't be long b 4 it's all your candles on the shelves :rolleyes2

[debscent]

Have you thought of a round label on the lid?

[Fern]

I agree with Debscent, a round label on the lid of the jar would keep it nice and clean looking, although a hang tag would be fine as well, I'd just reduce the size. Because of the shape of the jar, I think you are going to have a very hard time getting any label to adhere without wrinkling. I like the design you've created. It's simple but nice. As far as wording on the label goes, you want to have your company name, phone number, website address or email, scent, and weight. In addition, you are going to want to put a warning label on the bottom of your container. Regarding your tarts, I like the different shapes you have there, and I imagine there are people out there who might like to mix scents, so I think that is fine, although personally, I prefer one shape and have no desire to mix scents...but that's just me. Your votives, and please don't take offense, need a little work. The tops look a little rough and really should be smooth. I can make a great pillar, but those little votives have been difficult for me to get a nice smooth top...but I'm getting better. And WOW, is all I can say regarding your Yankee Candle collection...that's a whole lot of money on those shelves! Good luck to you in your candle making venture!

[justrightcandles]

You look VERY organized. I can not believe you have spent that much on Yankee! I like the tarts. Yeah the votive looks a little misshappen. Smaller tag. But i looks like a great start.

[Beth-VT]

OK.....sorry, but I just have to ask? :rolleyes2

You obviously love, and collect Yankme candles, but why? Are you a collector with the intent of reselling? Or do you just like to collect them (nothing wrong with that)?

There is serioulsy no way you can burn all those, is there (lol) and it doesn't look like you want to, they all appear to be brand new. Just curious

[Luci]

That's quite a collection you have there. Bet your neighbors think you're holding seances!

[Jcandleattic]

All I can say is WELCOME to the addiction!!

I can honestly say I probably spent real close to that amount on p*lite candles, and that's what got me into candlemaking. But don't be fooled. You will most likely spend that much in the first year just trying to perfect a couple of sized candles to burn perfectly!! However, with your love of candles you will be able take pride in the product you make and love them WAY more than you ever did the Yankme brand!!

[Mtngrl]

Wow, what a collection. Once you get into making your own candles, you'll have THE PERFECT shelves to store them on.

Have you read the riot act about testing your candles before you start selling them? Sorry to ask .... for some of us, I think we just can't help ourselves. :rolleyes2

I like the idea of having labels that would stick on your lid. While I have no real issues w/ the tag, it's a sleeker look to have nothing, or very little attached. But that's just me.

I would prefer getting mixed FOs in melts. I like choice ... one FO may lend itself better to a particular mood/occassion than another FO. But, it would be such a small thing to also make bags of just one FO, maybe in different shapes? for those who want all of one FO. That's the great thing about melts, the testing is relatively easy & straight forward. Seems like a good place to start.

I was wondering, if you wanted to go clear label around the container, have you considered a label just a little less wide than the fat part of the container, & then maybe shrink wrap it so it will be a tight fit? I don't think I said that very well, I hope you know what I mean. Might have to recommend that the label be removed before burning (another good reason for lables on lids .... they'll always be w/ the candle .... unless they lose the lid). I think melts are great ways to test your FOs.

I agree that you'll want to perfect the look of your votives. When one considers how much they'll spend getting to the point of selling voitves & melts, the $1.79 price might sound ok. If you wanted to one-up'em, maybe a 3 pak for $3? You'll have to figure out what your market will support.

Good luck. Can't wait to see those shelves again when they contain all YOUR candles. Good luck.

[lsbennis]

WOW......that is quite the candle collection...they look so pretty sitting there on the shelf like that.

Welcome to Candletech and Candle Making, your logo is really nice I love the simple lines and grahpic. I do think the tag is a little large for the jar but it would look really nice just a hair smaller. Also as others have suggested a circular label on top would be nice or just the hang tag.

What I would really like to know is how the heck did you wick the 10oz Candelina...I have quite a few of these little beauties and I have been trying for weeks to wick them. I'm about ready to sell them for .75 each because I'm so tired of fussing with them.

[Wick'd]

What an awesome collection! And look at how organized you are - my Yankees always ended up pushed around on the top of the fridge!

I also like the suggestion for putting a label on top of the lid.

