Fragrance oil binds to soy wax at a 6–10% load by weight. That range is not arbitrary — below 6%, the scent throw is insufficient; above 10%, the oil cannot fully bind and pools on the surface. Everything else in fragrance blending — temperature, ratio, cure time — exists to make that binding work correctly.
How fragrance oil integrates with soy wax
Fragrance oils are blended into soy wax once the wax reaches 185°F. At that temperature, the wax molecules are sufficiently mobile to accept and bind the fragrance compounds. The oils are stirred in for a minimum of 120 seconds — not to mix them visually, but to allow the molecular bonding to occur across the full wax mass. Insufficient stirring produces uneven scent distribution: some areas of the candle throw heavily, others barely at all.
After pouring, the candle requires 7 to 14 days of cure time. During this period, the fragrance oil continues bonding with the wax crystalline structure. A candle burned before full cure has not yet developed its complete scent throw — the fragrance profile at day 3 is noticeably flatter than at day 10. This is why cure time is not optional.
The structure of a layered fragrance
Fragrance oils are categorized by molecular weight: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes — citrus, mint, light herbs — are the most volatile. They provide the initial impression on cold throw and the opening minutes of a burn, then dissipate. Middle notes — floral, herbal — form the body of the scent. They carry the character of the fragrance through most of the burn. Base notes — woody, resinous, musky — are the heaviest molecules. They anchor the composition and remain present longest, including the residual scent that holds in a room after the flame is out.
A starting ratio for a balanced three-layer fragrance is 30% top notes, 50% middle notes, and 20% base notes. This is a technical baseline, not a formula — the correct balance depends on the volatility of the specific oils and the character the composition is designed to achieve. How fragrance families behave differently in a room is part of that calculation.
Before committing to a full wax batch, cold testing with fragrance blotter strips or Q-tips dipped in different oils simulates the combined scent profile. The nose reads combinations differently than individual oils — a top note that reads sharp on its own may soften considerably against a resinous base.
Fragrance load limits
Fragrance load above 10% of total wax weight causes the excess oil to separate out — visible as "sweating" or pooling on the wax surface. This oil does not contribute to scent throw and creates a fire risk. Fragrance load below 6% in soy wax produces a candle that smells present in the jar but does not change the room during a burn. The 6–10% range is where the oil fully binds and projects.
All measurements should be by weight, not volume. Fragrance oils vary in density — measuring by volume introduces inconsistency across different oil types.
How Lavendure 21 and Sandalure 18 are built
Lavendure 21 is composed in three layers: Lavandula angustifolia as the top and heart note, eucalyptus as the mid-register sharpener, and oakmoss absolute as the base. The oakmoss is what holds in the room after the burn ends. What botanical lavender actually smells like — distinct from synthetic lavender — is central to why the composition reads as specific rather than generic.
Sandalure 18 opens with dry sandalwood as the dominant mid-to-base note, deepens with bourbon vanilla from Madagascar in the heart, and holds with cinnamon at the base. The composition is designed to develop across the burn — different at hour one than at hour three. How sandalwood behaves in a fragrance composition explains why it works as a structural base rather than a featured top note.
Both candles are built at 9% fragrance load in 100% soy wax, cured for the full 14-day period before release.
Related reading
- Types of Candle Scents: Fragrance Families Explained
- What Does Sandalwood Smell Like?
- What Does Lavender Smell Like?
- What Does Oakmoss Smell Like?
