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BANG FOR THE BITE
Sometimes they're a bit pricier than other candles, but a longer, cleaner, greener burn makes beeswax a better option.
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.
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home › tip library › Beeswax Candles
Which of your candles leaves a sooty mess?
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.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.
Sep 27,2007
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Burning the Beeswax at Both Ends
Here in the middle of Week 3 of nonstop business travel, I have to admit to feeling a bit burnt out. I need a vacation.
Bizarrely, my thoughts keep turning to my ex's family's summer home. They owned these little islands in the middle of one of the Great Lakes in Canada, where they built lovely sleeping cottages and a large living-dining area - sort of like a small-scale, high-end summer camp. Nearly impossible to explain, but the place was idyllic and tranquil and dreamy - no consistent electricity or running water, so we lived on candlelight and fresh air.
One of my favorite things about time spent there were the raucous, delicious dinners we'd chef up in the dining hall...and the fantastic all-natural chandelier suspended from the ceiling. We'd take sheets of honey-combed beeswax and roll our own candles, and fit them into that chandelier. Hoisted up, it gave off a sweet scent and even sweeter light.
-Heather...off to plan for a real vacation in a month or so...
Bizarrely, my thoughts keep turning to my ex's family's summer home. They owned these little islands in the middle of one of the Great Lakes in Canada, where they built lovely sleeping cottages and a large living-dining area - sort of like a small-scale, high-end summer camp. Nearly impossible to explain, but the place was idyllic and tranquil and dreamy - no consistent electricity or running water, so we lived on candlelight and fresh air.
One of my favorite things about time spent there were the raucous, delicious dinners we'd chef up in the dining hall...and the fantastic all-natural chandelier suspended from the ceiling. We'd take sheets of honey-combed beeswax and roll our own candles, and fit them into that chandelier. Hoisted up, it gave off a sweet scent and even sweeter light.
-Heather...off to plan for a real vacation in a month or so...
Biter Comments...
Harvesting beeswax and honey from hives is a totally sustainable practice which does not negatively affect the hive.The Bee plight is due to many factors including but not limited to: industrial agriculture's use of time-release pesticides, a nasty mite which takes over hives and most recently discovered, a virus which weakens their immune system. Bee health is critical to Bee farmers main crop, honey. They do everything they can to keep their hives thriving.
What's this about Soy allergens in candles? Aren't you splicing your data here? People are allergic to eating soy, not burning it! It's as ridiculous as saying that Food Grade Paraffin, which is "safe" to spray on apples, isn't toxic when burned. STOP SPLICING!
Allergies to Soy Wax? Who EATS Soy Wax? I agree, ridiculous analogy! Plus- beeswax isn't VEGAN!! Go Soy! Go Soy!
According to an old Bite (actually, the blog from October 26, 2006), people who are allergic to soy should stay away from EVERYTHING soy. Eating something isn't the only way to have an allergic reaction, you know. I can't say that I've researched it, because I don't have a soy allergy, but the sources they cited were a book (?) by Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, called “The Whole Soy Story,” and the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health. If I had a soy allergy, I wouldn't risk my health by burning soy candles.
Hi Mel,
None of us on the Biter team have soy allergies, so we gotta defer to the experts - according to the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (a pro-soy organization), "Anyone allergic to soy will probably have to avoid all soy products...Soy meal and oil is utilized in a number of industrial products, including inks, soap, cosmetics, etc. One has to read labels extremely carefully and if in doubt about a particular ingredient, contact the manufacturer. Most products have an address and/or phone number on them." Of course, if you do have a soy allergy, your best bet is to ask your doc directly if s/he thinks you can tolerate soy candles.
Vegans and Beeswax. I think the vegan lifestyle in wonderful. It's low impact and environmentally sustainable but when vegans bash beeswax I have to chuckle. The bee-beekeeper relationship is mutually beneficial in so many ways. Maybe it is my ignorance about the vegan ethos but it sounds like another fundamentalist belief system applied to broadly. P.S. I love this blog thing, it's thoroughly addicting.
What better -- soy or bees wax candles?
Soy or Bees better? In my experience as a long-time candle maker who uses both it all depends on the type of candle and the consumers affinities. Both are clean burning, non-toxic waxes. Soy is great for container candles, votives and for general scent throw. Beeswax is great for pillars, tea lights and tapers. Natural Beeswax smells awesome, emits negative ions when burning and has a high vibe (if you will). Soy wax doesn't have much vibe to it but its a good utilitarian non-toxic wax. It's less expensive too.
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PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Lynda | September 27, 2007 at 08:06 AM