Creating Fragrant Candles: Calculating Multiple Scents For Success

Calculating the correct amount of fragrance oil to add to candles is a common question among candle makers. While it may seem straightforward, understanding the nuances of scent load percentages and calculations is key to achieving consistent results. Scent load refers to the amount of fragrance oil in a candle as a percentage. There are two common methods to calculate this percentage: relative to wax (the ratio of oil to wax only) and relative to the total blend (the ratio of oil to the combined weight of wax and oil).

How to calculate fragrance load

To calculate fragrance load, you can use a candle calculator. First, enter the scent percentage (e.g. 10%). Then, specify the container mass (e.g. 220g). Finally, input the batch size (e.g. 100 candles).

You can also calculate fragrance load manually. To do this, you can measure it as a percentage of just the wax (fragrance load) or the total weight of wax and oil combined (fragrance content). For example, if you want a 10% scent load relative to the wax, you would take 10% of the weight of the wax. So, 200g of wax x 10% = 20g of oil. This method results in 20g of oil and 198g of wax.

The method you choose depends on your personal preference or production process. The important thing is to remain consistent in your calculations and be transparent about your method on product labels or packaging.

How to calculate fragrance content

When making candles, it's important to know the concepts of "fragrance/scent load" and "fragrance/scent content". The fragrance/scent content method is the fragrance calculation method in the blend and is based on a percentage of oil on the weight of the wax and fragrance combo. The fragrance/scent load method is the fragrance calculation method in the mixture and is based on a percentage of oil on the weight of the wax.

For example, if a candle maker uses 20g of fragrance for 200g of wax, this gives a real fragrance percentage content of 10% in the fragrance combo and wax. However, the total percentage of fragrance, considered for CLP purposes, is actually 20g at 220g (because 220g is the total weight of the product (i.e. 20g + 200g), which gives a CLP percentage of 9.09%.

It's recommended that candle manufacturers use a 6-8% fragrance percentage for their candles at the beginning of testing, unless it is a really light oil. This will help prevent the wick from becoming clogged and avoid performance issues.

There are also online calculators that can work out the mass of wax and fragrance required for a single candle and a batch of candles. These calculators work out the fragrance relative to the overall fill mass of the vessel.

How to calculate scent load

To calculate the scent load of a candle, you need to measure the fragrance oil as a percentage of the wax or the total weight of wax and oil combined. This is known as the fragrance load or fragrance content.

The first step is to measure the wax you'll need for the batch of candles you're making. Make sure you know the weight in ounces or grams. The next step is to calculate the fragrance load. This is the percentage of fragrance oil in the candle relative to the wax. To calculate this, multiply the weight of the wax by the chosen fragrance load (the percentage). For example, if you're making 100 candles with a 10% scent load, and each candle will contain 200g of wax, you'll need 200g x 10% = 20g of oil per candle. This will result in a total weight of 220g per candle.

Alternatively, you can calculate the fragrance content. This is the percentage of fragrance oil in the candle relative to the total weight of wax and oil combined. To calculate this, take the total weight of wax and oil and multiply it by the fragrance load percentage. For example, if you're making candles with a total weight of 220g (wax and oil) and a 10% scent load, you'll need 220g x 10% = 22g of oil per candle. This will result in 20g of oil and 198g of wax per candle.

The method you choose depends on your personal preference or production process. The important thing is to remain consistent in your calculations and be transparent about your method on product labels or packaging. You can use a candle calculator to simplify the process and ensure accurate and consistent results.

How to calculate fragrance oil per candle

To calculate fragrance oil per candle, you can use a candle calculator. Enter the scent percentage, the container mass and the batch size. For example, if you want a 10% scent load, enter 10% as the scent percentage, 220g as the container mass and 100 as the batch size. The calculator will then tell you that you need 22g of fragrance oil and 198g of wax per candle.

You can also calculate fragrance oil manually. One way to do this is to take 10% of the total weight of wax and oil combined. For example, if the total weight of wax and oil is 220g, take 10% of this weight for the fragrance oil: 220g x 10% = 22g of oil. This will leave you with 198g of wax.

Another way to calculate fragrance oil manually is to take a percentage of just the wax weight (the fragrance load). First, measure the wax you'll need for all the candles in the batch. Then, multiply this weight by your chosen fragrance load percentage. For example, if you need 200g of wax and want a 10% fragrance load, the calculation is 200g x 10% = 20g of oil. This will again leave you with 198g of wax.

The method you choose depends on your personal preference or production process. The important thing is to remain consistent in your calculations and be transparent about your method on product labels or packaging.

How to calculate wax per candle

When making candles, it's important to calculate the correct amount of wax per candle. This will ensure that your candles have a consistent scent and burn properly.

To calculate the wax per candle, you need to determine the fragrance load, which is the percentage of fragrance oil in the candle relative to the wax. The fragrance load can be calculated using two methods: relative to the wax or relative to the total blend.

The first method, relative to the wax, involves measuring the weight of the wax and multiplying it by the chosen fragrance load percentage. For example, if you have 200g of wax and want a 10% fragrance load, you would calculate 200g x 10% = 20g of fragrance oil. This means you would use 20g of fragrance oil and 180g of wax per candle.

The second method, relative to the total blend, takes into account the combined weight of wax and oil. Using the previous example, if you have 200g of wax and want a 10% fragrance load, you would calculate 200g x 10% = 20g of fragrance oil. This results in a total weight of 220g (wax + oil), with 20g of fragrance oil and 198g of wax per candle.

It's important to note that the method you choose depends on your personal preference or production process. Consistency in your calculations and transparency about your method on product labels or packaging are key. Additionally, consider using a pre-made calculator to simplify the process and ensure accurate results.

Remember to always measure the weight of your wax accurately and to take into account the batch size when making multiple candles.

Frequently asked questions