Candle Wax CalculatorFragrance Oil to Wax Ratio: How Much Oil per Batch?
Fragrance load is the most miscalculated number in candle making. The convention most suppliers use is simple: fragrance oil weight as a percentage of wax weight — 8% means 8 g of oil per 100 g of wax.
This calculator applies exactly that definition. Enter your wax weight and load, and it gives you the oil to add and the finished batch weight.
Fragrance oil to wax ratio calculator
Enter the weight of wax you are melting and your fragrance load percentage, and this calculator tells you how much fragrance oil to add — and what the finished batch will weigh.
How the fragrance ratio formula works
Fragrance load is fragrance oil weight as a percentage of wax weight: fragrance_g = wax_g × (load ÷ 100), and total_batch_g = wax_g + fragrance_g — the convention most suppliers use when they quote fragrance loads.
At 8% on 500 g of wax that is 500 × 0.08 = 40 g of oil, for a 540 g finished batch. Always weigh fragrance oil on a scale — oils vary in density, so volume-measuring under- or over-doses.
Limits: the math is exact, but the safe load for your batch is set by your wax and oil suppliers' data sheets, not by the formula — always stay at or under the lower of the two rated maximums.
The formula, and a weighing tip
Fragrance load is defined as a percentage of the wax weight — the convention most suppliers use. The formula is simple:
fragrance oil = wax weight × (load ÷ 100)
At 8%, that is 500 g × 0.08 = 40 g of oil, for a finished batch of 540 g. The calculator above applies exactly this formula.
A common beginner mistake is measuring the oil by volume instead of weight — fragrance oils vary in density, so always weigh the oil on a scale.
Limitations
The calculator gives the mathematically correct amount for your chosen load, but it cannot tell you whether that load is safe for your wax and oil combination — the rated maximums live on your suppliers' data sheets, not in the math. Exceeding them causes sweating, poor burn, or separation.
Also, fragrance load is not the whole scent story. Throw depends on wick size, cure time, pour temperature, and the oil itself — a correctly dosed 8% candle with a bad wick will still smell weak. Treat this page as the dosing step of a longer process.
Fragrance loads by wax type
Fragrance load is always fragrance oil weight as a percentage of the wax weight, dosed before any safety margin — the convention most suppliers use. These are conservative ceilings; always stay at or under the lower of your wax's maximum and your fragrance oil's maximum.
| Wax | Recommended range | Start here | Do not exceed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | 6–10% | 8% | 10% |
| Paraffin wax (container blends) | 6–10% | 6% | 10% |
| Coconut wax / coconut blends | 8–10% | 8% | 10% |
| Beeswax | 3–6% | 4% | 6% |
| Gel wax | 0–5% | 4% | 5% |
Gel wax, density-dependent: Penreco's guidance (via Wholesale Supplies Plus) is 0–3% for low-density gel and 3–5% for medium-density gel — medium density is the most common hobby gel, so 3–5% is the practical working range and 5% the ceiling. Fragrance for gel must be non-polar with a flash point above 170°F or it can migrate out (Penreco via WSP; Candlewic).
Paraffin, blended vs straight: the 6–10% range is for commercial container paraffin blends. Straight (unblended) base paraffin holds only about 3% without additives such as Vybar, so start low unless you know your wax is a container blend.
Sources:
- Soy wax: Lone Star Candle Supply fragrance FAQ (GB 444: 9–11%, GB 415: 8–10%, GB 464: 7–9%, NatureWax C-3: 6–9%); CandleScience lab notes (SimplySoy up to 10%; CB-Advanced tested to 12% but 9% recommended)
- Paraffin wax (container blends): Lone Star Candle Supply fragrance FAQ (IGI 4633 container paraffin 8–10%; 4627/4630/4636/4786 container paraffins 6–10%; 4625 pillar and 4761/4794 votive blends 6%); Wholesale Supplies Plus help article (straight paraffin only about 3% without additives such as Vybar)
- Coconut wax / coconut blends: Hive and Honey Candle Co. / Calwax EC-26 coconut-soy (8–10%); New Directions Aromatics NatureWax C-6 (up to 10%); Lone Star Candle Supply (Golden Brands 454 coconut-soy 5–10%)
- Beeswax: Market Street Candles guide (typical 3–6%, maximum 6%); WickWise fragrance guide (safe max 6%, common range 3–4%)
- Gel wax: Wholesale Supplies Plus, quoting Penreco (low-density gel 0–3%, medium-density gel 3–5% — medium density is the most common hobby gel); Candlewic / LetsMakeCandles (CG-1: 0–3%, CG-2: 3–5%)
Where a range cannot be tied to a named supplier, it is labeled a typical value — check your supplier's data sheet.
Worked example: a 500 g batch at 8%
Step 1 — oil: 500 g × 8% = 40 g of fragrance oil.
Step 2 — finished batch: 500 + 40 = 540 g.
Sanity check: 40 g of oil in 500 g of wax is exactly the 8% load you asked for. Weigh the oil — never measure it by volume, since fragrance oils vary in density.
Related calculators
- Wax Melt CalculatorFree wax melt calculator: enter your clamshell cavities and segment size to get wax and fragrance oil amounts in grams, with a worked example.
- Soy Wax CalculatorFree soy wax calculator: enter container diameter, height, and candle count to get wax and fragrance oil amounts in grams, with a worked example.
- Gel Wax CalculatorFree gel wax calculator: batch gel wax weight and safe 0–5% fragrance loads.
Return to the candle wax calculator homepage to pick another tool.
Frequently asked questions
I have seen fragrance load defined as a percentage of the finished candle. Which is right?
Some makers quote a percentage of the finished candle instead. That is a different convention (the oil is load ÷ (100 − load) of the wax). This site always uses the percentage of wax weight, which is how most suppliers state fragrance load — 8% means 8 g of oil per 100 g of wax.
How much fragrance oil do I add to 500 g of wax at 8%?
40 g — that is 500 × 8 ÷ 100. The finished batch weighs 540 g.
Can I use more fragrance oil than 10%?
Yes, up to the wax's rated maximum — most soy and paraffin waxes top out at 10%, coconut blends at 10%. Going over the maximum causes sweating (oil beading on the surface), mottling, or a candle that will not stay lit properly. The percentage math has no safety limit; your wax does.
Should I measure fragrance oil in grams or milliliters?
Always by weight. Fragrance oils have densities around 0.90–1.10 g/ml, so 10 ml of oil is not 10 g — it could be anywhere from 9 to 11 g. On a 500 g batch that error compounds fast. A 0.1 g kitchen scale is the standard tool.
Does every fragrance oil work at the same load?
No — some fragrance oils have their own lower maximum, especially ones heavy in vanilla or citrus components. The safe load for a batch is the lower of the wax's maximum and the oil's maximum. If your oil is rated to 6% and your wax to 10%, use 6%.
What if I already added too little fragrance oil?
It will be under-scented, not ruined. The fix is simple: weigh out the missing oil — the difference between what you added and the correct amount — warm the batch back to pouring temperature, stir it in for two full minutes, and pour. Do not just guess and dump more in; re-weigh properly.
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