Spending hours browsing through our catalogue is a real pleasure, especially when you know that it contains over 500 fragrances developed in Grasse. However, you don't want to spend hours understanding how to add your fragrance to your wax preparation.
If you want your candle to smell as good as the promise of your fragrance's olfactory pyramid, it's important to integrate it correctly into your wax. To do this, follow our step-by-step advice and don't hesitate to use our scent and wax calculator to make your life easier!
1. Calculate the amount of wax and fragrance according to the container
2. Recommended dosages for candles and wax melts
3. Determine the flash point of a fragrance
4. Find the density of a fragrance
5. Understand the concept of fragrance density
6. Calculate the weight of a fragrance
What can you use to scent a candle?
With so many options available, what can you use to scent your homemade candle?
Essential oils are not suitable for scenting wax creations.
Candle fragrances are another common option for scenting candles. Whether you prefer synthetic or natural fragrances, you can create unique scents for your home! However, it's important to choose fragrances specially designed for candles, as traditional fragrances may contain ingredients that don't burn properly.
How much fragrance should I put in my wax mixture?
When creating scented candles, it's essential to determine the right amount of fragrance to incorporate into your wax to achieve the desired olfactory effect. To do this, you also need to know how much wax you need. Here are two simple and complementary calculation methods to guide you.
Calculating the quantity of wax and fragrance needed to fill a container
Method 1: for precise dosing
If you already have a container, start by filling it with water to the desired level. Then place the filled container on your scales to obtain the weight of the water. This measurement will be used as a basis for determining the quantity of wax and fragrance.
Note: 1 ml of water does not equal 1 ml of wax. The average density of wax is approximately 0.9 g/mL.
Example with a container filled with water weighing 100 g:
100 × 0.9 = 90 g → total quantity of material (wax + fragrance).
For a 10% dosage:
90 × 0.10 = 9 g perfume
90 - 9 = 81 g wax
If you don't have your container yet, consult our product sheets. In the"Uses" section, you'll find the indicated capacity in water or wax, so you can easily estimate the quantities you need.
Method 2: a quicker approach, but less accurate
This method involves calculating the percentage of fragrance in relation to the total weight of the candle. It's simple, quick and widely used on a daily basis, although it's still less accurate than the method based on actual volume.
Example:
Total target weight: 100 g
Dosage at 10%:
- 10 g perfume
- 90 g wax
The perfume therefore represents 10% of the total weight.
Which method should I choose?
If you're looking for a really precise concentration of fragrance in the wax, choose method 1. It's based on the right chemical logic, since the percentage is calculated in relation to the actual quantity of wax. This is the technique recommended for professionals or anyone wishing to market their candles.
If you prefer to keep things simple and make your candles for personal use or in small quantities, method 2 is perfectly sufficient. It offers a quick and practical calculation, frequently used in consumer recipes.
Recommended dosage for your candles and fondants
Several factors can influence the dosage of your fragrance, such as the olfactory strength of the chosen fragrance and the desired effect. In general, a candle is dosed at 7% or 10%. It's important to test each fragrance to find the ideal dosage.
For scented wax melts, the dosage is generally higher than for candles. We recommend a dosage of between 10% and 15%. You can apply the same calculation formulas according to your preferences.
Use our wax and fragrance calculator
To simplify your preparations, we provide you with a wax and fragrance calculator that automatically determines the ideal quantities for each creation.
When should I add fragrance?
When it comes to fragrance, it's important to consider its flash point. This indicator represents the temperature at which a substance can ignite. Add your fragrance at a temperature below its flash point.
To ensure a perfectly homogenous mixture, we recommend adding the fragrance at a temperature of between 75 and 78°C. If the temperature is too low, the fragrance will not bond properly with the wax and will tend to settle to the bottom of the container. This poor distribution results in an unbalanced diffusion of the fragrance, too weak at the beginning of combustion and too intense at the end of the candle.
