Asher Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Seeking a cheaper alternative to the official "snowflake oil" I actually made a "vegetable oil" votive recently. The resulting mottling was quite disappointing. Granted, I didn't add any fragrance oil (which generally produces its own mottling), but I did use a liberal amount of VO. Apparently, I used too much, since the votive was sweating beads of VO after I removed it from the mold. I'll have to go to plan B, which is mineral oil (as someone had suggested). If that doesn't work I'll just have to overpay for a tiny bottle of "snowflake oil" again.I like being creative, so I may just poke around the kitchen for some unusual additives. I wonder if vanilla extract will work as a fragrance oil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 I wonder if vanilla extract will work as a fragrance oil OMG I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT..... vanilla extract contains alcohol - which is flammable - maybe you don't want to put it in a candle........ Just my guess, but I could be wrong!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asher Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Isn't oil flammable as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Asher: vanilla ext. does not work -- I already tried it:cry2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Isn't oil flammable as well? Yeah, you're right!! There is just something scary about putting alcohol in something that has a flame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 I also found that mineral oil from the drugstore didn't work very well:smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asher Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Yeah, you're right!! There is just something scary about putting alcohol in something that has a flame. I bet the candle would burn quite well, though....no need to worry about your wick size. Heck, you wouldn't even need a wick So, vanilla extract doesn't work? I'm quite surprised someone else actually thought of using it.How about butter? Anyone ever tried to add butter just to see what impact it made? It wouldn't be used for fragrance, obviously, but it might do something crazy to the color and surface texture....or it could just cause a big mess.See how my mind works? I get bored with doing things the normal way. However, I'm smart enough to know that adding anything water-based to hot wax is a good way to get a bunch of hot liquid projectiles flying around the kitchen.Have you tried adding hot cocoa mix to wax? Now I'm just getting strange...but isn't this how people come up with some really neat effects? If I do a hot chocolate candle I'll report my results. Same goes with the butter candle. You think I'm kidding, don't you? :smiley2:I won't do an entire batch, of course...just a test votive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Alan beat you to it http://www.candletech.com/cgi-local/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Discussions;action=display;num=1100670458;start=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Heck, you wouldn't even need a wick Have you tried adding hot cocoa mix to wax? Now I'm just getting strange...but isn't this how people come up with some really neat effects? If I do a hot chocolate candle I'll report my results. Same goes with the butter candle. You think I'm kidding, don't you? :smiley2:Asher, You are beginning to scare me........... LOLLet us know what you discover, and if you've come up with some fabulous formula........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asher Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 That is too funny. Love the photos. Boy, and I thought I was creative Nice to know that butter is a decent candle fuel. If I were to dissolve a few tablespoons in some wax I wonder what effect it would have on the surface. Maybe it would have none. Maybe it would just rise to the surface and not even mix with the wax. I wish I had the chemistry background that Alan has, but 2 years of general chem and 1 year of organic chem back in college have been forgotten. Who knew I could have used them for creative candlemaking? Well, I may still try to dissolve crystals in the wax (i.e. drink mix crystals). Has that been done? Something tells me there is already a thread about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 I like this guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 That was so funny......... Good for Alan to try that stuff!!!!Asher, I'm sure you can come up with some other things to add....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Alan's photo essay is hilarious. Only a candle maker would get the idea to try these experiments. Bet the kids did have fun. Sorry I missed it the first time around:cheesy2: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeB Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 OMG I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT..... vanilla extract contains alcohol - which is flammable - maybe you don't want to put it in a candle........ Just my guess, but I could be wrong!!!!! I second that! These are the ingredients in McCormicks pure vanilla extract VANILLA BEAN EXTRACTIVES IN WATER, ALCOHOL (35%), AND CORN SYRUP. Snap, crackle, pop for sure. On second thought.. an interactive candle might sell...LOL!Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I would nix the cocoa powder and drink crystals ideas. I'm thinking the candles probably wouldn't burn well, if at all. That kind of stuff is most likely to severely clog the wick. And what does get through may stink to the high heavens when burned.... Of course, I'm not the one who'd have to smell it or clean up afterwards either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I guess my life is so boring that I found reading Alan's post the most enjoyable entrainment I have had recently. Really cracked me up. Thanks for the link Robin. New inventions are usually the result of insanity.....people have always laughed or discredited people with eccentric ideas. I find it encouraging that we just might survive as a species. Now....what can I light on fire....hmmmmmm.....let me see...Oh...how about lipstick????? When you have car trouble and are out on a dark and lonely road....whip out your tube, insert a wick (don't we all carry those) and Voilà!!!!!!!! It will give you light and heat....saving your life......Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Alan beat you to it http://www.candletech.com/cgi-local/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Discussions;action=display;num=1100670458;start=0I've heard about this but never seen the thread. Too cool! Thanks for posting it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaybee23 Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 It was very funny while he was testing. He was a testing fool, testing every thing in site. Even my DH got a kick out of his posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asher Posted November 30, 2005 Author Share Posted November 30, 2005 I would nix the cocoa powder and drink crystals ideas. I'm thinking the candles probably wouldn't burn well, if at all. That kind of stuff is most likely to severely clog the wick.You had to go and ruin my fun Pesky wicks anyway...who needs 'em?So, I'm guessing the Jell-o candle project should also be scrapped, since the gelatin would probably clog up the wicks worse than concentrated vanilla frangrance oil.I guess I'll just have to go back to using boring stearic acid and boring fragrance oils. Where's the fun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Naw, there's still stuff to be burned. Just look for things that have an oil base Would motor oil mottle? The new clean kind of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asher Posted November 30, 2005 Author Share Posted November 30, 2005 I may have to draw the line with motor oil. A "Pennzoil candle" would most certainly not need a wick. It would burn very well....and I'm sure the kitchen would burn along with it. Is toothpaste oil-based? That could make a very strong minty candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Just look for things that have an oil base Would motor oil mottle? The new clean kind of course Now that's a great gift idea for the man that has everything...... A motor oil candle, dyeing it black, and using leather FO (for the new car smell)!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 After reading thru all this thread and Alan's experiments, I don't feel so dumb for having tried the vanilla extract. I didn't get a chance to test burn it cause the vanilla went straight to the bottom & balled up like hot fudge dropped in water. Motor oil candle is a cute idea but how about burnt rubber -- call it 'where the rubber meets the road'. I'll make my new years resolution early... I promise not try any additives without first checking with Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Now that's a great gift idea for the man that has everything...... A motor oil candle, dyeing it black, and using leather FO (for the new car smell)!!!!! LMAO.. great idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaD Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 That's classic. I love the experimentation. Good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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