Candle Making - Tumblr Posts
@orna_handpainter on Instagram
@mybeigelove on Instagram
Some pics of me testing the first candles I made, that wasn't a kit. I think I used 464 soy wax. Okay well scratch that, I know I used 464 soy wax lol. It was my first wax and the cheapest.
It is interesting to go look back and realize how old these pictures are.
Been working on finding a candle recipe that works for me for since like 2020.
About to make some candles!!
So I made 2 candles and a test scoopable. Didn't do nearly as much as I had planned/hoped :(
Wax and F.O. Measurement Formula
I got this from Armatage Candle Company and Memory Box Candle Co who helped clarify it. It works for me as long as I remember to take out the container weight when I do my math.
1)Take note of the container's weight. (This is just good to have especially if you forget to zero out the scale).
2) Place the container on the scale and zero it out.
3) Add water and record the weight. (Fill the container based on how much wax you would want in said container).
4) Multiply the water weight by 0.86g. This will give you the weight of the wax. (We'll also be working in grams throughout this). At this point if you aren't adding any fragrance oil then you can use this number to make your candle/embeds/waxmelts.
For adding Fragrance Oil
5) Net weight divided by ((100%) + (FO%)) = the wax weight needed. The net weight is the wax weight we calculated in step 4. The FO% is the percentage of Fragrance Oil you want to add to your candle. Typically candles and waxmelts have an FO% of either 6%, 8%, 10%, or 12%.
The smaller the percentage just means there is less fragrance oil to burn. This doesn't mean that scent will be weaker just that it doesn't last as long. Think of it like putting gas in your car. Putting a small amount of gas in your car doesn't make it go slower, just means you won't be able to drive as far/long as you would on a full tank of gas.
With that in mind, don't add too much fragrance oils to your candle. You run the risk of it not being fully incorporated into the wax causing leaking or oil pockets. So like salad dressing that's been sitting for a while, the excess fragrance oil will separate from the wax. And consider F.O. is very flammable if someone light their candle and there is F.O. sitting on top of the candle or an oil pocket beneath the surface, it could cause the flame to get outta control when the fire touches the oil. Which is not good. So anyways,
6) Net weight divided by (106%) = the wax weight needed. (For this we are just using an FO% of 6%).
7) Once you have the wax weight needed you can calculate the FO weight needed. Which is the Net weight - wax weight needed = FO weight needed.
Example!
We have a 12oz candle with a water weight of 395g. And we want to make a full candle with a fragrance load of 8%.
water weight: 395g FO%: 8%
395g * 0.86 = 339.7g Let's round up to 340g!
Net weight: 340g FO %: 8%
340g divided by ((100%) + (8%)) = wax weight needed
340g divided by (108%) = wax weight needed
314.81g Lets round up -> 315g = wax weight needed
Now for the F.O.
Net weight - Wax weight needed = FO weight needed
340g - 315g = 25g
25g = FO weight needed.
So, you need 315g of wax and 25g of fragrance oil to make one, 12oz candle.