Calculate the exact amount of wax and fragrance oil you need for any container size, quantity, and wax type — so every candle comes out right.
Your fragrance load is the percentage of fragrance oil relative to the total wax weight. A 6% load means 6 grams of fragrance for every 100 grams of wax. To calculate the weight of wax and fragrance for a container: multiply container volume × wax gravity to get the total fill weight, then split that between wax and fragrance based on your load percentage. Enter your values below and the calculator does the arithmetic for you.
Track your candle materials automatically. Craftybase deducts wax and fragrance from inventory every time you log a batch — so you always know what you have on hand.
Try free for 14 daysTrack your fragrance inventory and costs automatically
Craftybase deducts wax and fragrance from inventory every time you log a batch — so you always know what's on hand and what it costs.
See candle inventory software →Fragrance load is the percentage of fragrance oil relative to the weight of wax in your candle. It's one of the most important numbers in candle making because it directly affects scent throw, burn quality, and safety.
Use too little fragrance and your candle won't throw scent across the room. Use too much and you'll get sweating, wet spots, or wax that won't hold a flame. Every wax type has a maximum fragrance load recommended by the manufacturer — exceeding it doesn't make a stronger candle, it makes a worse one.
For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide: How to calculate fragrance load when making candles.
Not all waxes hold fragrance the same way. Here are typical maximum fragrance loads and specific gravities for common candle waxes:
| Wax Type | Typical Max Load | Specific Gravity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soy Wax (464) | 10–12% | 0.90 | Most popular container wax. Great scent throw at 10%. |
| Paraffin | 6–10% | 0.86–0.90 | Strong hot throw. Gravity varies by melt point. |
| Coconut Wax | 10–12% | 0.90 | Clean burn, excellent scent throw. |
| Beeswax | 3–6% | 0.95 | Low fragrance retention. Natural honey scent. |
| Soy-Coconut Blend | 10–12% | 0.90 | Popular blend for both throw and clean burn. |
| Palm Wax | 6–8% | 0.88 | Creates unique crystalline patterns. |
| Gel Wax | 5–6% | 0.97 | Clear candles. Use only fragrance oils rated for gel; flash point must be >170°F. |
Always check your wax supplier's data sheet for exact specifications. These are typical values and may vary by brand.
Different scent families behave differently in wax. Heavy base notes (woodsy, amber, musk) project well at lower loads; light top notes (citrus, floral) evaporate fastest and benefit from higher loads near your wax's maximum. Here are typical usage rates by scent family for soy wax:
| Scent Family | Examples | Typical Load (Soy) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floral | Rose, Lavender, Jasmine, Peony | 8–10% | Light top notes fade quickly — use the higher end of your wax's range for better cold throw. |
| Woodsy & Earthy | Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Oakmoss | 6–10% | Base-heavy; projects well at moderate loads. Less risk of oversaturation. |
| Citrus & Fresh | Lemon, Grapefruit, Ocean, Clean Linen | 9–10% | Top notes evaporate fastest. Use near max load; cure time matters more for citrus. |
| Food & Bakery | Vanilla, Cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice, Brown Sugar | 8–10% | Popular crowd-pleasers; mid-range loads typically give great hot throw. |
| Spice & Warm | Clove, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Amber | 6–9% | Strong middle notes. Can overpower at max load — start low and test upward. |
| Fruity | Strawberry, Apple, Mango, Watermelon | 8–10% | Bright top notes are fragile. Higher loads help retain scent through the cure period. |
Usage rates assume soy wax (10–12% max). Adjust proportionally for paraffin (6–10%) or beeswax (3–6%). Always test before committing to a full batch.
Want to track your wax and fragrance costs per candle automatically?Craftybase calculates your true cost of goods for every candle you make — including wax, fragrance, wicks, jars, and labor.
Try free for 14 days →Getting your fragrance load wrong is one of the most common issues for new candle makers. Managing candle inventory and materials accurately starts with getting your recipes right. Here are the mistakes we see most often:
Fragrance oils are denser than wax, so a tablespoon of fragrance weighs more than a tablespoon of melted wax. Always measure fragrance by weight on a digital scale. Measuring by volume will give you inconsistent results from batch to batch.
More fragrance doesn't mean more scent. When you exceed the wax's capacity, the excess fragrance has nowhere to bind. It pools on the surface (sweating), leaches out of the wax, or causes the candle to burn improperly. Stick to the manufacturer's recommended maximum.
Your container's volume (in fluid ounces) is not the same as the weight of wax that fills it. Wax is lighter than water — a container that holds 8 fl oz of water only holds about 6.88 oz of wax (at 0.86 specific gravity). This calculator handles that conversion for you.
Most fragrance oils bind best when added at 180–185°F (82–85°C). Adding fragrance to wax that's too hot causes the volatile top notes to evaporate. Too cool and the fragrance won't distribute evenly. Check your wax supplier's recommended pour and fragrance addition temperatures.
If your candles aren't throwing scent the way you'd like, fragrance load is only one piece of the puzzle. Once you've nailed your recipe, the next question is usually how to price your candles to cover your actual material costs. Here are the other factors that affect hot and cold throw:
Getting fragrance load right isn't only about scent strength — safety and regulatory compliance matter too, especially if you sell your candles.
The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) sets safe usage limits for fragrance ingredients in finished products. Most fragrance oil suppliers provide an IFRA compliance certificate with their oils, which specifies the maximum safe usage rate for candles (Category 12 products). If your calculated fragrance load exceeds the IFRA limit for that oil, you must reduce it — regardless of what your wax can physically hold. Check the certificate before finalising any recipe you plan to sell.
Cold throw is the scent you smell from an unlit candle; hot throw is what's released while it burns. Most candle makers optimise for hot throw, but if you sell online or at markets, cold throw matters too — it's often a customer's first impression. Higher fragrance loads tend to improve cold throw; good wick sizing and a full melt pool drive hot throw. These require different adjustments, so test both before locking in a recipe.
Every fragrance oil has a flash point — the temperature at which it can ignite. For candle making, this affects when you can safely add fragrance to wax. As a general rule: add fragrance at least 20–25°F below the flash point. Most quality candle fragrance oils have flash points above 160°F, which is well above typical soy pour temperatures. Always check your supplier's SDS (Safety Data Sheet) before working with a new oil.
Before committing to a large batch, make 2–3 small test candles at your target fragrance load. Let them cure for at least 1 week, then do a full burn test: check for seepage, wick mushrooming, soot, and throw strength. Only scale once your test candles pass. Scaling a flawed recipe multiplies the waste.
This tool is built for anyone working with wax and fragrance who wants consistent, repeatable results. Specifically:
If you want to go beyond calculating amounts and actually track your wax and fragrance costs automatically across every batch — including cost per candle, inventory deductions, and year-end COGS reporting — Craftybase handles it for you.
Craftybase tracks your wax, fragrance, wicks, jars, and labor for every batch you make. Know your true cost per candle, keep your inventory accurate, and price with confidence.
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