For once, when it comes to RU-vid videos and people giving you advice on youtube, this man has given some great practical down to earth advice. Instead of getting the usual RU-vid nonsense advice about things that don't matter or things that aren't very helpful especially at the beginning, this guy gives great advice on what to do in the beginning and your expectations instead of giving you advice on how to build an empire when you first need simply to understand where you're at and what you're going to be doing as well as the mind frame to have. He's giving excellent advice on how to just get good at candle making and then think about a business later which is exactly what people need to hear but exactly what most people on RU-vid are not saying. Excellent job in this video.
Keeping it simple and not worrying about others is the best advice. That's why I love the critique videos you do, nobody's product is perfect and yet we are all striving for perfection and can learn a lot from each other.
I'm starting a candle business in Italy, which is a whole nother set of hurdles (language barrier, no Etsy-type websites, expensive and unreliable shipping companies, etc.), but I have always found your videos so, so, so, helpful. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy this as a hobby. I didn't want to rush into business because it would add stress to making candles to satisfy customer demand. I only purchased a few scents with a kit of tins. Curing a group of candles for two weeks to see how good hot throw would be. I seem to lean toward lavender, Kentucky Bourbon, clean cotton and if I can find it a lemon or lemongrass fragrance. Gradually I am buying more lavender fragrance. Currently using 464 wax and enjoying the journey. I plan on buying some votive jars in small quantities to try out. This is more like chemistry and science than it would be manufacturing a product. Recently started using candle dye. After testing and recorded any residual wax left in test candle vessels are melted and reused as a lavatory votive.
This was extremely helpful and is confirmation that I'm on track. I'm making candles only as a hobby now, but I track everything as if I'm in business to prepare for possibly launching next year. I'm having a blast honing my craft right now and finding satisfaction in creating beautiful candles that my "testers" enjoy.
I am new to candle making this will be a hobby for me; I want to learn how to make candles. I am not thinking about a candle business at the moment I want to learn how to make candles and make them very well And learn as much as I need about candle making maybe down a road I might want to start a candle business but right now my focus is on candle making I'm glad I found your video It is very helpful And I will follow your advice
This is such good video! Great advice that I needed to hear right now. I just watched a discouraging video on how the economy and how buying already made products wholesale would be a better option rather than stressing over making the products. The entire point of doing this is the love of the craft. Just starting out, it was hard to hear ..
yah lot of fear and scare tactics these days and I dont think its necessary. There is ALWAYS something to be afraid of. Much more to be optimistic about
I love what you said about losing a part of your own creativity and that unique flair that makes you, YOU when you are trying so hard to skip important steps in your growth process and keep up with the Jones's! So true!
your videos are the best! I appreciate you taking the time to help others. I've been really absorbing and excited to launch my company in 3 weeks. Wanted everything in place as best as possible but know there will be continuous learning along the way. !
BIG fist bump to this video Wade!!! You hit the majority of my concerns and feel more motivated moving forward 👍🏽 Also props to all candle makers out there that inspired me to KISS my projects 😉
Hi Wade! I didn’t know I needed this video until I saw it! (Does that even make sense?) Your #2 tip about envy hit home to me! BIG time! This is all excellent advice! We appreciate you so much and appreciate the time and effort you take to make your videos!
I am so happy that I found you 🤗 Late but I made it ☺️ I am doing all of my homework and research now. Haven't made one candle yet 🤣🕯️I'm planning on using a kit from Hobby Lobby here really soon 😀 I plan on ordering my big girl products in a few weeks 🙏🏾Thank you so much for caring about all of us creativenatics and aspiring to be creativenatics 🎉💯🎊😎
Hi Wade, I just wanted to say Thank You. Im about to launch my candle business. I've been following you, Jeff and Erica. I've watched every video. You have help me so much and you are all great. One day maybe I'll send you one of my candles to review. Thank you again. Carlie
Yes yr right wade i followed yr advice wicks soy wax temps not buying fancy jars you have helped me alot thankyou so much yr amazing with what you know ive been at it a year 1/2 now love it
Thank you so much for the time you put into helping others. May God bless you for it. We are new to the business side of candles. We got into it trying to fill a void from a local popular candle shop who's owner retired abruptly. We have spent months trying to recreate her amazing style. Very little on RU-vid or the internet for this style. But after pulling apart hers and any candle we could find like it we think we finally have a marketable product (consumers will be the judge) . we are focusing in on a old school grubby style. We are using igi 4625 and would like better HT in larger rooms. I know you go by percentage rather than the 1 to 1 ratio. Our core is a 3 in dia. By 3.5 high pillar. The lx 20 wicks have tested best for our product. Most FR. we have tested are from CS and Freshscents. We do get some mushrooming and smoke but so did all the ones we use to get from her (would like to eliminate that in the future). Any advice would be great, in addition to all the great advice you've already given. Thanks again.
