mauimom Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 You know, I am very new at this. For a week I used stuff that I bought at the local stores. Then I ordered wax and wicks and scents from Peak. The difference is unbelievable, the ease of production is better, and the cost of shipping and so on is not even noticible when you view and smell the final product. I wish there was some way to tell all us new candle crafters to go for the good stuff........FIRST! Or to put up a sign in these establishments that says, "Don't Buy" Guess not!Anyway, I thank all of you for your comments and help in the past couple of weeks. You have no idea how much help you have been to me. :highfive: Merry Christmas to all! santa cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luci Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 Be careful about some of the stuff from ebay as well. There are several legitimate and good suppliers on there, but I had to learn the hard (and very expensive) way about some of the individuals.I have gotten some very good supplies from ebay, so please don't think that I'm saying all of the sellers are bad. I just had to learn to ask the right questions about the source of certain items, etc. Actually, I hooked up with some of my favorite supplers there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildheart75 Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 Peak is the only place I get my wax and FO from. I have gotten FO from other places and they just don't have the same quality that Peak does. I will never buy FO from anyone but Peak again. They are only 1 state away from me so shipping isn't that bad for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravity Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I will never buy FO from anyone but Peak again. That's kind of a harsh stand to take. You'll seriously miss out on some fabulous FO's with that take on things. Sure, you might get some junkers from other places.. but to stop and say you'll never try anything from anyone besides Peaks is just flat out silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillgunter Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 We all start out using stuff from craft stores, its the only way to find out if you like candlemaking tho. I had a ton of stuff I trashed a long time ago:smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelleyBean Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 That's kind of a harsh stand to take. You'll seriously miss out on some fabulous FO's with that take on things. Sure, you might get some junkers from other places.. but to stop and say you'll never try anything from anyone besides Peaks is just flat out silly.While I dearly love Peaks and their FO, I have to agree about missing out if you stick with one supplier. I get mine from many different places and very glad I do because I would have missed out on some awesome stuff that Peaks doesnt carry. When I try a new supplier, I do buy 1oz sizes to see how much I will like them, then if I am pleased, I order the bigger sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 Yup! Peaks is just one supplier I use. I order FOs from several suppliers. My best selling soaps and candles I use FOs that are NOT from Peaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Makin Momma Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I absolutely LOVE BCN's FOs but I am eager to try from Peak and some others mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Girl Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 We all start out using stuff from craft stores, its the only way to find out if you like candlemaking tho. I had a ton of stuff I trashed a long time ago:smiley2:No, we all don't. Some of us research like fools before making a purchase. For months even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Makin Momma Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I was all over Bitter Creek's board before I purchased. I even had to have a garage sale before I could place my first order! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 I was just thinking that, GG. Get out of my head.I actually did R/D for about 6 months before I bought ANYTHING. Then about another year of hard core testing of different types of products before I sell it to the public.Heck, it can take me 6 months to just test a single scent. I'm a little OCD in that regard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smart tart Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 Lots of reading, just on this board, will give you lots of info regarding suppliers. Peaks is awesome, with that I will agree, but there are many suppliers that carry different and unusual scents and supplies that are awesome! Please take some time to read the back posts and you will see that it has been said many times, many ways, go to candle suppliers for your supplies, not the local Michaels (or craft store). It will also give you lots of info for wicks, colors, scents, jars, and much much more.Before I started making candles I read for hours every day, made notes, figured out what I wanted to try first, what I needed and some basic instructions. Made it easy to make a good product when you have the information you need.Glad you found Peaks.....they have awesome products and great cs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smart tart Posted December 17, 2006 Share Posted December 17, 2006 Excuse the lack of paragraphs up above.....I am having a computer problem! I can make one hell of a candle but can't figure out computer problems to save my life!