Many posts have claimed that beeswax is the best wax for candle making. While it is true, many people are not fully aware of the amazing benefits one could get in using beeswax for candles. Now, let us make these claims clear and support them with data on how incredible beeswax is in natural candles and why candle makers are crazy to get their hands on them.
Beeswax is a candle making wax produced by bees as part of their honey-making processes. It is considered the healthiest wax to burn and produces clean-burning, smokeless, and sootless candles. Beeswax is also an effective air purifier making it the best choice for candles.
This article is your complete guide in everything you need to know about beeswax and its high standing in the candle making industry. This article will discuss how beeswax is considered the healthiest candle wax and how bees can produce it. I also included some minor disadvantages of using these wax and the different types of beeswax available in the market.
Beeswax: The Best Candle Wax For You
Let us answer why beeswax is the most recommended wax for every candle maker. Here are all the best things you need to know about beeswax in candle making.
Beeswax is Named as the Healthiest Candle Wax to Burn
The healthiest candle wax, beeswax, is a natural byproduct of the beekeeping industry. It is produced by honeybees’ bodies as they work through their beehive. The naturally occurring wax is 100% cruelty-free as no single bee is harmed in its production.
Beeswax is harvested together with the honeycomb. Beekeepers remove the wax caps of the honeycomb, and the wax is sold to beeswax manufacturers, where it undergoes processes to remove impurities and make it ready for candle burning.
100% all-natural candle making wax, this is what you will get in beeswax. There are no chemicals used in its production. Hence, no chemicals would be released in burning it. Beeswax contains zero paraffin, while other candle wax is combined with paraffin wax to improve overall performance. The all-natural wax is best suitable for natural candles that do not need artificial scents and coloring. So you would produce a candle having only the premium and healthiest organic ingredients.
Natural candles can be added with essential oils extracted from herbs and flowers and colored with natural dyes extracted from different colored plants. The versatile beeswax is also perfect for DIY candles at home as it is easy to work with and would suit health-conscious people, environment advocates, and vegetarians.
You can find beeswax in different forms on the market. One popular form is the beeswax sheets, thin beeswax sheets used to make rolled candles. They come in different colors and are perfect for kiddie candle making.
Beeswax pellets, small pellets of beeswax sold per pound, are easier to melt as they come in smaller pieces. We also have beeswax bars that are sized like a regular chocolate bar and are perfect for melting exactly measured wax—lastly, the large beeswax blocks are sold per pound.
The oldest considered candle making wax has been around for thousands of years and is highly trusted by candle makers. It was used even before the advent of electricity lighting the homes of our ancestors. Since beeswax comes from a natural source, it is highly renewable. However, it has limited sources, which make up for its high price.
All the Best Reasons to Use Beeswax for Candles
Beeswax is an excellent wax for candles because of its dripless quality, known for not melting easily. That is why the all-around candle wax can be used for any candle type, for tall and slender tapers or thick and huge pillars. Beeswax is also good for smaller tealights, votives, and container candles.
The dripless property reduces the chances of spills and mess during candle making. Or, if there is any, it is way easier to clean than paraffin, which is an oil-based wax.
When lit, beeswax candles emit a natural-looking flame, warmer and brighter than other candles and within the sun’s spectrum. It won’t cause any eye strain, though, unlike when you’re looking straight at the sun.
The natural yellowish to light brown color of beeswax needs no additional synthetic color dyes. This tone is already great for home candles providing calming and fresh sight to candle users. You may still opt to add colors, but for this, I would highly recommend you use natural color dyes from plants and herbs.
Beeswax is also known for its denser trait. The dense material burns slower and longer than soy and paraffin wax candles as it is dripless candle wax. It also has a higher melting point of approximately 148 degrees Fahrenheit, producing the brightest and warmest flame tone.
Soy wax is also a natural candle making wax, but what sets beeswax apart is it’s free of any chemical processing. There is no need for hardeners, additives, or chemical treatments in its production, making it the safest wax to burn.
