How the calculator works
The calculator finds the weight that fills your containers, then splits it between wax and fragrance oil so the two together fill each jar.
- Fill weight = water capacity in fluid ounces × 0.86 × number of candles.
- Wax = fill weight ÷ (1 + fragrance load).
- Fragrance oil = wax × fragrance load.
The fragrance load is a percentage of the wax weight, the convention most wax and fragrance suppliers use: 1 ounce of oil per pound of wax is 6.25 percent. Some suppliers quote the load as a share of the total candle weight instead. The difference is small: 8 percent of the wax is about 7.4 percent of the total.
If the load you enter is above your wax's maximum, the calculator uses the maximum and tells you.
Where the 0.86 comes from
Melted wax is lighter than water. The long-standing candle-making rule of thumb is that the wax that fills a container weighs about 0.86 times as much as the water that fills it. The calculator applies 0.86 to fluid ounces, because that is how jars are sold. A fluid ounce of water weighs about 1.04 ounces, so this comes out roughly 4 percent lighter than weighing the water and multiplying by 0.86: about a quarter ounce less on an 8 oz jar. The top-off pour usually covers that; set the factor to 0.9 if you would rather melt it up front.
The factor is editable. If your wax maker publishes a different figure, or you have weighed a test pour in your own jar, use that. Beeswax is denser than soy or paraffin, so weigh a test pour rather than relying on 0.86.
Wax and fragrance for common jar sizes
For one jar at 0.86 ounce of fill per fluid ounce of capacity and an 8 percent fragrance load. Jar sizes are the water capacity to the fill line.
| Jar (water capacity) | Wax + fragrance | Wax | Fragrance oil at 8% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 fl oz (118 mL) | 3.44 oz | 3.19 oz (90 g) | 0.25 oz (7 g) |
| 6 fl oz (177 mL) | 5.16 oz | 4.78 oz (135 g) | 0.38 oz (11 g) |
| 8 fl oz (237 mL) | 6.88 oz | 6.37 oz (181 g) | 0.51 oz (14 g) |
| 10 fl oz (296 mL) | 8.6 oz | 7.96 oz (226 g) | 0.64 oz (18 g) |
| 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 10.32 oz | 9.56 oz (271 g) | 0.76 oz (22 g) |
| 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 13.76 oz | 12.74 oz (361 g) | 1.02 oz (29 g) |
Multiply by the number of candles for a batch, or enter the batch in the calculator.
Example: six 8 oz soy candles at 8 percent
- Fill weight per jar: 8 × 0.86 = 6.88 ounces. For six jars: 6 × 6.88 = 41.28 ounces.
- Wax: 41.28 ÷ 1.08 = 38.22 ounces (1,084 g), about 2.4 pounds.
- Fragrance oil: 38.22 × 0.08 = 3.06 ounces (87 g).
- Check: 38.22 + 3.06 = 41.28 ounces, which fills all six jars.
Melt a little more wax than this. Many containers need a small top-off pour if the first pour sinks around the wick as it cools.
Tips for consistent candles
- Weigh everything. A kitchen scale that reads in tenths of an ounce or in grams is accurate enough for both wax and oil.
- Follow the wax maker's temperatures. Add the fragrance and pour at the temperatures on the wax's instructions, and stir thoroughly so the oil blends in.
- Respect the limits. The wax maker gives a maximum fragrance load, and the fragrance supplier gives a maximum for candles. Use the lower of the two.
- Test before you make a batch. The right wick depends on the jar's diameter, the wax and the fragrance. Burn a test candle and check the melt pool and flame before you pour a dozen.
- Let candles cure. Many waxes, soy in particular, throw scent better after a few days of rest. Your wax maker's instructions will say how long.
Frequently asked questions
How much wax do I need for an 8 oz candle?
An 8 fluid ounce jar holds about 6.9 ounces of wax and fragrance together (8 × 0.86 = 6.88). At an 8 percent fragrance load that is 6.37 ounces of wax and 0.51 ounce of fragrance oil, about 181 g and 14 g.
Why doesn't an 8 oz jar hold 8 oz of wax?
Jar sizes are fluid ounces, a measure of volume, while wax is weighed in ounces. Melted wax is lighter than water, and you leave some space at the top, so an 8 fl oz jar takes roughly 6.9 ounces of wax by weight.
How much fragrance oil do I use per pound of wax?
One ounce per pound is a 6.25 percent load. At 8 percent you add 1.28 ounces per pound, and at 10 percent 1.6 ounces. Never go above the maximum load your wax maker lists.
What fragrance load should I use?
Many candle makers start between 6 and 10 percent of the wax weight and adjust after test burns. The ceiling is the wax maker's stated maximum and the fragrance supplier's maximum for candles. Oil the wax cannot hold can seep to the surface, and more oil does not always mean a stronger scent.
Should I measure fragrance oil by volume or by weight?
By weight. Fragrance loads are percentages of weight, and fragrance oils differ in density, so a measuring spoon gives inconsistent results. Weigh both the wax and the oil on a digital scale.
How do I measure a container's capacity?
Fill it with water to where you want the wax to stop, usually about half an inch below the rim, then pour the water into a measuring cup or weigh it. An ounce of water by weight is close to one fluid ounce.
Last updated October 17, 2026.