How much wax fills a jar?
Wax = fill weight ÷ (1 + load) · Fragrance oil = wax × load
Candle wax is lighter than water — about 0.86 times its weight for the same volume (the standard fill-weight rule). So fill your empty jar with water, weigh the water, and multiply by 0.86. Most makers stop about half an inch (1 cm) below the rim, which is the default 90% fill level here. The fragrance oil takes up part of that fill weight, so the wax is the fill weight divided by (1 + fragrance load) — at 8%, a 200 g fill is 185 g of wax and 14.8 g of oil.
| Jar capacity | Wax, full | Fill weight at 90% | Oil at 8% of wax | Oil at 10% of wax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 fl oz (118 ml) | 102 g / 3.6 oz | 92 g / 3.2 oz | 6.8 g | 8.3 g |
| 6 fl oz (177 ml) | 153 g / 5.4 oz | 137 g / 4.8 oz | 10.2 g | 12.5 g |
| 8 fl oz (237 ml) | 203 g / 7.2 oz | 183 g / 6.5 oz | 13.6 g | 16.6 g |
| 9 fl oz (266 ml) | 229 g / 8.1 oz | 206 g / 7.3 oz | 15.3 g | 18.7 g |
| 10 fl oz (296 ml) | 254 g / 9.0 oz | 229 g / 8.1 oz | 17.0 g | 20.8 g |
| 12 fl oz (355 ml) | 305 g / 10.8 oz | 275 g / 9.7 oz | 20.3 g | 25.0 g |
| 14 fl oz (414 ml) | 356 g / 12.6 oz | 320 g / 11.3 oz | 23.7 g | 29.1 g |
| 16 fl oz (473 ml) | 407 g / 14.4 oz | 366 g / 12.9 oz | 27.1 g | 33.3 g |
Maximum fragrance load by wax
Each wax is tested for how much fragrance oil it can hold. Going over the maximum doesn’t make a stronger candle — the excess can sweat to the surface or cause wicking problems. Most makers start lower (6–8%) and test.
| Wax | Maximum fragrance load | Per lb of wax |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Brands 464 (soy) | 10% | 1.60 oz |
| Golden Brands 444 (soy) | 10% | 1.60 oz |
| EcoSoya CB-Advanced (soy) | 12% | 1.92 oz |
| IGI 6006 (paraffin blend) | 10% | 1.60 oz |
| IGI 6046 (paraffin blend) | 12% | 1.92 oz |
| IGI 4630 Parafflex | 10% | 1.60 oz |
| IGI 4786 Parafflex | 15% | 2.40 oz |
| CandleScience Coconut Apricot | 10% | 1.60 oz |
| CocoSol (melt / pillar) | 25% | 4.00 oz |
Figures from the wax makers and from CandleScience’s wax guide. Sources differ for the same wax: some retailers list Golden Brands 464 at 7–9%, and CandleScience lists EcoSoya CB-Advanced and IGI 6046 at 10% where the makers’ own documents say 12%. Follow your supplier.
Percentage of wax or of total?
Suppliers almost always mean percentage of the wax weight: 10% is 1.6 oz of oil per pound of wax. Some makers prefer a percentage of the total (wax + oil), so that 10% of a 200 g candle is 20 g of oil. For the same fill weight, the percentage-of-total method uses slightly more oil — the calculator handles both.
Making a batch
- Weigh everything. Fragrance oils differ in density, so measure by weight, not by volume.
- Add fragrance at the temperature your wax supplier recommends, and stir for a couple of minutes so it binds with the wax.
- Pour at the recommended pour temperature and let the candles cure — many soy waxes need one to two weeks for the best scent throw.
- Test-burn one candle from each new wax, wick and fragrance combination before selling.
Fragrance safety. Use fragrance oils made for candles and stay within the supplier’s IFRA limits for candles. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-04 · Disclaimer