Candle Batch Wax & Fragrance Calculator
Plan a full pour across mixed jar sizes — get total wax, fragrance oil and per‑jar amounts in one go.
Optional: estimate cost
Your batch needs
| Jar | Qty | Wax / jar | Frag / jar | Wax total |
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What this candle batch calculator does
Single-candle calculators tell you what fits in one jar. Real pours are rarely that tidy — you might be making eight 8 oz tins, four large apothecary jars and a couple of testers in the same melt. This tool lets you list every jar size and quantity in the batch, then returns the total wax and fragrance oil to buy or weigh out, plus a per-jar breakdown so nothing is over- or under-poured.
Everything is calculated live from your own numbers: your wax's density, the fill level you prefer, your fragrance load and an optional buffer for wax that clings to the pot. Switch between grams/ounces and ml/fluid ounces at any time — every figure and label updates together.
How to use it
- List your jars. For each jar size, enter its volume and how many of that jar you're pouring. Add as many rows as you need.
- Set the wax density. The default 0.90 g/ml suits most soy waxes; paraffin and coconut blends differ, so use your supplier's figure if you have it.
- Choose a fill level. 85–90% is typical so the wick and a little headroom fit.
- Enter your fragrance load. This is a percentage of the wax weight — stay at or below your wax's stated maximum.
- Add a melt-loss buffer if some wax always stays in your pitcher. Read the totals and the per-jar table.
When you'd reach for it
- Buying wax for a market run: turn a jar list into a single "how many kilos" number.
- Mixed orders: a custom order with three different vessel sizes — get one fragrance figure for the whole melt.
- Scaling a tested recipe: you nailed one candle; multiply it cleanly to 50 without rounding errors stacking up.
- Costing a batch: add your wax and fragrance prices to see the raw material cost before labels, wicks and jars.
The formula, explained
For each jar: wax per jar = jar volume × fill% × wax density. Fragrance per jar = wax per jar × fragrance%. Multiply by quantity and sum across jar sizes for the batch totals, then the melt-loss buffer is added to the wax (and to the fragrance for the same melt) so you don't run short.
Fragrance load here is a percentage of the wax weight, which is the convention most wax suppliers print on their spec sheets. The fragrance is added on top of the wax, not blended into the fill volume.
Common mistakes
- Filling 100%. A full-to-the-brim jar leaves no headroom and overflows when topped. Keep fill below 100%.
- Using volume as weight. A 240 ml jar does not hold 240 g of wax — wax is lighter than water, hence the density step.
- Ignoring melt loss. Pour exactly the calculated amount and the last jar is often a few grams short.
- Exceeding the max load. Over-fragrancing can cause seeping and poor burns — respect your wax's limit.
FAQ
How much wax do I need for a candle?
Start from the container's volume and the fill level you want (usually 85–90%). Multiply the fillable volume by the wax density (soy wax is about 0.9 g/ml) to get the wax weight per jar, then multiply by how many jars you're pouring. This calculator does that for every jar size in your batch and adds them together, so you buy the right amount once.
How do you calculate fragrance load for candles?
Fragrance load is the weight of fragrance oil as a percentage of the wax weight. If you use 1000 g of wax at an 8% load you add 80 g of fragrance oil. Many soy and coconut waxes are rated for up to roughly 8–10% by the manufacturer, so always check your specific wax's recommended maximum and keep your load at or below it.
Should fragrance be a percentage of wax or of total weight?
Most candle makers and wax suppliers express fragrance load as a percentage of the wax weight, because the wax is what holds and releases the scent. This calculator follows that convention: the percentage you enter is applied to the wax, and the fragrance is added on top. Always follow the maximum load printed on your wax's spec sheet.
Why add extra wax for melt loss?
Some wax clings to the inside of your melting pot and pouring pitcher and never makes it into the jars. Adding a small buffer (typically 5–10%) means you're not left a few grams short on the last candle. Set the buffer to zero if you melt and pour with no transfer loss.
Method: wax weight per jar = jar volume × fill% × density; fragrance = fragrance% of wax; totals scaled by quantity and an optional melt-loss buffer. Density and load defaults are typical for soy wax — always confirm against your own wax's data sheet. These figures are estimates for planning a batch, not a substitute for your supplier's instructions.