Maximum Fragrance Load Calculator
If the wax states a 10% maximum, 500 g can carry 50 g of oil. Planning 8% puts in 40 g and leaves 10 g of headroom. That headroom is not reserved for fragrance alone — dye and any other additive share the same allowance.
Your numbers
Maximum oil
50g
Fragrance oil
40g
Headroom left
10g
Formula
Maximum oil = Wax needed × Maximum fragrance load ÷ 100, Headroom left = (Maximum fragrance load − Fragrance load) × Wax needed ÷ 100
A negative headroom means the ceiling is already passed. Oil beyond it does not bind: it weeps out of the set surface or pools at the bottom, and it wicks up to give an oversized flame. If the candle still smells weak at maximum load, the answer is the oil, the adding temperature or the cure rather than the percentage — soy needs one to two weeks to throw properly.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Wax needed (g)The wax to melt, by weight. | 500 | 1 and up |
| Maximum fragrance load (%)The maximum load the wax states, measured against the wax weight. | 10 | 0 ~ 20 |
| Fragrance load (%)Fragrance as a share of the wax, not of the finished candle. | 8 | 0 ~ 20 |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Wax needed (g) changes and everything else stays put.
| Wax needed (g) | Maximum oil (g) | Fragrance oil (g) | Headroom left (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 375 | 37.5 | 30 | 7.5 |
| 500 | 50 | 40 | 10 |
| 750 | 75 | 60 | 15 |
| 1,000 | 100 | 80 | 20 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Maximum oil (g)The most oil that load allows, by weight. | 50 |
| Fragrance oil (g)Fragrance oil by weight; do not measure it by volume. | 40 |
| Headroom left (g)What is left before the ceiling; negative means it is already passed. | 10 |
Common mistakes
A negative headroom means the ceiling is already passed. Oil beyond it does not bind: it weeps out of the set surface or pools at the bottom, and it wicks up to give an oversized flame. If the candle still smells weak at maximum load, the answer is the oil, the adding temperature or the cure rather than the percentage — soy needs one to two weeks to throw properly.
Glossary
- Wax needed
- The wax to melt, by weight.
- Maximum fragrance load
- The maximum load the wax states, measured against the wax weight.
- Fragrance load
- Fragrance as a share of the wax, not of the finished candle.
- Maximum oil
- The most oil that load allows, by weight.
- Fragrance oil
- Fragrance oil by weight; do not measure it by volume.
- Headroom left
- What is left before the ceiling; negative means it is already passed.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Maximum Fragrance Load Calculator calculated?
Maximum oil = Wax needed × Maximum fragrance load ÷ 100, Headroom left = (Maximum fragrance load − Fragrance load) × Wax needed ÷ 100 — If the wax states a 10% maximum, 500 g can carry 50 g of oil. Planning 8% puts in 40 g and leaves 10 g of headroom. That headroom is not reserved for fragrance alone — dye and any other additive share the same allowance.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Wax needed 500g, Maximum fragrance load 10%, Fragrance load 8%, the answer is Maximum oil 50g.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Wax needed, Maximum fragrance load, Fragrance load. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Wax needed (g) moves the answer to Wax needed (g) 250 → Maximum oil (g) 25 and Wax needed (g) 1,000 → Maximum oil (g) 100. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
A negative headroom means the ceiling is already passed. Oil beyond it does not bind: it weeps out of the set surface or pools at the bottom, and it wicks up to give an oversized flame. If the candle still smells weak at maximum load, the answer is the oil, the adding temperature or the cure rather than the percentage — soy needs one to two weeks to throw properly.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.