Fragrance Oils 101: Midwest Makers Guide
If you’re new to working with fragrance oils, the amount of things you need to learn probably feels overwhelming- and, honestly? There's plenty of things you might not even know to ask questions about!
From choosing your core collection scents to understanding safety guidelines, fragrance oils are one of the most exciting (and sometimes confusing) parts of making candles, soaps, and other scented products.
Our goal here is to make things a lot simpler and to clear up that confusion.
Here's the truth:
Most makers have been there at some point- me included! You’re testing new scents, reading guides, watching tutorials, and still wondering if you’re missing something important.
When you're brand new, even the term "FO" can have you stumped. (psst...FO stands for fragrance oil!) It can leave you feeling like you're the only one on earth who isn't clocking something that everyone else already knows.
Learning about fragrance oils, and making in general, is a process.
But the good news is, once you start understanding the fundamentals, everything gets a whole lot easier.
This master blog is designed to be a starting point for new makers who want to understand the basics, but could even benefit plenty of experienced makers. Whether you’re just getting started or already know the ropes, this page will walk you through the fundamentals and point you toward guides that dive deeper on specific topics.
Think of this as your main hub for all things fragrance oils. Each section below links to a more detailed post that explores the topic further, so you can learn at your own pace and come back whenever you need a refresher.
PS: Bookmark this page. We will continue to add new blogs, resources, and information to help make your life a little easier.
What Are Fragrance Oils Used For?
One question we hear from makers all the time is this:
“What can I actually make with fragrance oils?”
Most people start with one product - usually candles, wax melts, or soap - and then start wondering what else is possible.
Can the same fragrance work in a room spray? What about bath products? Reed diffusers?
Fragrance oils are incredibly versatile, and can be used in a variety of different products- maybe some you've never even thought of! Once you start experimenting, the possibilities open up pretty quickly.
If you want to know more about products you can make with fragrance oils, we have the perfect guide that details all the possibilities.
If you’re interested in creating new products for you or your customers to enjoy, learning about what products you can create with fragrance oils opens up your mind to all the possibilities and can be really inspiring!
One fragrance can often become a full collection- candles, soaps, sprays, and more- all built around the same signature scent.
And as always, the key is testing, checking IFRA guidelines, and giving yourself the freedom to experiment a little along the way. That’s where some of the best ideas tend to come from.
Read the full guide here:
Fragrance Oil FAQs
When you start creating with fragrance oils, a lot of little questions tend to pop up along the way.
Things like how much fragrance to use, why a scent smells different in a product than it does out of the bottle, or how to properly store your oils. And when you're new to fragrance oils, this can leave you with so many questions and no idea where to find the answers.
Trust me, you are not alone.
No one starts their maker journey knowing everything there is to know.
That’s exactly why we put together this guide.
Inside, we walk through some of the most common fragrance oil questions makers ask. From understanding fragrance load and IFRA guidelines to troubleshooting weak throw, discoloration, and storage tips.
Once you understand a few of the basics behind how fragrance oils behave in different products, the whole process starts to feel a lot more predictable, a lot more fun to experiment with, and allows you to create with confidence.
Read the full guide here:
And to add one more helpful tidbit- we see a lot of makers get stumped on commonly used acronyms! Here is a short list of acronyms and what they mean to clear up any confusion:
FO = Fragrance Oil
EO = Essential Oil
FL = Fragrance Load (% of fragrance to product ratio)
HT = Hot Throw (referring to the fragrance strength when burning a candle or melting a wax melt)
CT = Cold Throw (referring to the fragrance strength when a candle or wax melt is not in use)
CP = Cold Process (referring to the cold process soaping style)
HP = Hot Process (referring to the hot process soaping style)
M&P = Melt & Pour (referring to melt & pour soap bases)
OOB = Out of Bottle (referring to smelling a fragrance direct from the bottle)
IFRA = International Fragrance Association (sets safety standards)
General Fragrance Load Calculator
One thing that can feel a little tricky when you’re new to formulating products is figuring out exactly how much fragrance oil to use.
You’ll often see fragrance loads listed as percentages, but turning those percentages into actual measurements for your batch size can sometimes take a little math.
