All About Beeswax Candles
Have you ever wondered if the candles you’re burning are bad for you? How about the process used to make the raw materials? Check out our FAQ below to learn why beeswax candles are the best option for you and for the earth.
What is Beeswax?
What is beeswax?
Beeswax is produced in the wax glands of honey bees. They use it to build and cap honeycomb, which is the structure inside the hive where nectar is stored and turned into honey, and also (in another part of the hive) where the queen bee lays eggs to make more bees.
Aren’t all candles made of beeswax?
No! Most candles that you see at the store are made with paraffin, which is a much cheaper way to make candles.
Why is beeswax better than the alternatives?
Well, wait—is there something wrong with burning paraffin candles?
Actually, several things. For starters, paraffin is a byproduct of refined petroleum. It’s a non-renewable resource, and the process of making it uses a lot of harmful chemicals. It’s also dirty. The fumes emitted by paraffin candles are similar to those in diesel smoke, and they contain fun—and sometimes carcinogenic—chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene and benzene. Research shows that breathing fumes from paraffin candles is as harmful as breathing second hand smoke. If you’re burning candles with any regularity inside your home, is this the ambience you want to create?
According to a study out of South Carolina State University,
"The paraffin candles we tested released unwanted chemicals into the air...inhalation of these dangerous pollutants drifting in the air could contribute to the development of health risks." Dr Ruhullah Massoudi
So how do I know what type of wax a candle is made with?
That’s easy—beeswax and soy wax are more of a premium ingredient and cost candlemakers more than paraffin. Typically, you’ll see these premium waxes advertised on the label of your candle because it creates the perception of value. But be careful—the law says that any candle can be labelled pure beeswax or soy wax as long as it’s 51% or more of that wax. Look for your candlemaker to disclose what their wax blend is, or for the label to read “100% beeswax.”
Wait—soy wax. That’s vegetarian, right? Isn’t that better than using something made by animals?
Not exactly. To be fair, soy wax burns clean and smells nice when it’s scented. But the methods used in farming soy can be pretty destructive to our environment. Whether it’s the use of GMO seeds to allow the soy plants to be sprayed with RoundUp, destructive tillage methods that result in topsoil erosion, fertilizer runoff, and soil compaction, or the number of small animals that are killed by machinery during harvest or shot in the name of crop protection, soy wax isn’t exactly guilt-free. This is to say nothing of the industrial processes used to turn soy oil into a wax that can be made into candles. At Crooked River Naturals, our emphasis is on the sustainable use of renewable resources—and we promise, no bees were harmed in the harvesting of wax for our candles.
Wait, you mentioned wax blends. Is your wax 100% pure beeswax?
Almost. We add 1% organic coconut oil to our pure beeswax, which helps the candles burn more evenly and avoid tunneling.
What about scent throw? I’ve heard that beeswax candles don’t smell as strong as paraffin candles.
Sort of. It’s true that paraffin candles throw scent really well because the paraffin burns faster and consumes more wax (and therefore fragrance) per hour. But here’s the deal: we use premium fragrances, and they smell great. Think of our candles as creating a subtle ambience when you burn them—more like a jazz trio playing a cocktail hour than the mosh pit at a death metal show. It’s there, it’s pleasing and you notice it, but you’re not overwhelmed by the scent. Tired of your candles smelling like a cheap bathroom air freshener? Then we think you’ll like what we have to offer.
I’ve heard that beeswax candles give off negative ions and actually help clean the air when you burn them. Is this true?
Maybe. There are anecdotal reports of beeswax candles giving off negative ions, which can clean the air by bonding to the positive ions in a variety of air pollutants. There are also anecdotal reports that negative ions can lead to an increase in serotonin (which can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety) and aid the reduction of allergy and asthma symptoms. There’s not a ton of scientific literature to prove or disprove these ideas, so we don’t want to make any claims. What we can say with certainty is that beeswax is sustainable and clean burning, and it burns longer than other types of wax.
Tips for Burning Beeswax Candles
Trim your wick prior to each use. 1/4" to 1/2” is a good target to avoid a flame that is too large and prone to flickering smoking.
When you first use your candle, let it burn for a couple of hours to let the wax pool develop and avoid tunneling.
Don’t burn candles for more that 4 hours at a time.
Stop using your candles when there is about 1/2" of wick left, or when there is 1/4” to 1/2” of wax left in your container. Otherwise, the bottom of the container can overheat.
Burn in a draft free area to avoid smoking, wax dripping and soot.
Never burn any candle unsupervised, and keep an eye on young children and pets when they are around all candles.
Keep lit candles away from flammable materials.
So give me the bottom line—why should I choose beeswax candles?
Beeswax is a sustainable and renewable resource. It comes from honey bees—a keystone species that is responsible for the pollination of 80% of flowers and over 130 different fruit and vegetable crops.
It is the least processed of all candle waxes, and it contains zero petroleum. It is non-toxic.
Candles made with beeswax burn cleaner than other types of candles as long as the wick is properly trimmed.
Beeswax is naturally dripless.
The color of the flame in a beeswax candle is a warm yellow light that is very close to sunlight on the color spectrum. It’s less harsh than the whiter colored flames from paraffin and, to a lesser degree, soy.
Beeswax is the hardest and densest wax used in candle making, so it burns slower and longer than other types of wax. Even though a beeswax candle may cost slightly more than a comparable candle that uses a different type of wax, there is more value because the candle will burn for many more hours—in some cases, up to twice as long—so the cost per hour of burn time is significantly lower.
