Wax and fragrance calculator
Choose how to measure your container, then set your batch.
Use the capacity from the supplier's listing. 80 to 90% leaves a sensible gap at the top.
Fill one jar with water to where the wax will stop, weigh just the water, and enter it here.
For straight-sided round jars and tins. Wax depth is how deep the wax will be, not the jar's full height.
Per candle
Whole batch
Fragrance load converter
Suppliers list fragrance loads in different ways. Type in any box.
Cost and pricing
Wax and fragrance amounts come from the calculator above. Add your prices to see what each candle really costs.
Materials only. Your time, shipping and market fees come out of that profit.
Questions
Why multiply by 0.86?
Wax is lighter than water. Most container waxes weigh roughly 86% of the same volume of water, and beeswax is closer to 96%. It's an estimate, so for the tightest numbers use the water weight method with your actual jar.
Is fragrance load a percent of the wax or the total?
Both conventions exist. This calculator uses percent of wax weight, the most common one. At 8%, every 16 oz of wax gets about 1.28 oz of fragrance oil.
How much fragrance oil should I use?
Many container waxes handle somewhere between 6 and 12%, and 6 to 10% is common. Never go above the maximum your wax supplier lists. More oil doesn't always mean a stronger scent and can cause sweating or poor burns.
How do I pick a wick size?
It depends on the wax, fragrance, jar diameter and even the dye. Start from your wick supplier's chart, then test burn. A common target is a full melt pool reaching the edge in about one hour per inch of diameter.
How long should candles cure?
Soy candles are often cured for one to two weeks for the best scent throw. Paraffin usually needs less. Check your wax supplier's advice.