Had to post this pic - all turned out great using CB135!

[nadiap]

Had to post this up as I'm quite proud of the way these turned out without having to go back for much maintenance - and I know a lot of you like looking at pics (same as I do!).

Lots of testing to get the wicking right and a good HT - but I nailed the testers, so was confident in taking on this project.

70 Oval Glass Votive candles for a bride-to-be.

Used CB135 and FO: Wedding Day.

The candles on the bottom row were made the day before yesterday, the top row early this moring. All were poured and set up in the open on my bench top as well as on the stand you see in the pic. The jars were not warmed, only washed in hot soapy water, dried in the oven but left to cool on the bench tops. Temp of room, not sure of, but I was getting 'extra flushes'

Had a couple with sink holes - where I poured with the wax a little too cool, otherwise they turned out perfect - not one wet spot on any of them !! I'm over the moon the way they turned out

Used: CB135, FO 6% , no colour; poured between 128* - 125* (seems to be the perfect temp for me with these jars as well as some honeypots I'm doing).

[attach]19727[/attach]

Edited April 10, 2010 by nadiap

[homecomfort]

Great Job! I just love these.

Where did you find those cute little oval containers?

[Judy, USMC]

Lots of testing to get the wicking right and a good HT - but I nailed the testers, so was confident in taking on this project.

That's why I like using the 135 too ... once you get ALL the testing done and have it "nailed" the chance of things changing are slim to none. They look great! Good job.

[lrbd]

nice work !

[nadiap]

Great Job! I just love these.

Where did you find those cute little oval containers?

Thank you

I'm in Australia and purchased them from one of my local suppliers, so can't help with any suppliers in the US. They were different to the traditional small round votive, and thought the same, that they were 'cute' so bought a heap when they had a sale on them.

[nadiap]

That's why I like using the 135 too ... once you get ALL the testing done and have it "nailed" the chance of things changing are slim to none. They look great! Good job.

Thanks Judy, it did take a while to get the right wick due to the 'oval' shape, but found a CDN that works well for a lot of fragrances I've tested in these containers.

[KoalaGirl]

Hi Nadiap, they sure look good! That shaped container would have scared me off I think. I love the CB135 {except for a major issue Im having with dragons blood that was perfect in the tester and subsequent burns are pittiful}. Different batch of wax. Supplier said thats it very unlikely to have been any different but I know better since reading this forum!

I had to get some supplies yesterday and he gave me a 1kg sample of Excel to try. Poured a half jar tester last night with Dragons blood.

PS Where do you buy ''wedding day'' scent from? Sounds interesting.

[nadiap]

Sorry for only get back to you sooner - busy finishing off another large order using those votives

Hi Nadiap, they sure look good! That shaped container would have scared me off I think.

I liked the different look, so thought I'd try it, and it worked well, so made up a heap in different fragrances for testing, and they turned out ideal for small rooms like bedrooms or bathrooms with aromatherapy type fragrances

I love the CB135 {except for a major issue Im having with dragons blood that was perfect in the tester and subsequent burns are pittiful}. Different batch of wax. Supplier said thats it very unlikely to have been any different but I know better since reading this forum!

I'm liking the CB135, more so than the 464 (from WA) at least i'm getting nice looking tops, but I I'm having a lot of hassles wtih wetspots - one batch of jars could be great and the next (pouring at exactly same temp), and get I get horrible wet spots, either hours after or the next day. Haven't found a cure for that

May I ask what temp you pour at???

I'm pouring at 128* and the candle sets up nice, especially the tops, but ends up with wet spots. Not using any colour either - too much frosting

I had to get some supplies yesterday and he gave me a 1kg sample of Excel to try. Poured a half jar tester last night with Dragons blood. PS Where do you buy ''wedding day'' scent from? Sounds interesting.

I love Dragons blood - my fav FO at the moment

I put in an order the other day at NCS and Shane was kind enough to send me a sample of the Xcel as well - haven't had time to play with it yet... I'm hoping it will help with the wet spots and possibly frosting - I love coloured jar candles, but can't make them due to the various issues.

I imported quite a few fragrances from NG and wedding day was one of them - absolutely gorgeous scent. I love their aromatherapy fragrances as well

[KoalaGirl]

Hi Nadiap

Ive only poured 2 half jar testers with the excel at this stage. Im trying to get the Dragons Blood to work. I found that the initial top was very smooth although more of a matt finish than the cb135 {but Ive only used the Dragons blood with no dye} After burning, the tops were very smooth and shiney!

