A curable composition is placed on a candle, and then the composition is exposed to curing conditions such as ultraviolet light, to thereby cure the coating composition and provide a candle having a cured coating. The curable composition may be the reaction product of TMPTA (trimethylolpropanetriacrylate), itself the reaction product of trimethylolpropane and acrylic acid) and oleyl amine (an unsaturated primary amine having eighteen carbons). The candle may be made of wax or a gelled solvent, i.e., a mixture of gellant and solvent, particularly a hydrocarbon or other low polarity solvent. The undiluted coating may be applied by spraying on the oily surface of the candle. Ultraviolet cure of the coating occurs in 1-2 seconds.