Candle Fragrance Load Calculator
Enter your wax weight and fragrance percentage to get the fragrance oil you need, the total batch weight, the wax-to-fragrance ratio and the amount per candle, in grams or ounces.
Your batch
Common starting points only. The right percentage depends on your wax, fragrance oil and container, so follow your suppliers' limits and test.
Optional: density & cost estimate
Candle fragrance load explained
This candle fragrance load calculator is a simple candle making calculator: it turns a wax weight and a fragrance percentage into the weight of fragrance oil to add. It does not tell you what percentage is right for your candles. That depends on materials you must check yourself.
What fragrance load means
Fragrance load (also called fragrance percentage) describes how much fragrance oil is in a candle compared with the wax. A 5% load means 5 parts fragrance oil to 100 parts wax, by weight.
How fragrance load is calculated
The fragrance load calculator uses one formula: fragrance weight = wax weight ร load รท 100. The total batch is wax plus fragrance, and the wax fragrance ratio is wax : fragrance, so 6% is 100 : 6, or about 16.7 : 1. Because the load is relative to the wax, the fragrance itself is not part of the 100.
Wax weight vs finished candle weight
A common slip is using the finished candle's weight. A 300 g candle in a jar includes the jar, wick, wick sticker, dye and fragrance. Use the weight of wax only. A reliable way is to weigh the empty container, then the wax you pour, or to pour water to the fill line and use your wax supplier's guidance on converting volume to wax weight.
Why fragrance limits vary by wax and supplier
Waxes differ in how much oil they can bind. Soy wax fragrance load limits depend on the blend and additives, and paraffin, coconut blends and beeswax behave differently again. Fragrance oils also vary in composition, and suppliers test under their own conditions. That is why the same percentage can suit one product and cause problems in another. Read your wax supplier's technical data and your fragrance supplier's usage notes, and treat the lower of any stated limits as your ceiling.
Measuring fragrance accurately
- Use a digital scale that reads to 0.1 g (or 0.01 oz) for small batches. Tare the container first.
- Weigh fragrance oil rather than measuring it in millilitres, since oils have different densities.
- Use the same unit throughout. Mixing grams and ounces is a frequent mistake, and 1 oz โ 28.35 g.
- Record exact amounts, temperatures and cure times so you can repeat or adjust a batch.
Common calculation mistakes
- Calculating from the finished candle weight or including the container.
- Mixing units, or confusing fluid ounces with ounces of weight.
- Treating a preset as a recommendation rather than as a number to check against supplier limits.
- Forgetting that a batch has more wax than the candles hold (some stays in the pot), which skews cost per candle.
- Rounding too early. Keep decimals until the final weighing.
Candle-making safety considerations
Treat this as general information, not professional safety advice. Use fragrance oils specifically made for candles, and read each product's safety data sheet. Stay within your wax's published fragrance limit, and add fragrance at the temperature your supplier specifies. Melt wax with controlled heat, never leave hot wax or a burning candle unattended, and keep both away from flammable items. Test every new wax, wick, container and fragrance combination with a test burn before selling or gifting candles, and follow your local labelling rules.
Example calculations
| Wax | Load | Fragrance | Batch total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 g | 6% | 30 g | 530 g |
| 16 oz | 8% | 1.28 oz | 17.28 oz |
| 12 candles ร 250 g | 7% | 210 g (17.5 g each) | 3,210 g |
These examples show arithmetic only. They are not recommendations for any particular wax.
Frequently asked questions
What is fragrance load in candle making?+
Fragrance load is the amount of fragrance oil in a candle, expressed as a percentage of the wax weight. A 6% load means 6 g of fragrance oil for every 100 g of wax.
How do I calculate fragrance oil for my wax?+
Multiply the wax weight by the fragrance percentage divided by 100. For 500 g of wax at 6%, that is 500 ร 0.06 = 30 g of fragrance oil. Always weigh the oil on a scale rather than measuring by volume.
Is fragrance load based on wax weight or total candle weight?+
This calculator, like most supplier guidance, bases the percentage on wax weight only. Container, wick, dye and the fragrance itself are not part of the wax figure. Check your supplier's wording, as a few describe the load differently.
What fragrance load should I use for soy wax?+
There is no single correct figure. Maximum and recommended loads for soy wax vary by wax blend, manufacturer and even the individual fragrance oil. Use your wax supplier's published maximum and your fragrance supplier's usage guidance, then confirm with test candles.
Can I use more fragrance to get a stronger scent?+
Not safely beyond your wax's limit. Exceeding the limit can cause oil to seep out, affect burn performance and increase safety risks. If a scent seems weak, review cure time, wick choice, pour temperature and fragrance quality before raising the load.
Should I measure fragrance oil in grams, ounces or millilitres?+
Weight is the standard for candle making because fragrance oils have different densities. If you enter a density in the optional field, the calculator also shows an approximate volume in millilitres. Your supplier's safety data sheet often lists specific gravity.
Does this calculator work for wax blends and other waxes?+
Yes. The arithmetic is the same for soy, coconut, paraffin, beeswax and blends. What differs is each wax's recommended fragrance limit, which this tool does not set for you.
Is the cost estimate exact?+
It is an estimate. It divides your fragrance price by the package size you enter and multiplies by the fragrance weight needed. It does not include shipping, tax, wastage or spillage.