Creating a beautifully scented candle involves more than just pouring wax and adding fragrance. The fragrance load, often expressed as a percentage, is crucial for achieving a strong scent throw (how well the candle disperses fragrance when lit) without compromising the candle's burn quality. This calculator helps you determine the precise amount of fragrance oil needed for your candle batch.
The Math Behind the Calculation
The calculation is straightforward and based on a simple percentage. It determines how much fragrance oil, by weight, should be added to a specific amount of wax. The formula is:
Wax Type: Different waxes (soy, paraffin, beeswax, coconut blends) have varying abilities to bind with fragrance oils. Some can hold higher fragrance loads than others. Always check the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific wax.
Fragrance Oil Type: Fragrance oils designed for candles are concentrated. Essential oils, while natural, can behave differently and may require lower loads or special consideration due to their chemical composition and volatility.
Flash Point: Be aware of the fragrance oil's flash point (the temperature at which it can ignite). Add fragrance oil to your melted wax at a temperature below the fragrance oil's flash point but high enough to ensure it mixes thoroughly.
Optimal Range: Most candle waxes perform best with fragrance loads between 6% and 10%. Exceeding recommended limits can lead to poor scent throw, "sweating" (oil separating from wax), a weaker flame, or even tunneling.
Testing: Always test your candle formulations! Even with a calculator, small variations in wax, fragrance oil, wick size, and container can affect the final result. Small test pours are invaluable.
Using this calculator ensures consistency and accuracy in your candle-making process, helping you create professional, high-quality scented candles with an excellent fragrance experience.
function calculateFragrance() {
var waxWeightInput = document.getElementById("waxWeight");
var fragranceLoadPercentageInput = document.getElementById("fragranceLoadPercentage");
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
var waxWeight = parseFloat(waxWeightInput.value);
var fragranceLoadPercentage = parseFloat(fragranceLoadPercentageInput.value);
if (isNaN(waxWeight) || waxWeight <= 0) {
resultElement.innerText = "Please enter a valid wax weight.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(fragranceLoadPercentage) || fragranceLoadPercentage 15) { /* A common upper limit, though some waxes may vary */
resultElement.innerText = "Warning: Fragrance load may be too high. Consider a lower percentage.";
return;
}
var fragranceAmount = waxWeight * (fragranceLoadPercentage / 100);
// Format to a reasonable number of decimal places for practical use
var formattedFragranceAmount = fragranceAmount.toFixed(2);
resultElement.innerText = formattedFragranceAmount + " grams";
}