Dana Mae

Thank You

Ann, I appreciate your comments. Candles and soap seem much easier Is there somewhere specific I can go to and read/learn more about making b/b specifically creams/lotions/butters so that I am more familiar with the terms, ingredients and processes? Thanks Dana

Thank you in ADVANCE for being so patient with all my newbie questions. I've documented everything so far that happened in my test candles when I burned them for 2-4h. After complete cooling (and a major wick trim on all) I relit them.... So now they have been burning another 2h. All are behaving MUCH better than on the first 4h burn, even though the wicks are different. So, I understand I am to keep burning these candles until they are gone? Am I looking for the same things on these subsequent burns? Except for 1 combo I know I won't reuse, right now they are all doing so much better I'm a bit confused as to how to choose. If they continue to perform well, then do I go with the wick that performed best during the first 4h? I really didn't notice any issues with any until they hit the 3-4h mark. I'm really enjoying this a lot. Been searching the forum, and also taking lots of notes. Thanks Dana

Good idea......can I be so stupid to ask what a firestarter is? How does it smell with all your FO combined together in one bowl? Such a noob I am... :DDana

Thank you SO much Ann......after looking at the body butter kit I was so overwhelmed by all of the ingredients, I thought I best stick to candles/soap and forget b/b!!! I appreciate everyones help dana

Yes this product is very thick and kind of greasy lol but in a good way.. Ty both for the sources/links, I will check them out!!! Dana

That is exactly what I did......(the hemorrhage calculations lol) So stupid question........what to do with the left over wax? Since these are my first question I don't have tart stuff or whatever tarts are What do you do when you melt and pour later? Does the fragrance stay? Do you add it to new stuff or what? Stupid Noob I am! Sorry Dana:o

I would really like to make a body butter. (I'm new to b&b product making). My goal is to make something I like as well as, or better than, my personal favorite which is by the Body Shop and is Shea Body butter. THEIR ingredient list is: (gulp) Water (Solvent/Diluent), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) (Emollient), Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Butter (Emollient), Cyclomethicone (Emollient), Glycerin (Humectant), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Babassu (Orbignya Oleifera) Oil (Emollient), Beeswax (Emulsifier/Emollient), Lanolin Alcohol (Stabiliser/Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Fragrance (Fragrance), Methylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Caramel (Colour), F D & C Yellow No 5 (Colour). I'm sure I can simplify it some with some help......but I want a firm butter like their product if anyone is familiar with it. Can someone assist me in getting started? Point me to a source of recipes, etc or something? Much appreciated, Dana

Sweet Deal, Vio

Awesome, thanks for the sources~ Dana

I just love Philosophy Pure Grace (not Amazing Grace).... It is the cleanest "soap and water" type perfume I have found.... Is anyone familiar with it, or can anyone suggest a similar type of FO? It really *does* smell like pure, clean, soap and water.... thanks for any advice/input! Dana

It doesn't...... Dana

Try doing a forum search.....put "scale" in the title....you should get a lot of posts about scales. I just did this yesterday and ordered a great scale at a great price from http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/.... he also sells on ebay. I'm sure others will chime in too with other recommendations. HTH Dana

Thanks Top, I think I just needed a little reassurance that I'm headed the right direction. I should have known, that if I picked ECO6 that I should use ECO4....just like when I am lost and feel like I should turn left, the correct way is turn right! Anyhow just poured a few more testers with same stuff just different wicks, and will re-test tomorrow. Fun! Thanks, Dana

