I am interested in getting this sealing wax to place on letters, and am wondering how it would hold up in the mail. Thanks for all feedback. Also, any recommendations of colors would be appreciated!

I haven't tried the J Herbin Cire Souple yet, though it is on the list. I've been using Atelier Gargoyle waxes, which I'm quite happy with at the moment. The Atelier Gargoyle goes through the mails fine, but it's made to do so, really. They sell J Herbin waxes, too, though, and have a nice write-up on their site about "traditional" waxes vs modern waxes and where to use them for the best results.

As for color, go for what draws your eye.

I haven't used the supple Herbin wax, though I can second the recommendation for Atelier Gargoyle flexible wax. AG also have several colours which haven't made it to their website yet.

Also check both these threads, there may be items in interest in both:

Wax Seals!

wax seals

And here is Atelier Gargoyle - really simple site, but good people to deal with.

Thanks for the responses, I have been looking into Atelier Gargoyle, and would be love to try their wax, but their minimum order of $30 is a bit much for me right now. I have also been looking at the mentioned threads, and am looking into some of the other waxes mentioned. I would like to stay with a more traditional wax overall.

I guess I will try it out, and report back. Thanks for all the suggestions!

If the per-stick price is a bit much, someone might be willing to split an order with you, or add a couple of sticks to their order and pass them on to you. I have rather a lot right now though, as I tend to order more than I need...

Generally speaking, the more traditional the wax is the less well it will survive the postal system. Traditional waxes are brittle and somewhat easily broken by design; the whole idea is that the seal should break under any attempt to open it. Letters usually get pressed and to some extent bent by automatic mail sorting equipment, and traditional seals usually don't survive this (nor are they supposed to).

Some people have reported good luck with traditional waxes if you are careful to use a minimal amount of wax, such that that resulting seal is pretty thin - that may be the best approach, especially if your seal of choice is not all that deeply cut.

Let us know how it works!

One more link - I posted a review of the Atelier Gargoyle wax awhile ago, if it's helpful:

Review: A. G. sealing wax

-C

Chud, thanks for the info. I understand that more traditional waxes tend to have a problem surviving postal service handling, and that's why I was wondering about Cire Souple, as it seemed to be sold as a more flexible wax, maybe not to the extent of A. Gargoyle, but better than the J Herbin's regular line of waxes. Thanks for the link to your review, it was one I have looked over and has helped me in figuring this out. I may look into splitting an order of A. gargoyle wax in the near future, but I kind of want to try Cire Souple first. I am planning on making a thin seal, though it may take a little practice.

Let us know how you like the Cire Souple -- new options in wax are always welcome!

I apologize for the delayed response to my experiences with J Herbin's Supple wax. I received the wax in forest green from Pendemonium on September 20th having to wait due to me special ordering a seal. A review is shortly to follow this , but I can only say that the seals created from this wax are very flexible and do believe show the same ability to not crack or crumble as A. Gargoyle, and will post a similar test that was made with that wax's review. I have sent it through the mail three times, and the two who have made their destination so far (one being on the way!) have survived the US mail system without a hitch, remaining completely intact. I made thin seals as one, I knew that has been successful in the past for many of you, and two, using matches I didn't have much time to make them really thick!! Pendemonium states that each stick can make 8-10 seals, but I have been able to make over twenty, true a few were not complete initially as I was learning to do them, but others I had to use more wax as I was figuring out the amount of time I had to lay the wax down and make a seal (which is pretty quick, a definite difference than what A. Gargoyle says their wax can do).
As far as making the actual seal, I was using the tree seal from J. Herbin which made beautiful sharp wax seals. I picked this one as I am a biologist by training and love a piece of nature to be a symbol or mark for me. Like the A. Gargoyle waxes, no moisture barrier needs to be made before making a seal, and the engraved seal can be removed from the wax easily while retaining the sharp details of the image of the tree. I do believe the J. Herbin wax is a good choice for seals that must go through the mail, and that they can add beautiful detail to letters, large envelopes, and gifts such as scrapbooks, and cards.

My mail system totally destroys seal, yet a letter from Singapore arrived with an intact seal as did a seal from Louisiana. You can always send a letter to yourself and see how it returns.

Another way to make a seal come off easier and add some contrast...use contrast ink or a metallic ink pad. It will highlight the image. Any hobby store will have these ink pads or you can buy metallic palattes at stamp stores. www.Letterseals.com has a rainbow of contrast inks.

W

JackobS,

I have both the J Herbin Cire Nacree was and the Cire Souple wax. The Cire Nacree is exactly what I thought it would be....it crumbles relatively easily. The Cire Souple wax I can bend in half without breaking it (not sure if that is actually normal or if I have a weird batch though). If you want to PM me back channel, I can send you a sample of what I have here.....

If you want to help the wax survive you might also want to seal the letter then put the entire thing in a bubble wrap envelope and write fragile/ hand cancel on the outside.

Kurt

I've got a cigar box full of wax sticks and find that the traditional red is the one I use mostly with black and green coming in next. The metallic wax I find smokes alot and has a greater tendency to soot. I have bought a miniblowtorch to try and see if I can't improve their melting.

Kurt

I guess you didn't see my update( Post #11). I have the Cire Souple wax now, in forest green, and have found it to be able to survive any amount of bending applied to it, so what you have found with it is I believe to be what it was made to do.



With the Cire Souple wax I have no worries of it surviving the postal service. All my seals have stayed on and in the exact condition that they were before being placed in the mailbox. I did this with thin seals applied to the outside. Thanks for the additional info on the waxes you have used and colors as well Kurt!