How Much Wax Goes Into A 8 Oz Candle?
This article provides a guide to determining how much wax goes into making a standard size 8 oz candle. Knowing the amount of wax is an important aspect of candle making. When purchasing wax, it needs to be measured by weight not volume. The wax weight determines how much fragrance oil and dye to use. It also informs wick sizing and burn time. While the volume of wax may fill a candle container, the weight can vary. Measuring wax by weight instead of volume allows for accurate calculations and consistent candle results.
What is Candle Wax?
Candle wax refers to the material that forms the body of a candle. The type of wax used can impact the candle’s burning properties, appearance, scent throw, and more. There are several common types of candle waxes:
Paraffin Wax – A petroleum-based wax made from refining crude oil. It is odorless, colorless, and burns cleanly. Paraffin is the most widely used candle wax due to its low cost and excellent wax properties.
Soy Wax – Made from hydrogenated soybean oil. Soy wax is a natural, renewable resource that burns slower and cleaner than paraffin. It holds scent well but can be prone to frosting.
Beeswax – Produced by honey bees to build honeycomb cells. Beeswax has a subtle honey aroma and burns brighter than other waxes. However, it can be expensive and tricky to work with.
Palm Wax – Derived from palm oil. It is harder than paraffin so it requires less blending with other waxes. Palm wax holds scent well but can burn quickly.
Gel Wax – A mineral oil-based transparent wax. Gel wax allows vivid candle colors and designs not possible with opaque waxes. It can burn cleanly but requires proper wick sizing.
The choice of candle wax impacts many factors from cost, to fragrance, to how cleanly it burns. Selecting the right wax type is an important first step in candle making.
Measuring Candle Wax
When making candles, it’s important to understand the difference between measuring candle wax by weight versus volume. Weight refers to the actual mass of the wax, while volume refers to how much space the wax takes up.
Candle wax is usually measured by weight, in ounces or grams. Measuring by weight allows for more precision and consistency in candle making. If measuring by volume using cups or spoons, the amount can vary based on factors like air pockets, settling, and temperature. According to Totaste, volume measurements can vary by as much as 20% while weight stays consistent.
For example, 1 cup of wax by volume may weigh 5-6 oz by weight. But 1 pound (16 oz) of wax by weight will always be 1 pound. Measuring wax by weight eliminates the guesswork and variability that comes with volume.
Most candle making recipes specify wax amounts by weight rather than volume. Using a kitchen scale to weigh out wax in ounces or grams will lead to the most accurate and consistent results when following candle making instructions.
Standard Candle Sizes
Candles come in a variety of standard sizes, with some of the most common being 4oz, 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, and 24oz. These sizes refer to the total weight of the candle wax and other components inside the candle container. Some of the typical candle sizes include:
- 4oz – A small votive or container candle, around 2-3 inches wide and 2-3 inches tall.
- 8oz – A medium-sized pillar or container candle, around 3-4 inches wide and 3-4 inches tall.
- 12oz – A large pillar, container, or jar candle, around 3-5 inches wide and 4-6 inches tall.
- 16oz – An extra-large pillar or jar candle, around 4-6 inches wide and 5-7 inches tall.
- 24oz – A very large jar candle, around 5-7 inches wide and 6-8 inches tall.
The 8oz candle size in particular is popular for container and pillar candles. It provides ample wax to burn for a significant duration, while still being an easy-to-manage size.
Wax Weight by Candle Size
The amount of wax needed for a candle depends on the size and shape of the candle container. Here are some general guidelines for wax weights by common candle sizes:
- 4 oz candle – About 3-3.5 oz wax
- 6 oz candle – About 4.5-5 oz wax
- 8 oz candle – About 6-6.5 oz wax
- 10 oz candle – About 7.5-8 oz wax
- 12 oz candle – About 9-9.5 oz wax
For an 8 oz candle, most candle makers recommend using around 6-6.5 oz of wax. This accounts for the wax that adheres to the sides of the container. Using a scale to weigh out wax is the most accurate method.
The type of wax and container shape can also impact the amount of wax needed. For example, pillar candles require more wax than a similarly sized jar candle.
