We did a show at the Valley Shepherd Creamery, Long Valley, NJ. We were asked to perform heritage craft making demo. So we were there to show guests how candles are made. All the little children were very interested to find out. In addition, we also demo how to make chain mail jewelry. All in all it was a great day.
During the course of the day, we were able to see some of the attraction provided by the owner in the farm. We were placed in front of a half cylindrical barn that housed the baby sheep. The baby sheep was force fed by using a bottle and they made a lot of noise all day long. After a while you got so used to it you don’t even hear them anymore. We also visited the shearing site. What a sight to see. A completely furred sheep end up being naked. But that’s what this event is all about. We also find out during the late afternoon that we were setup where there is a fenced trail at the back of our tent that is used as a route for sheep to travel from their barn to the grazing area. There were over 100 sheep that passed along this route ‘going home’ in the late afternoon. I took a video so you can experience what we saw.
Going Home
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
About Fragrances for candles
First, different manufacturers may have the same fragrance products. However, they don’t necessary have the same scent characteristics. Usually they have a slight variation if not the same. In addition, there are also plant varieties. For example, the term Jasmine could be used for several different type of Jasmine flower extracts. For simplicity sake, the general term is being used.
Second, as can be seen in the above example that the name Jasmine can be used to represent several different varieties of the Jasmine family, the scant/fragrance name is just a label to identify a product. We have customers looking for White Tea, but when you really try to analyze the scent, it has a shade of Jasmine in it. So, should it be called Jasmine White Tea or something else? That really does not matter. The difficulty is that later if a customer tries to find that fragrance, it will be hard to find unless he or she goes back to the initial place where it is acquired. Maybe by chance, another retailer happens to have the same fragrance one has to probably find something else. This is not so bad because it allows you to try something else. You might find a new passion.
Third, I love those that advertise with “double or triple scented” products. What does that mean? If it is a candle that has two or three different layers of scents, then that’s fine. If it is a colored candle, we can see it. If it is a clear candle than we will have to rely on the seller to explain to the customer. If it is not a layered candle, does the candle that has double or triple scent is twice or three times more scent put in it than all other manufacturers? How do they know how much scent the other manufacturers put in their candles? The only consumer friendly terminology is if someone, or anyone, would tell you the percentage of scent being used. If that is the case, yes, 30% is triple to 10%. But than again, there is no standard and no one will tell you the percentage of fragrance is mix into the candle. This so-call double or triple scent can only be measured against the person who is advertising it. As far as I am concern, one either has enough fragrance put into the candle to make the customers like it or you don’t. The best thing to do, of course is to have the customer smell the candles and let them decide.
Fourth, Not all fragrances have the same strength and intensity. Some fragrances are light and clear scent but very intense. Others are Strong and intense. Some people like very strong fragrance, others like lighter scent. Lighter scent does not mean you vaguely smell the scent. It is just not heavy but it still carries its scent within reasonable area where it is designed for. We have an Almond fragrance that is somewhat obnoxious and an Ocean Mist scent that is nice and light and clean. However, if we put less Almond fragrance, it will become a lighter scent candle. Now we are talking about custom made candles rather than general production candles.
Bottom line – be a wise consumer. It is perfectly fine to visit the retailers or crafters and sample all the scents, especially for any fragrance products. Visit them do not obligate you to buy anything. You are comparing and judging the right product you want to purchase from different sellers. You are gathering information about different products. Even if you are not in the market, you will be able to find someone whose products you like. Ask for their contact information so you can reach them for future purchase. – Ask the right questions and you will be a happy consumer.
Next we will discuss how to find good candles.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Second, as can be seen in the above example that the name Jasmine can be used to represent several different varieties of the Jasmine family, the scant/fragrance name is just a label to identify a product. We have customers looking for White Tea, but when you really try to analyze the scent, it has a shade of Jasmine in it. So, should it be called Jasmine White Tea or something else? That really does not matter. The difficulty is that later if a customer tries to find that fragrance, it will be hard to find unless he or she goes back to the initial place where it is acquired. Maybe by chance, another retailer happens to have the same fragrance one has to probably find something else. This is not so bad because it allows you to try something else. You might find a new passion.
Third, I love those that advertise with “double or triple scented” products. What does that mean? If it is a candle that has two or three different layers of scents, then that’s fine. If it is a colored candle, we can see it. If it is a clear candle than we will have to rely on the seller to explain to the customer. If it is not a layered candle, does the candle that has double or triple scent is twice or three times more scent put in it than all other manufacturers? How do they know how much scent the other manufacturers put in their candles? The only consumer friendly terminology is if someone, or anyone, would tell you the percentage of scent being used. If that is the case, yes, 30% is triple to 10%. But than again, there is no standard and no one will tell you the percentage of fragrance is mix into the candle. This so-call double or triple scent can only be measured against the person who is advertising it. As far as I am concern, one either has enough fragrance put into the candle to make the customers like it or you don’t. The best thing to do, of course is to have the customer smell the candles and let them decide.
Fourth, Not all fragrances have the same strength and intensity. Some fragrances are light and clear scent but very intense. Others are Strong and intense. Some people like very strong fragrance, others like lighter scent. Lighter scent does not mean you vaguely smell the scent. It is just not heavy but it still carries its scent within reasonable area where it is designed for. We have an Almond fragrance that is somewhat obnoxious and an Ocean Mist scent that is nice and light and clean. However, if we put less Almond fragrance, it will become a lighter scent candle. Now we are talking about custom made candles rather than general production candles.
