How Much Pure Essential Oils Do I Use When Making Candles?
Essential oils can be a great way to add natural fragrance and aromatherapy benefits to homemade candles. When added to candle wax, essential oils will provide subtle scents while the candle burns. Making candles with essential oils requires some caution though, as using too much oil can cause issues like poor scent throw or smoking. This guide covers everything you need to know about safely using the right amounts of pure essential oils when making candles at home.
Benefits of Essential Oils in Candles
Essential oils can provide a variety of benefits when used in candles. The aromatic compounds in essential oils are released into the air when heated, providing aromatherapy benefits to those nearby. Some key benefits of essential oils in candles include:
Aromatherapy benefits – Inhaling essential oil molecules can stimulate the olfactory system and influence the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions. Essential oils like lavender and chamomile have been shown to have calming and relaxing effects that can lower anxiety and stress levels (source).
Customize scents – Essential oils allow you to create customized candle scents that set the desired mood or ambiance. Blending different essential oils together lets you make unique aroma profiles not found with synthetic fragrances.
Essential oil candles can be a great way to enjoy aromatherapy benefits and create calming, uplifting, or energizing environments. When used properly, essential oils can be a wonderful addition to homemade and custom candles.
How Much Essential Oil to Use
When making candles with essential oils, it’s important to use the right amount of oil for the amount of wax. Most experts recommend using about 1-3% essential oil per pound of wax. A common recommendation is to use 0.5-1 oz. (15-30 mL) of essential oil per pound of wax[1]. The exact amount can vary based on personal preference and the type of wax used.
For example, if you are making a candle with 1 pound of soy wax, you would use approximately 15 mL (0.5 oz) of essential oil. For a candle with 500g of paraffin wax, you could use around 10-15mL (0.3-0.5oz) of essential oil[2]. It’s best to start with less oil and gradually increase to the desired scent strength.
The goal is to find the right balance – using too much oil can lead to poor burn quality, while using too little may result in a candle with weak scent. Testing different oil amounts is key to finding the ideal ratio for each wax and essential oil blend.
Usage Ratio Based on Wax Type
The amount of essential oil needed will depend on the type of candle wax used. Here are some common usage ratios for different candle waxes:
Paraffin Wax
For candles made with paraffin wax, a fragrance load of around 6% to 8% is commonly used according to thompsonferrier.com. This means if you have 1 pound (450 grams) of paraffin wax, you would use 27-36 grams of essential oil.
Soy Wax
Soy wax can hold a bit more fragrance than paraffin, so a ratio of around 8-10% is typically used. For 1 pound of soy wax, you would use 36-45 grams of essential oil.
Beeswax
Beeswax candles need higher amounts of fragrance to properly scent the candle. Aim for a ratio of 10-15% essential oils for beeswax candles. So for 1 pound of beeswax, use 45-68 grams of essential oil.
Palm Wax
Palm wax usually uses an essential oil ratio similar to soy wax, around 8-12%. For 1 pound of palm wax, use 36-54 grams of essential oil.
Measuring Essential Oils
When making candles with essential oils, it’s important to accurately measure the oils so you achieve the desired scent strength and a properly balanced blend. There are two main ways to measure essential oils:
Drops
Measuring essential oils by drops is common for small batches or when you don’t have measuring equipment. However, drop size can vary between oils and between droppers. For consistency, some recommend counting drops then converting to milliliters.1
Milliliters
For larger batches or more precision, measuring essential oils by volume in milliliters is recommended. Use a small glass or plastic vessel on a digital scale for accuracy. Tare or zero out the scale before adding oils. Aim for a scale accurate to at least .1 grams for measuring milliliters of essential oils.2
Whether using drops or milliliters, keep precise notes on blends and amounts for consistency across batches.
Blending Essential Oils
When making candles with essential oils, it is common to blend different scents together to create a unique aromatic experience. Most candle makers recommend blending 2-4 complementary essential oils in one candle. Using too many oils can lead to an unfocused scent.
