If you’ve ever wondered “How much fragrance oil do I put in my candle wax?” — you’re not alone. The good news? It’s actually super simple. Let’s break it down in plain English.
Step 1: Know Your Fragrance Load
Fragrance load is just a fancy way of saying how much oil should I add to my melted wax. It’s measured as a percentage of the wax weight.
-
Soy wax: usually 6–10%
-
Coconut/soy blends: around 8–10%
-
Paraffin: often 5–8%
👉 Check what your wax supplier recommends — don’t go higher than their maximum.
Step 2: Use the Magic Formula
Here’s the only formula you need:
Fragrance Oil (g) = Wax Weight (g) × (Fragrance Load ÷ 100)
That’s it. No stress, no confusing math.
Step 3: Let’s Try an Example
Say you have 500 g of wax and want to add 8% fragrance oil:
500 × .08 = 40 g fragrance oil
So you have 500g of melted wax, then add 40 g of fragrance oil. Done.
Step 4: Quick Cheat Table
Don’t feel like calculating? Here’s a simple guide:
Wax Weight | 6% FO | 8% FO | 10% FO |
---|---|---|---|
100 g | 6 g | 8 g | 10 g |
500 g | 30 g | 40 g | 50 g |
1,000 g | 60 g | 80 g | 100 g |
Just match your wax weight and pick your percentage.
Step 5: A Few Tips
-
Always weigh in grams, not millilitres. Oils are sneaky and don’t weigh the same as water.
-
Stir well so the fragrance binds properly with the wax. Usually two minutes.
-
Add fragrance at the right temperature (check your wax guide — often between 60–75°C).
-
Too much fragrance = candle problems (separation, sweating, or worse). Stick to safe limits.
Final Word
Calculating fragrance oil for wax isn’t scary. Once you’ve done it once or twice, you’ll never need to Google it again, but probably just your calculator.
Happy candle-making — and may your creations smell amazing!