Awesome! I hope to do more videos on pillars etc in the future. But until my workshop/new Barn is done (thanks pandemic) it's hard to add new products to the channel. Space is an issue too. Lol Lx wicks are generally a good choice for pillars. So are premier 70p wicks. I know people who htp as well but I have yet to try it.
I absolutely LOVE your videos. You are informative, simple, educational. I am new to this business world and there is so much that is overwhelming. This video nailed it. :)
Hi I'm very thankful for your advice. You don't know how many times I felt bad about my products for not looking as beautiful as others. I needed to hear this words 🙏 be blessed and thank you for making this video. Sandra
Hi - Great advice again. I started with max welts and now have ventured into candles. This is a hobby for me and I have tried so many fragrances it gets confusing, it's much easier to try fragrances with melts instead of candles. I realize the fragrance may differ when melting vs burning, but it does help narrow down your choices in fragrance oils. I also want to start experimenting with fragrance blending which is another whole level of expertise. It has been fun for me because I am not focusing on the business aspect right now; if I was, I would have been discouraged and quit. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I always enjoy your videos!
You are awesome for all the help you provide others! And such a great knowledgeable speaker!! Thanks for all you do! I only do candle making as a hobby (for now) but love hearing your thoughts and ideas!!!! Ps….I would also add in that new businesses should set up an LLC to protect themselves
Hi there😊 I've recently started making soap after being in the corporate world for over 30 yrs. I needed to hear this. Thank you so very much. I will subscribe to your channel since I plan on adding candles to my range by the new year, God willing. Love and greetings from Pretoria, South Africa 🇿🇦 🌻
I wish I would have seen this video before getting started. I WAY overspent on supplies (especially jars and fragrance oils) that I want even sure would work for me.
Thank you for this video! I been in this business for almost 2 years and I still learn something new every time I watch your videos. The very first video I watched (before I learned about you, Jeff, n Erica) told me to use 1oz fo per lb of wax. I learned fast that's not true! I eventually learned how to do percentage. I really wish I would have done more research before I wasted all that fo, wax, n wicks. The ht was great for me (was using to small of a room n smelling to close) but when I started selling them I got lots of complaints. So my advice is research, research, n more research! Learn from several candle makers not just one. RU-vid has become my best friend! Thanks again for another great video. I'm loving your idea about the test group! I have a couple testers but I need a couple more!
Thank you Rita. I appreciate that feedback! And, yes in the past 1oz per pound worked much of the time for two reasons. 100% paraffin wax which is better at ht usually. And, the oils that work well at 1oz are usually more expensive.
@@BlackTieBarn I started out using fo from The candle makers store cause most items including fo are cheaper than most suppliers. I learned after trying a sample from cs then buying from cs that cms fo are not as high quality. I also learned that about their liquid dye, I use more of theirs than other places. I learned fast that you get what you pay for. I still order some items from there but not fo n liquid dye. Their dye blocks I have no problem with but I have gotten so use to using liquid now. I use 464 n 494 wax. I do want to try 6006 one day soon I have just been to scared to venture to a new wax cause I have gotten so use to Soy. I remember the 1st time I used 494 it was so different from 464 melting that I was nervous lol.
@@ritaslone2793 Haha! I know what you mean. It is almost like starting over when changing waxes. And yes... you definitely get what you pay for in regards to FO quality. I wouldn't say more expensive is always better. (Some companies just over price their FOs). But, for the most part... higher quality and more expensive ingredients and materials cost more money. :)
Thank you for sharing Wade. Your videos are very helpful. Looking to launch 2023. I want to continue to test until I have the best formula. I do have a journal it really helps to reference back.