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillgunter Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 No, we all don't. Some of us research like fools before making a purchase. For months even. Well lots of us hehe:) It was my husbands idea to make candles, if it wasnt for him buying a kit I probally would have never thought of it. I bought good stuff as soon as I found this site tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romasoy Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 That's kind of a harsh stand to take. You'll seriously miss out on some fabulous FO's with that take on things. Sure, you might get some junkers from other places.. but to stop and say you'll never try anything from anyone besides Peaks is just flat out silly.I understand what your saying but I have to agree with wild on this one. I have tried many many suppliers and I wanted strong FOs that I would be proud to pass on to my customers. I have been taken for a ride many many times---to a very expensive tune---so we just learned how to manufacture them ourselves. Now, if someone else has a FO I have never heard of I will try it from time to time. It just always brings me back to ours. I'm not saying that ours are the best but it's just what I prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makukula Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I also took the research route before starting. I saw some of the stuff from Michael's et al. However, after I did my research I started out with Peak and am waiting for my first candle ever to cool AS WE SPEAK...its driving me nuts. I read books, surfed the web for more hours than anyone should trying to find information on candle making. I finally made my decision to get at Peak starter kit..but had to continue doing research..a few weeks later I found this site with good reviews on Peak and thats where I have started. Can I put the candle in the fridge already...if I get it out of the mold, I can make another candle tonight!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Ya all are lucky lol! There weren't sites like this or other places back when I started lol! I had to go from what I read in books, but I personally feel diving in and just doing is the best form (helps to know what you're doing though first, granted!) As for not using these places etc. ... it's what I started with. I didn't have a hangup with the waxes or the additives or even the wicks way back when. Not even the colors, but I wasn't thrilled about the scents. Went nuts on the molds ... and then I found the Big Daddies lol ... and requested catalogs and then ordered as if everything would be gone tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smart tart Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 OK man I hate it when I don't know something (cause I know I know everything....lol) but....hey Scented what is Big Daddy's??....oh chit think I understand now.....maybe?! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 The real suppliers ST lol! Well the BIG DADDIES would be the manufacturers, but the other Big Daddies are the real suppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacien Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 That's kind of a harsh stand to take. You'll seriously miss out on some fabulous FO's with that take on things. Sure, you might get some junkers from other places.. but to stop and say you'll never try anything from anyone besides Peaks is just flat out silly.I agree. I personally I love a lot of Peaks FO's but there are so many different varieities. I am a big fan of BCN,BCS,MC, JS and some of NG because they can tell you before you buy it if it throws well in soy. I received a sample of Strawberry FO from Peaks and tossed it because it had such a chemical smell OOB and in a candle. My husband and kids hated it. I can honestly say a lot of their fruit smells didn't do it for me. Their Black Raspberry Vanilla is great though and several others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyl55 Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I'm a big Peak's fan. They were the 1st supplier I got quality FOs from and what a difference that makes. But so much depends on your wax, additives, etc. That's why it is always wise to start with the 1 oz sample bottles of any new FO. Like you I started with Michaels waxes. Their FOs are on my biggest rip off list. For any newbie I still would recommend a starter kit from a quality supplier like Peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comfortscents Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I think scents are very subjective..I actually get nauseous pouring eggnog and any cherry scent..however, I think to limit yourself to one fragrance oil seller is a not so good idea..take for example a scent like Pink Sugar and even Cinnamon Buns...no two are exactly the same..just because it's named after the aquolina perfume..I think they all smell a bit different...just because I like ICS's Pink Sugar doesn't mean someone else would..I have four different clients that only order some version of Downy...and no two of them like the same version so I have 4 different variations of downy..from clean cotton to april fresh downy...I ended up having my own cinnamon buns hand mixed...doesn't mean everyone is going to like it but I keep several companies on hand and make sure when I send out freebies I mark which company's oil I used. There must be over a hundred versions of Rose on the market..and for me that is where I would only order from Peak..but..I order from everyone and lately am finding that I love just scents stuff...don't limit yourself..you will limit your business. If I bought 10lbs of pink dogwood from 10 different suppliers I still would only pour bittercreeks...like I said, subjective. But explore..buy as many samples as you can scoop up..that's one of the things that is great about this board...it's what sold me on Just Scent...I bought a boxful of one ozers and now there are some scents I must have on hand from them.One warning about ebay...and I do mostly all my business on ebay...I have never once bought a bottle of liquid color and have it be any good...soap or candle..I stick with the professionals for my colors and my wicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrie Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 Good advice to stay away from craft store supplies. :smiley2: Even if you just want to try making candles, it is still a wise decision to get quality supplies. I never went the craft store route. I purchased a kit from Cierra Candles. I did eventually learn that their wax is overpriced, but at least I started out with "real" wax. LOL As far as sticking to one supplier, I could never do that. Peak is awesome, but so are several other suppliers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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