Do you need to cure your candles?

Candle curing is not as controversial as we like to believe it is.
The actual process is centered around time. Time and timing is everything with candle making.
Curing boils down to two very simple concepts.
The first is curing is the process of a candle cooling from a liquid state to a solid state. Part of this process is visible to the human eye. After you pour the candle, it cools into what appears to be a complete solid shape. If you turned it over it wouldn’t spill. And while that’s obviously not fully liquid, there’s still a microscopic interaction happening we can’t even see.
The candle continues to shape up and solidify, or at least the wax part of the blend does. Fragrance oil is still a liquid. The total amount of time it takes for the candle to actually harden (greater than 95%) depends on the WAX.
Paraffin wax is mostly inert and very stable. It flows from solid to liquid and back without much hassle. Vegetable wax on the other hand is subject to polymorphism. It has a shorter shelf life because of this too. Over time and in response to temperature changes, waxes like this will form irregular crystals. They actually “harden” their entire life, but it’s believed to be mostly complete within two weeks.
The second part of curing is the component most people care about - fragrance. Wax expands as it heats up and we add fragrance oil to it during this part. The idea is that while it cools (part one of curing), the wax comes back together around the mixed up fragrance molecules and traps it inside it’s structure.
As the wax becomes harder, the fragrance oil is pressed throughout the wax. Paraffin has a relatively stable structure, so well-mixed fragrance will spread pretty even throughout the candle. Soy can take longer to spread through the candle’s structure.
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[@BlueEyedGurl]

Although I am a newbie in the candle making community, it does seem like everyone is supportive and helpful to one another. Erica from Memory Box candles recommended this channel to help understand the scientific process of curing. Her channel is worth checking out. It has helped me tremendously with starting my business. I really appreciate and Love this community of fellow candle-makers. I wish you all the success you desire ❤️

[@StockwellAdventure]

I loved how Scientific this was. I wish you would’ve covered beeswax candles as well.

[@FlorinGN]

Priceless information. And a self check on my patience :)) Thank you!

[@rinitashadangi6789]

I absolutely agree with this. Tested after 3 days and also after 14 days. there's remarkable difference. I stick to this 2weeks curing procedure. Patience worth it.....👍🙂

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Yeah, it's not as much about the hot throw as it is about the burn!

[@tem3111]

Let me ask you a question? When you light a candle after it has cured for 2 weeks do you wait another 2 weeks to light it up again. I bet the answer is no and now your mind is blown.

[@lauraladd4080]

Such great information. I'm fairly new at candle making (using 464) and there is so much information about curing, but you are the ONLY one who gets into the "why" behind doing it. Makes perfect sense the way you've explained it!!! Cure your soy candles!! THANK YOU!

[@Amy-dw7ii]

I made candles and wax melts that had zero throw when I used them right after making them so I set them aside for months. When I used them again months later the smell was amazing.

[@RomSantUtopian]

I love your online article which accompanies this video. The article answered all of my questions, but this video was a wonderful companion :)

[@monark74]

I am a new candle maker and this was AWESOME!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@kandyhansard3527]

I enjoy your method of teaching and knowledge. Thanks so much for sharing. Pretty darn awesome.

[@NaturalMackie]

Super helpful. I’m using C-6 and wondering what the heck. Will try to cure longer. I’m enjoying this new hobby. Thank you.

[@naimahnicholls2022]

Thankyou for your very helpful advice , keep this vids coming, us newbies are so grateful for any expert advice we can get 😁

[@dabzco]

💯 truth I gave up on wax that would not throw well even after a month cure. I forgot about the candle and years later during a move I found the candle. Well I decided to light it and omg one candle almost fill the entire house. Now I’m not saying you should wait year round cure your candle but the fact is the longer your candle cure the better they throw well.

[@iluvgr8music2]

I am new to candle making and 100% enjoy your teaching style, tips, sarcasm....👌🏽👌🏽 Thank you for uploading your videos. I'm binging when I should be working lol

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Tallontherocks]

Love the scientific explanations. Thanks.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@nguyenloc181178]

tks so much, your tip is so precious to me, I did learn your course already and now still follow you

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Happy to hear that!

