How to maximise scent throw in your wax melts — choosing the right oils and getting the percentages right.
Getting your fragrance load right is the difference between a mediocre wax melt and one that fills a room with scent. This guide explains everything about fragrance oils, loading rates and achieving the best possible throw.
Fragrance load (or fragrance percentage) refers to the weight of fragrance oil added relative to the weight of wax. It's always expressed as a percentage. For example, a 10% fragrance load means 10g of fragrance oil per 100g of wax.
Standard UK guideline for wax melts: 6–10% fragrance load. Most makers start at 8% and adjust based on testing. Going above 10% rarely improves throw and can cause fragrance oil to "pool" and separate from the wax.
There are two distinct types of scent throw you need to consider when developing a wax melt recipe:
Different fragrance oils perform differently in cold vs hot scenarios. Some florals have a strong cold throw but fade quickly when warmed. Heavier, resinous scents (musks, ambers, vanilla) tend to have a powerful hot throw. Always test both.
Not all fragrance oils are created equal. For wax melts specifically, look for:
| Fragrance Family | Cold Throw | Hot Throw | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floral (rose, jasmine) | Strong | Moderate | Can fade quickly on warmers |
| Citrus (lemon, orange) | Bright | Moderate | Best in blends with base notes |
| Gourmand (vanilla, cake) | Moderate | Excellent | Top sellers in UK market |
| Woody / Musky | Subtle | Strong | Long-lasting room scent |
| Fresh / Clean | Good | Good | Popular year-round |
Always add your fragrance oil at the correct wax temperature — typically 65–70°C for soy wax. Adding fragrance when the wax is too hot can cause the scent molecules to evaporate off. Too cool and the fragrance won't bind properly to the wax.
Stir slowly but thoroughly for at least 2 minutes to ensure even distribution throughout the wax before pouring.
⚠️ Important: Always check the flash point of your fragrance oil before use. Your pouring temperature must be at least 10°C below the fragrance oil's flash point for safety. This information is on every SDS sheet.