First of all making my first candle was FUN and I'm already addicted! What I want for Christmas are more supplies lol! Anyhow, test burning my first candle this am. Container: 8oz JJ Wax: 4627 FO: CS Clean Cotton @ 6% Wick: ECO 6 CS recommended an ECO2 for this size container (2.5-3") but that was too short (only a 4" wick) so I had the choice of picking an ECO4 or ECO6. EenyMenyMinyMoe I went with the ECO6. OMG does this smell good Burn at 2h: Almost all the way to the edge of the container, flame might be a little high? No smoking/sooting though. Question: What is the ideal flame size? Burn at 4h: Melt pool is good from what I've read on the searches (all the way to edge of container, about 1/2" deep (def no deeper than that). However, the flame was pretty high IMO and it was starting to smoke. The wick was curling down and had a very tiny mushroom on the end. So my questions are: 1. is this dangerous to keep burning (after the cooldown and the test resumes? The wick is pretty short but I did trim it after it cooled down. I'd like to finish the burn cycle just to see how it does (and I enjoy the fragrance so much)! 2. Is this already indicative of a too-large wick? I can size down to ECO4 and try another test. I bought a BUNCH of wicks so I also have other kinds to try if the ECO 4 doesn't work. Any other tips/pointers/suggestions? Am I proceding correctly? Yes, No? Thanks so much Dana

Yes, thank you... I ordered the clean cotton, sun? dried linen, rain water, and ocean breeze and at least OOB I like them all very much! Thanks, Dana

Did a search on the calculating thing (despite my many questions I really *do* use the search feature, I promise, lol) I think I understand better now how to calculate the % of FO! Thanks Dana

I'm glad you two spoke up, thank you It is the next morning now of course and my wee tester has been poured. I just got up and am going to try to wrap my sleepy brain around what you are saying....because last night I was in a spot where I thought I was understanding and now I'm confused again (doesn't take much ) I am a total newbie and this was my first attempt. I'll pm you Judy because now I'm confused as how I determine how much wax to melt and how much FO to add and actually even what percentage to start with.... Like I said, it doesn't take much, HA Thank you (to everyone) for answering, I hope some other newbies can read these and learn along with me!!! Dana

Yes I've already discovered a whole new shopping list !!! Thanks, Dana

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. I found it hard also to measure the FO on my scale under an ounce, so for my first candle it might not be quite as accurate as I would like. It will measure 1/4, 1/2, etc. So it might be a bit heavy on the FO. We'll see! A learning experience, but still exciting pouring my first candle. Thanks again, Dana

My only other issue is color. Because I bought color chips (guess I should have gotten liquid?) I'm not sure how to get the right amount on such a small amount of wax. Anyhow, I'll give it a shot Dana

thanks Miz I wanted to make sure (and just use the FO percentage as whatever I want to make the candle (6%, 8%, etc.) Awesome! Thank you Dana

Making my first candle would be a lot simpler if it was 1 pound! (Math is not my forte...) Using the forum calculator I came up with the following: (I'm using an 8oz JJ) Empty container weighs 6.125oz. with water added weighs 12.875 = 5.8 oz wax required Now, calculating FO gets harder for me, because 1oz per pound is simple! Do I take the amount of wax and just multiply it by 6% giving me an amount of 0.35oz F0? A lot of work for one bitsy candle ... ! Alas, looking forward to my first little one to test! Anyhow are my figures right or is there another way, am I thinking about it all wrong? Thanks, Dana

wow! Thanks for all the in depth answers and advice! I'll definitely post my results! Dana

My supplies from CS have arrived and I'm planning on pouring my first test candle(s) this weekend. Questions: I'm using 4627 and 8oz jj. At first I was planning on using 1 fo and pouring 1 candle with 1 wick. Then I read to pour my first candle without fo. I also read where some ppl pour several tests (no fo or same fo) with a few different wicks to compare and burn them at the same time to see how different wicks perform. I am more than happy to do any and all of these....just want to do it the right way. I have sampler packs of several types of wicks that have been recommended in my wax so I have a variety to choose from. I'm rather interested in seeing both the good and the bad so I can learn (apparently I'll see a lot of the bad lol) Anyhow what is the most recommended way to proceed? Also, one thing I haven't really read much about in all the "how to's" is how to clean up afterwards (pour pot, spoon, etc.) Thanks everyone for sharing all of your advice and experience!!!! Dana:D ps I am sooo excited lol