Using Beeswax - What to Know Candle Series (2024)

FAQs

What do I need to know about beeswax candles? ›

Brighter, Longer Burn

Because beeswax has a higher melting point than other waxes, it emits the brightest, most warm-toned flame. Beeswax candles also last longer than most other candles. Because it is so dense (0.958), it burns slower and drips less, and many consider beeswax candles to be drip free.

Adding fragrance to beeswax candles

You can use any fragrance or essential oil you like for candles. Test them to make sure you like the smell! In general, I use about 1-2 ounces of scent for every pound of beeswax. You may need to make a few test candles to find out what strength you prefer.

Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.

The Winner. In terms of being environmentally and health-friendly, soy candles are the winner of the soy vs. beeswax candles debate. There is no concrete evidence that soy candles are as toxic as people fear.

Beeswax candles (like ours!) trump all other candles for their many and varied health benefits. Firstly as they are all natural, there are no toxic byproducts created when burned.

Candle Life: Because beeswax is a much denser material than soy wax, beeswax candles should burn for a longer amount of time than soy candles. Mixing soy wax with paraffin to make the material denser doesn't help, since paraffin burns quickly, too.

Anyhow, adding coconut oil to beeswax candles can help boost the scent of essential oils when it comes to candle making.

I like to use a blend of both soy wax and beeswax and don't add additional color. The more beeswax you use, the more honey-colored the candle will be. Beeswax also gives off a sweet honey aroma, so the more you use, the less added fragrance you will need.

How long should you wait to burn a beeswax candle after making it? ›

It may take 2 or 3, 4 hour burns for the wax to melt right to the edges of the jar. This is because beeswax is a hard wax that burns slowly, and also longer than other candle waxes. Always trim the wick to 5mm before lighting the candle – This removes carbon from the end of the wick and means the flame will be larger.

If you decide that you want a clean-burning candle that will give you the strongest scent throw you can get, you might choose paraffin. If you want a wax that is clean-burning, comes from a renewable source, has a great scent throw, and burns longer, soy might be the way to go.

Experts in the field have deemed braided cotton wicks the best. Originally designed for beeswax candles, the square braided wick offers many benefits including: Better flow of vapour, the more open structure of these wicks channels the vapour up the wick better, even with impurities present.

The key to good consistency is a 50/50 beeswax/coconut oil mixture. And make sure there is room at the top of the jar so the wax doesn't overflow when you pour it in.

Q: Can I put Vanilla extract in candles? A: Vanilla extract adds a delightful smell to the candles but it makes the wax melt faster than it usually does. Therefore, it is better to add concentrated Vanilla Essential Oil along with Coconut Oil to the molten wax.

Sinkholes sometimes form during the wax setting process, when candle wax at the edge of the jar and around the wick cools down at a faster rate than the rest of the wax in the container. So how does that result in a sinkhole? When wax is heated it expands. Conversely, as wax cools down, it shrinks.

You need the use of heat. The heat of your hand can warm up your beeswax candle enough to then take a soft cloth and polish off the bloom. Be sure the cloth is soft as you don't want any rough edges marring or scrapping the beeswax.

Heat your wax safely. Beeswax melts at around 145°F. At temperatures above 185°F it will discolor, and at 400°F, it becomes explosive. The ideal range for candle dipping is between 155°F and 175°F.

Beeswax can easily become damaged by localized overheating and if it ignites can burn more ferociously than any chip pan fire. Beeswax does not boil - it just gets hotter and hotter until it ignites. Wax should only be melted in stainless steel, plastic, or tin plated containers.

Beeswax and soy candles usually burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Furthermore, beeswax candles can actually clean your air by releasing some negative ions that easily bind with toxins to help eliminate them from your indoor air. You can also use oil diffusers and essential oils instead of burning candles.

What is the healthiest candle to burn? ›

Beeswax. Beeswax candles are the healthiest choice in candles. Made from the caps of bee honeycombs, beeswax candles burn clean, are very long-burning, and give off a pleasant natural fragrance as they burn. Beeswax candles are dripless when burned properly, and release negative ions which help clean the air in a room.

Color Additives

To naturally color your beeswax, herbs and spices can be a great choice. Natural substances such as turmeric, paprika, rosemary, clove and saffron are highly recommended to create natural color shades. For brighter, more intense coloring, a great option is to use mica.

