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WoodDragon Newbie

WoodDragon

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I wanted to say hi to everyone here. I've been a CT forum member for a few weeks now and reading a TON of posts. I've always loved scented candles and decided to start making my own a couple of months ago; for the life of me, I can't remember how that idea popped into my head. Maybe it was just one of those epiphanies you get when over caffeinated.

I had been reading another candle forum for a couple of weeks prior to the CT forums. While doing my research, I took all they said as gospel because I found it impossible to find any "organized" candle information. I slowly found that many of the veteran members there had quite nasty attitudes. I saw that there were very few new posts, if any at all, and majority of them were dated a few years ago.

Thankfully, I somehow stumbled here. I have to say it is SO refreshing to see that folks here are very helpful and knowledgeable in their crafts. I have spent many many hours looking through the gallery pics. I am in awe. Y'all are like the iron chefs of the candle world.

I had taken pics of the very first candles I made, tealights. No idea where they went. Isn't that always how things go? I do have pics of my very first votives that I'll post in the gallery.

Apologies for this very long post. I get carried away when I see so much blank white space. I thank you all for all the very helpful information I've gathered thus far and for the inspiring stories and photos of your beautiful artistic creations.

Howard

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WoodDragon Newbie

WoodDragon

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Are you sure you want to be a part of this motley crew?!!:laugh2:

I'm a bit nutty to begin with. I'm sure I'll fit right in with this motley crew of fellow crazy folks who have ventured into the candle world. And then when all sanity leaves me, I'll dive into soaps and other b&b products also.

And thanks for all the welcomes!

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Jenny Newbie

Jenny

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Yeah, I think we're all a little nutty, but that's what is so great about this forum. There are so many people to talk to that are on the same crazy planet you are. In my day to day life, if I talk about tarts, candles, fragrances, colors, or a super cool idea I had last night at 4AM, people would be like, "WHAT?!" :confused: It's a never ending thought process, and that is what drives me. I literally can't stop. The word obsession comes to mind. What's so crazy about spending thousands of dollars to make your own candles? :pI just refuse to spend $25.00 on one that isn't even that great. I would rather buy a new bottle of FO. $25.00 vs. thousands...hmm. It is so nice to have people to share your ideas with and to learn new things, and make friends in the process. Welcome to the board!

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debratant Newbie

debratant

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What's so crazy about spending thousands of dollars to make your own candles? :pI just refuse to spend $25.00 on one that isn't even that great. I would rather buy a new bottle of FO.

And thousands is certainly right :laugh2: We have a funny saying around my house. I didn't come up with it of course...husband did.

"I see a whole lot of buying...a whole lot of making crap...but no selling" LMAO. Silly Man. I've tried to explain that I'm still in my testing phase and that takes time and money.:rolleyes2:laugh2:

Welcome to the board Dragon...watch out...it can be addicting coming here. :)

Edited by debratant
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radellaf Newbie

radellaf

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I tried that line about testing... GF said, well, these are all burning fine, now make more, get your butt out to some stores, and sell some.

"Yes ma'am! {salute}". ;)

She's right tho. I have some that burn better or worse but over a year of making them only a half dozen or so were worse than a typical storebought candle.

I just:

a) am too introverted to get myself to go out and talk to the stores

B) too much into playing around to make an inventory of any one type and

c) so not interested in dressing them up with packaging

All fine if you can afford it I guess. I expect to be back at a corporate job before I can get more than a trickle of money from candles, but I really love making them so who knows. Long term it could be a real business for me. I'll put some effort into selling, and if it takes, cool.

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WoodDragon Newbie

WoodDragon

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You are so right, Jenny. I'm one who will spend much more for quality than feel I'm getting a "bargain" just cause it costs less. I've spent quite a bit already and I STILL can't get my tealights and votives right. You'd think the little buggers wouldn't be so difficult to make. I wonder if there's "spillage insurance."

And you know you've gone off the deep end when ... you hope you'll win the lottery, and the first thing that pops into your mind is ... "holy cow, imagine all the wax, FO's, molds, and packaging I could buy!"

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WoodDragon Newbie

WoodDragon

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I tried that line about testing... GF said, well, these are all burning fine, now make more, get your butt out to some stores, and sell some.

"Yes ma'am! {salute}". ;)

She's right tho. I have some that burn better or worse but over a year of making them only a half dozen or so were worse than a typical storebought candle.

I just:

a) am too introverted to get myself to go out and talk to the stores

B) too much into playing around to make an inventory of any one type and

c) so not interested in dressing them up with packaging

All fine if you can afford it I guess. I expect to be back at a corporate job before I can get more than a trickle of money from candles, but I really love making them so who knows. Long term it could be a real business for me. I'll put some effort into selling, and if it takes, cool.

I'm sort of in the same boat as you are. My "job" right now is researching, researching, testing, testing, rinse/repeat a couple thousand times. But of course at this point, all my savings are very quickly going into the spent files so I'll have to look for a "paid" job very soon. The getting-ready-to-open-shop stages are taking much much longer than I had expected.

I'm also quite painfully shy by nature. But I think as you get better at making candles, the passion you have when you talk about them will come out naturally. Although I'm sure it would feel great to have my candles sitting in a shop, once I'm ready I will start with friends and family. Word of mouth is THE best and fastest advertising you can get, and it's free. And you don't even have to worry about marketing because the friends of friends of friends will come from all walks of life.

There must be some components of crack in FO's. You buy 1 (or 40 as in my case), smell it, wax n wick it up and burn it. Before you know it, you're on your computer looking for the next fix. I know all too well the dangers of wanting to play more.

At first I thought packaging was going to be a nuisance. But when I go shopping as a consumer, there are so many products I won't even pick up because of packaging. Either too much, too little or it just looks cheap. Once I get to packaging stage, maybe I'll sell my mattress. Yoga mats are like 10 bucks, no? *drunken posting*

Radellaf, as long as you love making candles, just keep at it. One day you'll be able to quit your day job. The best career you can have is one you love to do.

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lsbennis Newbie

lsbennis

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You are so right, Jenny. I'm one who will spend much more for quality than feel I'm getting a "bargain" just cause it costs less. I've spent quite a bit already and I STILL can't get my tealights and votives right. You'd think the little buggers wouldn't be so difficult to make. I wonder if there's "spillage insurance."

And you know you've gone off the deep end when ... you hope you'll win the lottery, and the first thing that pops into your mind is ... "holy cow, imagine all the wax, FO's, molds, and packaging I could buy!"

I was just thinking this the other night when I got my lottery tickets...lol :rolleyes2

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