Ocean Breeze Candle Recipe

Create sophisticated candles that capture the essence of coastal air and salty sea breezes. This complex fragrance blend combines aquatic notes with subtle salt and mineral accents, perfect for beach lovers and anyone seeking refreshing, sophisticated ambiance. The layered profile develops beautifully during burning.

Ingredients

Wax

• 2 lbs (32 oz / 907g) soy wax flakes

Wicks

• 4 pre-tabbed braided cotton wicks, 0.625" width

Fragrance

• 1.0 oz (28g) ocean fragrance oil (aquatic base)
• 0.6 oz (17g) sea salt fragrance oil
• 0.4 oz (11g) melon fragrance oil (adds brightness)
• 0.4 oz (11g) mineral/ozonic fragrance oil (creates airy effect)
• Total fragrance: 2.4 oz (68g) (approximately 7.5% load)

Containers

• 4 eight-ounce (240ml) glass containers (clear or frosted glass ideal)

Additives (Optional)

• Blue or sea-green soy dye (0.5 oz / 14g)
• Fine sea salt flakes for surface decoration (0.25 oz / 7g)

Equipment Needed

• Double boiler or candle melting pot
• Thermometer (0-200°F)
• Digital scale
• Pouring vessel
• Wooden stirrer
• Wick holders or clothespins
• Wick stickers
• Heat source with temperature control
• Heat-resistant work surface
• Small brush for salt application

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Containers and Wicks

Clean containers thoroughly and dry completely. Multi-note fragrances like ocean breeze are sensitive to contamination. Position wick stickers at container bottoms and secure wicks. Ensure all wicks are centered and upright. The 0.625" wick size is crucial for this fragrance combination's burn characteristics.

Step 2: Melt Soy Wax

Add soy wax to double boiler top pot. Heat water below to gentle simmer. Heat wax slowly to 170-180°F, stirring occasionally. Soy wax accommodates complex multi-note fragrances effectively.

Step 3: Cool Before Fragrance

Remove from heat and allow to cool to 155-160°F. This cooling preserves all fragrance notes. Ocean breeze blends include volatile aquatic and mineral compounds that evaporate if added to excessively hot wax.

Step 4: Add Ocean Fragrance Oil

Pour ocean fragrance oil into cooled wax at 155-160°F. Stir thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. Ocean fragrance is the dominant base note and should be fully integrated first.

Step 5: Add Sea Salt Fragrance Oil

Add sea salt fragrance oil at 155°F and stir for 1-2 minutes. Sea salt adds sophisticated mineral depth to the ocean base. The combination should blend smoothly.

Step 6: Add Melon and Mineral Fragrances

Add melon fragrance oil at 155°F and stir for 1 minute. Then add mineral/ozonic fragrance oil and stir for final 2 minutes. The complete blend requires thorough mixing to balance all four fragrance components evenly.

Step 7: Verify Complete Integration

Heat combined fragrances back to 170°F and stir for 1 additional minute. All four fragrance notes must be fully dissolved. Check visually—no streaking or separation should be visible. Multi-note fragrances require extended integration verification.

Step 8: Add Color (Optional)

If adding blue or sea-green dye, add at 155°F and stir for 2-3 minutes until fully blended. Ocean-inspired colors complement the aquatic fragrance beautifully. Pale blue or seafoam green are most effective. Test color on white paper first.

Step 9: Secure Wick Holders

Position wick holders across container openings. Ensure wicks are perfectly centered and upright. The larger 0.625" wicks require secure positioning to prevent tilting.

Step 10: Pour Wax

At 165-170°F, pour wax carefully into containers. The complex fragrance blend requires steady, consistent pouring. Fill to 0.5 inches below container rims in one continuous motion.

Step 11: Monitor Initial Cooling

During first 15-20 minutes of cooling, verify wicks remain centered and upright. Multi-fragrance blends sometimes create different viscosity characteristics that can affect wick positioning.

