When making candles, curing is a very crucial process. It can directly impact the quality of your candles. And that is why a lot of candle curers, especially beginners, wonder how long should soy candles cure. Well, this guide will be all about that.
Soy candles take the longest to cure out of the most common wax types. You need to let them cure for at least 1 – 2 weeks. This is the suggested time. Some people say that 3 days is the minimum. But honestly, that does not work all that much.
Be patient with it. Generally, the more you wait and let it cure, the better it is. Of course, no one wants to wait forever. When will they actually use the candle then? Knowing the exact curing times is important in these cases.
Soy Candle Curing Duration
I do not think that I would be too wrong that most of us in the 21st century do not rely on candles to light up the room. We have electricity for crying out loud. But candles are still beloved. They have become more than just sheer necessities to light up a room.
Candles can be used to relax. Some can be scented. And a well-planned candlelight dinner can reignite the spark between two lovers. If you are into candle-making and love the process, that means you are a patient person.
Candle-making requires precision, practice, and patience. Beginners might get frustrated, but do not worry! I will take you through one of the most basic principles of candle making – curing.
Curing is supremely beneficial when candle-making. This is the process that allows the fragrance and wax to merge. As you can imagine, this step should not be taken lightly.
You need to make sure that you do not over-cure them though. That can become a problem. If you leave them to cure for too long, what you will be left with, is a burnt and unusable mess.
So, how long should you let soy candles cure then? Well, the general rule of thumb is that natural soy candles should cure for at least 1 – 2 weeks. Here is the deal, you should not just let it cure and forget about it. There are some things you need to keep an eye out for.
Firstly, you need to regulate the heat. That means, it cannot be too hot. Excessive heat and light are a no-go here. You also need to cover it with a lid to ensure that everything works properly and as expected.
The absolute minimum you should cure soy candles is at least 3 days. However, it is not always recommended since it can give you false results. That is something to keep in mind. The good thing about soy candles is that they do not use paraffin.
Why is that such a good thing? Well, they do not cause any health issues, that is why. Another thing you need to pay a bit of extra attention to is the fragrance. If you are working with a slightly intense fragrance, then you might want to let it cure for a bit longer.
That will help it bind together better. Do not worry though, these are things that you will get the hang of through trial and error. But it certainly does not hurt to know the science and best practices behind it.
Importance Of Curing Soy Candles
As I already mentioned, one of the major reasons why curing is so important is that it lets the fragrance and the wax bind.
Did you know that soy candles are considered one of the harder ones to make fragrant? The cheeky thing about a candle that did not cure enough is that you might not be able to tell that something is wrong.
A candle that did not cure enough, would seemingly burn fine. The only downside is that you will not get that much of a strong scent from it. And if you ask me, that is a bit of a bummer. Soy is structured very differently – on the molecular level that is. There are a lot of different kinds of bonds.
These can trap the fragrance. And when you light the candle up, instead of instantly releasing the scent into the air, it gets stuck inside. Leaving you with a candle that looks like it is burning just fine, but does not smell as nice.
You do not need to worry too much about not allowing sufficient time for your candles to cure. While it cures, some candles can be used for a cold throw. That means you can still enjoy the scent a bit by taking the label off. It will give off a hint of fragrance while it cures properly.
Soy Candle Curing Time Compared To Other Types
Granted that soy candles take much longer to cure compared to other ones. However, soy candles are still much better than others. That is because it is healthier.
Let’s look at a small comparison chart of all the different types of candles there are. And also, how long it takes to cure them compared to soy candles.
| Candle Type | Cure Time (in days) |
| Soy | 10 – 14 |
| Parasoy | 7 – 10 |
| Paraffin | 3 – 5 |
| Beeswax | 7 – 10 |
| Coconut | 14 |
| Palm | 7 – 10 |
| Coconut Apricot | 14 |
Soy does take longer. Remember that these are suggested curing times. The actual curing time can sometimes differ a bit. However, this chart is a good base to start with.
Make Your Curing Process Smoother
Just knowing how long you should wait for the candle to cure is not enough. There are some tips and tricks you do to ensure that the whole process goes much smoother for you. This bit will be especially helpful if you are a beginner.
When you talk to most people, they would tell you to just wait before lighting your soy candle. That is enough. But, if you want to make the best of it, here is some extra advice. There are just two major things to follow.
- If you are mixing the oil into the wax, make sure to stir. I will repeat that, remember to stir it in. You will be pleasantly surprised by knowing how many people do not stir the fragrance oil when mixing it with the wax.
- Temperature is important. Adding your fragrance oil at the right temperature is pretty important as well. Some directions may vary depending on your wax manufacturer. So, it is always a good idea to just follow their direction. However, 180 F is a good temperature to start from.
Common Candle Curing Problems And How To Solve Them
There are some pretty common problems people face with candles. And guess what, there are some pretty common and effective solutions to those problems as well.
I will keep this bit pretty short. Only the most common problems and some solutions will be mentioned.
- Frosting: Pour at a higher or lower temperature
- Wax residue: A wick size increase may help
- Wet spots: Use wax blends that are specific to the container candles
- Sweating: You may be adding way too much fragrance
Wrapping Up
So, if you want awesome-smelling candles that just burst out a soothing scent the moment you light them, remember to cure your candles. 1 – 2 weeks is the best and the recommended time you cure soy candles.
Now that you know how long should soy candles cure, one thing is for certain. No candle in your place will smell underwhelming.
