Density (Specific Gravity) Table for Fragrance Oils and Solvents

You write a formula in grams, then fill a bottle in millilitres. The bridge between those two measurements is density (specific gravity, g/mL). Skip that bridge and the blend you thought was 100 mL weighs only 91 g on the scale — or, conversely, the bottle overflows. Either way, the mistake isn't your signature — it's a measurement error.

Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. When we take water as the reference, we call this specific gravity (density); in practice both are expressed as the same number in g/mL. The key point: in the world of fragrance oils, every liquid has a different density. Citrus fragrance oils are light (~0.84). Heavy resins, some synthetic molecules and fixative balsams are heavier than water (>1.10).

In other words, the same 10 mL bottle filled with bergamot versus a vanillin-based base will give you completely different readings on the scale. Professional workshops write formulas by gram because grams are reproducible, error-free, and unaffected by temperature. But because bottling is volumetric, you must know how to convert.

The values below are approximate and given at room temperature (~20°C). They vary from supplier to supplier and batch to batch. Always measure the actual density of your own raw material; this table provides guidance, not a definitive formula.

Memorise one relationship — the rest is arithmetic:

Mass (g) = Volume (mL) × Density (g/mL)

Volume (mL) = Mass (g) ÷ Density (g/mL)

Example 1 — Citrus-dominant fragrance oil: How many mL does 30 g of a fragrance oil with a density of ~0.86 give? 30 ÷ 0.86 ≈ 34.9 mL. A 30 mL bottle is not enough — it will overflow.

Example 2 — Heavy vanilla/resin base: 30 g of a base with a density of ~1.10 → 30 ÷ 1.10 ≈ 27.3 mL. This time there is space left in a 30 mL bottle; had you assumed "1 g = 1 mL", you would have miscalculated a 3 mL gap.

Example 3 — Mixed 100 g batch: 80 g alcohol (~0.80 → 100 mL) + 20 g fragrance oil (~0.95 → 21 mL) ≈ total 121 mL. Composite density ≈ 100 ÷ 121 ≈ 0.83 g/mL.

Density is not merely a conversion tool — it is also a quality control parameter. Consistent density means a consistent formula. If a batch density deviates from the expected value, it may indicate an incorrect ratio or the wrong raw material.

Maceration and resting processes also affect density slightly: maturation is carried out at room temperature and in the dark (not cold — cold slows the reaction). In the separate step of chilling and cold filtration (~0–4°C followed by filtering), insoluble waxy compounds precipitate and separate, which also alters the density of the final product slightly. Always take your quality measurement after the final filtration.

Density is the invisible scale of the workshop. Once set up correctly, every batch speaks the same language. Below we clarify the three points that cause the most confusion.

Never read density data in isolation; evaluate it alongside the refractive index and, where necessary, a GC-MS report. Together, all three cross-validate the identity and consistency of a raw material.