r/candlemaking

I’ve been using Soy 464 for years & am changing waxes (probably a coconut apricot type). My question is, why do people talk about waxes being able to carry a higher fragrance load, like up to 12%, and make it sound like that’s a good thing??? If you can get a great CT & HT from a 8% FO load, then why would it be a good thing for your candles to be able to take on more fragrance??? Maybe I’m not thinking about this the right way (???) The higher the FO load is just money being spent on fragrance oils, then having to charge more per candle.
This has been driving me crazy & I know I can probably just google it but I want to hear from actual candlemakers!
Thanks!!!

I have been making candles for myself for a few months, and now I’m trying to start a small business to sell to coworkers, family, etc. Maybe farmer’s markets one day- if they sell well. Typically when I would make candles for myself, I would make 2 at a time, use a small ~ 7 oz jar with a bamboo lid, an 8% fragrance oil load, wooden wicks and Freedom Soy Wax beads. The only difference is back when I started, I didn’t measure wax temperature (pure ignorance) and just added fragrance oil, stirred and poured. Everything worked fine. Great hot throw, great cold throw. No tunneling, no frosting. Since I’ve decided to make candles for others, I figured I now need to have an actual process with testing and such.

Process Information

All of my FOs are from Bramble Berry and are considered a “strong” scent profile in regard to candle making. I’ve seen glowing reviews about these FO’s performance in candles. I’m using these FOs at 8%.

My “selling“ vessels hold 10 oz of wax, and are straight wall glass jars with a screw on lid.

I’m using a wooden wick that is allegedly appropriate for my wax type and vessel size.

I’m still using Freedom Soy Wax beads. I follow the directions on the bag of the wax. Heat wax to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, immediately add in FO, stir for 2 minutes and pour into vessels. I use an infrared thermometer and make sure the temperature correlates with a candle/candy thermometer. I let them cool for a few hours, then put the lids on, and let them cure for 1-1.5 weeks.

A month ago, I made a 7 oz tester candle of each of my 4 scents I’m planning on selling. I did the process above. I did a 4 hour burn trial. Cold throw? Wonderful. Melt pool? Right to the edges. Hot throw? Nonexistent. Maybe the faintest whiff of a hot throw, but at this point, I’m honestly probably convincing myself that I smell something. I’m even testing these candles in my home office, and in my bathroom, whereas my little 7 oz beginner candles were scenting my entire living room.

2 weeks ago, I made 6 10 oz candles of just one of my scents, honestly in hopes that my tester candles were just flukes. They weren’t. Same exact situation. Nonexistent hot throw.

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Is there any advice that anyone could give to me about trying to achieve a hot throw? I‘m so early into this testing phase and “candle biz” that I feel like I’m just throwing money away in FOs and wax. On the bright side, I guess I’ll have a lot of candles in case the power goes out.

I enjoy having my wax melter on when I'm gaming on the weekend. However I've started thing about making my own at home instead of buying them. Could I use the old wax that really no longer has the sent or is wax a one time use type of thing. I hate to just toss the wax in the garbage.

Where do I get Martini glass to make martini candles?

So I'm getting ready to launch my candle brand I have 2 signature scents ( my only scents unfortunately) but from word of mouth alone Ive sold around 100 at 65 each ( in person and ecommerce) its a good start but how do I sell to people who dont know me or havent smelled or have someone to vouch for how they smell? Im more than happy to provide pics if anyone wants but Im not sure how I should go about advertising especially since candles are very hands on experience.

Does anyone have a recommendation for sourcing 8oz black tins? I’ve bought off temu and Amazon and are fine but don’t have the legs to slightly raise the bottom and help with wick placement. The reviews for the 8oz tins of candlescience all talk about paint peeling off… I also looked on makesy but they don’t seem to have what I’m looking for.

Just starting out and so far I'm using soy wax flakes, with metal jars, 2.5" tall, 3" across. I have pretty good cold throw but when burning, there is zero scent any further than about a foot above/around the candle. Fragrance oils total .75oz to 7 oz of wax. Fragrance added at about 152°F. Where am I messing up?

Anyone know where I can find ultra niche candle fragrance scents I’m not talking about the ones that are already out there or another fruit, floral or gourmand scent I’m talking about atmospheric scents like nightclub or Laneway

Hello! I am a beginner and doing my test batches and I have a particular fragrance oil that has immaculate cold throw and I want to include it in my permanent collection. The fragrance is called Luna by CandleShack, I’ve gotten amazing reviews from my circle of people I test the fragrances on and I’ve made 3 full size candles that give AMAZING cold throw and look really good. I use 464 golden wax. The fragrance notes are citrus, pear, lemon, iris, jasmine, orange blossom, violet, sweet, powdery, silky musk, amber, patchouli, vetiver and vanilla. But the hot throw is not there. Since I’ve discovered this subreddit I’ve solved so many issues and maybe I have so luck on this one as well.
Thank you!

Hello! I m in my testing period and I am set on my first 3 permanent scents but I still don’t know what my limited edition for fall scent should be. I tried the Pumpkin Spice from Candle Shack but I don’t necessarily like it. I have a couple wax melts that smell really nice, but I don’t want them to be too christmassy. Can you recommend some nice fall scents from Candle Shack or another reputable supplier based in Europe?

Thanks a lot!

Hey there everyone! Currently looking to start my candle making journey, just had a quick question.

When mixing different fragrance oils for a blend, do you have to let it sit for a bit like when curing candles or is that not a thing? Thanks in advance!

I m having some trouble creating my candles. I purchased a candle making kit from candle shack and actually really loved doing it so i started ordering a few more fragrance oils from them. The problem is, using all their stuff( 464 golden wax, 30cl lotti candle jars, stabilo 16 wicks) i can’t seem to nail the Buttery Croissant candle. I respected all the instructions they are providing and even tried lowering the fragrance % to 6%. It smells amazing(both hot and cold throw) but when it dries it keeps making superficial sinkholes. I fix them with a heat gun and after the first burn, the wax dries off really ugly. I really want to pursue candle making as a business and this fragrance is one of my favorites I ever smelled. I read that bakery fragrances are the worst to work with but maybe you can give me some advice? I don’t know, change the pouring temperature, different type of wax, anything.
Thank you!

Bom dia! ☺️

Trabalho num escritório há cerca de 9 anos e, sinceramente, sinto que chegou a altura de mudar. O trabalho é longe de casa, o salário podia ser melhor e estou cansada desta rotina. Gostava de ter mais tempo para mim e para a minha família, ou pelo menos conseguir gerir melhor os meus horários e deixar de viver nesta correria constante.

Tenho pesquisado algumas alternativas e encontrei, no Instagram, um curso de velas e outro de jesmonite. Os cursos parecem bastante acessíveis e despertaram muito o meu interesse. Ainda não comprei nenhum, por isso não sei se realmente valem a pena. Além disso, sei que depois será necessário investir nos materiais, o que certamente representa um custo maior.

Confesso que fiquei muito entusiasmada com a ideia, mas também tenho consciência de que o entusiasmo, por si só, não chega... e eu não percebo nada desta área.

Há por aqui alguém que trabalhe com velas, jesmonite ou artesanato semelhante? É uma atividade rentável? Vale a pena o investimento e o tempo dedicados?

Também estou totalmente aberta a outras sugestões de atividades que permitam alguma flexibilidade e, quem sabe, criar um rendimento extra.

Muito obrigada a quem puder partilhar a sua experiência! 😊

I'm looking to level up and get a larger melting tank. Ideally around 200 pounds and with an automatic dispenser for mass production, any recommendations?