The Benefits of Beeswax Candles
The benefits of beeswax candles makes them a rather compelling choice for candle lovers and beekeepers alike. Whether you buy handcrafted beeswax candles or make your own – these natural candles offer several advantages over common alternatives. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of beeswax candles and why many people feel they are worth the extra cost.
As a beekeeper, I hate to see good beeswax go to waste. Beekeeper or not – anyone can learn how to make beeswax candles in a variety of forms – something suitable for everyone.
Are Beeswax Candles Good for You?
One of the biggest advantages of beeswax candles is that they are from a natural wax source.
Unlike paraffin candles, pure beeswax candles contain no petroleum-based wax and normally have fewer additives than heavily scented commercial candles. For this reason, many people prefer them for use indoors.
You may also hear claims that beeswax candles clean the air by releasing negative ions? While beeswax candles are considered a cleaner-burning option, evidence supporting significant air-purifying effects is limited.
11 Benefits of Beeswax Candles
Whether you buy handcrafted beeswax candles or make your own, there are plenty of reasons these natural candles have remained popular for centuries.
Here are some of the biggest advantages of choosing beeswax over other candle materials.
1. Made From a Renewable Natural Resource
Unlike paraffin wax, which is a by-product of the petroleum industry, beeswax is made by honey bees.
Worker honey bees secrete wax from special glands located on their abdomen. This wax is used to create the honeycomb sheets that make up their home.
2. Long Burn Time
One reason beeswax candles can command a higher price is that they generally burn longer than many other types of candles.
Beeswax has a high melting point which helps it burn slowly when the correct wick is used.
While they often cost more upfront, the longer burn time means you may actually replace candles less often, making them a good value over time.
3. Little Soot When Burned Properly
Beeswax candles are known for producing very little soot when burned properly.
For best results:
- Trim the wick to about ¼” before each use
- Keep the candle away from drafts
- Allow the melt pool to read the edges of the candle during each burn
4. Naturally Pleasant Honey Aroma
Many people enjoy the light, natural scent of pure beeswax candles. It is a subtle fragrance that come from the honey and bee propolis naturally present in the wax.
Note that not all beeswax smells the same. The exact scent can vary depending on the flowers the bees visited.
5. No Artificial Fragrance Required
While you certainly can add candle fragrance to your beeswax candles, in my experience, the light honey aroma is pleasant enough.
6. Beautiful Warm Glow When Lit
Beeswax candles produce a rich, golden light that people find especially inviting. The soft ambiance has been compared to as being similar to natural sunlight.
7. Purchases Support Beekeepers
As a beekeeper myself, I can promise your local beekeepers appreciate your support. Producing beeswax is hard work—not just for the bees, but for the beekeeper too.
Every pound of clean beeswax represents hours spent managing colonies, harvesting honey, processing wax, and preparing it for use.
8. Biodegradable and Renewable Resource
Beeswax is both renewable and biodegradable. As long as healthy honey bee colonies continue to produce wax, this natural resource can be harvested responsibly.
Beekeepers often harvest excess beeswax when removing old comb or processing honey, giving this valuable natural resource a second life as candles and other useful products.
Beeswax come directly from nature and will naturally break down over time.
9. Can Be Made at Home
One of my favorite things about beeswax is its versatility. With a few basic supplies, you can make your own beeswax candles at home.
There are many different types of create and you don’t need any fancy equipment.
If you’d like to try it yourself, even beginners can learn to make simple rolled beeswax candles or poured container candles with just a few supplies.
10. Excellent for Emergency Preparedness
Due to their long burn time and ease of storage, many people keep a few beeswax candles on hand for power outages.
Unlike batteries that lose their charge over time, properly stored beeswax candles can remain usable for many years.
11. Every Beeswax Candle is Unique
Unlike factory-made candles that all look identical, every batch of beeswax has its own personality. I’ve noticed a lot of variation in my candle colors from year to year.
The colors of beeswax can range from creamy white to deep golden yellow depending on the flowers the bees visited, the age of the comb, and how the wax was filtered.