Bottom line – be a wise consumer. It is perfectly fine to visit the retailers or crafters and sample all the scents, especially for any fragrance products. Visit them do not obligate you to buy anything. You are comparing and judging the right product you want to purchase from different sellers. You are gathering information about different products. Even if you are not in the market, you will be able to find someone whose products you like. Ask for their contact information so you can reach them for future purchase. – Ask the right questions and you will be a happy consumer.
Next we will discuss how to find good candles.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Friday, May 2, 2008
Comments for Blog
At present, I have left the Comment Section for each blog to let anyone author his or her thoughts. This is a privilege. Please use it wisely and be constructive. However, I will remove comments that do not fit. If you use your good judgment, I will reciprocate.
Let's have fun.
Thanks.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Let's have fun.
Thanks.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Candle burn time vs Candle weight
Many customers ask me about the weight of each type of candles I make. (We only make Soy Candles.) So I tell them instead the burn time of each type of candles. Why did I not answer their question as they directed? Well, with candle, weight does not mean much. The type of wax used to make candles has specific weight. Even in just the soy candles, not all soy wax has the some weight due to composition. Even soy wax from the some company has different weight depending on the blend used. (And you think there is only one kind of soy wax?) So what is all that boils down to? I use the burn time as a true gauge. After all, you want to know the true usage. One would not measure number of miles per pounds of gasoline but measure by the volume in gallon. Here, we would be better to use time to measure the usage of candle. We know that soy candle burns longer than paraffin candle. So it would be more sensible to compare cost of burn time against cost of weight for different type of wax (Beeswax, Soy wax, Vegetable wax, paraffin, etc).
Another thing of interest, by knowing the burn time is to know what the manufacturers knows about their candles. It is easy to weight the candle and give consumer a number to compare with. However, knowing the burn time, the manufacturer has to test each type of candle for its characteristic. This takes a lot of time and energy at development time. However, once the correct testing is done, the manufacturer would know their candle well. I have also found lack of testing leave a center-burning tunnel in a candle and created a lot of waste. What is a consumer to do with the leftover un-consumed wax? If you as a consumer have to melt the candle to save the wax, you might as well make your own candles. The only exception is the pillar candles.
Next time we will address the fragrances used in the candles.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
Another thing of interest, by knowing the burn time is to know what the manufacturers knows about their candles. It is easy to weight the candle and give consumer a number to compare with. However, knowing the burn time, the manufacturer has to test each type of candle for its characteristic. This takes a lot of time and energy at development time. However, once the correct testing is done, the manufacturer would know their candle well. I have also found lack of testing leave a center-burning tunnel in a candle and created a lot of waste. What is a consumer to do with the leftover un-consumed wax? If you as a consumer have to melt the candle to save the wax, you might as well make your own candles. The only exception is the pillar candles.
Next time we will address the fragrances used in the candles.
Visit our site at vegi.ws
1st Weekend of May
The weatherman keeps us guessing. Last time when I check with them, Saturday, May 3rd, suppose to be sunny. Well, now it’s PM Shower. I think if everyone comes in the morning when the weather holds up, we should still have a lot of fun. What the hack, just a little rain should not deter the die-hard visitors. I love the weatherman’s work. They don’t have their own information created by them and yet, they report what the weather stations give them. They can make mistakes and still get paid well. What a job. Try that anywhere else and see how long the job will last.
So Saturday we will be at Long Valley, NJ off 80/206 and we will try to get a glimpse at the sheep-shearing event. I have never seen that because all my life I have been living in large metropolis. There is no sheep in those large cities. If you see anything like it, they are in the grocery store. If time allows, we will also visit the cheese shop. At one point, I was thinking of making cheese but could not get myself up to do it. Maybe someday I will give it a try. I understand Valley Shepherd has a cheese making class. That might be an incentive to get started.
Sunday we will be at the Olde Lafayette Village at the northwest intersection of Rt. 15 and Rt. 94 in NJ. Unfortunately, there is still rain in the forecast. But it does not sound as bad because it is in the early morning and by 10am, it should clear away. For those of you think that my forecast is any more accurate than the weatherman, forget about it. I am using the same information they are using. So don’t blame me if the forecast is wrong. After all, I don't even get paid for telling this. This is a very nice little village with a lot of small shops. I am sure you will enjoy the day there.
Well, hope to see you at either place and let’s not worry about the rain after all. It’s much better than sit at home doing nothing. (I know, I know, everyone is busy. It that ever going to change?) So why not give yourself and your family a break and come out to mingle.
So Saturday we will be at Long Valley, NJ off 80/206 and we will try to get a glimpse at the sheep-shearing event. I have never seen that because all my life I have been living in large metropolis. There is no sheep in those large cities. If you see anything like it, they are in the grocery store. If time allows, we will also visit the cheese shop. At one point, I was thinking of making cheese but could not get myself up to do it. Maybe someday I will give it a try. I understand Valley Shepherd has a cheese making class. That might be an incentive to get started.
Sunday we will be at the Olde Lafayette Village at the northwest intersection of Rt. 15 and Rt. 94 in NJ. Unfortunately, there is still rain in the forecast. But it does not sound as bad because it is in the early morning and by 10am, it should clear away. For those of you think that my forecast is any more accurate than the weatherman, forget about it. I am using the same information they are using. So don’t blame me if the forecast is wrong. After all, I don't even get paid for telling this. This is a very nice little village with a lot of small shops. I am sure you will enjoy the day there.
Well, hope to see you at either place and let’s not worry about the rain after all. It’s much better than sit at home doing nothing. (I know, I know, everyone is busy. It that ever going to change?) So why not give yourself and your family a break and come out to mingle.
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