The short answer
About 6.10 oz of soy wax and fragrance together (173 g), filled to 85%.
At an 8% fragrance load that's 5.65 oz of wax plus 0.45 oz of fragrance oil. Wax weighs less than water, so a jar that holds 8 fluid ounces of water holds noticeably fewer ounces of wax.
By fill level (8% fragrance)
| Fill | Total pour | Wax | Fragrance oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80% full | 5.74 oz 163 g | 5.32 oz 151 g | 0.43 oz 12 g |
| 85% full | 6.10 oz 173 g | 5.65 oz 160 g | 0.45 oz 13 g |
| 90% full | 6.46 oz 183 g | 5.98 oz 170 g | 0.48 oz 14 g |
Most makers fill 80 to 90%, leaving a little headspace at the top.
By fragrance load (85% full)
| Fragrance load | Wax | Fragrance oil |
|---|---|---|
| 6% | 5.76 oz 163 g | 0.35 oz 10 g |
| 8% | 5.65 oz 160 g | 0.45 oz 13 g |
| 10% | 5.55 oz 157 g | 0.55 oz 16 g |
Never go above the maximum load your wax supplier lists.
Pouring a batch
| Batch | Wax to melt | Fragrance oil |
|---|---|---|
| 6 candles | 2.22 lb 1009 g | 2.85 oz 81 g |
| 12 candles | 4.45 lb 2018 g | 5.69 oz 161 g |
| 24 candles | 8.90 lb 4035 g | 11.39 oz 323 g |
85% full, 8% fragrance, with 5% extra for spills and what sticks to the pot.
How this is worked out
An 8 fl oz jar holds 8.35 oz of water by weight. Filled to 85% that's 7.09 oz of water. Most container waxes weigh about 86% as much as water, which gives 6.10 oz of total pour. That total is split so the fragrance oil is 8% of the wax weight.
Using beeswax? It's denser, so the same jar takes about 6.81 oz in total. Jar listed by wax weight? Some shops list how much wax a jar holds instead of its fluid capacity. If yours says it holds 8 oz of wax, pour 8 oz total. For your exact jar, weigh the water it holds to your fill line and use the water weight option in the calculator.
Common questions
How much wax do I need for an 8 oz candle jar?
About 6.10 oz of total pour for an 8 fl oz jar filled to 85%, or 5.65 oz of wax plus 0.45 oz of fragrance oil at an 8% load.
How much fragrance oil goes in an 8 oz candle?
About 0.35 to 0.55 oz at a 6 to 10% load, filled to 85%. Check your wax's maximum load first.
Does an 8 oz jar hold 8 oz of wax?
Usually not. Jars are often sold by fluid capacity, and wax is lighter than water, so an 8 fl oz jar holds about 7.18 oz of wax when filled to the brim.
More quick answers
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