[coolspringcandle]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for posting and dissappearing, I really appreciate everyones comments so far and it looks like we are all on the same page. I have just been busy with work and everything.

I will try and respond to everyones suggestions.

Yes I do collect Yankee Candles. i started about 4 years ago collecting and I also have my own burn pile as I call it too. I know there are alot of people out there that do not like Yankee cany more for various reasons and most of them are vaild reasons. I guess its just a hard habit to break kinda like a kid collecting comic books, LOL!

Label Suggestions:

I agree with all of you about the hang tag being too big for that size jar. I have since made a new hang tag that is only 1.8 inches by 1.8 inches, I think its just about right. Now if I can only decide to use the hang tag or not. I have found using a hang tag to be a little cumbersome. nearly every time I take the lid off the tag wants to either come off the jar as well. I dont think that would be ideally suited if i or customers will have to put the tag back on time after time. So I am actively thinking about doing a round label any where from 2 inches to 3 inches on the lid it self. I am trying to decide if I want to use the logo that I came up with or use pics to match the scents. But then I would worry about unintentionally using a pic without someones permission. I read that whole thread hear on that topic and I dont want the villagers coming after me with pitchforks and and torches if you know what I mean. Some of my fragrance vendors have pics associated witht heir fragrances so i guess i can ask them if I could use those pics on my labels jst to be safe.

Whats the general consensus around here: Label with company graphic and info or Label with pic associated with scent and info?

I want the nice, clean, elegant, less is more look with my candles. I am still not sold on the Candlelina jar as I was really wanting to put the label on the side, possibly the clear with black graphics/letters. I do know that I do not want to do the typical mason jar type candle, I want to be different but not in a bad way. I do know about warning labels so that at is covered.

Also thanks for helping me out about what information should be put on the label.

Tarts:

Everyone I show them too seems to really like the "Mini-Tarts" that I made. They like them becuase they are different from the normal tarts you see out there. When you put all 5 shapes together and weigh them it comes out to 1.3 ounces which is .5 ounces bigger than your traditional tart. i was thinking about selling the "Mini-Tarts" for $1 for all 5 shapes in one scent. You are getting more Tart for your money at that price. Is that too low, too high, how do all of you sell your Tarts/Votives? I was also thinking about having the traditonal tart available as well, how much do you sell your tarts for? With the Mini-tarts a person could mix and match with other fragrances in my Mini-Tart lineup, say they could put 2 Mini-Tarts of one scent and 2 or 3 of another scent to make their own combination. Just my thoughts on that.

Votives:

Yes i agree that the top of my votive was uneven. I have only made literally a handful of those as I have been focusing more on my container candles and tarts. Does anybody have a good suggestion for a wick size to start out with a 2.3 ounce votive. I use the bigger plastic votive molds for my votives. How do you all package your tarts and votives? Shrink wrap? Cello Bags?

I do know about testing, testing and more testing and believe me I have been. I will never sell a product that I do not have 100% confidence in. I collect and burn candles so i like to think I know what the customer wants and needs.

As far as the wicking for the 10 ounce candlelna jar. I used HTP 1212. So far ever time I have burned it has melted all the way across with about a 1/4 inch deep melt pool. with the weather change going on here in TN and having candle nose on top of that I can barely smell anything but someone stopped by the house the other day and they were wowed by the Frankincense & Myrrh I was testing, they said it filled the living room and kitchen and dining room, so I guess I am doing something right

Well I think I have covered everything so far but as always any suggestions are much appreciated!

[ashncandles]

Wow youve been busy!! Label looks good but I agree with someone above me, it looks just a tad too big for that one jar. I like the tart idea too!

[waxwench]

Wow, that's quite a collection.

I'm cringing at the thought of dusting all of them! Yes, I'm that anal!

[charity4candles]

OMG...That's alot of questions:confused: I think it's time to search...The search feature will provide you with most of your answers. Wick sizes, etc.

But IMHO...When I bought "tarts", I didn't want a tiny tart that was going to take adding 6 more to to get any throw...and a "tiny tart" isn't going to throw well with just one. Have you tested just one to see how it does? I would think that being that small, that 10 min. of burning (melting) it would start smelling burned.