Fragrance oil calculator
How much fragrance oil should you add?
Enter your wax weight or the total weight of your pour, choose a fragrance load, and get the fragrance oil by weight and in milliliters.
Enter a weight and a fragrance load to see the amount of oil.
Fragrance oil to add
That's 1.28 oz of fragrance oil per pound of wax.
Same as 7.4% of total weight.
8.0% of wax weight is within the typical range for soy container wax (max 10–12%).
Your batch
How this calculator works
Fragrance load is the amount of fragrance oil written as a percentage, and it is always worked out by weight. The calculator handles both ways suppliers state it.
Percent of wax weight: oil = wax × load
Percent of total weight: oil = wax × load ÷ (1 − load)
If you choose Total weight instead of wax weight, enter the full weight that fills your jar or mold. The calculator splits it into wax and oil so the container still fills to the same line.
With the defaults, 16 oz (1 lb) of soy wax at an 8% load takes 1.28 oz of fragrance oil, which is about 36 g or 38 ml.
Fragrance oil per pound of wax
| Load (of wax) | Per 1 lb of wax | Per 1 kg of wax |
|---|---|---|
| 6% | 0.96 ozabout 29 ml | 60 gabout 63 ml |
| 8% | 1.28 ozabout 38 ml | 80 gabout 84 ml |
| 10% | 1.60 ozabout 48 ml | 100 gabout 105 ml |
| 12% | 1.92 ozabout 57 ml | 120 gabout 126 ml |
Milliliters assume a density of 0.95 g/ml. For jar-by-jar amounts, see the candle wax and fragrance chart.
Weigh it if you can
A scale is more accurate than a measuring cup or syringe, because fragrance oils vary in density: a light citrus blend and a heavy vanilla blend take up different volumes at the same weight. If you do measure by volume, use the specific gravity from your supplier's safety data sheet in the advanced settings.
Essential oils and wax melts
The same math works for essential oils, but they usually give a weaker scent throw than fragrance oils made for candles, and each has its own safe usage limit. Counting drops is only practical for very small test batches. For wax melts, choose Wax melt blend: many melt waxes are rated to 10% to 12%, and some higher. See wax melts: wax and fragrance per clamshell.
Whatever the oil, stay within your wax's maximum and the level on the oil's IFRA certificate. More oil past the limit won't make a stronger candle. See how to make candles smell stronger.
Frequently asked questions
How much fragrance oil per pound of wax?
Multiply 16 oz by your fragrance load: 0.96 oz at 6%, 1.28 oz at 8%, 1.6 oz at 10% and 1.92 oz at 12%. At a typical density of 0.95 g/ml, 1.28 oz is about 38 ml.
How much fragrance oil do I need for an 8 oz candle?
An 8 fl oz jar filled to 90% takes about 6.5 oz of wax and oil together. At an 8% load that is about 0.48 oz (14 g) of fragrance oil, roughly 14 ml. Choose Total weight in the calculator and enter your own jar's pour weight for an exact figure.
How many drops of essential oil do I need for a candle?
Work it out by weight first, then convert. A 4 oz tin at a 6% load needs about 5 g of oil, roughly 5 to 6 ml, which is around 100 drops at 20 drops per ml. That is why weighing is easier and more accurate than counting drops.
Is fragrance load a percentage of the wax or of the whole candle?
Most US suppliers state it as a percentage of wax weight, and many European suppliers use total weight. 10% of total weight equals about 11.1% of wax weight, so check which one your wax is rated in. The calculator shows both.