As the nights grow longer we often turn to candles to add warmth and glow into our environments. As we grow more aware of environmental elements that pollute our environment we are learning to make better choices about how best to imbibe in the age old tradition of candle burning. Although there are now several options out there that provide an alternative to paraffin wax the truth is many of those options are created through the use of chemicals. Take soy wax for instance. Soybeans don't just suddenly become available as a wax. They must undergo a multi-step process that makes them into wax and this process only happens with the use of chemicals.
Beeswax however is ready as is. The bees made it for us to use and it is readily available in the hive once the honey has been harvested. The only necessary step that is the precursor to the candle making is the cleaning of the wax. After the impurities are removed it is ready to become a candle or used for many other purposes.
Which is a great segue into all of the many amazing uses for beeswax. Obviously one can make candles with beeswax but here is a long list of other ways you can use beeswax at home:
- Body products such as lip balms, soap making, and salves
- Wood preservation especially for cutting boards
- Stick your sewing pins and needles in it to keep them sharp
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Twist your screws in the wax to keep wood from splitting
- Encaustic painting, adding color will make for a lovely wax paint
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Running your thread through to keep strong and keep it from getting tangled
- Putting dreadlocks in your hair
- As a lubricant for sticky zippers or sticky wooden drawers
- A waterproofing agent for shoes and tools
- Grooming and shaping your mustache
- And many many more uses not listed...have a favorite use for beeswax? Add it to the comments!
When I first started selling beeswax candles in the shop I read a lot about them and one key element of beeswax candles that I would come up with over and over in my research was the idea that they purify the air through a release of negative ions. I admit I am no scientist so I would not attempt to explain this but as I was writing I wanted to find some research to back up this claim. Ha! Instead of that I found this funny Reddit thread:
The benefit to burning beeswax over other waxes is that it burns clean. It does not cure anything. It does not purify the air. It also does not expel unburnt remnants or petrochemicals into the air you breath.
That is all. No Magic, no medicinal benefits.
Sellers copy/paste all this old info published in the 80's and think it's peer reviewed.
It's not. However it's a nice safe alternative and the natural scent is magnificent. That sells them on it's own.
So there you have it. It may not purify the air but it certainly does not add anything toxic to the air.
One of my favorite qualities of beeswax candles is the elegant warm glow, especially when burning the natural beeswax with no color additives. On a cold winter morning the calming effect of this glow is undeniable. For me there is something kind of primal about burning beeswax. Prior to its use as a candle most candle type things used animal fat which you can imagine would be quite smelly and smoky. It is said that during the Middle Ages folks started to use beeswax for candles, although it was expensive at the time so mostly found in churches and homes of the wealthy. Each time I light one of my candles I have a moment of connecting with the past. I think all traditional practices make me feel this way. Modern society has removed so much of nature and the natural elements from our lives that having even just one little thing that connects you to a practice that is hundreds of years old can be grounding and insightful.
Another quality of beeswax that I find interesting is how long it burns. It is known for having a high melting point which means that it burns very slowly. The Big Dipper Pillars that are 2" x 4.75" burn for 40 hours! Wow. That is pretty amazing if you ask me. This is quite a difference from soy wax which literally will melt on a warm summer day without even burning the wick!
Have you heard of candle hugging? This is one practice that will help extend the life of your candle. Plus it sounds really cute. Here is an Instagram link for you to see: Candle Hugging (so sorry if you can't see the video). One other tip for those looking: each time you light your candle you want to burn it for an hour per each inch wide the candle is. This prevents the tunneling that can happen with candles that is soooooo annoying. You know when the wick seems like it is deep down inside the cavern of the candle and you can't light it or it won't stay lit. Basically you just want to burn it each time until the point where it melts to the edge. If you like to burn candles for shorter periods of time then consider using tapers or even birthday candles.
So to sum it up: multiple uses, cleanest and longest burning wax, almost literally straight from the beehive to the candle, warm natural glow, and a traditional practice that is our privilege and honor to access due to the kindness of the bees! Sounds like an amazing thing to me.
In the shop we currently offer two different brands of beeswax candles. One is Big Dipper which is a pretty big operation using beeswax from all over North America. I like to call their candles the workhorse of candles. We carry mostly their pillars in two different sizes and the tapers. But last year they started making the most adorable mushroom candles and the oyster mushroom tower has been the favorite. This candle burns for 60 hours. Can you believe that! Sometimes people do balk at the price of the beeswax candles but to put it into context I always frame it based on the amount of times you will use the product. In this case if you pay $22 for a candle that burns for 60 hours that means you are paying 36 cents per hour.
Just this week we finally added a locally made brand of candles from Honeyrun Farm. This farm is in Williamsport, Ohio and it is just the most charming delightful place I have been recently. There are many custom railings and gates around the farm made from downed tree limbs and a bunch of cute handmade signs. As if that wasn't already enough there were a bunch of chickens running around when we arrived and this adorable photo stand. Honeyrun Farm leases property all over Ohio where they rotate their hives to different crops which is probably very helpful for honey production. They make their candles from their own wax which is extracted and purified once the honey is harvested. They make so many wonderful sculpted candles that it was very hard to choose from. I decided to add some holiday themed candles based on a suggestion of a customer that introduced me to this lovely farm. You can find them all here.
Are you looking for a fun winter craft? Consider visiting our beeswax candle making supplies and add this fun craft into your life. We have several options and lots of tips to share. Check them out here and feel free to send us a message if you need any tips.
Whether you are looking for a morning meditation candle, a birthday candle, a lovely decorative candle, or a long burning pillar we have you covered. But remember the bees worked hard to give this gift so don't be a hoarder with your candle by never burning it. No matter how pretty it is untouched I guarantee it will be even more beautiful as it burns and adds its warm glow into your home.