Some popular essential oil blend ideas for candles include:
– Lavender + Lemon or Orange
– Rosemary + Lemon or Lime
– Orange + Cinnamon
– Eucalyptus + Spearmint or Peppermint
When blending essential oils, start with a dominant oil as the base scent and add smaller amounts of supporting oils. For example, a lemon + lavender blend might use 75 drops lemon and 25 drops lavender. Test out different ratios when mixing to find the right balance. Allow your candle test burns to cure for a few days before evaluating the scent blend further.
Refer to an essential oil fragrance blending chart for additional recommended blend ideas. Or get creative and make your own signature scent mixes. Stick to 2-4 oils in one candle for the best results.
Storing Essential Oils
Proper storage is crucial for maintaining the freshness and potency of essential oils. Essential oils are volatile, meaning they evaporate easily, and they can lose their therapeutic benefits if not stored correctly. According to CandleScience, “We recommend storing essential oils in an airtight container and keeping them refrigerated, separately from food to avoid cross contamination” (source). Refrigeration helps preserve the oils by keeping them cool and slowing evaporation. From Nature With Love also notes that while refrigeration is ideal, it’s not required for oils that are refrigerate stable such as vegetable oils, fragrance oils, and essential oils. Just be sure not to freeze them.
When storing oils, it’s best to keep them in a cool, dark place inside amber or blue colored bottles. Light and heat can degrade essential oils over time. The Scent Australia Home recommends keeping them “in your kitchen or bathroom cupboards, or even a bookshelf that doesn’t get direct sunlight” (source). Properly stored essential oils can maintain their potency for 1-2 years.
Safety Precautions
When working with essential oils, it’s important to take proper safety precautions. According to Eden’s Garden blog, essential oils can be irritants if used incorrectly[1]. Proper ventilation is critical when making candles with essential oils. Work in a well-ventilated area to allow vapors to dissipate. Avoid breathing in concentrated vapors directly. Some essential oils like cinnamon bark, clove bud, and lemongrass are known skin irritants. Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling these oils.
Always do a small skin patch test before using a new essential oil. Dilute the oil and apply a small amount to your arm. If irritation occurs, avoid skin contact when making candles. Store essential oils properly in dark glass bottles, away from sunlight and heat. Follow usage instructions carefully. While essential oils can add wonderful aroma to candles, safety comes first when handling these potent plant extracts.
Testing and Troubleshooting
Before selling your candles, it is crucial to test them and troubleshoot any issues that arise. Two key tests are wick testing and burn testing.
Wick testing involves lighting the candle and observing the flame. The flame should be steady and not excessively large according to the National Candle Association’s guidelines. If the wick is too small, the flame will be small and struggle to melt the wax. If too large, it risks triggering soot or being a fire hazard.
Burn testing means letting the candle burn through its wax pool once or twice. Check for issues like tunneling, where wax melts unevenly. Test burn times and scent throw as well. If scent is too weak, try adding more essential oil, up to 1-2% of wax weight.
To fix tunneling, try a smaller diameter candle, warmer ambient temperature, or adjusting the wick size. Make sure to let candles cure 2-4 weeks minimum before major testing. Keep detailed notes on your testing procedures and results.
Conclusion
In summary, the amount of essential oil to use when making candles depends primarily on the type of wax you are using. For paraffin wax, a good rule of thumb is 1-2% essential oil per pound of wax. For soy wax, most candlemakers recommend 3-6% essential oil per pound of wax. Beeswax and palm wax can generally handle more essential oil, around 5-8%.
When blending essential oils, start with lower ratios and add more as needed. Not all essential oils behave the same way, so testing is critical. Keep notes on your candle testing to determine the ideal essential oil amounts and blends for your wax and fragrance preferences.
Always store your essential oils properly in dark, airtight containers away from light and heat. Follow usage and safety precautions, as essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate skin if used improperly. With some care and testing, you can create beautiful, fragrant, all-natural candles with essential oils.
