Candle Making Calculator

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):

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.