Another known characteristic of beeswax is its natural subtle honey scent. When used in candles, it produces a versatile natural scent and an additional scent depending on the flowers the bees have pollinated. Some beeswax has a touch of wildflowers, citrus, herbs, and prairie grasses scents.
Candlemakers also love beeswax’s smokeless and sootless properties. It burns cleanly, producing no smoke and soot, and perfectly paired with natural candle wicks like cotton, wood, or hemp wicks.
Candles are only one of the many applications of beeswax. It is versatile as it is also utilized in making skincare and hair care products, soap, fly fishing, coatings of sweets and pills, furniture polish, and even batik art.
Health Benefits of Beeswax When Used on Candles
Beeswax is named the healthiest wax because it is 100% natural and because of all its amazing health benefits.
The air purifying capabilities of beeswax in candles emits negative ions. These ions bind with a particular matter in the air removing harmful toxins and producing cleaner air. Note that these harmful toxins can come from products in your houses like furniture protectants, aerosols, paints, and formaldehyde.
The negative ions produced by beeswax candles also cause floating particles like dust to drop to the ground. Others say the negative ions are good stimulators of the pituitary gland, which results in increased creativity, intuition, and dream activity. These candles are excellent for indoor and outdoor use.
Beeswax is hypo-allergenic. It is good for people suffering from asthma and allergies as it would not cause any symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, head pains, and skin rashes.
Another great health benefit of beeswax is its use in aromatherapy. The smokeless and long burn time of beeswax is a valuable factor for aromatherapy candles. These candles exude a subtle honey aroma, ranging from sweet, fresh, floral, robust, savory, or spicy.
Aromatherapy beeswax candles promote overall physical and mental well-being. They increase energy, reduce stress, and strengthen focus. These candles also help in decreasing physical pain and regulating blood pressure. Beeswax is much more effective in aromatherapy when paired with natural oils and essences.
Types of Beeswax and Their Uses
Beeswax differs in colors and undergoes a different filtration process. The process reduces beeswax’s yellowish tone and filters it from all impurities before using it in candle making. Here are the types of beeswax you can use in your candles.
Yellow Beeswax
Yellow beeswax is an unrefined and raw product. It is a natural product directly derived from honeycomb and is 100% pure refined beeswax. It retains beeswax’s natural fragrance allowing for additional scents from essential oils and fragrances. Note that fragrance would be affected greatly by overheating.
Like all beeswax types, it would burn clean and long when used in candles, producing a slow smoke-free burn. Yellow beeswax is good for natural candles but not colored ones. The golden-yellow colored wax would not accept as much dye as the white beeswax. Thus, you need a perfect mix and match to achieve your desired color.
Yellow beeswax comes in different shades. Some are more orange-toned, and most are different hues of yellow. Several natural conditions affect the end color of yellow bees waxes, like the types of flowers surrounding the bee farm, weather conditions, and the cleanliness and source of beeswax.
One thing to note about yellow beeswax is not using dark brownish beeswax. These wax may have come from possibly deceased hives and are not good.
White Beeswax
White beeswax is yellow beeswax that has been bleached. It is created by filtering and purifying yellow beeswax to remove its original color, producing white-colored wax. White beeswax is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry.
The yellow wax undergoes a pressure-filtration process and filters through active carbon to remove its natural scent and color. Although it has undergone filtration, it is still 100% natural, refined through physical processes with no harmful chemicals.
If you are looking for an all-natural wax for colored candles, white beeswax is the perfect choice for you. The white wax can easily accept varied colors, and you can have your natural candles with the color you want but still have the same excellent traits of pure beeswax.
Beeswax Absolute
Beeswax absolute, also known as honey absolute or beeswax essential oils, is mainly used for perfumery. It comes with various scents of mild honey, floral aroma, hay-like body notes, and a mild and waxy tone.
This beeswax absolute is yellow beeswax treated with alcohol. In candles, it is used in aromatherapy which promotes physical and mental well-being, strengthens focus, and invigorates the body.
