Beeswax Candles - A Healthy Alternative

Beeswax is an all natural, renewable product, with no additives or fillers.  The earliest records of ancient Roman times show beeswax candles were used to illuminate the dark nights and in religious ceremonies.  However, beeswax was, and still is, expensive.  A colony of 50,000 bees would need to consume 5 pounds of honey to produce half a pound of wax a day.  The demand for beeswax has always exceeded the supply, and there is no man-made substitute.  A cheaper candle product was developed in the mid-1800s.  Paraffin is a by-product of crude oil, and is the most common ingredient in candles today.  However, beeswax is far superior to paraffin for several reasons.

Beeswax has the highest melting point of any known wax, which makes it burn slower and longer than paraffin candles.  When comparing how long your candles will burn, beeswax candles are usually a better value than paraffin, even though paraffin candles are cheaper.  Beeswax burns cleaner without the smoke and soot that paraffin candles produce, making them a perfect choice for anyone with allergies.  Beeswax also burns brighter than paraffin, with a more yellow-colored flame depending on the season the wax was harvested.  If kept out of drafts, beeswax candles are naturally drip free, making them a safer candle to burn in your home.

Finally, beeswax contains small amounts of honey.  This makes these candles smell wonderful while they are burning, releasing a light, sweet scent into your home. The different shades of yellow and different honey scents are determined by which flowers and nectar the honeybees visited.  The next time you are shopping for candles, look for beeswax candles, and experience the benefits for yourself.