How Much Scent To Add To Candles? Our Guide Here!

Updated on May 31, 2021

The amount of fragrance you need depends on the size and type of candle. If you have a larger, unscented pillar candle that's placed at least three feet from any flame or heat source, then one ounce is enough for most scents.

However, if it’s closer to an open fire or stove top and your room has poor ventilation, use two ounces instead.

The scent can be overpowering in these areas without adding more fragrance! Conversely, smaller votives should only require half an ounce per pound of wax because they are not as exposed to air currents as other types of candles.

Popular scented candles can be an indulgent treat, and many of us enjoy them for the ambiance they create, not just because they add fragrance to our living space.

However, we all like to save money where we can, and scented candles are not always expensive to buy.

Making your own scented candles not only means you can customize the scent, but you can also make them using cheaper ingredients, too.

There are several ways to add scent to candles, but the most common way is to add candle scent.

Candle scent is an oil that has been designed specifically for use in candles, and is sold in liquid, gel or solid form.

Moreover, if you don't know the exact amount of fragrance oil per wax pound, then click on this blog post to get detailed information.

Table of Contents

Measuring fragrance oil in milliliters vs grams

One milliliter is equal to one cubic centimeter.

A gram is equivalent to a metric tonne, which means there are 1000 grams in one kilogram.

It's important to know how much fragrance you're handling at any given moment and the easiest way of doing this is by measuring it out with either ml or grams so that your candles always have just enough scent.

Measuring your fragrance

There is much debate about how much scent to use in candles. The biggest issue is that scents come in all different types and strengths. This means that the amount of scent you should use in candles will depend on the scent you choose.

As a general rule of thumb, you want to use 3%-5% of your total wax weight in scent. This is the same amount of scent used in candle making. However, there are some special cases where you need to use more or less scent.

A good way to measure how much fragrance oil you should add to your candlemaking project is based on these three factors: type of wax, size of the container, and desired strength level.

Type of wax

There are a few different types of waxes that you can use when making candles, each with their own properties.

For instance, soy wax is generally considered to be the most natural type of wax and will typically give off a very pleasant fragrance; however, it also has the shortest burn time so not as good for large rooms or occasions.

Paraffin is an excellent choice for people who want confident burning times because this variety burns at higher temperatures but without scent! Find out here How Much Scent To Add To Paraffin Candles.

There are even gel-poured candles which have been made popular by Martha Stewart where they're hand-poured into molds then cooled and hardened completely before being removed from the molds – these guys usually end up having really cool designs on them too (like thick lines running through them)

For example, if using soybean wax as opposed to paraffin, you can use a higher percentage of fragrance oil (as much as 20%) to get the same strength.

Size of Container

The best way to gauge how much fragrance you should add is by measuring out your wax from the container and into a separate bowl.

To measure how much scent, use this equation: (the weight of your candle) x 0.06 = ounces of fragrance needed.

If using containers that hold up to four ounces of wax, then about 0.25% is your best bet for getting enough scent without risking combustion--though this will vary depending on the type and amount of fragrance oil used.

Desired Strength Level

A general rule of thumb for scented candles is to use one teaspoon (tsp) per ounce. Make sure you are using a measuring spoon from your kitchen, not an unmarked container that may contain other substances such as sugar or salt.

This will give you the desired strength level for your candle and ensure a quality product. If it seems like too much scent, then go with less next time until you find the perfect balance.

This can be adjusted based on personal preference but this should help provide guidance when making your DIY creations!

And if you're looking for something more subtle than what's achieved with 0.25% fragrances oils in soybean or palm waxes, go for somewhere between 0.125-0.175%.

Understanding the flashpoint of fragrance oils

The flashpoint is the temperature at which a liquid will vaporize into a combustible gas. Some fragrance oils have lower flashpoints than others, so it can be difficult to know how much oil you should use in your candle for safety reasons.

The rule of thumb most people go by when making candles with fragrance oils is "less is more"--too little and the scent won't come through enough; too much means that there's an increased risk of combustion.

How many drops of oil to scent a candle

To make candles without fragrance oils: melt your wax up to its temperature requirement and let it cool until it reaches room temperature before pouring into containers; this will usually take between three hours and overnight - give yourself some time!

If you are adding fragrance oil to wax that is at least 1800ºF, use a ratio of 0.03 oz. per lb.

If you want your candles to have a light scent with no overpowering odors, add 0.03 oz per lb of wax or less (a little goes a long way!)

If you want the scent to be stronger and more concentrated than a candle with just plain wax, then add about one ounce (or 30 milliliters) for every pound of wax or part thereof

Incorporating scents into melted soybean or paraffin wax can sometimes cause unexpected outcomes such as extreme discoloration from certain fragrances.

Certain fragrances are more likely to cause discoloration and should be avoided, especially for new candle makers

Find out here How Much Fragrance Should You Add Per Pound Of Wax.

Add fragrance at the right temperature

For the best results, add fragrance after your wax has reached a liquid state. If you are using scented oils or foams, this is not necessary as they will emit their scent in any temperature.

Be sure to use enough fragrance and do not overuse it- if you have added too much then just wait for some of the candle's unburned wax to evaporate off before adding more - this should regulate how strong the scent smells overall!

Adding fragrance can be a bit tricky. As you experiment with fragrances, keep notes so you will know how you obtained the perfect color and fragrance for your next project.

Looking for an answer if Do Candle Fragrances Expire? Then this article is for you!

Smell is one of the human senses which can flow through the whole body. I am the Founder of NeoCandle.com where we talk all about scented candles. Known as Candace the Candle Girl, I know pretty much all there is to know about scented candles. I make and sell them on Etsy and Ebay - so be sure to ask if you have any burning questions :) (pun intended ;) )

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *