Candles need to cure for the fragrance oil to spread evenly throughout the wax. The candle also hardens properly during this curing period. Cover the candle with a lid to prevent contamination during the curing period.
Some people don’t believe in curing. They use the freshly molded candles right away. This is not ideal, I don’t do this.
After all, it’s just a matter of days. Why don’t we just let the candles cure for a week? In this article, I shall answer the common queries surrounding this topic.
What is the purpose of curing candles?
Candles need to be cured to allow the ‘fragrance oil’ to spread out into the wax evenly. Curing helps the candle to harden properly.
Different types of wax require different curing periods to ensure optimal performance. Paraffin wax requires the least curing time.
Paraffin candles harden properly within a day or two from the time of pouring. This is why paraffin wax is the most commonly used wax.
You basically let the candle do two things, viz., hardening of the wax and binding of the fragrance oil to the wax. Candlemakers usually let the candles cure for 48 hours.
What happens if you don’t cure a candle?
Burning a candle too soon yields false results as it requires less heat to melt wax in the first 48 hours compared to later.
You won’t get the desired results if you burn a candle too soon. Fragrance oil and wax don’t mix well. They’re essentially in different physical states.
There is a risk of fragrance oil sweating if the candle isn’t cured properly.
Why do Soy candles need to cure?
Soy candles need to cure to perform their best. Soy candles need a few days to harden properly and give out the proper scent throw.
Vegetable waxes like Soy wax tend to harden slowly over a period of time. In fact, they never harden completely, according to experts.
The curing time helps the fragrance oil to spread out evenly in the soy candle. This helps the candle give out a consistent scent throw.
How long do soy candles need to cure?
Soy candles need to cure for at least 4-5 days. Some people let their Soy candles cure for two weeks for the best results.
By this time the wax and the fragrance oil bind properly, giving out a consistent scent throw.
Do you need to cure Beeswax candles?
Yes, you need to cure Beeswax candles. Some people let their Beeswax candles cure for a week before using them.
Some people light Beeswax candles as soon as they cool down. They don’t seem to let the candles cure for a while. It works for them.
Some candle makers make Beeswax candles and ship them out in 3 days. These are scented candles we’re talking about.
The customers don’t seem to have any problems with such candles. It all comes down to your preference.
How long do Beeswax candles need to cure?
You may let Beeswax candles cure for a week. Scented or unscented, let the candles cure for a week for the best performance.
It is not really necessary in my opinion, just let the candles cure as a precaution.
Do unscented candles need to cure?
No, unscented candles don’t need to cure. Curing is recommended for scented candles to allow the fragrance oil to blend with the wax.
Some people don’t believe in curing at all. They light up candles just after it cools down. This may seem odd to you, but it works for them.
How long does it take for candle wax to harden?
Candles take 4 hours to harden at room temperature. You can call this curing period if you want, for unscented candles.
Unscented candles don’t really need to cure. They’re ready to be burnt.
Do unscented beeswax candles need to cure?
No, unscented Beeswax candles don’t need to cure. You can light a Beeswax candle as soon as it’s cured.
Some candlemakers let the scented Beeswax candles cure for a week before shipping them off. I don’t let my unscented Beeswax candles cure.
How to cure candles faster
Below are a few instructions to let your candles cure faster.
- Place the candles in a warm place where they won’t be disturbed.
- Candles need at least 24 hours to cure properly. Some people keep the candles aside for a week to help them cure.
- The best you can do is wait patiently. Give the candles a few days to cure properly.
How to cure candles without lids
You need to cover the candles while they cure. The candles might become impure/unstable if they’re not covered when curing.
You can cure candles without lids but the candle might become contaminated.
How do you store candles while they cure?
You need to cover the candle containers using lids while they cure. You can prevent any contamination by doing so.
Store the candles in a dry and cool environment. You need to store them at room temperature(or lower). You need to keep the sunlight away from your candles.
You might want to wait for 3 days to up to 2 weeks depending on the type of wax.
Happy Molding 🙂
