Candle making guide
Getting your fragrance load right is one of the most important variables in candle making. Too little and your candle has weak or no scent throw. Too much and the excess oil seeps out, floods the wick, causes smoking, and creates a fire hazard. Here's exactly how much to use for every wax type.
Fragrance load is expressed as a percentage of the wax weight — not the total mixture weight. A 6% fragrance load means 6 oz of fragrance oil per 100 oz of wax, or 0.96 oz per 16 oz (1 pound) of wax.
| Wax type | Light throw | Medium throw | Maximum safe load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soy (container) | 5% | 7% | 10% |
| Paraffin | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| Beeswax | 3% | 4% | 6% |
| Coconut wax | 6% | 8% | 10% |
| Soy/paraffin blend | 6% | 8% | 10% |
The formula
Fragrance oil (oz) = Wax weight (oz) × Fragrance load (%)
Example: 8 oz soy wax at 7% = 8 × 0.07 = 0.56 oz fragrance oil. Use a kitchen scale for accuracy — measuring by volume is not precise enough.
| Wax type | Per 1 lb (16 oz) at medium load | Per 1 lb at maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | 1.12 oz (7%) | 1.6 oz (10%) |
| Paraffin | 1.6 oz (10%) | 1.92 oz (12%) |
| Beeswax | 0.64 oz (4%) | 0.96 oz (6%) |
| Coconut wax | 1.28 oz (8%) | 1.6 oz (10%) |
Exceeding the maximum fragrance load causes the wax to become oversaturated — it can no longer bind all the fragrance molecules. The excess oil pools on the surface (called "fragrance weeping" or "sweating"), migrates to the bottom of the container, or clogs the wick. This creates a candle that paradoxically throws less scent than one at the correct load, and in worst cases creates a fire hazard as the pooled fragrance oil near the flame.
More fragrance does not mean more scent throw. It means damaged candles.
Temperature matters as much as amount. Adding fragrance too hot causes the volatile scent molecules to flash off before the wax sets — your candle will smell weak even at the correct load percentage.
| Wax type | Add fragrance at | Pour at |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax | 130–140°F (54–60°C) | 120–130°F (49–54°C) |
| Paraffin | 170–180°F (77–82°C) | 160–170°F (71–77°C) |
| Beeswax | 150–160°F (65–71°C) | 145–155°F (63–68°C) |
| Coconut wax | 105–115°F (41–46°C) | 100–110°F (38–43°C) |
Soy wax has a reputation for lower hot throw than paraffin — this is partly true and partly a curing issue. Soy candles must cure for at least 1–2 weeks before testing. The fragrance oil needs time to fully bind with the wax molecules. A soy candle tested at 48 hours will always seem weaker than the same candle tested at 2 weeks. Many candle makers write off a fragrance as a bad thrower without ever giving it a proper cure.
Other factors: wick size (too small = incomplete melt pool = less scent released), container diameter, and the specific fragrance oil's composition. Heavy, dense fragrance notes (musks, woods, vanilla) throw better in soy than light citrus or aquatic notes.
Want the exact fragrance oil amount for your specific container size, wax type, and batch quantity?
Use the free fragrance calculator →No. Each wax has a different molecular structure and binds fragrance oil differently. Soy wax can hold up to 10%, paraffin up to 12%, but beeswax maxes out at 6%. Using a soy-level fragrance load in beeswax will cause the excess oil to seep out of the finished candle.
Yes. Different fragrance oils have different viscosities and flash points. Some supplier-specific fragrance oils have their own recommended maximum load — always check your fragrance oil supplier's guidelines alongside your wax manufacturer's specs. If they conflict, use the lower number.
Use the same percentage formula but in grams: Fragrance oil (g) = Wax weight (g) × fragrance load (%). For example, 500g of soy wax at 7% = 500 × 0.07 = 35g of fragrance oil. Our calculator above handles both oz and grams automatically.