Purchasing candle fragrance oil can seem to be a very straightforward and easy process.
You simply visit a local craft store or go online, purchase the fragrance of your choice, and create a wonderful smelling candle.
However, as with many things in life, purchasing a quality oil that will work for your particular project is not that simple.
The good news is, with a little knowledge and understanding of candle fragrance oils, it can be an easy process.
Below are 5 important factors that can help guide you in the process of choosing the oil that is right for you.
Know the Type of Candle Fragrance Oil You Need Candle fragrance oils are not necessarily compatible with all of the different types of candle waxes.
For example, oils will perform better in soy wax if they are formulated to work in it.
A key first step in choosing is to determine the type of wax you will be using and be sure the type you choose will work for your particular wax.
Start With a Sample Size If you are using a fragrance you have not used before, consider starting with a small sample size to be sure that it is the scent you are looking for and performs in the wax you are using.
Many suppliers offer sample sizes (typically 1 oz.
) that are great for testing before making a larger financial commitment.
This also allows you to test the scent in a finished candle to ensure it has the aromatic smell you are looking for and fits the fragrance oil description.
Determine How Much You Need Once you have found a candle fragrance oil that you are happy with, the next step is to determine how much you will need of that particular fragrance.
Many oils have a recommended usage of 1 oz.
per pound of wax (or a 6.
25% fragrance load).
However, you can add more or less for your desired scent strength.
To figure out how much you will need, measure the volume weight of the containers you will be using.
Next, calculate the percentage of the total volume weight that needs to be candle fragrance oil.
If you were making 10 candles that have a volume weight of 6 ounces each, your total weight would be 60 ounces.
Based on the typical recommended usage, you would need 3.
75 ounces* (6.
25% x 60).
This should provide a baseline of how much you will need, adjusting up or down based on your personal scent strength preference.
*Please note that candle fragrance oils are usually sold by weight, not by volume.
It is likely that various scents will be filled to different levels in the bottle.
Beware of Marketing Hype Many candle fragrance oils can be marketed as 'uncut' or 'manufacturers grade.
' If you come across some that are promoted this way, do not assume they are high quality (there is no formally accepted grading scale for candle fragrance oils).
You want to choose a supplier that carries top quality and are going to perform well.
As mentioned above, consider purchasing small sample sizes to start with before making a larger investment with a particular supplier.
Choose Quality Candle Fragrance Oil Not all candle fragrance oils are made the same, and can vary widely in cost.
Many oils that are lower in cost are manufactured with larger amounts of solvents, which weaken the strength of the fragrance.
This means that it requires more fragrance oil to produce a strongly scented candle and can end up costing more to produce the same results than candle oils that are formulated stronger.
This can also lead to undesirable burning characteristics as adding too much can lead to increased soot and smoking.
When deciding on which one is right for your project, be sure to consider the quality you are choosing and not base your decision on price alone.
Otherwise, you may end up getting what you pay for.
Ready to Shop While these 5 pointers are not everything you need to know about purchasing candle fragrance oil, they should provide a good starting point.
When shopping for a fragrance, we hope you now have the confidence to go out and have a better understanding of what to look for and know what questions to ask.