Candle Wax Density
The density of candle wax has a major impact on the total weight of wax in a candle. Density measures how much mass is contained in a given volume. Wax density is usually measured in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or grams per cubic meter (g/m3). Common candle waxes have the following typical densities:
- Paraffin wax: 0.76-0.78 g/cm3 (source)
- Soy wax: 0.92-0.95 g/cm3
- Beeswax: 0.96 g/cm3
Higher density waxes like soy and beeswax will contain more grams of wax per cubic centimeter than lower density paraffin. This means that a candle made from soy or beeswax will weigh more than a paraffin candle of the same size. The density allows you to estimate the wax weight using the candle’s volume.
Other Candle Components
In addition to wax, candles contain several other key ingredients that contribute to the candle’s performance and aesthetic.
One of the most important ingredients is the fragrance oil, which provides the scent. There are natural essential oils as well as synthetic fragrance oils used in candles. Quality fragrance oils will have a complex, lingering scent. According to Go Candles, high quality candles use a mix of natural essential oils and synthetic fragrances at 5-10% of the total candle wax weight.
Candles also contain dye to give them color. There are liquid dyes, color blocks, as well as pigments that produce color. Soy wax in particular takes dye very well. Quality candles use non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes at 1-3% of the wax weight.
Wicks are another key component, responsible for controlled burning. The wick material, thickness, and weaving pattern all impact how the candle performs. Popular wick materials include cotton, wood, and paper. Wicks account for about 1% of a candle’s total weight.
In summary, in addition to wax, high quality candles also rely on fragrance, dye, and proper wicking to provide a safe and optimal experience.
Estimating Wax Weight
When making candles, it’s important to know how much wax you need for a given candle container. Here are some tips for estimating the wax weight based on volume:
A general rule of thumb is that 1 milliliter (mL) of wax weighs about 0.88-0.96 grams. So if you know the volume capacity of your candle container in mL, you can estimate the wax weight by multiplying the volume by 0.92 (the average density). For example, a container that holds 250mL would need about 230 grams of wax (250 * 0.92 = 230).
Another method is to fill your candle container with water to the desired fill line, measure the volume of water in mL, then multiply by 0.92 to get the wax weight. The water displacement method helps account for the irregular shapes of some containers [1].
Keep in mind the wax weight is the amount before adding fragrance oil. The fragrance load (percent of fragrance oil) will also affect the total candle weight. A common load is 6-10% of wax weight. So a 230 gram candle at 8% fragrance would require 207g wax + 18g fragrance for 225g total.
These tips help estimate the wax needed, but the exact weight depends on the wax type, container shape, and desired look. Making a test candle is recommended to dial-in the perfect wax amount.
When Wax Weight Matters
Measuring candle wax by weight instead of volume is important in several situations when making candles:
Calculating fragrance oil – The amount of fragrance oil needed is determined by the weight of the wax, not the volume. Using volume may lead to over or under-fragrancing. (1)
Achieving proper wax melt pool – The melt pool is the key to good candle performance and is determined by the wax weight. Too little wax can lead to poor melt and fragrance throw. (2)
Calculating cost and pricing – Wax is purchased by weight so knowing the exact wax weight is key for determining the cost of materials and appropriate pricing for profitability.
Achieving consistent results – Following recipes by weight rather than volume allows candle makers to reproduce the same results time after time.
Troubleshooting problems – An accurate wax weight helps diagnose issues like poor hot and cold throw, sinkholes, and more.
Meeting labeling requirements – In many regions, labeling candles requires listing the net weight in both standard and metric units.
Conclusion
In summary, determining the amount of wax in a candle is an important part of candle making. The main goal is to calculate the wax weight accurately for a given candle size and shape. Factors like wax density, container weight, wick weight, and fragrance load all contribute to the total wax weight. While volume measurements can provide a rough estimate, weighing the wax directly gives the most precise result.
Knowing the wax weight allows candle makers to portion ingredients properly, ensure adequate hot throw and burn time, and price products appropriately. With the right container dimensions, wax type, density reference, and measurement tools, candle makers can reliably determine how much wax goes into any size candle.