[@maggyme3]

Great videos! Really appreciate your take on these topics! Thank you ✌️

[@candlethetruth1755]

This was so helpful!

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@ThisHomemakingMama]

This is very helpful, thank you so much!

[@banana_lunana]

All true. But I absolutely do burn new candles the moment I get them 😂 So if it's about safety you could be risking it with some people with that. But you can account for shipping time.

[@chilarai1]

Fabulous info. Thanks.

[@chatterz04]

I see a lot of people asking for a beeswax video regarding this topic. I am a beekeeper and would like to see a video on this as well. If you find the time I’d love to hear your wisdom. Great video btw.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Short answer - give it 5 days before burning. Longer answer - beeswax has a lot of variety, as I'm sure you're aware. This leads to a lot of differences in behavior, but they almost always continue to contract and shrink over time in a lot of their settings. Also, they're a bit miserable for container candles.

[@chatterz04]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. Yes I am finding that it is a little tricky to perfect. I have also heard and read that beeswax makes for more difficult candle to get right. I will try what you have recommended. If I can bother you further do you know of anywhere to get somewhat inexpensive essential oils? Bulk is fine.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

@chatterz04 Wholesale Supplies Plus or Bulk Apothecary

[@rokyochan]

THANK YOU !

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

YOU'RE WELCOME

[@drettagreen9436]

Awesome video!

[@katiecarroll8581]

So helpful!

[@MsFrannie]

How about curing for palm wax?

[@spencejoy]

This was very helpful. My question is do you put the lids on the candles before you cure them or should you leave them open? Thank you!

[@kimberlytaylor6538]

That’s good question 🙂I would like to know that as well

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

I always lid as soon as the initial candle hardening is finished. More for organization since I'm a stickler for unlidded candles everywhere, but it also helps protect against drafts or the arguably negligible amount of evaporation that may occur too. YMMV

[@withlovebyads]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Hiya, what if you use vessels that have no suitable lids?

[@Emsie76]

@@withlovebyads tinfoil. Aluminium

[@rhiannonneubet4768]

Thanks

[@kkaiyobathessentials2866]

I just found your video and it's amazing Can you make video on beezwax candle in jars as well as pillars.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Stay tuned!

[@kkaiyobathessentials2866]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thank you so much

[@blackbirdbotanicals]

thanks for the video, you're awesome! How long after pouring would you suggest I wait to do heat gun fixes etc?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Do it early! The melted part benefits from curing longer.

[@kimberlytaylor6538]

Thank you love the video I’m waiting it out

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

I bestow my blessing of patience upon ye

[@kimberlytaylor6538]

Armatage Candle Company thank you

[@Vanessa2775]

what about soy wax candles? i have made few of them and i let them harden for few hours then lighten them? it that okay? i need to give to my family so will 24 hours works for soy candles? Also its is necessary to leave the lid open for 24 hours before i closed the lid? please i would appreciate if u would reply quick :)

[@jerisjeris5965]

Hey man, just curious since cold temperatures tend to make things harden quicker than warmer temperatures, but does a candle take quicker to cure in colder climates than in warmer ones? To add, can you cure a candle quicker in a fridge? Lol

[@lorainejohnston6485]

How do keep candles nice once their made. Is there anything to rub over them to keep them beautiful…

[@tereskitchen7250]

I don’t understand why some candles makers say that we have to cure because if we don’t cure, maybe the preformed change the fragrances and the flame

[@DimaSlyunin]

thanks for the useful info! Do you happen to know what are the ideal conditions for candle curing? I mean humidity, temperature, etc Thanks

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Steady is best, even if it’s a bit warm or cold. What works for me and most is something between 68 and 75.

[@DimaSlyunin]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany thanks!

[@hannahshaw8834]

Is curing needed with essential oil candles?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Good question. Curing is a function of the wax, so short answer is YES. And the length of time depends on the wax you're using.

[@lavendertamagotchi]

hi Kevin! does the size of the candle matter when curing? do you think a 3 oz candle would take less time than a 10 oz candle? thank you !!

[@mallorikerr4092]

Here is a good question. Does adding paraffin to vegetable waxes shorten the cure time?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Yes! How much? Really depends on the ratio. The recommended time will fall between 3 and 14 days. They’re all estimates too.

