It might be obvious for experienced candle makers, but in the beginning, all the necessary information and small details can be really confusing. As much as it is a creative activity for a hobby, as a professional you have to pay attention to the precise process as well as the right equipment and ingredients. The two most important measurements are temperature and weight. For the latter, you might have questioned the importance of a scale. Well, in this article, we are going to detail whether you need a scale for candle making or not.

Do you need a scale?

This question is really easy to answer with a simple yes. You will definitely need a scale for candle making. The reason behind this is because it is crucial to measure all your ingredients precisely during the candle making process.

Firstly, you will have to measure the amount of candle way which you will melt. Also, you need to measure and right amount of fragrance or essential oils to ensure proper wax to oil ratio. This is important because one of the best ways to make unique and personalized candles is by using special scents. Without knowing and using the right amount, you might end up with poor scent throw or impaired burning. Another aspect is colouring which also requires a scale to measure the chosen colouring ingredient depending on the amount of wax.

Also, if you build a business, you will have to make your candles consistently, with the same amounts and ratios. This is required in order to keep your quality standard so all customers receive the same quality candles.

Finally, during the purchase and planning process, you will find all ingredients given and specified by weight. For example, when you’ll learn which wax is capable of holding more or less oil, you will have to count it according to the weight of the wax itself.

How to choose the right one?

If we already convinced you to purchase a good quality scale for your candle making process, now you only have to choose the right one. Let’s see what you have to take into consideration.

First things first, let’s be clear. This is not a marketing trick to convince you to buy the most expensive scale out there. You don’t have to think about anything fancy or overpriced. Generally, a simple digital scale is perfect – similar to which you might use in your kitchen. Bench scales are ideal for candle making as they are small and compact at an affordable price.

To begin with, accuracy is a key element when choosing the perfect scale for candle making. Therefore, you have to make sure to look for a scale with precision and accuracy down to the tenth or hundredth (0.1 or 0.01). This will be essential when measuring your oils.

Choose a scale which will make it easy for you to convert between the different metrics. This way, you can try and experiment with all the recipes available online without the process of conversion calculations.

The above mentioned features would be indispensable but there are a few more aspects to keep in mind. Having a tare function can be really useful during the measuring process. This will allow you to reset the scale and measure from zero any time making it really simple to quickly add multiple ingredients in the same container one after another.

You will also have to think about capacity based on the size of your business plans. If you plan on making large batches, you should definitely choose a scale with a bigger capacity. Generally, it is advised to choose one which can measure at least 10 pounds.

Lastly, you will have to decide whether you will go with a battery operated scale or one with AC adapter. The former is really convenient and easy to store, the latter however is more reliable. The choice is yours so make sure to decide according to your plans and needs.

Best scales for candle making

After all the theory, let’s see a few great options to purchase for your candle making business!

This is a suitable scale for your candle making business as it has all the necessary features which we listed above. It has a maximum capacity of 22lbs / 10 kgs, with the possibility to detect 0.1 oz increments. Furthermore, it can easily switch between metrics ideal for bigger batches and different recipes. It is elegant with brushed stainless steel and glass surface.

My Weigh Kitchen And Craft Scale

Similarly to Nicewell, it is also ideal for bigger batch with a 17lbs capacity and can measure grams, ounces and pounds. It can measure in one gram increments and has an AC adapter instead of batteries. It is a bit more bulky but lasts longer and more easy to clean.

Escali Primo Precision Scale

This scale has a smaller capacity (11lbs) with one ounce increments, and is battery operated. It is ideal for smaller batches but also measures in gram, ounce and pound. Better for when you need to weigh smaller amounts of things, such as dyes, vybar etc.

How to measure correctly?

By simply having a good quality scale, you are still not done. As it won’t do all the work for you, there are some useful tips and tricks to make your life easier!

1. Always measure your wax and oils (essential or fragrance) by weight instead of volume.

2. Never use cups and tablespoons instead of a digital scale.

3. When trying new recipes, make sure to use the correct metrics before starting the process.

4. Even with the perfect scale, pay attention to the number as the incorrect amount can result in a bad quality candle.

All things considered, it is highly advised to purchase a good quality scale which can provide you the mentioned features. On the long run, your investment will be worth it as your process will be faster and the quality of your candles will be guaranteed.