chuck_35550

A company out of California has recalled 100's of thousands assorted candles sold out of Hobby Lobby stores across the country. The tops catch on fire. It's just a guess but if the tops are catching fire; most likely this is the result of an old trick where you coat the tops with fragrance oil. That way, you get a really strong cold throw that leads you to believe the candle is highly fragranced. If that's the case, then this is a simple case of fraud that endangers hundreds of thousands for no good reason; other than greed. Steve

I would suggest you take the metal seal off anyway and check the integrity of the jug after a couple of minutes CB. Seriously, this is so much easier than a tub of hot water or a heat gun (although a heat gun will work). I have a small microwave with low wattage but it seems like the interior heats up first. HTH Steve

I know everyone is gonna flip but I take a gallon jug (7 lbs) of coconut or palm and throw it in the microwave unopened. The oil melts in about 5 minutes. No explosions and the heavy plastic jugs don't even heat up. I guess the microwaves work from the inside out. The metal seals are not exposed to the microwave beams and there is no evidence of radioactive isotopes. Coconut melts pretty fast as well as palm. Then you pull the jug out and shake it up and down to make sure everything is mixed proper and pour. Most oils stay liquid to semi-liquid for quite a while. Am I crazy?

See, I don't get that fizzy. It smells like classic rose with a sweet berry note. A lot like the old Camay soap. It soaps nicely and retains a strong and true fragrance after curing. Why not call it "Love Blossoms"? Steve

The Lush fos continue to gain popularity (Supernova through the roof) and they are semi-floral/clean fragrances with pretty good Vday names (Sex Bomb). Stonehenge from BCN is my favorite masculine fragrance but it really accelerates and morphs at the beginning (colors return to normal)but its worth it for one of the best fragrances IMHO. I have plenty of heart containers, heart imbed molds and supplies for bath bombs (cupcakes especially). I plan on making some of Bunny's Chocolate Truffles and wrapping in colored foil for a candy type effect and am already getting requests. Currently cleaning up the lab and re-organizing; candles are not so and soap has taken over the immediate work area. I never sell much spring stuff but can usually move botanicals (not florals)but I still like Rose Jam. I have a new soaping wand, it is a large plastic icicle off a string of lights and it tapers to the end and has, well it looks like an icicle. Great for swirling (Yay!). Sold a lot of product through a local venue (50-50 deal) that kept me humping for bath bomb cupcakes. Don't forget Margi Gras season as well. We have a good Catholic community that loves those wonderful colors and bakery delights. I ususally make Mardi Gras soap cakes with the baby on top or hidden in the soap. HTH Steve

House fire waiting to happen. Wouldn't want the liability on that one.

Double wicking is just another version of single wicking. The two wicks behave as one wick. I can' imagine why you would need to double wick an average sized container, unless other wick sizes are unavailable. I would slap a cdn 16 as a starter and go from there. I use a multiple wick application on really large containers, like the glass hearts for valentines. I need to produce uniform heat on a large area and typically use three wicks in that application. At least two of those fragrances are high vanillin and require hotter temps to be effective. Three fragrances not working speaks more about your wicking system than anything else(IMHO)so you might want to return to a single wicking system. Steve

I believe a majority of waxes are Chinese imports. Paraffin (to my memory) was always more expensive than soy and was one reason some switched. The candle market is oversaturated with product but while demand might be part of the cost; import shipping has to be the main reason. The States imports a lot of glass, wax and other materials for candle production. Texas and New Jersey still produce some wax and IGI (I think) is Canadian? I didn't see candles selling very well this season.

Almost anything with cinnamon or almond will work with those fragrances. I gave up on coffee fragrances but love it in hazelnut, creme brulee, peppermint or chocolate. Butter Cream is a tough one (got plenty too) that works ok with strawberry or chocolate (mint). HTH Steve

The cheapest glass is going to be bulk with the one piece lids. I haven't seen any of the regular Mason or Ball jars in a long time. The exception to that rule are the square Masons with one-piece lids. I know that a minimum for free shipping seems like a lot of jars but its the best way to go for saving a lot of money on jars IMHO. HTH Steve

Really? I always order a case but it has been awhile since my last order. I'm doing more with bath and body stuff these days. Steve

Cool idea. I read of a woman who took a silicone spatula and cut off the sides to make a wand. Right now I've been pouring in layers and topping with piped on stars, embeds, glitter and getting some pretty swell looking soaps. If only I could swirl like Barbara (sigh)and had her eye for coloration. Its a learning process for me but I still have a problem with formulas that appear to be good for slow trace but whose numbers aren't very well balanced. Looking back at my old formulations; I see that some of those produced better results than I get with my "informed" formulations. High iodine and lauric are most bothersome but high linoleic and linolenic are the worst (DOS) to my understanding. I've read and experimented a lot but my true understanding of open and closed chains and how they dictate the outcomes of saponification remain mostly mysterious to me. As the "Stooges" used to say, "Step by step, inch by inch". Steve (Happy Tday)

Go to Clarus web site and click on "request a sample" or "contact us" Melanie is wonderfully nice and helpful. I buy from the warehouse.

Nope. I believe they must be large chopsticks. I found large stainless steel chopsticks on Amazon but got a better idea. I have these long acrylic icicles that may be just the right size for swirling and will definitely look magical. Steve

What a crock. Must have been written by a 10 year old "Yuck". Pay no attention to those folks behind the curtain.

Hey, its a new market. The Harry Potter Soap Wizarding Wand! You too can be a swirling wizard. You could put a tube inside it for dispensing color from the tip. Seriously though, nobody has an idea what those wood looking things are?

Cranberry Woods is awesome. It soaped nice and strong with just a slight acceleration and no discolor. I love Dead Sexy, Winter Wonderland and most everything I've ordered. Steve

Wow CB, just delivered a bunch and didn't think to make any pics. Lots to do this time of year.

Ok, I use a skewer or several taped together but I want a swirling wand. I see some soapers on Youtube with these wand looking thingies and they look so cool. I was thinking maybe a plastic large knitting needle? Anyone have a magical soaping wand? Steve

Oh gosh, Peach-Magnolia-Raspberry, Pumpkin Souffle, Peppermint, Just used their Vanilla Bean Noel last night on bath bomb cupcakes, True Lavender in my bath salts and great in cp soap. Hansel and Gretel is very strong and true; great folks.

You're going to want a paraffin votive/tart wax and all are about the same IMHO. You'll never know what "blend" they're using. HTH Steve

According to the CEO, paraffin.

I vote True Lavender too.

Using the small bubble wrap for the sides doesn't displace very much batter. The bubbles aren't that raised its more like a honeycomb effect (duh) but using it for the entire interior of the mold does displace quite a bit of batter. It squishes the bar upward. HTH Steve

CB, you just cut the bubble wrap to fit the mold. I even went so far as to cover the entire log (top, bottom, sides and ends)in bubble wrap and it worked just fine. I decided that was overkill and only place it on the ends and sides. I stick it to the silicone mold with glycerin and then peel it off when unmolded. Easy peasy. Steve