evesorto Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Well, I did it.I tested every single fragrance oil I have (about 60 scents). All, but three had either excellent or very good hot throw.I had to come up with some sort of method because I didn't like the prospect of making batches of 3 or 4 candles before I tested for throw.Here's what I used. Igi 4627, 10% fo, low smoke zinc wick (#31), small 3 oz jars (2" diameter).Here's what I did. I weighed out appx 1 ounce wax in the small containers. I placed the containers in a shallow pot of water to melt the wax. When wax was completely melted, I waited another minute or two. I then added .1 oz fo and mixed with a small latte mixer. http://www.amazon.com/Aerolatte-002-To-Go-Black/dp/B0001RT2C4I then did the best I could to center the wick. I wasn't really concerned with melt pool so much as I was with scent throw. If I know it can throw, then I can work on melt pool, etc. I waited for the tester candles to cool. I did not cure as I use paraffin.I then proceded to test/burn each candle in small bedrooms or bathrooms. I checked after 15 min. If room was filled with scent, then I called this excellent throw. If room was not filled with scent, I checked again at 30 min. If room was then filled with scent, I called this very good throw. If room was not filled with scent, then I remade the candle with a larger (hotter) wick. I used either rrd 47 or eco 8 as these were the only ones I had. I then checked the new wick/wax combo at 15 minutes and 30 minutes, again calling the candles either excellent or very good throwers, respectively.I'm listing my results, for anyone interested.FOHAmber Blush............had to wick up....excellent throwApple Cobbler..........excellent throwBamboo Sug................excellent throwCarib Fruit Smooth........excellent throwCoco Beach..............very good throwCreme Brulee.............excellent throwEuc Spearmint.............excellent throwIndo Teak...............excellent throwJap Pear Ginseng.........excellent throwMadagascar Van Orchid........excellent throwMedi Fig..........................excellent throwMoonlight Path..............tried all wicks, could not get any hot throw.????Orange Bundt Cake............excellent throwRasp Gauva............had to wick up .........very good throwRed Curr Thyme Tea..........very good throwRocky Mt................excellent throwSens Secrets............had to wick up.......very good throwTAhittian Vanilla........had to wick up........excellent throwTuscan Herb.........excellent throwYuzu..................excellent throwFragrance By DesignLime Basil Mandarin........had to wick up......very good throw(light scent)Nectarine Honey Blossom...........had to wick up.......very good throwAH/REAngel Food Cake............excellent throwAvalanche..............excellent throwCashmere Lace...........excellent throwCeltic Moonspce...........excellent throwOakmoss Sage............very good throwWhite Jasmine............very good throw(light scent)Almost Paradise..........very good throwMoonlight Path..........couldn't get any hot throw????/Hot Apple Pie.........excellent throwSeventh Heaven..........had to wick up, then ....fair throw(light scent)Strw Rhubarb.........excellent throwWatermelon............excellent throwTwigs Berries..........excellent throwLittle Black Dress...........excellent throwVan Wafers.........very good throw (light scent)TonysOakmoss............had to wick up, then........excellentJo Malone.........excellentRed Currant (votivo).........excellentHoneysuckle grapefruit..........excellentMoonlight Path....Not a perfect Dupe....but ......very good throw(no need to wick up)WSPMango Sorbetto..........excellent throwFig Cassis...............excellentCucumb Mint..........excellentSage Citrus.........had to wick up....then very good throwCherry Almond.........excellentNantucket Briar...........very goodCandleScienceBanana Nut Bread.............excellentCuc Melon.......had to wick up....then excellentHansel Gretel............excellentHoneysuckle Jasmine..........excellentFrankinsence Mhyrr.........excellentDaystar's Black Vet Cafe.........had to wick up, then very good throwHorton's (Ebay)Pink Sugar..................excellentCoconut.................excellentI was so happy that all my oils had great thow. I mean these were some small candles (one ouncers) and yet they still filled up small rooms with scent. The only two that I wasn't happy with throw were Moonlight Path and Seventh Heaven. These two happen to be a couple of my favorite scents, so I will continue to make tarts with them.Every one kept saying/writing that they liked the zincs with the 4627 comfort blend wax. My results seemed to fall in line with this.It was really alot of fun, testing this way. I now have all my candlescience samplers to try out as well as the FOH prebuy holiday scents...so I guess it's gonna be another busy weekend!Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candlebuddy Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Wow, great job ... thanks for sharing. :highfive: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Don't take this badly, because I know you did a lot of work, but here is my reaction based on my own experience and testing.This percentage of FOs rating very good to excellent isn't plausible. There just aren't so many that deserve that kind of rating. FOs I've found with really excellent throw will work at 3%. It's a definite minority. FOs that throw at 6% or less is a wider field but also good stuff.Unfortunately all of those are getting lost in the soup. At 10% in 4627 in a small room, practically any FO will work. But you want to know which ones you can use less of because in many cases you'll be able to get a much better burn. Plus you don't want to use 50% more or even twice as much as you need because it's money down the drain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in KY Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 I don't know this wax but sounds like a great job. Wish it was soy then I would have a bunch of new scents. