Do I Need to Cure my Candle?

Should I cure my candle for two days or two to three weeks? Does this even make sense? In this article, we will discuss this frequently asked question by candle makers.

It is believed that as soon as the candle wax hardens, it is immediately suitable for burning. However, after solidification, certain processes slowly take place in the wax, which is invisible to the eye, and they take place while the candle just stays unlit after production.

The need to cure the candle depends mainly on the type of wax.

There are many types of wax on the market: paraffin, vegetable wax, various blends.

For paraffin and its blends, only 2-3 days of curing are enough, because paraffin is quite stable and it immediately becomes suitable for burning. The cols and hot scent throw in paraffin can be good even after 2-3 days, because its structure is different and paraffin molecules immediately binds well with the molecules of the fragrance oil and paraffin quickly shrinks back to the original state. Also, the scented paraffin candle can immediately be tested for the suitability of the wick and the burning time.

However, vegetable wax, such as soy, coconut or similar, has a different molecular structure, it is polymorphic, it is made up of many crystals that harden over time, so these crystals expand when melted and shrink again when they solidify. We see unevenly solidified crystals on the surface of the wax as "frost". The sides of candles that are kept cooler shrink faster, such areas of wax pulled back from the candle container are visible as "wet spots". The harder the wax, the faster it pulls away from the sides of the container.

As the wax cures and hardens, the fragrance oil molecules in it are better dispersed within the wax. If you burn the candle immediately after production (after 2-3 days), the hot scent throw may be quite weak when lit, because the scent molecules are not yet sufficiently connected to the wax. After about 2 weeks, the wax is already quite well connected with the fragrance oil, it has thickened, shrunk, and the dispersion of the scent is already enhanced even before candle is lit, and the candle wick burns more efficiently and longer. So it is best to test the candle only after 2-3 weeks, not earlier.

This also affects the suitability of the wick, if you test the wick in vegetable wax immediately (24 hours) after it is made, the wick may seem too large, but after 2 or even 3 weeks it may be suitable in the cured wax, and the wick may burn more evenly, longer and cleaner than when lit after 2-3 days after production.

Since sometimes (for example, after selling a candle) we do not know when the customer will burn the candle we made, it may happen after six months or later after the candle is made, it is very important to sell it no earlier than at least two weeks after it is made, because that ensures the candle burn is efficient and optimal, in this way the user does not light it too early. Therefore, test the vegetable wax candle after it has cured for at least 2-3 weeks and keep your candle recipe accordingly. When re-making candles, keep them unsold for at least 2-3 weeks so that the customer does not burn it too early and is not disappointed with the hot scent throw or candle burn time. Note the production date of each batch of candles and determine the start date for the entire batch to be sold.

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