How to Calculate Fragrance Oil for Candles & Wax Melts
Getting the right amount of fragrance oil is the difference between a candle that fills a room and one that barely smells off the wick. This calculator takes the guesswork out of fragrance load math so you can scale batches with confidence.
The Formula
Fragrance oil per unit is simply: Wax Weight × (Fragrance Load ÷ 100). Multiply by the number of units in your batch to get the total fragrance oil needed, then multiply by your cost per ounce to see the exact dollar impact on your margins.
Choosing the Right Fragrance Load
Every wax has a maximum fragrance load set by the manufacturer. Exceeding it can cause sweating, poor glass adhesion, and inconsistent burns. As a general rule:
- 6% – Light, background scent. Great for bedrooms.
- 8% – The most common starting point for soy candles.
- 10% – Strong throw for living rooms and open spaces.
- 12% – Maximum for most soy waxes. Ideal for wax melts.
Pro Tip: Always weigh fragrance oil on a digital scale accurate to 0.1 oz. Eyeballing leads to inconsistent scent throw from batch to batch, which hurts repeat sales.
Need to figure out how much wax your container holds first? Use our Candle Wax Calculator to convert container volume to wax weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fragrance load and how do I choose the right percentage?▼
Fragrance load is the percentage of fragrance oil relative to the weight of wax. Most soy waxes perform best between 6% and 10%. Going above your wax manufacturer’s recommended maximum (usually 10–12%) can cause sweating, poor adhesion, or wick clogging.
Does fragrance load affect hot throw and cold throw differently?▼
Yes. A higher fragrance load generally increases both hot throw (scent while burning) and cold throw (scent when unlit), but the relationship is not linear. Testing at 8% and 10% side-by-side is the best way to find the sweet spot for each fragrance.
Can I use the same fragrance load for candles and wax melts?▼
Wax melts are typically loaded at 10–12% because they rely entirely on hot throw with no wick to worry about. Container candles usually stay at 6–10% to avoid wick issues. Always check your wax supplier’s guidelines for the maximum safe load.