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evesorto Posted August 9, 2007 Author Share Posted August 9, 2007 The two scents that didn't throw for me (moonlight path, seventh heaven), I did try at lower %...about 8%, than 6% fo ....and still....nothing...I had no luck with those two....it's sad bec they are great scents...maybe they cant work in igi 4627?eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGirl Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Wow girl! You've been busy! I wish I had those 2 fo's to try out for you.....Could it possibly be the fo itself? As in maybe try a different supplier? Just thinking...........maybe I should pour some candles today! Nah..........too darn HOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evesorto Posted August 9, 2007 Author Share Posted August 9, 2007 Actually, the I have 3 Moonlight Paths from 3 diff suppliers. Two smell identical (AH/RE and FOH) and are dead on dupes to the BBW version....and they are two that I can't get to throw. I have another Moonlight Path from Tony's...it's not a dead on dupe...but it does throw.The actual BBW Moonlight path candle itself is a poor thrower...one large 17 oz candle struggles to fill a bedroom....Maybe it's just the nature of this oil?I will still use the oil...just not in candles....I will make tarts with it because it is a beautiful fragrance (IMO).Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Please don't take this as any offense....Is that how everyone test their candles, in small bedrooms and bathrooms?And are people burning the candle completely? I am and maybe that is why it takes me forever.I test mine in the middle of my living room and to me a great throw would be if I can get close to my bedroom door and smell it (from the inside of my room that is). My upstairs is over 2000 sq ft. With high ceilingsMaybe I am doing it wrong? This is just a general question not a stab at the poster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in KY Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Please don't take this as any offense....Is that how everyone test their candles, in small bedrooms and bathrooms?And are people burning the candle completely? I am and maybe that is why it takes me forever.I test mine in the middle of my living room and to me a great throw would be if I can get close to my bedroom door and smell it (from the inside of my room that is). My upstairs is over 2000 sq ft. With high ceilingsMaybe I am doing it wrong? This is just a general question not a stab at the poster.My whole house is about 1/2 that big so I couldn't test for something that big if I wanted to. Let me know what scents work for you cause they would be killer scents for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharig Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Bizzyb,I test almost the same way. After I make the candle, I let it cure for a couple days, (comfort blend) I light it in the middle of my living room. My living room is in the center of the house with 8 foot cathedral ceilings and is almost 500 sq. ft. If I can smell it when I walk in the front door or in my master bath, then I consider that an excellent throw. I also test for sometimes weeks at a time, I want to burn it down to the 1/2 in. left in the container to make sure I have the same throw at the end, that I had in the beginning so I know the wick is not absorbing all the FO. I also want to make sure it doesn't soot as well. Anyway, not sure if it's the right way to do things, I just think it works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evesorto Posted August 10, 2007 Author Share Posted August 10, 2007 These candles that I made were extremely tiny.....1 oz wax/.1 oz fo in tiny containers appx 1.5" diameter and therefore I tested in small quarters....what impressed me with the oils was how fast they filled their respective rooms, ie, 15 min or 30 min. I wanted to test a large number of oils with the wax/wick combo without using a ton of wax. In my very limited experience, a tiny candle that can fill a small room with scent in appx 15 min has "killer" throw.PS---I just finished testing 12 New Candlescience oils, as well as six new FOH oils. Since my method of testing is so below par, I will not post results. However, anyone interested in knowing what I thought, can PM me and I will let you know how the oils did.Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharig Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hey eve,That is so cool! I am sooo very grateful for your list. The ironic thing is that I was going to order some moonlite path, now I'm glad I didn't; since I use the comfort blend as well. I think if this method works for you girl, then stick with it. Just wanted to add some of my testing techniques. I think you are doing an awesome job, and I appreciate the information .Shari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 My whole house is about 1/2 that big so I couldn't test for something that big if I wanted to. Let me know what scents work for you cause they would be killer scents for me.Right now I am testing scents with my own blend....and we just bought this house in March.Pink Sugar/Indonesian teak - DH loves the blend...it has to grow on me...Black CherrySultry AngelButtercream Crunch (WYW - bittercreek)Linen-n-Lace My Strawberry/Mango/Coconut BlendMystify (a secret blend - lol)That is all I can think of for now - will have to check when I get home.I do know that Cantalope Lily from ICS threw very well in my basement to - which is the same size (our house is a ranch)....it was in my son's room and I smelled it when i came down the stairs way on the other end of the basement. But he burns my messed up candles....so I still need to test that in my current blend.FYI....I use different %s on my FOs....they are used 4%-6% for the ones listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 These candles that I made were extremely tiny.....1 oz wax/.1 oz fo in tiny containers appx 1.5" diameter and therefore I tested in small quarters....what impressed me with the oils was how fast they filled their respective rooms, ie, 15 min or 30 min. I wanted to test a large number of oils with the wax/wick combo without using a ton of wax. In my very limited experience, a tiny candle that can fill a small room with scent in appx 15 min has "killer" throw.PS---I just finished testing 12 New Candlescience oils, as well as six new FOH oils. Since my method of testing is so below par, I will not post results. However, anyone interested in knowing what I thought, can PM me and I will let you know how the oils did.EveThank you for clarifying the size....I was freaking out thinking all these years and all these hours wasted testing....lmao. