Fragrance Load Calculator
Calculate how many grams of fragrance oil to add to your wax based on percentage load. Shows safe maximum fragrance loads for soy, paraffin, beeswax and coconut.
Wax
Fragrance Load
Fragrance Oil Required
50.0g
Within safe limits
Safe Range for Soy Wax
Why These Limits?
Too little fragrance = weak scent. Too much can prevent proper curing, cause cracking, affect burn quality, or make the wax unstable. Each wax type holds fragrance differently. Follow these guidelines for best results, especially in candles and melts where scent throw matters.
Quick Reference
Soy
8-12%
Paraffin
6-10%
Beeswax
4-6%
Coconut
8-10%
How Much Fragrance to Add
Standard fragrance loads vary by product: candles 6-12% by weight (10% sweet spot for soy wax), wax melts 8-12%, soap 1-3% (depending on essential vs fragrance oil), bath bombs 1-5%, lotions 0.5-3%, room sprays 5-10%. Always check the supplier's recommended max load - fragrance oils have IFRA-tested maximums for safety.
Worked example: 500 g of soy wax at 10% fragrance load = 50 g of fragrance oil. Calculate by weight, not volume - fragrance oils have different densities (typically 0.8-1.1 g/ml). For melt-and-pour soap: 100 g soap × 3% max = 3 g essential oil (about 60-90 drops, depending on oil). Underloading produces weak scent; overloading can cause separation, sweating (in candles), or skin irritation (in skincare).
Fragrance Load by Product
| Product | Typical % | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax candle | 8-10% | Higher = stronger throw |
| Paraffin candle | 5-8% | Lower than soy |
| Beeswax candle | 3-6% | Beeswax holds less |
| Wax melts | 10-12% | Higher than candles |
| Cold-process soap | 1-3% | Skin-safe limits |
| Bath bombs | 1-5% | Skin contact |
| Body lotion | 0.5-2% | Daily skin contact |
| Room spray | 5-10% | Volatile, no skin contact |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's IFRA?
International Fragrance Association sets safety standards for fragrance ingredients across product categories. Each fragrance has IFRA category limits (1-11 categories from lip products to candles). Suppliers usually provide IFRA certificates with maximum safe load percentages.
Can I add more fragrance for stronger scent?
Up to the supplier's max only. Beyond max IFRA limits, products may sweat (candles), separate (lotions), or irritate skin. Stronger scent comes from quality fragrance choice and proper curing/cooling - not from exceeding load limits.
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