Know the flash point of the fragrance
Each fragrance has a flash point, which is the maximum temperature that should never be exceeded when the fragrance is incorporated into the wax.
To find out this essential information, it's essential to consult paragraph 9.1 of your fragrance's safety data sheet (SDS). As each fragrance has its own flash point, you should always add the fragrance at a temperature strictly below this value to avoid evaporation or deterioration.
If you are mixing fragrances, the flash point follows the logic of the proportions of each fragrance. In most cases, it's not necessary to make a complex calculation: just remember that each fragrance should be added below its individual flash point.
To determine the theoretical flash point of a blend, you can apply the following formula:
(Flash point of fragrance 1 × percentage of fragrance 1) + (Flash point of fragrance 2 × percentage of fragrance 2) = expected flash point.
Example: (50 × 0.6) + (90 × 0.4) = 66°C
Another method is to mix your fragrance with isopropyl myristate in equal proportions. This increases the flash point and improves the stability of the fragrance during heating.
Give your candles time to rest
For most wax-based creations, it's best to let your candles rest for at least 48 hours. Ideally, you should wait a week before enjoying their full effect. Only then should you light or melt them. This allows the fragrance to evolve and fuse with the wax, ensuring optimum diffusion as your creations burn.
Each fragrance has its own density
This section on density is only useful for large professional productions (>100 candles approximately).
The density represents the total weight of your fragrance for the same volume. The weight can therefore vary from one fragrance to another for the same capacity. Knowing the density allows you to consolidate your dosage for large production runs.
Find the density in paragraph 9.1 of the SDS
To find the density, consult our safety data sheets in the "Legislation" section of our website. In paragraph 9.1, under "relative density", you will find the density for a temperature of 20°C for the first data and 4°C for the second. The ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure can influence the result. This is why you will find 2 values each time, although we consider that the value to be considered is always the lowest.
Density in paragraph 9.1 of the MSDS with 4 bestsellers
- Monoï: Density 20°C (d20/4): 0.9820 / 1.0020
- Cotton flower: Density 20°C (d20/4): 0.9110 / 0.9310
- Love apple : Density 20°C (d20/4): 0.9432 / 0.9632
- Musty: Density 20°C (d20/4): 0.9115 / 0.9315
For example, the fragrance Monoï has a density of 0.9820.
Understanding the density of a fragrance
Density is simply a way of determining the weight of a fragrance for a given volume. Unlike water, where 1 ml equals 1 g, each fragrance has its own density and can therefore weigh more or less for the same volume.
For example, for a fragrance with a density of 0.95, a 30 ml bottle will weigh: 30 × 0.95 = 28.5 g.
This information is particularly useful for large production runs, when volumes need to be converted to weight with precision. For conventional use, it is generally simpler and more accurate to work directly in grams.
Calculating the weight of a fragrance
You may be wondering how to convert weight into volume and vice versa. Here are the formulas to remember:
- To find the weight: Volume x Density
- To find the volume: Weight / Density
To calculate the total weight of a fragrance, multiply the volume of your fragrance (for example 30ml) by the density.
- Monoi: 30 * 0.9820 = 29.46g
- Cotton flower: 250 * 0,9110 = 227,75
- Love Apple: 1000 * 0.9432 = 943.2g
- Musty: 5000 * 0,9115 = 4557,5g
The weight of the Monoï perfume in 30ml is therefore 29.46g.
Conclusion
In conclusion, incorporating fragrance correctly into your wax preparation is crucial to obtaining a scented candle that smells good for a long time. It's important to understand the characteristics of your fragrance, including its density and flash point, so you can dose the fragrance correctly in your wax mixture.
By following the advice given in this article, you can easily calculate the amount of fragrance you need based on the amount of wax you're using, whether for a candle or scented melts. Adding fragrances to soaps is a very different matter, which we explain in our dedicated article.
With these simple tips, you can now create personalised scented candles that will fill your home with your favourite fragrance.
