Let's talk about beeswax—the magical material bees create in order to make honeycomb
Did you know that beeswax is one of the best candle waxes on the market? Does it really matter what type of candle you burn? Well, you may find the benefits of beeswax candles rather compelling. And, you just might rethink your shopping tendencies. Beeswax candles are popular for good reasons. We live in a world that is always looking for the next best thing, but beeswax is proof that the best solutions do not have to be new. Beeswax is very special and has been valued for hundreds of years. Let’s explore what makes these natural candles so popular.
ALL NATURAL
There are many good things about beeswax candles but first and foremost, they are 100% natural and a renewable resource. Beeswax candles do not require chemical processing. Beeswax is one of the densest waxes and has a high melting point. This means that beeswax doesn’t need any hardeners, additives, or chemical treatments to make a quality product. In comparison, commonly used paraffin candles often contain toxic chemicals such as synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes. When burned paraffin releases toxins from these chemical processes and additives into the air. By choosing beeswax candles, you are limiting your exposure to toxic compounds. Because beeswax is produced by the bees there are no chemicals to be found. Made from a renewable resource, beeswax is also biodegradable, making it a healthy choice for the environment too.
AIR PURIFYING
On top of this, beeswax candles actually improve the indoor air quality. These candles release negative ions. These negative ions have the effect of neutralizing pollutants in air, most of which are high in positively charged particles, thus making them harmless. Negative ions clear the air of pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and dust by binding to those particulates, which are positively charged. When negative ions bond to these positively charged particles they become too heavy to remain airborne - meaning all that junk in the air falls to the floor, instead of being breathed in. There are numerous reports that suggest that beeswax candles improve asthma and allergy symptoms. Some say negative ions also stimulate the pituitary gland, thus increasing creativity, intuition, and dream activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Beeswax is a natural product and hence has its own unique smell. Its smell, just like its colour, is dependent upon what the bees who made the wax were feeding on at the time the wax was harvested from the hive. If you hold a beeswax candle up to your nose and breathe in, each candle smells similar, but if you have candles from different batches of beeswax, a good nose can detect subtle differences. The smell really is out there on it's own, sometimes it can have floral back notes, sometimes not, but generally you can smell a hint of honey. However, some people say they are a little disappointed with the smell of beeswax candles when they burn them. In answer to this, we would say that most people are so used to burning scented candles, which of course may not be natural, have possibly toxic constituents, chemicals and additives, but smell very strongly of the chosen fragrant. Beeswax candles burn very clean and very bright and generally give off only a faint aroma, that to some noses is almost undetectable and others say clearly smells of honey.
SUBTLE SCENT
Beeswax is a natural, renewable resource from an industry that helps the environment. Bees play a pivotal role in our lives by pollinating the crops we eat and plants in the wild. They are one of the most essential insects in the world. Bees help in growing vegetables and agriculture and restoring balance through pollination. As a result, the bee-keeping industry becomes vital for the Earth. Supporting the bee-keeping industry is essential for the sustainable growth of the environment. It is also very green in terms of its disposal. When you are done with beeswax, you should have zero guilt about throwing it away. Beeswax is completely biodegradable.
However, beeswax candles are not vegan and have the same issues of ethics. They burn cleaner, yes, and are generally considered nontoxic, but if the harvesting of the beeswax is not cruelty-free, ethical, or sustainable to the lifespan of the honeybees, then the beeswax candles really are not either. This is why we work with only small local factories in Lithuania, that surely takes care of their bees. For centuries, beekeeping has been a traditional part of Lithuanian culture.
In fact, in Lithuanian mythology, the insects are referred to as “God’s holy bugs.” It was believed that bees choose the hosts by themselves, therefore they become a corporate property of the old beekeeper and homestead, where the new cluster is created. Owners become friends.
Thus began a beautiful friendship of man and bee, which gave the new noble word – “Bičiulis“, a word roughly equivalent to ‘mate’, which has its root in "bitė'' – ''bee''. In Lithuania, it seems, a bee is like a good friend and a good friend is like a bee.
Ready to try a beeswax candle yourself?