Fragrances and Color Dyes to Pair with Beeswax
In the candle making process, you may want to alter beeswax’s natural yellow color and honey scent. You can do this by pairing fragrances and color dyes to enhance your candle’s appearance and awesome health benefits.
Scents Suitable for Beeswax
Putting fragrances on beeswax is a bit tricky. The natural sweet scent needs to blend well with other fragrances you will use. The scent throw of beeswax candles also changes depending on the amount of fragrances used.
There are two fragrance options you can consider. The first one is fragrance oils. These are synthetic fragrances processed with chemicals. However, they are not recommended for natural beeswax candles.
A healthy alternative is the use of essential oils. These are all-natural scents harvested from real plants, flowers, and herbs. They are highly recommended to be paired with the equally natural beeswax and produce amazing health benefits. Plus, they would not trigger any allergic reactions, unlike other fragrances which produce potentially harmful fumes.
Here is a list of some of the recommended scents you can pair with beeswax.
- Vanilla
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Lavender
- Orange
- Pine needle
- Cocoa
- Cedarwood
- Geranium
- Chamomile
One or two ounces of fragrance per pound of beeswax used is the standard proportion of fragrances to wax. This amount may increase or decrease depending on your preferred scent strength. You can also experiment with different amounts of fragrances until you achieve your preferred scent.
Applying Colors to Beeswax
Three ways to color beeswax are crayons, herbs and spices, and liquid dyes and dye blocks. Beeswax would easily accept crayon colors, and any color would do, depending on your preference. These crayon colors are available in supermarkets, department stores, or craft stores.
In adding crayon colors to beeswax, you may opt to use one color only or go for a combination of two or more to create your shade. Consider adding white colors to make lighter shades and black for darker shades.
The process is simple. Use half an ounce of color for an ounce of beeswax. Crayons are mixed on the beeswax and melted together over medium heat to produce colored candles.
Herbs and spices also bring colors and add a pleasant scent to your beeswax candles, increasing its long list of health benefits. You can use sunflower seeds for herbs to create a purple hue, elderberry for bluish tones, and dandelions for red colors. You can also mix and match herb colors to create your candle shade.
Here is a list of spices you can use to color your beeswax candles
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Rosemary
- Parsnip
- Saffron
- Paprika
- Turmeric
Options are limitless when it comes to applying colors to your beeswax candles. You can also mix herbs with spices for better colors, combine herbs and spices with the same tone for a more intense coloring, or combine two completely different colors to create a new one.
Here are the simple steps in using herbs and spices as your coloring agents. Place the herbs and spices into a tea bag and dip them into the melted wax. Let the colors seep through the wax. Note that the longer the herbs and spices are in the wax, the darker it produces.
The last option is using liquid dyes or dye blocks available in the market. Liquid dyes will mix easily with beeswax, and there is no need for melting while dye blocks are melted together with the beeswax. Colors can also be mixed and matched as crayons, herbs, and spices do.
Some Minor Disadvantages of Using Beeswax for Candles
Beeswax is great, and we know it. However, there are still some minor considerations you should look for when it comes to beeswax. Here are some little disadvantages you may encounter in your candle making journey using beeswax as the main ingredient.
High Price for a High-Value Wax
Beeswax is expensive, and there is no sugar coating on that. It costs ten times more than paraffin because of its limited sources. The rare beeswax is produced in small amounts compared to other candle wax and takes a lot of time to produce.
The high demand for beeswax on the candle market also adds to its price as candle companies always go for the highest quality beeswax could offer as the healthiest candle wax to burn.
The Limited Sources of Beeswax
Only a pound of wax is produced per 100 pounds of honey harvested. Bees should visit millions of flowers to produce honey and create beeswax for the honeycomb. The bees are bred to be good beeswax producers and fed more to produce more honey and wax.
Beeswax’s Natural Honey Scent
Beeswax’s natural honey scent is perfect for natural candles but may disadvantage scented candles. Its sweet scent from the honey bees produced will influence the overall scent throw of your candle if you decide to create scented ones.