Maybe you already have videos on this but it would be nice to see you testing different jars and seeing how the diameter of the jars effects the hot throw
Thanks Wade for your videos I’ve been watching you and Stanley and I have been learning a lot This is a hobby for me that I will eventually turn into a business I actually saw a RU-vid video from one of my dollar tree channels that I watch and one of the ladies had actually got a candle kit from pro candle supply and that’s what got me started But I’m one of those people that I am very detailed oriented and want to know exactly what I’m doing so I did my research and came up on your channel and Stanley’s channel and I didn’t realize how much goes into candlemaking This is a very helpful video I especially like your kiss method because I started to buy too many fragrance oils even though they were samples and then I was looking into all these different vessels and then I was like before I saw this video OK Patty slow your roll down get to making the candles first and making them right before you start going into all this other stuff LOL your video was a very good video
i wish i would've had the foresight to STOCK UP MY INVENTORY. omg that is STILL my Achille's heel. not having it on hand has cost me some sales and added undue stress on more than a few occasions
Thank you so much Wade, this was so, so helpful and encouraging to say the least! One of the things that I wish I would have known was that the testing stage truly does take time! I used to watch videos and hear people say “I was testing for 6 months, 8 months, a year etc…” And I used to think, does it really take all that??? 6 months in myself, boy was I wrong!! Lol. I wanted to ask you if you thought 6hrs to reaching full melt pool is too long and so I should wick you? There’s no smoking or soothing at all, which I’m so pleased about, there’s a tiny bit of mushrooming by the 5 hour mark and hot scent throw is good but could be stronger. However, with it taking 6 hours at least to get to full melt pool would you say that is too long and I should wick up? Thank you ✨✨
Yah testing can definitely take a while. But it gets faster and easier with time. As far as a full melt pool taking 6 hours. Well you don't really need a "full melt pool" on first burn. That is sort if a myth. As long as it pretty much reaches the edge and doesn't start tunneling you are fine. It doesn't need to be edge to edge 1/4 deep. For most waxes that would be overwicked. It all depends on the wax type. But... I would say if it's 6 hours to get to that point, it is too long. Most customers won't.m burn that long and it will tunnel
@@BlackTieBarn Thank you Wade, that’s exactly what I thought that most customers will not burn it for 6hrs. It’s CoCoSoy wax. In that case I will wick up then. Thank you.
I wish I hadn’t stressed over logos and trademarks and all that stuff first before even making a candle. I spent money on someone making me a logo when I wasn’t even ready to start a business. FYI I hate the logo lol You see all the candle makers who have more years under their belt with beautiful logos and labels and you start feeling like you are behind. But nope, gotta start from the first step.
Hi there maybe you can answer in a q and a soon... how do you balance kids, wife and life with a business? Do you have another source of income or is this your sole way of earning money? I'm curious because I'm trying to balance these things myself.
THIS is definitely the hardest part my workload is insane... actually too much to be honest. I'm a busy body and have WAY to many things going on. This channel and my other content for example take make 20+ hours a week alone and thst is in addition to the business. I just started it late last year and it's been hard. I definitely plan to do a video about this soon though!
One thing I would like to know about is flashpoint, I know some candlemakers who swear by the flashpoint and then I heard that you are suppose to add it to the wax at 185 degrees.
Yah it kinda depends who you ask and what wax you are using. Most FO companies and wax companies will recommend adding it around 185. Palm, coconut, and certain paraffin benefit from even higher temp. The biggest problem with adding FO at low Temps is it now binding with the wax well
Extremely helpful video as always Wade, thank you! Question: How do you track your liquid dye in Craftybase? By the ounce, the drop or is it too insignificant to track via Craftybase? Thank you!
Ah great question. I think I touch on this a bit in my adding materials video. But I add it as a supply material but non-inventoriable as its negligible. Write then off directly as office supplies or general supplies etc
@@BlackTieBarn Thank you and I will go back and re-watch that video! Btw, thanks for responding Wade... I'd hate to see how Allen would have answered! 😂
Greeting I'm struggling with wax melts get a good ht . I know you use 6006 to make wax melts. Could you please tell me how you make them. And how much fragrance oil % you use. I'm using Pro 750 for wax melts but can't get a ht to save my life. Thank you. 😞😁
Hi Freda. i actually do not use 6006 to make melts. Its a container wax and is too soft. If you want to use 6006, mix it with something harder like a 4625 for example. As far as HT in melts. I would use around 10% and adjust from there. Another option for melts is Problend 650
Just wondering if starting out with one size container be a viable business to start with? I would think two different sizes would be looking more like a business? I’m open but just wondering
