Experimenting...

So, I have been doing some experimenting with my candles lately, more like testing them (something I should have done from the beginning). The first test was to figure out my candle's approximate burning time. I tested a regular lead-free, cotton braided, wax-coated, zinc core wick with paraffin/soy wax by first weighing it. It (meaning the glass container and wax) was about 9 ounces so I figured the candle (wax) was about 7 or 8 oz. I let it burn for 3 hours, then weighed it again and it had barely gone down at all! Maybe about .25 of an ounce or less than that, even! So I figured in the numbers to an equation and came to find that the burn time is about 85 hours for that size candle!

I then tried to test a wood wick candle that was also made of paraffin/soy wax. This one was a little tricky to do because the glass container it was in probably weighed more than the candle (came out to 16ozs, so I figured the candle was only about 8oz). Following the same routine as I did with the first candle (weighing, burning, weighing again), the burn time for this candle came out to be about 53 hours...

I was surprised at this number, as I was expecting a wood wick candle could burn longer than a standard wick, though wood wicks produce the largest flames (resembling a fire) and therefore melt the wax down quicker.  I tested it a 2nd time, this time weighing on a digital scale and it weighed 15.7oz. I let it burn for 1 hour this time. Weighed it again and it was 15.4oz after one hour, losing .3 ozs. So, I did the math once more and came out with the same answer of 53.33 hour burn time for an 8 oz wood wick candle. I still love wood wick candles, though, because they produce the best flame allowing the wax to melt down evenly, and a unique burning experience that's both a pleasure for your eyes and your ears!

Painted Mason Jar Candle (continued)

With all the experimenting I have been doing with my candles in the past week, I thought it was time to test a painted mason jar candle. I have had this worried feeling stuck in my head about acrylic paint and the possibility of it being flammable (I wasn't concerned with the ModPodge sealer I use to seal the paint, as I know for a fact it is water-based). You would not believe how much I have researched acrylic paint in the past month!
 So, I had to ease my mind and try one out for myself! 
I chose Lemongrass & Lime, which is one of the first painted mason jar candles I made about a month ago, and I have to say I am very pleased with this candle! I already loved the scent, and even after blowing it out about an hour ago that scent is still lingering in this room!! I loved how the light from the flame illuminated the painted jar!! 

It was beautiful, in my opinion!

Soap Maker in the making

So, I have been thinking about making soaps now. I have already tried it out with a starter kit I was given for my birthday this year,  just the melt-and-pour process which they say is the easiest, and it was! I have ordered a goat milk soap base that is made of all these natural, healthy oils like coconut palm, and safflower along with goat milk - all of which are excellent for your skin, too! It should arrive tomorrow! I have a jasmine scented oil coming with it, and since I bought all this from Peak Candle Supplies (and soap supplies) I will be receiving a free sample size of fragrance oil, so that will be a surprise to me!

Now comes the hard part, deciding on the brand name for my soaps...

Like my candles, I do not plan to stick with just goat milk as a base. I do want to give other bases a try, such as castille, shea, maybe even honey!

If anyone has any ideas, please share them! I could use all the help I can get!

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Painted Mason Jar Candles

So, I've been seeing all over Pinterest and on Etsy these painted mason jars pictured as vases with wildflowers or some other home decor, and I though that's a neat idea.  Being a candle maker it gave me a thought to take just painting mason jars a step further. I have always had a passion for painting..anything!

Now that I no longer use dye in my candles, painting the container is the perfect way to display what color the candle should be.  When I first smelled liquid candle dye, I felt it was like smelling some type of chemical!  It doesn't smell healthy to me.

So far, I have created three scented candles in painted mason jars, but stay tuned for more to come...!

something new

thinking of starting a new line of candles made of natural beeswax!

I love the natural smell of beeswax and I don't even have to add any fragrances to make it smell that good!!

This is my label I have already thought up and created on my computer...what do you think?

I have also made two other labels named "bee calm" and "bee cool" where I would use natural essential oils!  lavender and peppermint, respectively.

to be continued...