[@mallorikerr4092]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany will have to definitely be testing the newest candle and melts I made. I added 17 oz of paraffin to about 3.5 pounds of soy. Thank you.

[@LaLa-tn9xn]

Amazing video, thank you! Can you cover how this works for soy wax melts. Do you think they need 2 weeks cure time as well?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

That's a good question. Since the entirety of the melt becomes a liquid, full cure time isn't quite as necessary. I leave it out of habit, but conceptually it shouldn't make much of a difference.

[@Altajp]

Can you cure a candle after it already has been burned for a few hours. I made my first sog scented candle and got inpatient so I lit it after 48 hours. It hardly had any throw as expected..

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Great question! My answer is yes - soy continues to cure for its entire life. So if you feel bad about the 48 hour thing, you can leave it for another 7-12 das (to get to two weeks) and see how it behaves. Best of luck!

[@hwlscentedcandlesandcraftsco]

I always did the burned test. I keep changing my wicks and techniques but still i didn't smell it even though I added more fragrance. I wanna try this curing I hope it will work. Is it ok to use the container without a lid?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Yes should be just fine.

[@kurtzimuellignacio277]

when curing, should i cut the wick and should i put the lid on or off?

[@cindyhurlbert8740]

What is the best temperature to cure candles in a room? Room temp or cooler temps? Ty

[@tracyfuller4054]

Thank you so much for breaking that down, makes sense! I'm using a para/soy blend 6006.. since it's a blend should, I wait between 2 days - 2 weeks? I wait 4 days for my last candles and there really was no hot throw.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Yeah, give it a little extra time and see how it goes. If you're still scratching your head make a few melts out of it and see if those throw. If they do, your problem is most likely related to WICKING.

[@tracyfuller4054]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany perfect. Thank you!

[@asmab1r3m6]

do candles need to be covered or put in a box for example while curing?

[@norafiqah3309]

Hi. Do you know how long palm wax should cure?

[@withlovebyads]

Hiya, thank you for your videos. I wanted to ask you your recommended curing time using a parasoy wax? It’s 50% Soy, 30% Vegetable Wax, 20% paraffin. I also don’t have lids as my candle vessels don’t come with them and I cannot find a suitable fit.

[@esraaahmed2759]

What about Virgin coconut wax? And if i would like to test only the wick, shall i wait for 2 weeks?

[@chichi764]

How long should I let my naked soy wax cure before testing? Would 3 days be suffice or wait 2 weeks just like soy wax with FO? Thank you for the video and expertise.

[@scruffypuppy]

What about coco apricot wax?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

5-7 days minimum, but typically longer is better.

[@KayleighB2024]

Hello, I'm curious to know if being over wicked can affect hot throw? I am currently testing an igi 6006 with 10% FO and believe it is over wicked. It's been curing for 3 days and the hot throw is there but it's not great. Do you think it may be more to do with wick than the wax or is it most likely the wax? Thank you for your valuable videos.

[@xelibrigz8126]

I made a scented candle last week. I checked my candle now it has oil seeping out. Did I do anything wrong?

[@bcuda4385]

Great video. Quick question. I'm using Joy wax parasoy wax I believe. Is two weeks cure time too long in your opinion? Thanks

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Parasoy usually does fine with 3-5 days, but your mileage may vary!

[@koolkat8639]

Soy doesn’t fully harden till about 2 weeks , Paraffin hardens within 24 hours. I use 6006 paraffin soy mix wax hahaha so what should I do in my situation?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Ha a conundrum indeed! Blends tend to fall somewhere in the middle, so I'd start that at a week. Perhaps as early as 5 days even. Paraffin is much more stable.

[@rokyochan]

Do you fix your candle (if need it) with the heat gun and then let it cure? I was thinking... I let it cure for some days (or weeks) then fix the holes/bubbles and then let it cure for some time more. Is this a waste of time?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Getting those fixes with a heat gun in early always helps. Some people puncture the candle with skewers within hours of the initial pour to remediate craters, which is an option. Otherwise a heat gun to the top surface works at that time too if you can breach the cratered area. Sometimes they're deep and you can't possibly heat gun fix all of them. Only way to know is with relief holes. When it melts down it will need some time to cool/harden as before. Your result may be confusing and inconsistent if you start safety testing the same day you heat gun the top... wax is still softer in some areas because of it. A bit long, but I hope it helped.