I have some cb 135 metro jars in my cupboard that I poured at 58 degrees celcius. They have been there for a couple of months and there is no frosting or pullaway or wetspots whatsoever. Others have developed pull away so it seems to have a lot to do with FO and dye colour {I use minimal dye for that reason}.

Ive been having a look around NG website. Can you give me a ball park postage cost. e.g. for say, 6 x 16oz {equivalent in size to our 500 ml ? }bottles of FO. How does the price including postage, compare to what we buy over here? Does it make each bottle a lot more expensive? Have you found that their oils work well in CB 135?

NOOOOOO I DO NOT NEED ANY MORE OILS!!!!

But Im oil addict :-(

Thanks for any insight.

[nadiap]

I'm afraid I can't tell you their postage costs - they are not included in the price. What happens is you put in your order, there is no immediate payment for international orders. They email you pretty quickly with a postage cost - then it's up to you whether you commit to the order - you are not forced to buy if it's too expensive

I've ordered twice, the second time doubling up on the number of 16oz bottles (2 bottles of each my favourites), 2 boxes worth ! and the freight was around $300 - but I figured it was worth it to be 'different'

Just did a conversion a US $13.95 16oz bottle converts to AU$14.92 then add the extra for the freight, so yes, they are more expensive, but I find I don't need to use as much as they are fairly strong.

I am an FO junkie too :-) and wanted FOs that were not available here and have done really well with them for melts / tarts,votives, so much so that I am just about ready to put in another order. I also try and make sure I buy when the exchange rate is good - which isn't bad right now actually.

I follow the company on facebook and keep up to date with new fragrances etc., They are a really nice group of people and easy to deal with. Just shoot off an email to them, maybe specifying quantities and they should be able to give you an estimate on postage - then you can see if it's worthwhile for you.

Hope this helps a little

Edited April 15, 2010 by nadiap

[Tribalvixen]

Hiya

The email I got from NG said they can fit up to 13 1lb bottles into a large flat rate box which is $55 ish US. I only make candles as a hobby so this might not be enough for you but it is for me. Oh and you have to get 200 FP and over. by my calcs its actually cheaper to buy from NG and ship it to Aus HTH

Nadia your candles are lovely :-)

Tammy

[jonsie]

Congrats on your candles, Nadia! They are beautiful.

I just placed an order with NG and rang them up (on Skype) to discuss what kind of room I had left in the box since they were charging for a large flat-rate USPS box (like Tammy mentioned for $55 U.S. postage). They were kind enough to put me on hold, go find my order and work out what kind of room I had left (since I was ordering some odd-sized stuff). I haven't smelled their FOs yet but I definitely recommend them for their customer service!

And I agree with y'all that it is cheaper to have them mailed to me from the U.S. than to drive to my local supplier. I just hate the wait!!!

[nadiap]

Thanks for the kind words Tammy and Jonsie :-)

I have to agree about their customer service - they were great every time I've dealt with them

A while back, I ordered from your supplier Jonsie (in WA) and from NG at the same time.

I actually received the order from the US before I received the one from WA <lol> couldn't believe it.

I've nearly run out of FOs from NG and left it a bit due to the currency rate, and now when I order, hopefully they will be as quick as they were last time (my fingers are going to be crossed cause I really need them

PS: they sent me a sample of their Cannabis Flower FO in the wooden flower and it's absolutely gorgeous, so I'm going to buy some for myself, not sure how it would go down with my small band of customers though

[KoalaGirl]

$55 us postage for 13 bottles is great, and yes it does compare to our prices over here! Ive been to their website and was overwhelmed with the FO choice. Are all their oils suitable {and work} in soy, cb135 in particular.? Can anyone recommend some good ones? I normally wouldnt buy 1 lb bottles until I know what its like.

[jonsie]

Here's a list that Vicky put together (from the sticky in this forum category): http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showpost.php?p=251140&postcount=6

[nadiap]

Can anyone recommend some good ones? I normally wouldnt buy 1 lb bottles until I know what its like.

I've got many on that list that Jonsie linked to and they all work great.. after testing them in votive containers to get a feel for the scent throw. (I didn't see that list until now though - just went with the description and picked them that way :-)

A few I haven't even had time to test in containers, but have done so in clamshells or tarts and they too were good.

I really don't think you'd be disappointed in anything you purchased from there really. If one sounds nice, but you're not sure, they do have the small sample sizes as well though I jumped right in and purchased the bigger bottles right off the bat!

PS: If you go with French Vanilla, I'd suggest not going with the original thick FO, I found it way too thick.

Edited April 15, 2010 by nadiap