That’s exactly why we created our General Fragrance Load Calculator.
It’s a simple tool designed to help makers quickly calculate how much fragrance oil they need based on their total batch weight and desired fragrance percentage.
Basically...it takes a lot of guesswork out of the making process and gives you a lot more time for the fun stuff- actually making products!
If you’ve ever found yourself double-checking your numbers (or grabbing a calculator mid-batch), this guide walks through how the calculator works and how it can make the process a whole lot easier when you’re formulating products.
Try our general fragrance load calculator:
General Fragrance Load Calculator
Resources for calculating candle & wax melt fragrance loads:
How To Calculate Fragrance Load For Wax Products: A Step-By-Step Guide
How To Use IFRA Certificates To Keep Your Products Safe
When you’re working with fragrance oils, one document you’ll see referenced quite a bit is the IFRA certificate.
IFRA stands for International Fragrance Association, and these documents outline where a fragrance oil can be safely used and the maximum percentages recommended for different types of products like candles, soaps, and body care.
You've probably seen IFRA mentioned numerous times- on fragrance oil bottles, in informational graphics, and in maker spaces everywhere.
But what do IFRA max, Cat 9, and all the percentages actually mean?
In this guide, we walk through how to read an IFRA certificate and how to use it when formulating your products.
Once you understand how these guidelines work, they make it much easier to create confidently while staying within safe usage limits.
Read the full guide here:
How To Use IFRA Certificates To Keep Your Products Safe
Find all IFRA Certificates here:
Blending Fragrance Oils To Make Your Own Signature Scents
One of the most fun parts of working with fragrance oils is combining them to create your own custom blend.
Blending allows you to create something that feels uniquely yours, whether you’re making candles, soaps, wax melts, or any other scented products.
And the best part is, you don’t need to be an expert to start experimenting with blends.
A lot of newer makers think blending is intimidating, but it is a great way to get more comfortable with your craft and explore all the possibilities of fragrance oils!
With a little testing and allowing yourself to step out of your comfort zone, you can discover blends that become signature scents in your product line.
And, lucky for you, we not only have a full guide on blending, but we have multiple blend lists that will help you get started!
Read the full guide here:
Also.. we have created tons of lists of OUR favorite fragrance oil blends for you to get started:
Spring / Valentine's Day Blend List
Fragrance Renaming 101: Alternate Name Ideas & Trademark Tips
Have you ever sat for what feels like forever just trying to figure out the perfect name for the candle, soap, or room spray you just made?
Because...same. Been there, done that, and hitting a creative block is NO JOKE.
And it's especially challenging when you find the perfect name only to find it's already been trademarked.
That’s why we’ve put together a tool to easily find the perfect name ideas for all our fragrance oils!
Think of it like a little cheat sheet to help you find names that feel just as cute and fun, without having to worry about trademark issues.
In this tool, you can find not only rename suggestions for all of our fragrances, but plenty of blend ideas, too. If you are hitting the dreaded creative block, give this tool a try to see if it gives you a spark!
Try our fragrance renaming tool:
Once you play around with the tool, you can scroll down on this page to read more about trademarks below the tool!
To Wrap Things Up...
Fragrance oils are so fun to create with, experiment with, and the possibilities on what you can make when them are truly endless- and now you have all the tools to create with confidence!
From learning what fragrance oils are used for, staying IFRA‑compliant, experimenting with blends, choosing safe fragrance oil loads, and even coming up with cute alternate names for your scents, you’ve got the essentials to make your creations uniquely yours.
Remember- it’s all about experimenting, learning, and having fun while keeping your products safe and your customers happy.
With these basics under your belt, you’re ready to start creating scents that feel personal, professional, and totally you! Happy making!
Hi! I'm Kenna!
Co-founder of Midwest Fragrance Company, business builder since 20, fueled by coffee and grounded by yoga. I’ve learned (mostly the hard way) what it takes to grow a maker business, and I share those lessons here… the real ones, not the highlight reel.
At MWFC, we sell all the supplies you need to create scented products that truly shine ✨
Want to keep following along? Find us on Instagram @midwestfragranceco
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