[@rokyochan]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thank you so much Kevin, of course it helps! And thank you for sharing your knowledge. I've been learning for a lot of months, watching videos, testing with differents waxes and scents, etc, and I'm making myself crazy! It seems I won't ever get the perfect candle (T_T) Haha... Thanks :)

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Haha I believe in you!

[@TheGOODNEWSfromHeaven]

Does that 2 week curing also apply to paraffin wax candles? Thanks in advance for your reply.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Most paraffin is the same after 72 hours as it is after 2 weeks, so I usually wait about 3 days. Some even wait less. Your Mileage May Vary!

[@TheGOODNEWSfromHeaven]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thanks much for this info!

[@graciecolecandleco7661]

I read that it is best to get a baseline wick with out fragrance. Does wax without fragrance need to cure before testing?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Wax without fragrance is still polymorphic and takes time to appropriately “harden”. Unfortunately there’s no shortcut in time from omitting FO.

[@graciecolecandleco7661]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany thanks. I am testing for my base line wick and it stuck me that wax without may still need to cure for testing

[@maarimoon]

Does the curing time also effect the melting / meltpool? I'm using sxc soy coconut blend wax.

[@בחורטפש]

Burning a candle too soon may yield false results since it requires less heat to melt wax in the first 48 hours compared to later.

[@MrHerks]

What about an 80% coconut/20% paraffin blend?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Sounds like it would land somewhere around the 8-10 day mark. Worth testing a batch at different start times to see how it behaves (pouring 3 or 4 candles and performing constant testing on them at the start of days 2, 5, 7 and 10).

[@MrHerks]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany that’s a stellar idea 👍 thanks

[@mizzstarr510]

If I make my soy candles and only cure them for 24hrs, is it safe to ship them out?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

If you're shipping in colder shipping conditions (less than 100-120 °F) you probably won't have any problems, but if it's warmer you might since the wax hasn't hardened as much as it wants to. Trucks get hot.

[@mizzstarr510]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thank you! It’s been in the 60’s in California and that’s where most of my shipments are to :)

[@PixieFairiesAndDust]

Hi! How long should i cure my coconut wax? Thanks

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

10-14 days for coconut!

[@PixieFairiesAndDust]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thank you so much! ive been curing them for 4 days now and have noticed significant progress on my CT! i'll wait for several more days!

[@gerickking1020]

Hi Kevin, I've got a candle I made (cured 2 weeks) that throws great at first and 2nd light, but diminishes at the next lights :( I don't know why this is happening, do i have to cure it more? So confused :(

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

How deep is your melt pool? Re-melted wax sometimes loses its gusto. Shouldn't have to cure it more, but your melt pool might be getting a bit deep. Are your temperatures in control for safety?

[@gerickking1020]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany thanks for the reply! It’s around .8 cm around an hour. The meltpool doesn’t reach to the very edge since it still isn’t in the middle section of the vessel

[@jeweloftheenile1271]

what about scented beewax?

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Cure times? Beeswax keeps shrinking - give it 5 days or so, but there can be quite a bit of variance with beeswax I've found (and heard).

[@jeweloftheenile1271]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany Thank you

[@mark-h8752]

So in a nutshell if im pouring soy dont touch for 2 weeks min before even thinking of testing, but with paraffin/blends 48hrs out should be ok? Does that mean in turn that a soy test at 48hrs the wick will over perform versus 2 weeks out? So much to get head around, not many over the pond here that helpful in this area.

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

You got it!

[@anastasialili8363]

So how long do u recommended for soy wax to cure perfectly? Thanks!

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Me? I like to test my patience and let it cure for two weeks when I'm making a new design. If I'm sending it somewhere and I already know it's good I'll assume a lead time of about a week and try to cycle through stock within a week (so curing 1 week before it leaves the shop)

[@anastasialili8363]

@@ArmatageCandleCompany thank you for the answer 😊

[@glasgowjohn7831]

i like this channel but everything is about soy candles theres no information about beeswax candles

[@ArmatageCandleCompany]

Container candles, really. But fair point!