Buy Local

 

I suspect that you have already seen the Facebook posts about Temu.  I don't know how much of that is true.  I was commenting on a post where someone asked if other soap makers buy from Temu.  I just said that I do not trust them, I prefer not to buy from them.  Other people said that it is the same or similar to buying generic brands.  That it's like Amazon, but cheaper.  I don't like it either way.

I am making soaps, lotions and candles on my own, I buy from Amazon.  I try my best to buy materials made in the U.S.A.  So far, my fragrances are from Bulk Apothecary.  They are more expensive than if I buy fragrances from Amazon from random companies.  I believe it's worth it.  I don't want to take a chance on unknown brands (most come from China).  This is people's skin that we are talking about.  I don't want possible issues from unknown or even untested products.

I cringe when people buy candles from the dollar stores, or things you put on your skin.  Candles can be creating toxic fumes, by cheap materials they were made from.  Did you know most cheaper candles use paraffin?  Paraffin is used because it is cheaper than soy wax.  There was a lot of information on Google about this.  In short..  "People can be exposed to paraffin on the workplace by breathing it in, skin contact, and eye contact.  The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) for paraffin wax fume exposure of 2 mg/m3 over an 8 hour work day."  (Wikipedia). Other sites said that it is petroleum based and you can inhale carcinogens if you don't have good ventilation.  So, while you could save a few dollars, you could be inhaling some bad Sh**. 

I have ordered soy wax from an American Company.  Soy is biodegradable, and burns cleaner and results in less soot.  I make some candles that have essential oils at smaller amounts than usual candles.These can be used as warm massage oil.  I feel confident that this is safe.  It  might smell lighter in the air, but safe for the skin.  

While I can't avoid plastic, or things made in China, at least small steps might be helpful.

Enough about materials.  When buying from small business, you help people in our community.  In my case, you are helping me reach my dreams.  I want to build my own business, because I believe that we are meant to work to live, not live to work.  I don't want to go to a job that I feel miserable in, get home when it's dark already, hungry and tired.  Just to pay for the house I can't spend time in because of work.  My priority should be to spend the little time we have on this earth with the people I love.  I want to wake up and be happy and eager to start work doing something I love.  I would love for my little business to help cover our bills and have a little extra, so we don't stress out.  

I know we all have dreams, and mine is not more important than anyone else's.  But I know that my little business can make people happy.  It can help their lives a little better just by helping them wind down when they get home.  Smell the soft delicious scents of my melts and candles.  Even enjoy a warm shower that smells like a little piece of heaven.  I would love to know that someone out there is going to bed smelling like Bergamot, or vanilla pudding (my favorite).  that scent will impregnate into the bedding and make their rest more enjoyable.  

I appreciate the opportunity offered to me by the people who buy my products, to reach these goals.  I have faith and I am determined to grow my little business.  

I am grateful and blessed.  

Candles and Wax-melts

 Good morning everyone.  I am very excited to say that I am so very grateful for the wonderful people who have been buying from me.  It helps me to buy more materials, and new molds.  Unfortunately, I am obsessed with new and different molds.

I made some lemon cream wax melts.  They look like white chocolate bars with lemon cream.  They smell delicious, like lemon merengue pie.  Unfortunately, I finished all the lemon creme, among other scents.  I need more!!  I think people are liking the food scents more than the regular ones.  

I was making candles, but I got a little worried.  I kept reading online, how candle makers get so complicated.  They work so hard to get just the right size vessel, the right wick, and everything that goes in them is so precise.  I was able to do all that, and made some wonderful candles lately.  My fear, si that candlemakers need insurance, they can get sued easily.  If someone gets burned, or the vessel breaks, of God forbid the house catches fire because someone left it unattended.  In my head, the worst scenario, is someone leaving a candle near a curtain.  

I will tell you, we all need to be careful with candles, and not become complacent.  I will tell you a story:

We were living in a little house, back in forever ago 2001or so.  I had just moved to Moreno Valley.  My husband was in Army training when I decided to try a new church.  I ended up being asked by a Pastor, if I would take a kitten home.  I had a hard time saying no.  Pee wee (Pee brain) was a cool cat, but sometimes not very smart.  I wasn't thinking one day, hubby and I were having wine, and watching something on TV.  I lit a candle, because I love the way they make my house smell.  Everything was fine, that is until Pee wee decided to walk around looking pretty.  I got up to get something from the kitchen, and I turned around, to see something frightening, and hilarious.  Pee wee had a habit of slapping things with his tail, to get food to fall to the floor so he can eat it.  The candle must've smelled like food to him, he walked past and swatted the lit candle with his tail.  Now he was walking around waving proudly in the air,  a "Flaming Tail of Horror" around.  I walked slowly, to not spook him.  Got his tail with a kitchen towel.  That was a close one!  

Let's talk about cheap candles while we are here.  I bought a pretty gel candle in a martini glass some time back.  It was so cute.  I wasn't intending to light it, it was so pretty.  I had it on the mantle along with other pretty things and candles.  Above the mantle is an NCO sword I gave my husband.  It is mounted onto a wooden plaque and has a plaque on it.  Above that, a replica of an antique 13 star U.S.A. flag pinned to the wall.  Late one night, we were drinking, and watching something on TV.  Mostly ignoring it, but actually talking and laughing.  I don't know what possessed me to light the martini candle.  We were in good spirits, literally and figuratively I guess.  After a few minutes, I didn't realize it was overheating, and then suddenly exploded.  Yes, it exploded!  At first I laughed, it was funny.  I got up to extinguish the little fire in the glass, and pick up the pieces.  The gel had splattered in chunks, and some of them had a little flame.  That was so freaky.  Never again!  What I suspect happened, is that it was made in China, to start with.  I don't think they tested the glass for heat, it was so thin.  The gel burned too hot and the results were explosive.  

Sine then, I don't buy cheap candles, unless they are solely for decorative purposes.  I buy good quality candles made in the U.S.  I am sure candle companies here test their candles, and make sure they are not going to overheat or crack.  I still never leave a candle lit where I cannot see it.  Now, the wood behind the sword is marked with a black streak.  I am grateful it wasn't worse.  The flag is high up, so it doesn't cause a hazard, it wasn't going to reach there.  

I do want to make candles, but I will have to be patient.  I have to make one, and test it first.  Then wait a couple of weeks for it to cure.  Once I see that it works well, I can make more of the exact same kind.  So, it's going to be a process.  

In the meantime, I am making wax melts, mostly because it is so fun.  And, I will say it again, I love to watch people smile when they smell my soaps and candles.  The excitement and wonder is so special to me.  

This is test subject number 3

The flame is perfect, but needs more fragrance, I did the math wrong.

These are some of the wax melts I have now.  

They are scented with Vanilla Butter, and strawberry.

Big waffles are Buttered Vanilla.

I still have to work out the price, I calculated the math for them.  I think I just have to re-check my math.  I don't want them to be expensive, but I need to make enough to cover the materials, and a little extra, to help my project grow.  I hate saying "business". It's not a business if it is making me happy, right?  I can almost say that buying my products will feed my addiction.  I will re-invest and buy more materials.  at some point, it should make it so I can sail smoothly ahead.  Right now, doggie paddle.