Candle Calculator
Calculate wax and fragrance amounts, estimate costs, and set profitable prices for your handmade candles. Perfect for DIY candle makers and small businesses.
Candle Formula Quick Reference
🕯️ Candle Details
Clean-burning, eco-friendly • Recommended: 8%
📊 Recipe Results
Per Candle (8oz Soy Wax)
Wax Needed
6.67 oz
(189.0 g)
Fragrance Oil
0.53 oz
(15.1 g)
Batch Total (10 candles)
Total Wax
4.17 lb
(66.7 oz / 1890 g)
Total Fragrance
5.33 oz
(151.2 g)
Recipe Summary
📊 Wax Type & Fragrance Load Guide
| Wax Type | Min Load | Recommended | Max Load | Specific Gravity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soy Wax Clean-burning, eco-friendly | 6% | 8% | 10% | 0.9 |
| Paraffin Wax Strong scent throw | 6% | 9% | 12% | 0.86 |
| Coconut Wax Luxury, creamy finish | 8% | 10% | 12% | 0.92 |
| Beeswax Natural, honey scent | 5% | 6% | 8% | 0.96 |
| Soy/Coconut Blend Best of both | 8% | 9% | 12% | 0.91 |
| Palm Wax Crystal patterns | 6% | 7% | 10% | 0.88 |
* Exceeding max load can cause poor burn quality, sweating, or safety issues. Always test your recipes.
🕯️ Candle Making Essentials
Why Accurate Calculations Matter
Candle making is part art, part science. The right wax-to-fragrance ratio ensures optimal scent throw (how well you smell the candle), clean burning, and safety. Too much fragrance oil can cause the wick to clog, create smoke, or even pose fire hazards. Too little results in a candle that barely smells. Using a calculator takes the guesswork out of recipe development.
Understanding Fragrance Load
Fragrance load is the percentage of fragrance oil relative to the total wax weight. Different wax types have different capacities—soy wax typically holds 6-10%, while coconut wax can handle 8-12%. Start at the recommended percentage and adjust based on your specific fragrance oil and desired strength. Hot throw (scent when burning) and cold throw (scent when unlit) may vary.
Pricing for Profit
Many new candle makers underprice their products. The standard formula is to multiply your total cost (materials + labor) by 3-4 for retail sales and by 2 for wholesale. Don't forget to include overhead costs like equipment, shipping supplies, and platform fees. Quality candles command premium prices—focus on creating a great product rather than competing on price alone.
📐 Quick Formulas
Wax Weight: Water × 0.86
Fragrance: Wax × (Load%÷100)
Retail: Cost × 3-4
Wholesale: Cost × 2
1 lb = 16 oz • 1 oz = 28.35g
⚠️ Safety Tips
- Never exceed max fragrance load
- Test candles before selling
- Use proper wick size for container
- Include warning labels
- Check local regulations
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Frequently Asked Questions
To calculate wax amount, multiply your container's water capacity by 0.86 (wax specific gravity). For fragrance, multiply wax weight by your fragrance load percentage. Example: 8oz container holds 6.88oz wax (8 × 0.86). At 8% fragrance load: 6.88 × 0.08 = 0.55oz fragrance oil. Total fill = 6.88 + 0.55 = 7.43oz.
Soy wax typically has a recommended fragrance load of 6-10%, with 8% being the sweet spot for most fragrances. Going below 6% may result in weak scent throw, while exceeding 10% can cause issues like sweating, poor burn quality, or even safety hazards. Always check your specific wax manufacturer's recommendations.
Multiply water weight by 0.86 to get wax weight. This is because wax is less dense than water (specific gravity ~0.86). Fill your container with water, weigh it, then multiply by 0.86. For example: 10oz water × 0.86 = 8.6oz wax. This ensures you don't overfill your containers.
An 8oz soy candle typically costs $3-6 to make, including: wax ($1-2), fragrance oil ($0.40-0.80), container ($1-3), wick ($0.15-0.30), and label ($0.10-0.50). Labor adds $0.50-2 per candle depending on your hourly rate. Material costs vary by quality and quantity purchased—buying in bulk reduces costs significantly.
The standard formula is: Retail Price = Total Cost × 3 to 4, Wholesale Price = Total Cost × 2. For an $4 cost candle, retail would be $12-16, wholesale $8. Consider your target market too—craft fair candles typically sell for $12-20 for 8oz, while boutique candles can command $25-40. Don't underprice—it devalues your work.
The 84 candle rule suggests making 84 test candles before launching your candle business. This breaks down to: 7 different waxes × 3 different wicks × 4 different fragrance loads = 84 combinations. Testing this many variations helps you find the perfect recipe for optimal burn quality, scent throw, and appearance before selling to customers.
🕯️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes. Always test your candle recipes thoroughly before selling. Fragrance performance varies by brand and type. Follow your wax manufacturer's recommendations and local safety regulations.