Soy wax can burn up to 50 percent longer than paraffin, although this depends on factors like candle size, wick height, etc. Case in point: one Homesick candle jar can burn 60 to 80 hours. Soy wax is also healthier than paraffin wax. It emits less soot and few toxins.

Beeswax also has the lowest toxicity for candle materials, releasing no toxic byproducts or heavy soot into the air. Instead of adding pollutants, beeswax candles neutralize them. Beeswax candles release negative ions when burned, eliminating dust, mold, and unpleasant odors.

Beeswax is not Cruelty- Free. Factory- farming of beeswax is happening. Beeswax has become an acceptable and widespread ingredient in so many natural and clean beauty products especially lip balms. Beeswax is often used as a natural alternative to petroleum-based products, but bees need their own beeswax.

Beeswax is also commonly used to make nontoxic candles and beeswax wraps (a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic wrap). However, because beeswax comes from bees, vegans will always consider it an animal byproduct and therefore, it cannot truly be considered cruelty-free or ethical.

Making homemade candles saves around 62% of the money spent to buy candles online or in stores for an entire year. It is cheaper to make your candle if the number of candles you buy per year is more than 5, with each individual store-bought candle that costs around 26.38$ (18.99£).

No chemicals or additives are used in making beeswax, and it is left with a delicious honey scent. It is not a cheap byproduct of other processes in wax making, and is one of the more expensive waxes used in candle making, but it is well worth it.

White beeswax is great for projects such as candle making because you can create lots of different colored candles with natural mica powder.

DIY Cinnamon candles – with beeswax

To make cinnamon candles with beeswax, you will use the same process as above with one exception: Once the beeswax has melted, stir in a teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Cinnamon-scented candles made with beeswax and soy.

Can you add spices to beeswax candles? ›

Melt the beeswax, coconut oil, and spices together in some kind of double boiler. You don't need the wax and oil to boil, just melt. (I use Beeswax and Coconut Oil blended for a softer candle that burns better than straight beeswax.)

In summary, we know at least one beeswax candle company says it's okay to haphazardly add essential oils to the beeswax pool of your candle. But we DO NOT recommend this practice. The results may not be what you were hoping for and could be very dangerous if the added essential oils ignite.

A 25% mixture or 1/4 beeswax to soy is common but you can use any percentage.

If comparing roughly 100g of wax, poured beeswax would take approximately 29 hours to burn while Soy would burn for 18 hours. Paraffin would burn for only 15 hours while rolled beeswax for 14 hours.

The simple answer is yes. The best thing to do is melt down the remaining wax and pour it into a smaller votive—et voilà, you have yourself a new candle. Make sure you combine all the same type of wax (beeswax, paraffin, or soy).

Burning a candle for too long will cause carbon to collect on the wick, leading it to “mushroom.” The wick will then become unstable and produce a dangerously large flame. Plus, your candle will start to smoke and release soot. Avoid this by always following the manufacturer's instructions.

Even with the addition of coconut oil, though, I've found that only very strong scents (peppermint, lemongrass, vetiver etc.) do well in DIY beeswax candles. Fortunately, most beeswax smells faintly of honey, which is delightful all by itself or when blended with essential oils.

100% beeswax candles are safe, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic. They are biodegradable and don't undergo any chemical processing. They burn very clean with little smoke since they aren't oil-based like paraffin candles.

Which is better for candles beeswax or soy? ›

If you are looking for a scented candle, soy wax will produce a stronger, more consistent smell that will last the full burn time of the candle. Beeswax on the other hand is better suited as an unscented candle that allows for the natural oil scent to be released into the air.

The key to good consistency is a 50/50 beeswax/coconut oil mixture. And make sure there is room at the top of the jar so the wax doesn't overflow when you pour it in.

Beeswax candles are naturally dripless! Because beeswax is so dense and has a higher melting point, these candles tend to burn slower and thus dripless. In normal conditions, without a draft, these candles are virtually drip free.

These candles burn cleaner than regular paraffin wax. Beeswax candles clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air which bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.

As long as the wick is intact the beeswax candles should burn just fine, even after many, many years. Unlike soy wax or palm wax candles, beeswax candles DO NOT go rancid. Beeswax candles will 'bloom' over time which is an indication that they are pure beeswax – which we consider a good thing.

Candle Life: Because beeswax is a much denser material than soy wax, beeswax candles should burn for a longer amount of time than soy candles. Mixing soy wax with paraffin to make the material denser doesn't help, since paraffin burns quickly, too.