Candle Calculator — Free Online Wax, Fragrance & Wick Calculator
Calculate wax weight, fragrance load, wick size, and pour temperature for candle making. Supports soy, paraffin, beeswax, coconut, and palm wax. All calculations happen locally — nothing leaves your browser.
How to Use the Candle Calculator
- Choose wax type — select your wax blend. The calculator shows melt point, pour temp, and recommended fragrance load.
- Enter container dimensions — diameter, height, and fill depth (leave 0.5-1" headspace).
- Set fragrance load — typical range is 6-10% for soy, up to 12% for paraffin blends.
- Add costs — enter prices for wax, fragrance, wicks, and containers for accurate COGS.
- Review wick chart — the calculator recommends wick sizes based on container diameter and wax type.
- Export — copy, print, or download your recipe as CSV.
Understanding Candle Wax
Different wax types burn differently and require specific wick sizes, pour temperatures, and fragrance loads. Here's a quick guide:
Soy Wax (464, 444): Natural, clean burn. Excellent scent throw when cured properly. Requires primed wicks. Lower melt point means slower burn. Cure 1-2 weeks for best results.
Coconut Wax: Premium, creamy finish. Holds fragrance exceptionally well. Often blended with soy or paraffin for better performance. Higher cost.
Paraffin Wax: Traditional, vibrant colors, strong hot throw. Higher melt point, faster burn. Best for pillars and container candles.
Beeswax: Natural, honey scent, longest burn time. Higher melt point, minimal shrinkage. No fragrance needed but holds it well.
Palm Wax: Creates crystalline patterns. Good for pillars. Controversial due to sustainability concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Soy wax handles 6-10% fragrance load well. Paraffin can go up to 12%. Coconut wax can handle 10-12%. Always check the fragrance oil manufacturer's recommendation. Going above the recommended load can cause the candle to sweat, not burn properly, or have poor scent throw.
Wick size depends on container diameter, wax type, and fragrance load. The calculator provides a recommendation, but always test burn your candles. A good wick produces a melt pool of 1/4-1/2" deep across the entire surface within 1-2 hours.
Pour temperature affects the candle's appearance and performance. Too hot = frosting, sinkholes, and poor scent throw. Too cold = uneven surface and poor adhesion. Soy wax is best poured at 135-145°F. Paraffin at 160-180°F.
Soy candles should cure for 1-2 weeks minimum. This allows the wax and fragrance oil to bind properly, resulting in better scent throw. Some makers wait up to 4 weeks for optimal results. Paraffin candles can be burned immediately.
Shrinkage is how much the wax contracts as it cools. Soy wax shrinks 3-5%, paraffin up to 10%. This is why you need to calculate more wax than the container volume. Shrinkage also causes sinkholes — you can use a heat gun to smooth the surface after the first pour.
Yes! Blending waxes is common. Soy/coconut blends (70/30) give the best of both worlds — natural appeal with better scent throw. Paraffin/soy blends (70/30) offer strong hot throw with natural appearance. Always recalculate your recipe when blending.
Use Cases
Home Candle Making
Calculate exact amounts for your next batch. No more guessing or wasted wax.
Small Business Pricing
Calculate accurate COGS to set profitable retail and wholesale prices.
Batch Production
Scale recipes for larger batches with consistent results every time.
Product Labels
Generate ingredient lists with INCI names for professional candle labels.