The Bite:
None of your beeswax candles. Light 'em up and you'll see why: They burn cleaner and longer than your average candles, and are petroleum-free.
Which of your candles leaves a sooty mess?
09.27.2007
Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 12:01am.
The Benefits:
- Renewability. Regular paraffin candles are made from petroleum byproducts - a finite resource.
- Longer-lasting light. Beeswax candles have a higher melting point than other candles, so they keep the flame burning up to three times longer than other waxes.
- A cleaner burn. Beeswax candles produce less soot than petroleum-based ones.
- Options for the soy-allergic. Soy is one of the most common allergens (one of eight ingredients that must be listed on food labels).
Personally Speaking:
Heather used to spend summer vaycay with a Canadian family who rolled their own beeswax candles for a gorgeous all-natural chandelier to light up lakeside meals.
Wanna Try:
- Check labels for 100% beeswax, since manufacturers are allowed to label candles as beeswax even if the content is only 51%, and opt for less-refined, yellow candles over white.
- Sunbeam Honeycomb Pillar Candles - these honeycomb-shaped pillars are produced in a solar-powered factory and can burn up to 100 hours ($9-$26).
- Big Dipper Wax Works Aromatherapy Candles - come in refillable glass holders and burn for up to 30 hours; available in nine scents ($11-$26).
- Blue Corn Naturals Tea Lights - ivory tea lights that burn up to six hours; available with or without reusable plastic or glass cups ($6/6 candles).
- Local Harvest - find your local farmer's market. Many offer locally produced beeswax candles.
Cocktail Fact
To create its first-ever green wax sculpture (Prince Charles), Madame Tussaud's mixed 82 lb of organic beeswax with wax from the original Prince Charles sculpture, then and added organic pigments to color His Majesty's skin.
Bang For The Bite
Sometimes they're a bit pricier than other candles, but a longer, cleaner, greener burn makes beeswax a better option.
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