You’ll need to experiment with combinations of scents, and the outcome will not be what you expected. Adding scents to beeswax requires a lot of adjustments to achieve your preferred scent.
Yellowish Tone of Beeswax is Not Good for Colored Candles
Another natural trait that would make you think twice about using beeswax is its yellow color, influenced by the pollen the bees are processing. It is not highly recommended for colored candles, but you can use white beeswax instead. White beeswax is still an all-natural wax that gives you an option for colored candles.
The Use of Beeswax Combined with Paraffin
Non-pure beeswax is often mixed with paraffin wax. This is done to improve the quality of wax for candle making.
Paraffin contains many harmful chemicals that may reduce beeswax’s all-natural traits. The wax contains 11 toxic chemicals, including benzene and toluene, which could cause allergic reactions to sensitive skin.
Even beeswax labeled 100% pure may contain a small amount of paraffin. Note that it only takes a minimum of 51% beeswax to be labeled pure, and the other percentages may be paraffin or other mixes of waxes.
The Process of Producing Beeswax
We are so used to buying manufactured ingredients in candle making without knowing how these amazing ingredients are made. This section will talk about how our industrious worker bees produce beeswax and how these wax are harvested from the beehive.
How Worker Bees Produce Beeswax
Beeswax is produced as part of the bees’ (genus Apis) daily work by consuming honey or sugar syrup. To produce a pound of beeswax, the insects need to consume nine to ten pounds of honey.
And to make a pound of honey, bees need to visit and collect nectar from about two million flowers. That would be a total of 18 to 20 million flowers pollinated to produce nine to ten pounds of honey and harvest a pound of beeswax. This computation makes up for its high price and small supply in the market.
It is estimated that bees would travel six times around the earth for a pound of beeswax, hence the busy bees.
The best producers of beeswax are worker bees younger than 18 days old. In this time, the bees can secrete beeswax from its eight special glands located in their abdomen. They would then huddle in a cluster, and the temperature in the area would be raised to allow the secretion or sweating of beeswax.
Beeswax is then moved from the abdomen to the mouth using their legs and chewed by the bees. The wax secreted is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and a bit brittle. Saliva is added to soften it, and the clear wax would turn yellow in this stage.
The color-changing happens due to the mix of bits of honey, pollen, and propolis in the bees’ mouth, producing beeswax from clear white to light golden yellow. Some beeswax also has shades of brown depending on the environment the wax is created.
Beeswax color varies depending on several factors, such as the purity and types of flowers the bees pollinated and the influence of honey made by bees. The wax from the brood comb of honey bees is of darker shade as impurities accumulate mostly on this part.
The worker bees then use the pliable beeswax to construct their honeycomb, making up the insides of the beehive and are used for honey storage. The honeycomb is then capped by more beeswax for safekeeping and to keep moisture and debris from the outside away from the honey. Note that too much moisture may spoil and ferment the honey.
How Beeswax is Collected from the Beehive
Beeswax is harvested at the same time as honey. Beehives are pulled from the frames, and the beeswax covering the honeycomb is scratched out, exposing the honey inside. The hive is then placed in a centrifuge to extract the honey.
The remaining beeswax is harvested using a machine or an uncapping knife. The beeswax is then heated and skimmed out as it has melted and floated to the top. Often beeswax is rendered before being used in many applications to remove all impurities and make it perfect pure beeswax for candle making.
The collected wax is melted and filtered to remove its impurities and debris. You will now be left with pure natural beeswax of less than a pound harvested per hive each season.
Conclusion
Natural candles are the thing nowadays. From its all-natural ingredients to its excellent health benefits, no wonder beeswax is the top candle making wax in the industry. Despite its small disadvantages when it comes to scent and color, which can be easily remedied by alternatives, beeswax is indeed the best choice for your candles. And who would mind the price if you are ensured of the high quality this wax serves, right.
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