Candle Fragrance Load Explained

What fragrance load means

Fragrance load is the weight of fragrance oil expressed as a percentage of the wax weight. At a 10% load, 100 g of wax takes 10 g of fragrance oil. Meltmetric uses the wax-weight convention because it is the most common among fragrance and wax suppliers.

Typical loads by wax

• Soy: often 6-10%, with 8% a common starting point.
• Paraffin: frequently supports higher loads, sometimes up to 10-12%.
• Coconut and blends: commonly 8-10%, depending on the specific wax.
• Beeswax: holds less fragrance; loads are often lower.

These are general ranges only. Your wax's technical data sheet is the authority — always follow its maximum recommended load.

Why more is not always better

Exceeding the maximum load does not produce a stronger candle. Excess oil can leach out of the wax, create an oily film, hurt the burn and hot throw, and raise safety concerns. Beyond a point, added oil simply does not bind to the wax.

Choose your load, then test

Pick a starting load within your wax's range, make a small test batch, and burn test it before scaling up or selling. Adjust in 1-2% steps to tune scent throw. The calculator above converts any load into exact fragrance and wax weights.