Candle Making Calculator

Candle Making Ingredient Calculator

Use this calculator to determine the precise amounts of wax, fragrance oil, and dye needed for your candle projects based on your container size and desired fragrance/dye loads.

(e.g., Soy wax is often around 0.85 oz/fl oz)

(Typically 6-12% for most waxes)

(For liquid dye, typically 0.01-0.1%. Solid dye chips are usually per pound.)

Required Ingredients Per Container:

Total Wax Needed:

Fragrance Oil Needed:

Dye Needed:

Understanding Your Candle Making Ingredients

Creating beautiful, high-quality candles requires precision, especially when it comes to measuring your ingredients. Too much or too little of any component can significantly impact the burn, scent throw, and appearance of your finished product. This calculator helps you achieve consistent results by providing accurate measurements for wax, fragrance oil, and dye.

How the Candle Making Calculator Works

Our calculator simplifies the process by taking a few key inputs and providing you with the exact quantities needed for each candle container. Here's a breakdown of the inputs:

Container Volume (fl oz)

This is the total volume of liquid your candle container can hold, typically measured in fluid ounces (fl oz). You can usually find this information from your container supplier, or you can measure it yourself by filling the container with water and then pouring that water into a measuring cup. This is the starting point for determining how much wax you'll need.

Wax Density (oz/fl oz)

Wax density is crucial for converting the volume of your container into the weight of wax required. Different waxes have different densities. For example, soy wax typically has a density of around 0.85 to 0.9 ounces per fluid ounce, meaning an 8 fl oz container might hold about 6.8 to 7.2 ounces of soy wax by weight. Paraffin waxes can be slightly denser. Always check with your wax supplier for the most accurate density information for your specific wax type. If you don't have an exact number, 0.85 oz/fl oz is a good starting point for many natural waxes.

Fragrance Oil Load (%)

The fragrance oil load (or "FO load") is the percentage of fragrance oil you add relative to the total weight of your wax. This is a critical factor for scent throw. Most waxes can hold between 6% and 12% fragrance oil. Going above the recommended maximum for your wax can lead to issues like sweating (fragrance oil leaching out), poor burn, or even a fire hazard. Always refer to your wax manufacturer's recommendations for the optimal fragrance load.

• Example: If you have 10 oz of wax and a 10% fragrance load, you would add 1 oz of fragrance oil (10 oz * 0.10 = 1 oz).

Dye Load (%)

The dye load is the percentage of dye you add relative to the total weight of your wax. This input is primarily for liquid dyes. Liquid dyes are highly concentrated, so you'll typically use a very small percentage, often ranging from 0.01% to 0.1%. For solid dye chips, the measurement is usually given as "chips per pound of wax" rather than a percentage. If you're using dye chips, you'll need to convert your wax weight to pounds and follow the manufacturer's instructions. For liquid dyes, this calculator provides a precise weight measurement.

Understanding Your Results

Once you hit "Calculate Ingredients," the calculator will provide you with the following essential measurements:

• Total Wax Needed (oz): This is the exact weight of wax you'll need to melt to fill one container.
• Fragrance Oil Needed (oz): This is the precise weight of fragrance oil to add to your melted wax to achieve your desired scent throw.
• Dye Needed (oz): This is the exact weight of liquid dye required for your desired color intensity. Remember, a little goes a long way with dyes!

Tips for Accurate Candle Making

• Use a Digital Scale: Always measure your wax, fragrance oil, and dye by weight, not by volume (except for the initial container volume). A digital scale is indispensable for accuracy.
• Temperature Matters: Add fragrance oil and dye at the recommended temperatures for your specific wax. This ensures proper binding and dispersion.
• Test Batches: Always make a small test batch when trying new waxes, fragrance oils, or dyes to ensure the desired results before committing to a large production run.
• Keep Records: Document your recipes, including wax type, FO load, dye, wick size, and pour temperature. This helps you replicate successful candles and troubleshoot issues.

Example Calculation:

Let's say you want to make a candle in an 8 fl oz container using soy wax (density 0.85 oz/fl oz), with an 8% fragrance oil load and 0.05% liquid dye load.

• Container Volume: 8 fl oz
• Wax Density: 0.85 oz/fl oz
• Fragrance Oil Load: 8%
• Dye Load: 0.05%

Based on these inputs, the calculator would determine:

• Total Wax Needed: 8 fl oz * 0.85 oz/fl oz = 6.80 oz
• Fragrance Oil Needed: 6.80 oz * (8 / 100) = 0.54 oz
• Dye Needed: 6.80 oz * (0.05 / 100) = 0.003 oz

By using this calculator, you can confidently measure your ingredients and create beautiful, consistent candles every time!