Are Beeswax Candles Worth the Cost?
Compared to paraffin candles, beeswax candles often cost more. That’s not surprising when you consider that bees must produce the wax and beekeepers must carefully harvest and process it.
Whether they are worth the extra cost is a personal decision. For many candle lovers, the natural origins and unique character of beeswax make it a worthwhile splurge.
Beeswax Vs Paraffin Candles
Comparision Chart for Beeswax and Parrafin
|
Feature |
Beeswax Candles |
Paraffin Candles |
|---|---|---|
|
Source |
Produced by honey bees |
Petroleum by-product |
|
Renewable |
Yes |
No |
|
Typical Cost |
Higher |
Lower |
|
Natural Color |
White to golden yellow |
Often dyed |
|
Natural Scent |
Mild honey aroma |
Usually Odorless |
|
Popular With |
Natural Living Enthusiasts |
General candle consumers |
Are Beeswax Candles Safe Around Pets?
In general, beeswax candles are considered a good choice for pet owners because they are made from a natural wax source and typically contain fewer additives than many heavily scented candles.
However, any burning candle should be kept out of reach of curious pets and never left unattended.
If your candle contains added fragrances or essential oils, be sure they are safe for your particular pet.
Are Beeswax Candles a Good Gift?
Yes, beeswax candles make thoughtful gifts for many occasions. Their natural beauty, subtle honey aroma, and long burn time appeal to a wide range of people.
Whether given as a hostess gift, holiday present, or housewarming gift, beeswax candles offer a unique alternative to mass-produced candles.
How Can You Tell if a Candle is Made From Pure Beeswax?
Pure beeswax candles often have a light honey-like scent and range in color from creamy white to golden yellow.
Because some candles contain only a small percentage of beeswax blended with other waxes, it is important to read product labels carefully.
Purchasing from a reputable beekeeper or trusted supplier is one of the best ways to ensure you are getting a genuine beeswax candle.
FAQs
Store beeswax candles in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Proper storage helps prevent fading, softening, and dust buildup, allowing your candles to remain in excellent condition for years.
A properly made beeswax candle with the correct wick should burn cleanly with little dripping under normal conditions. Drafts, an oversized wick, or an uneven burning surface can all cause excess dripping, so keeping the candle away from moving air and trimming the wick regularly will give the best results.
Most people can enjoy beeswax candles without any problems. Because pure beeswax candles have a natural, subtle scent, they are often preferred by those who dislike heavily fragranced candles. However, anyone with a known allergy to bee products should use caution and consult their healthcare provider if they have concerns.
Final Thoughts
Whether you buy handcrafted candles or receive them as a gift, beeswax candles offer several advantages that have made them popular for generations.
Resources:
Do you sell your buttercream-colored pure beeswax candles? I ordered one from a different company and it is a darker hue. It doesn’t smell quite like I thought it would ~ honey. Allergies and asthma run in my family, and I am hoping the candle helps. How would I find out if they added a percent of NOT beeswax? They claim there’s are 100%.
I don’t want any additives or essential oils.
I don’t any longer Leslie but I do sell some beeswax on Etsy. Wax does naturally come in different shades of yellow, beige and darker. When you see all that golden colored wax – some of it is dyed.
“When you are shopping for candles, be vigilant. In the United States, current labeling laws only require a candle to be 51% beeswax to carry the label.”
Same in the E.U. Many years ago, a polite lady at Cire Trudon (a French candlemaker brand) admitted that yes, indeed, their candles at the time still advertised as “beeswax candles” contain in fact only 51% of beeswax. Nowadays they manufacture only soy wax or any other, they stopped to mislead the customer with “beeswax marketing” at least.
We are using only beeswax candles at home and for a scent, I prepare my very own solution with organic essential oils.
After hearing not long ago that the most expensive scented candles are at the same time the most toxic (sales assistant in one of the “luxury products” boutique), I am sure that beeswax candles, non scented are simply the best!
Kind regards!
I agree.