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in PA Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Thanks so much, that is some great information! I have used 2 suppliers versions of Moonlight Path. The first was Peak, and it was wicked hard for me to wick properly, but it threw, just burned like crap!Now I use Farmhouse's oil, and I think it is a close enough dupe without being able to sniff the real deal and the oil side-by-side...THIS oil is MUCH easier to wick, and I always get a killer throw in my 50/50 blend w/ it. 9%. I have a die-hard MP fan for a customer, and she loves it, so I guess it's cool!HTH, and thanks again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharig Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hey Miss Sharon in Pa,I'm glad to hear that you got a good throw with it. Maybe I will try it with this 4627. If I can't get it to throw in that, then I will try it with this 6028 parasoy pillar blend I've been messing around with. Wish I was you, aren't you close to quakertown where C&S are? My family is about an hour and 20 min. north of there. When we went to visit this year, made the hubby drive me down there. I get alot of stuff from them, but it sucks to have it shipped to KY. Just glad to see another yankee I guess as everyone in KY feels the need to remind me. LOL .Thanks again,Shari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntie S Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 That's alot of testing Eve. Thanks a bunch for sharingAuntieS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erinmfritz Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 That was alot of work I'm sure. Thanks for sharing with us, I too wish it was for soy.BizzyB- What other ICS oils made the cut for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 That was alot of work I'm sure. Thanks for sharing with us, I too wish it was for soy.BizzyB- What other ICS oils made the cut for you?So far I have only had tine to test pink sugar and catalope lily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenOH Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Eve....I test basically the same way you do and have for 10 yrs and it works out great...start in a small area and work your way out to the bigger areas. Nothing wrong with that.Everyone has to do what works for them...and what works for us may not work for someone else but that definitely doesn't mean it's wrong.Keep up the good work...I enjoyed your helpful review and appreciate the time and effort you put into testing and posting your results. There are a lot of people who aren't that giving!Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I never said she was wrong -that is why I put the disclaimer that it was not a stab at the poster.I just wanted to make sure what I was doing was okay because that confused me - then she clarified the size of the candle....which for my 1 and 2 oz sizes I do put those in a bathroom to start with. But those are special orders only not my regular sizes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-GRAN-ONES Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 What do you ladies do when you have a FO that smells so good, but just does not throw in a big area..I have one that is wonderful, but the throw is not good..I do use CD wicks ..do you think I should try cotton wicks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mizbizzyb Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I would try another wick - - but before that I would let it cure a little longer.I know Japanese plum has to cure for a while, but it is a fantastic scent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleHippie Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I test mine in the middle of my living room and to me a great throw would be if I can get close to my bedroom door and smell it (from the inside of my room that is). My upstairs is over 2000 sq ft. With high ceilingsThat is how I judge a throw also. This is JMO and based on the people I sell to so others may have different customer needs. Most of my customers use their candles in large spaces and not just small rooms. Whenever they consider a candle to have GREAT throw it is one that will have good throw in larger areas. I also have high ceilings so I will test with the ceiling fan on low and tell my customers that have high ceilings to do the same. That is what works for me, it may be different for others. Scent throw has so much to do with each individual persons sense of smell. What one considers GREAT is mild to someone else. I have to say that I agree with the comment TOP posted about a good throw being achieved at a lower %. Once again that's just my opinion. You have certainly been very busy with all of those FO's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in PA Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Hey Miss Sharon in Pa,I'm glad to hear that you got a good throw with it. Maybe I will try it with this 4627. If I can't get it to throw in that, then I will try it with this 6028 parasoy pillar blend I've been messing around with. Wish I was you, aren't you close to quakertown where C&S are? My family is about an hour and 20 min. north of there. When we went to visit this year, made the hubby drive me down there. I get alot of stuff from them, but it sucks to have it shipped to KY. Just glad to see another yankee I guess as everyone in KY feels the need to remind me. LOL .Thanks again,ShariHey Shari! I AM very close to C&S, but I am using less and less from them... Let me know if you found any recent winners with C&S oils! I haven't tried any in so long, and I would love to know if any one's having any success with some of her new ones!Thanks!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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