Step 12: Cool Completely

Allow candles to cool undisturbed at room temperature (68-72°F) for 6-8 hours. Avoid moving containers. Ocean breeze candles cool evenly, developing subtle surface character that adds to aesthetic appeal.

Step 13: Add Sea Salt Decoration (Optional)

Once completely cooled, you can optionally sprinkle fine sea salt flakes over wax surface near wick. This adds visual interest and reinforces the ocean theme. Use brush to secure salt with trace amounts of melted wax if desired.

Step 14: Trim Wicks and Cure

After overnight cooling, trim wicks to 0.25-0.35 inches (slightly longer than standard due to larger wick size). Allow full 48-hour cure before burning. Ocean breeze fragrances develop their most sophisticated character during extended curing.

Tips for Success

• Source fragrance oils specifically labeled as ocean, aquatic, and sea salt from reputable suppliers. These specialized fragrances work best together.
• Never exceed 160°F when working with aquatic fragrances. Higher temperatures cause aquatic and mineral compounds to volatilize. Temperature precision is critical.
• The four-fragrance combination is complex and requires thorough integration. Stir longer than typical single-fragrance candles to ensure even blending.
• Clear or frosted glass containers best showcase the beautiful blue or sea-green color. Avoid opaque containers.
• Ensure first burn lasts 2 hours minimum to develop full, complex melt pool. Ocean breeze fragrances unfold gradually.
• These candles appeal to coastal residents, beach lovers, and anyone seeking sophisticated aquatic scents. Market toward bathroom and bedroom placement.
• The 0.625" wick width is important—do not downsize. The complex fragrance requires slightly larger wick for optimal burn characteristics.
• Store finished candles away from direct sunlight. Aquatic fragrances are somewhat light-sensitive and fade faster than other types under UV exposure.

Troubleshooting

• Weak Ocean Aroma: Verify fragrance oil quality—aquatic and mineral fragrances vary greatly by supplier. If quality is good, increase total fragrance load to 2.6 oz in next batch.
• Salty/Mineral Notes Overwhelm Ocean Base: Reduce sea salt and mineral oils each by 0.1 oz in next batch. Rebalance to 0.8 oz ocean + 0.5 oz salt + 0.4 oz melon + 0.3 oz mineral.
• Fragrance Notes Don't Blend Together: Stir for full 4 minutes total during mixing phase. Multi-note fragrances require extended integration time. Ensure each fragrance is individually stirred in thoroughly.
• Frosted Appearance: Pour temperature was too low. Aquatic fragrances sometimes increase frosting tendency—pour at 170°F minimum for glossy finish.
• Wick Performance Issues: The larger wick may be too large for some containers. Test burn first batch—if flame is too large, downsize to 0.5" width.
• Uneven Color Distribution: Blue or green dye requires thorough stirring. Stir for full 3 minutes and ensure no clumps before pouring. These dyes sometimes clump in soy wax.

Scent Combinations

• Classic Ocean Breeze: 1.0 oz (28g) ocean + 0.6 oz (17g) sea salt + 0.4 oz (11g) melon + 0.4 oz (11g) mineral as specified
• Salty Sea: 0.8 oz (23g) ocean + 0.8 oz (23g) sea salt + 0.4 oz (11g) melon + 0.4 oz (11g) mineral for enhanced salt character
• Bright Coastal Breeze: 1.2 oz (34g) ocean + 0.5 oz (14g) sea salt + 0.5 oz (14g) melon + 0.2 oz (6g) mineral for lighter, brighter profile

Cost Breakdown

Estimated Cost per Candle: $8.48 (without dye/salt) / $8.98 (with dye and salt)

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• Basic Soy Container Candle Recipe - Foundational technique

Coastal Appeal: Ocean breeze candles are year-round bestsellers in beach communities and coastal regions. However, they see peak sales in summer months (May-August) when customers are planning beach vacations or decorating summer homes. Create packaging that emphasizes the coastal, breezy atmosphere for maximum appeal.