Candle Making Calculator
Calculate wax weight, fragrance oil at 6-10% load, and recommended wick size for candles from container volume.
Supports soy, paraffin, and beeswax.
Candle making ratios determine the exact amounts of wax, fragrance oil, and dye needed to fill a container to a specific volume while achieving the right scent throw and burn quality.
Core formulas: Wax Weight (oz) = Container Volume (fl oz) × Wax Fill Factor Fragrance Oil (oz) = Wax Weight (oz) × Fragrance Load % Dye Amount = Wax Weight × Dye Ratio (varies by dye type)
Wax fill factor by wax type:
- Soy wax (container): 0.85 — 1 fl oz of volume needs ~0.85 oz of soy wax
- Paraffin (container): 0.90 — slightly denser than soy
- Coconut wax: 0.82–0.88
- Beeswax: 0.96 — very dense
Fragrance load by wax type (maximum safe load):
| Wax Type | Typical Load | Maximum Load |
|---|---|---|
| Soy (container) | 6–10% | 12% |
| Paraffin | 6–12% | 12% |
| Coconut wax | 6–10% | 10% |
| Beeswax | 3–6% | 6% |
| Palm wax | 3–6% | 6% |
Worked example: You’re making a 12 fl oz soy candle with a 9% fragrance load.
Wax weight = 12 × 0.85 = 10.2 oz of soy wax Fragrance oil = 10.2 × 0.09 = 0.918 oz ≈ 0.9 oz (26 mL) of fragrance oil Total pour weight = 10.2 + 0.9 = 11.1 oz total
Temperature guidelines:
- Melt soy wax to 170–180°F
- Add fragrance oil at 140–160°F (prevents flash-off and ensures binding)
- Pour into container at 120–135°F (prevents sinkholes and cracking)
Wick sizing: A too-small wick causes tunneling (wax tunnel down the center). A too-large wick causes sooting and uneven burning. Most soy container candles in a 3-inch diameter jar use a CD 18 or ECO 14 wick. Always test-burn 3 candles before large production runs.