The Art Of Scent: Calculating Fragrance Load For Candles

Calculating the correct amount of fragrance oil for your candles is a crucial step in the candle-making process. You can measure fragrance oil as a percentage of just the wax (fragrance load) or the total weight of wax and oil combined (fragrance content). The fragrance load is usually between 5-6%, but this can vary depending on the type of candle wax and the density of the wax. To simplify the process, you can use a pre-made calculator that takes into account the scent percentage, container mass, and batch size to determine the correct amount of fragrance oil per candle.

Calculating fragrance load manually

The fragrance load is usually between 5-6% but depends on the type of candle wax you are using. Most candle wax has an average gravity of 0.86 (meaning it is 86% the density of water). You can calculate the fragrance load as a percentage of just the wax (fragrance load) or the total weight of wax and oil combined (fragrance content).

To calculate the fragrance load manually, you need to know the desired candle weight and the percentage of fragrance oil you want. You can then use the following formula:

Fragrance load = (desired candle weight x fragrance oil percentage) / 100

For example, if you want to make a candle with a weight of 200g and a fragrance oil percentage of 8%, the calculation would be as follows:

Fragrance load = (200 x 8) / 100 = 16g

This means you would need to add 16g of fragrance oil to your candle wax to achieve an 8% fragrance load.

It's important to note that finding the exact amount of fragrance needed for your candle may require some experimentation. While wax can hold a fair amount of fragrance, using too much can result in wax overload and other issues. Therefore, it's recommended to start with a lower fragrance load and adjust as needed through trial and error until you find the perfect balance between wax and fragrance.

Using a fragrance load calculator

To use a fragrance load calculator, you will need to enter the scent percentage, the container mass, and the batch size. For example, if you are making a batch of 100 candles with a scent percentage of 10% and a container mass of 220g, the calculator will tell you that you need 22g of fragrance oil per candle and 198g of wax per candle.

The fragrance load is usually between 5-6%, but this does depend on the type of candle wax you are using. Most candle wax has an average gravity of 0.86, meaning it is 86% the density of water. It is important to remember that while wax can hold a fair amount of fragrance, using too much fragrance can result in wax overload and cause various problems, such as a poor performance or a clogged wick.

Some calculators will also allow you to enter the number of candles you wish to produce and your container size, with calculations in ounces, grams, and pounds.

The percentage of fragrance oil

You can calculate the fragrance load as a percentage of just the wax or the total weight of wax and oil combined. Both methods work, but consistency and clarity are key, especially for labelling.

To calculate the fragrance load manually, enter the scent percentage, specify the container mass, and input the batch size. For example, if you enter a scent percentage of 10%, a container mass of 220g, and a batch size of 100 candles, the fragrance oil per candle will be 22g and the wax per candle will be 198g.

There are also pre-made calculators available online that can help you determine the correct fragrance load for your candles. These calculators will ask for the desired candle weight and the percentage of fragrance oil you want.

The type of candle wax

When calculating the fragrance load, you can measure it as a percentage of just the wax (fragrance load) or the total weight of wax and oil combined (fragrance content). Both methods work, but it is important to be consistent, especially for labelling.

Finding the exact amount of fragrance needed for your candle may require some trial and error. While wax can hold a fair amount of fragrance, using too much can result in wax overload and other issues. It is important to strike a balance between wax and fragrance to create the perfect candle.

There are fragrance load calculators available online that can help simplify the process of determining the correct amount of fragrance oil for your candles. These calculators take into account factors such as the number of candles you wish to produce, the container size, and the desired fragrance load.

The number of candles

The fragrance load is usually between 5-6%, but this does depend on the type of candle wax you are using. Most candle wax has an average gravity of 0.86, meaning it is 86% the density of water.

You can calculate the fragrance load as a percentage of just the wax or the total weight of wax and oil combined. Both methods work, but consistency and clarity are key, especially for labelling.

If you are doing these calculations manually, you can enter the scent percentage, specify the container mass, and input the batch size. For example, if you are making 100 candles with a scent percentage of 10% and a container mass of 220g, you will need 22g of fragrance oil per candle and 198g of wax per candle.

It is important to note that using too much fragrance can result in wax overload and various other problems. Therefore, it is recommended to start with a lower fragrance load and use trial and error to see what works best for your candle.

Frequently asked questions