WHEN SHOULD YOU ADD FRAGRANCE OIL TO YOUR CANDLE?

Adding fragrance oil to your wax is a fun and very easy way to help your candles stand out from the rest! While many new candle makers may be familiar with the idea of adding fragrance oil to their wax in order to produce a wonderful-smelling candle, most actually struggle with when they should be adding the oil to their wax blend. Adding fragrance oil to your wax while it is too hot, or too cold, can have dire effects on the potency of the fragrance. Both times resulted in the wax having little to no scent while burning.

THE PROCESS OF ADDING CANDLE FRAGRANCE OIL

Adding fragrance oil to your wax may seem a little daunting to first-time candle makers, especially to those attempting their first-ever wax blend. But not to worry beginners, adding fragrance oil is actually a very simple process as long as you follow these steps. The first thing to note would be the amount that should be added to each pound of wax which would be, 1oz of fragrance per 1 pound of wax. Please do note that tests should always be done to ensure that you are adding the proper amount of wax to fulfill your personal preference.

WHEN TO ADD YOUR FRAGRANCE

While figuring out how much fragrance oil should be added to your batch is important, knowing when you should be adding the oil is crucial to the result of the candle and its performance. When to add your fragrance oil is not necessarily based on the appearance and state of the wax, rather it is dependent on the temperature at which your wax is fully melted. Depending on the wax you are using, most times the wax would have fully melted at around 175°- 185° F. You want to add your fragrance oil at around 155°- 165° F once your wax begins to cool, at which point you can incorporate the oil thoroughly with the wax and pour once both have combined.

DOES THE TYPE OF WAX USED MATTER WHEN ADDING FRAGRANCE OIL?

The temperature of which adding the fragrance oil may slightly vary when using different waxes, so it is important to know the melting point at which it is best to mix for each wax. Usually, any wax would begin to melt at around 130° F, but the point at which the wax will be ready to mix differs. If you are using soy wax, it is recommended to begin mixing once the wax hits about 155° - 165° F. Really, it’s all about knowing your wax melting point along with what temperature is best to mix at. Please also note that each wax should hit its max melting point in order to fully melt the wax all through, once it is cooled to its desired temperature you may then add the fragrance oil.

HOW DOES FLASH POINT AFFECT THE TIMING OF WHEN FRAGRANCE SHOULD BE ADDED?

If you are unfamiliar with what the Flash Point of fragrance oil for candles is, Flash Point refers to the temperature at which a fragrance oil becomes combustible. This can be rather dangerous when attempting to light up the candle as the wick may cause a spark in the composition of the candle, causing it to combust. Always make sure you are adding your fragrance oil at the recommended flash point depending on how high or low the temperature is. For flash points under 130° F, always add the fragrance oil at or below 130°. For flash points between 130° - 180°, always add the fragrance oil at or slightly below the designated flash point. For example, a fragrance oil for candles with a flash point at 155° can be either added at 140° - 150° F or exactly at 150° F. For any flash point above 180°, never add the fragrance oil above that temperature.