It’s likely you’ve heard the rallying cry “save the bees!” in recent years. Not only do these fuzzy yellow creatures imbue life into our favourite flowers but they also produce beeswax, which is great for making candles.
“Okay, but what are the benefits of beeswax candles?”, I hear you ask. Stick with us to learn the 7 reasons you should be switching to beeswax candles.
First, Breaking Down the Types of Candles
Before listing the beeswax candle benefits, here are the most popular variations.
Paraffin Candles
It’s likely you have a pack of these stowed away. In fact, they make 95% of the world’s production and emit all kinds of flavors from vanilla to cookie dough.
Paraffin candles are a refined petroleum by-product that is deodorized and bleached before it’s made into wax. These candles are jam-packed with 11 toxic chemicals like benzene and toluene, which even have carcinogenic properties!
Their short burn and excessive drips mean they’re not as efficient or as economical as we thought. To make it worse, research shows 30% of wicks in paraffin candles contain toxic heavy metals like lead.
Soy Candles
So you’re done with paraffin and are switching to soy.
That’s an improvement as soy candle wax is produced in America but note that soy wax solvent is extracted from GMO soy seed that may have traces of pesticides and insecticides.
Also double-check your “100% soy” is legit as many that claim they can contain some amount of paraffin.
Palm Wax Candles
Companies make these candles from palm oil which burns clean and is biodegradable. But it comes with plenty of conflicts as palm oil plantations have sped up mass deforestation and increased the number of endangered species.
Beeswax Candles
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese relied on beeswax candles to light their homes. Beeswax candles are long burning and a 100% natural alternative.
When bees eat honey, they produce wax. Beekeepers then filter the beeswax from the honeycombs, cool it, and craft it into candles.
Great! So What Are the Benefits of Beeswax Candles?
The top health benefits of beeswax candles include:
1. Cleansing and Purifying the Air
Beeswax candles are the healthiest candles to burn as they contain negative ions. These ions purify your home's air so it's healthier and safer as air is positively charged.
So, when the positive is mixed with negative ions, they become attracted to one another. As a result, the particles are then too heavy to float and drop to the ground.
This is a great way to extract dust, pollen, and dander from your air.
2. Health Benefits
The best beeswax candles can also give you a sense of calm and relaxation, perfect after a long day.
If you suffer from respiratory problems like asthma, then burn beeswax candles in your room for 30 to 60 minutes before you sleep.
Doing so will clear the air and help you drift off easier.
Ever notice your kitchen can’t shake that fishy smell after cooking? Burn a beeswax candle so they can tackle that tough odor.
3. Environmentally Friendly
Before you Google “is beeswax candle safe?” know that they burn clean and produce little smoke because they’re not oil-based. And because beeswax is natural, the candles don’t emit synthetic counterpart of harmful chemicals.
Also, it’s important to remember that the production of soy, paraffin,
and palm candles use chemicals to transform them into candles. Beeswax is in its raw state and doesn’t have to go through bleaching or hydrogenation.
So we can enjoy this harmonious synergy between us and the planet when we light a beeswax candle. The planet and we reap the benefits of beeswax candles from the production to lighting it.
4. Burns Longer
Beeswax candles burn stronger and brighter because they have a high melting point.
They are also carbon neutral and have a sweet aroma produced by the floral nectar found in the honeycomb.
5. Hypoallergenic
People with allergies struggle to stay comfortable in rooms with burning candles. Some are even allergic to certain scents so you have to be careful when choosing a scented candle.
As beeswax candles are mostly unscented, you won’t have to worry about people with allergies around your candles.
6. Sootless and Dripless
When we’re shopping for candles, we want to go for ones that don’t emit soot and don’t cascade in drips. Luckily, beeswax candles burn for hours without sooting or dripping which means they’re low-maintenance.
Over time, your beeswax candle may produce a little drip which will develop a white film, giving them a unique effect. But it’s important to trim the wick and keep your candle out of the draft for best results.
7. You Support Your Local Beekeeper
Whether you’re buying beeswax candles online or off, there’s a reassurance that comes with helping a beekeeper.
Beekeepers protect bees so that the world can keep producing fruit and veg. We get our honey thanks to beekeepers but also our beeswax candles. For every 100 pounds of honey harvested, the beekeeper gets 1 to 2 pounds of beeswax which makes this type of candle extra special.
...And That's Why You Should Get Beeswax Candles!
There are many benefits of beeswax candles from being made out of 100% natural materials, hypoallergenic, and not leaving a trace on the planet, we can enjoy lighting candles without worrying about what we’re inhaling.
Before you make the purchase, make sure there aren’t any traces of soy and that manufacturer is honest. Happy shopping!
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