Testing a new fragrance oil in soap and candles is an important step to ensure the oil performs well, behaves properly during production, and delivers a pleasing and lasting scent in the final product. Whether you’re making cold process soap or hand-poured candles, proper testing helps you avoid surprises and ensures consistent quality.
When testing fragrance oils in soap, start with a small batch. This allows you to observe how the fragrance behaves without wasting large amounts of ingredients. Check the recommended usage rate according to the IFRA guidelines. Most cold process soaps use between 3–6% fragrance oil based on the weight of the oils in the recipe, but always stay within the safe limits.
As you add the fragrance to your soap batter, watch for signs of acceleration, ricing, separation, or discoloration. Acceleration means the soap thickens too quickly, which can make pouring difficult. Ricing appears as small lumps that may require extra stick blending, while separation can indicate the fragrance is interfering with emulsification. Discoloration is common in fragrances that contain vanillin or certain spice notes.
After your soap is made, monitor the scent during the curing process. Smell the soap right after unmolding, and again after 4–6 weeks when curing is complete. Some fragrances may fade, morph, or mellow over time. Once fully cured, lather the soap and do a patch test on a small area of skin to ensure it is gentle and non-irritating.
For candles, start by creating a small test candle using the same wax, wick, and container you would use in a production batch. Weigh both your wax and fragrance oil using a digital scale for accuracy. Most waxes can hold 6–10% fragrance load, but it’s important not to exceed the manufacturer’s recommended maximum.
Add the fragrance oil to the melted wax at the correct temperature—usually between 175°F and 185°F, depending on the type of wax you use. Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution, then pour the wax into your test container and allow it to cool and cure. Soy wax candles typically benefit from a cure time of 3 to 7 days, which enhances the hot throw (the scent released while burning).
Once cured, evaluate both the cold throw (how the candle smells unlit) and the hot throw (how the scent performs during burning). Burn the candle in a draft-free room and let it burn for a couple of hours to get an accurate read on scent strength, wick performance, and overall burn quality.
Finally, for both soap and candles, it’s helpful to keep a written testing log. Record details such as fragrance name, supplier, usage rate, recipe, observations during production, and final scent impressions. This will help you refine your process and confidently decide which fragrances are worth adding to your product line.
Sold out
