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View Full Version : why all the talk about testing?
GoldCanyonNut
11-04-2008, 01:13 PM
Please forgive my ignorance about this subject. I've just started researching soy candle crafting!
I see on many posts in this folder the phrase, "after years of testing". I was planning to just follow an excellent website that publishes recipes for soy candles. Why would a bunch of testing be involved? It seems like that woudl be re-inventing the wheel, or in this case, the candle.
Would someone please explain?
Also, I saw somewhere that you can use one of those electric Rival Hot Pot heat-and-pour gadgets instead of a double boiler on the stove or a hot plate. Is that true?
Thanks a million for any replies/suggestions!
I see on many posts in this folder the phrase, "after years of testing". I was planning to just follow an excellent website that publishes recipes for soy candles. Why would a bunch of testing be involved? It seems like that woudl be re-inventing the wheel, or in this case, the candle.
Would someone please explain?
Also, I saw somewhere that you can use one of those electric Rival Hot Pot heat-and-pour gadgets instead of a double boiler on the stove or a hot plate. Is that true?
Thanks a million for any replies/suggestions!
~Becky~
11-05-2008, 06:28 AM
Melissa, candle making is a wonderful (but expensive) hobby. If it really was as easy as following a "recipe" and just stirring some fragrance into some wax and putting it in any size jar...then EVERONE would be making their own candles and not buying them from companieshttp://wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif.
I can tell you that I have been making candles for over 3 yrs and I still have to test each fragrance, each new jar, each "batch" of wax that I order.
Especially with soy, which is a natural product and grows in crops which can change every year, you MUST test! Each fragrance will behave differently in the wax. The reason for testing is to get the wick size right. There are literally thousands of different kinds and sizes of wicks and you need to test to see which kind and which size will work with each fragrance and each jar size. You need to change (and test) your wicks for different size jars as it will not burn correctly on a jar that has a three inch opening and a jar that has a four inch opening. If you wick is too small, you will have a flame that goes out. If your wick is too big, you will get a candle that catches on fire (and possibly causing a house fire). That is why it is so important to test.
If candlemaking is something you think you might enjoy, then I suggest your do some research and read, read, read. A great website/message board for candlemakers across the world is http://www.craftserver.com/forums/
Good luck, and happy candle making!!!
I can tell you that I have been making candles for over 3 yrs and I still have to test each fragrance, each new jar, each "batch" of wax that I order.
Especially with soy, which is a natural product and grows in crops which can change every year, you MUST test! Each fragrance will behave differently in the wax. The reason for testing is to get the wick size right. There are literally thousands of different kinds and sizes of wicks and you need to test to see which kind and which size will work with each fragrance and each jar size. You need to change (and test) your wicks for different size jars as it will not burn correctly on a jar that has a three inch opening and a jar that has a four inch opening. If you wick is too small, you will have a flame that goes out. If your wick is too big, you will get a candle that catches on fire (and possibly causing a house fire). That is why it is so important to test.
If candlemaking is something you think you might enjoy, then I suggest your do some research and read, read, read. A great website/message board for candlemakers across the world is http://www.craftserver.com/forums/
Good luck, and happy candle making!!!
GoldCanyonNut
11-05-2008, 09:02 AM
Becky,
Thanks so much for the reply. The site I've been looking at is www.candlescience.com (http://www.candlescience.com). They have recipes and videos that specify the wax, the wick, the fragrance oil, and the container size/type.
The idea of that website is that they have already done all the testing for the configurations in each recipe. They claim to take away the necessity of testing and/or experimentation.
Will you take a look at that site and tell me what you think? Particularly the How to Make a Soy Candle video. That one looks so easy...
Thanks so much for the reply. The site I've been looking at is www.candlescience.com (http://www.candlescience.com). They have recipes and videos that specify the wax, the wick, the fragrance oil, and the container size/type.
The idea of that website is that they have already done all the testing for the configurations in each recipe. They claim to take away the necessity of testing and/or experimentation.
Will you take a look at that site and tell me what you think? Particularly the How to Make a Soy Candle video. That one looks so easy...
~Becky~
11-06-2008, 06:45 AM
Yes, CandleScience is great!!! Definitely one of the leading/best supply companies. I buy a LOT of my stuff from them http://wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif. I have watched that video before, and it is great for an introduction and a very good place to start.
I would suggest starting with what they recommend and their wick guide is great as a starting point. However, you still need to test each fragrance. Some scents, especially vanilla or mint scents, you need to go up one size in your wick (it's called "wicking up") because they are heavier oils and won't burn the same. That's why it's really good to go to that other message board I posted to find out what others are having luck with. Not everyone gets the same results though http://wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif. But, definitely, what they recommend is a great place to start! Their fragrance oils are among the best out there too.
Have fun!!!
I would suggest starting with what they recommend and their wick guide is great as a starting point. However, you still need to test each fragrance. Some scents, especially vanilla or mint scents, you need to go up one size in your wick (it's called "wicking up") because they are heavier oils and won't burn the same. That's why it's really good to go to that other message board I posted to find out what others are having luck with. Not everyone gets the same results though http://wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif. But, definitely, what they recommend is a great place to start! Their fragrance oils are among the best out there too.
Have fun!!!
