Candle Wax & Fragrance Calculator
Calculate exactly how much wax and fragrance oil you need for your candles. Enter your container size, batch count, and fragrance load to get your full recipe.
How It Works
Understand the calculations behind your candle recipe.
Wax Calculation
Container volume in fluid ounces is multiplied by the wax density to get the wax weight per candle. Total wax = wax per candle × number of containers. Different waxes have different densities — soy and paraffin are lighter than beeswax.
Fragrance Load Formula
Fragrance oil needed = total wax weight × (fragrance load ÷ 100). A 6% load means 0.06 oz of fragrance per 1 oz of wax. Most candle waxes safely hold 6-10% fragrance, with soy wax typically maxing at 8-9%.
Wax Melts Conversion
One standard wax melt weighs approximately 1 ounce. The calculator shows how many melts you could make from the total wax weight. Ideal for testing new fragrances without committing to full candles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about candle wax and fragrance calculations.
Fragrance load is the percentage of fragrance oil relative to the wax weight. A 6% load means 0.06 oz of fragrance oil per 1 oz of wax. Most candle waxes can handle 6-10% fragrance load. Soy wax typically works best at 6-8%, while coconut and paraffin waxes can handle up to 10%.
For an 8 oz container with soy wax (density 0.9), the wax weight is 7.2 oz. At 8% fragrance load, you add 0.58 oz of fragrance oil. The total weight per candle is about 7.78 oz. Use the calculator above for exact amounts based on your container size and wax type.
Soy wax is the most popular choice for scented candles because it burns cleanly, has good fragrance throw, and is natural. Paraffin wax holds fragrance well but is petroleum-based. Coconut wax has excellent fragrance throw but is more expensive. Beeswax has a natural honey scent and burns the longest.