Candle Fragrance Oil Calculator
Enter your wax weight or your containers, choose a fragrance load, and get the exact amount of fragrance oil in ounces, grams and an approximate volume. Everything runs in your browser.
Fragrance oil needed
≈ 36.3 g · about 38.2 ml
- Wax
- 16 oz
- Fragrance oil
- 1.28 oz
- Total batch
- 17.28 oz
- Same as
- 1.28 oz per lb of wax
- Volume (approx.)
- 38.2 ml / 7.7 tsp
How the calculator works
Fragrance load is the amount of fragrance oil expressed as a percentage. The calculator supports the two ways candle makers use that percentage:
- Percent of wax weight (default): fragrance = wax weight × load. With 16 oz of wax at 10%, you add 1.6 oz of oil and the batch weighs 17.6 oz.
- Percent of total weight: fragrance makes up the stated share of the finished candle. For a 16 oz batch at 10%, you use 14.4 oz of wax and 1.6 oz of oil.
When you enter containers instead of wax, the calculator treats your fill weight as everything that goes into one vessel and splits it into wax and fragrance so the jar still fills to the same line.
Quick reference chart
Fragrance oil per pound and per kilogram of wax, using the percent-of-wax method:
| Fragrance load | Oil per 1 lb wax | Oil per 1 kg wax |
|---|---|---|
| 6% | 0.96 oz | 60 g |
| 6.25% | 1 oz | 62.5 g |
| 8% | 1.28 oz | 80 g |
| 9% | 1.44 oz | 90 g |
| 10% | 1.6 oz | 100 g |
| 12% | 1.92 oz | 120 g |
Choosing a starting fragrance load
If you are testing a new fragrance and wax combination, start at the load your wax supplier recommends and pour a few test candles at two or three loads, for example 6%, 8% and 10%. Let them cure, then compare cold throw and hot throw in the same room. You will often find that the middle option performs as well as the strongest one and costs less to make.
Fragrance oils are not all equally strong. Bright citrus and light florals tend to need more oil than heavy vanillas, gourmands and woody blends. The supplier's product page usually lists a recommended usage rate, and that is worth reading before you buy a large bottle.
Always confirm the maximum fragrance load on your wax's technical data sheet and the IFRA certificate for your fragrance. This calculator does the arithmetic; it cannot know your specific products.
Tips for accurate results
- Weigh fragrance oil on a digital scale instead of using spoons or cups.
- Tare the scale with your pouring pitcher on it before adding oil.
- Add fragrance at the temperature your wax supplier recommends and stir gently for about two minutes. Read the temperature guide.
- Write down the wax, fragrance, load, wick and temperatures for every test batch.
Frequently asked questions
How much fragrance oil do I add per pound of wax?
A common starting point is 1 ounce of fragrance oil per pound of wax, which is 6.25%. Many container waxes are tested at 8 to 10%, which is 1.28 to 1.6 ounces per pound. Check your wax's maximum load and test before going higher.
Is fragrance load calculated on the wax or the total candle weight?
Both methods are used. Most US wax and fragrance suppliers express load as a percentage of the wax weight, so 10% means 1.6 oz of oil for 16 oz of wax. Some makers use a percentage of the finished candle weight instead, which gives slightly less oil for the same number. This calculator lets you choose.
Can I measure fragrance oil with a measuring spoon instead of a scale?
You can estimate it, but weighing is far more reliable because fragrance oils differ in density. The calculator shows an approximate volume using the specific gravity you enter, but a digital scale that reads to 0.1 g or 0.01 oz will give consistent candles batch after batch.
Does more fragrance oil make a stronger candle?
Not past a point. Every wax can only bind a certain amount of oil. Going over that limit can cause oil to sweat on the surface, sooting and a weaker hot throw. Wick size, cure time and the fragrance itself usually matter more than adding extra oil.