10 Reasons You Should Switch to Beeswax Candles (#8 is Wow!)
"These beeswax candles are so costly compared with regular candles, any reason why I should use them apart from their natural aesthetic value?" Like most of you, I have popped this question when I noticed that these candles have a much bigger price tag compared to those at Ikea.
If you are currently burning candles at home and price is not always the the number one reason for these stuff, there are many good reasons for you why candles made of beeswax are so much more superior and why you should switch to these candles.
Beeswax Candles Versus Paraffin Candles
Beeswax Candles | Paraffin Candles |
1. Rare and expensive. Beeswax costs about 10 times more than paraffin. It is estimated that the bees must fly 150,000 miles to collect enough nectar to produce six pounds of honey just to secrete one pound of wax. And for every 100 pounds of honey harvested, the beekeeper can only obtain about 1-2 pounds of the beeswax. | Easily available and cheap. Paraffin candles make up 95% of the world's candle production. A pack of 100 paraffin tealight candles from Ikea costs less than ten bucks. |
2. Created by the bees, 100% natural, all chemical-free. Oldest candle known to man and prized since ancient times. (Note: There are no regulations on disclosing candle ingredients. Candles labelled as "beeswax" may be predominantly made of paraffin and contain as little as 5% beeswax. Look for "100% pure beeswax candles". | An oil-based, highly refined petroleum by-product that contains up to 11 toxic compounds and chemicals such as benzene and toluene. Emit toxic diesel exhaust-like fumes. |
3. Environmentally friendly and safe, non-toxic. Burn very clean with little smoke when trimmed properly as they are not oil-based. 100% beeswax candles are natural, undergoes no chemical processing and biodegradable. | A black sludge that is treated with 100% industrial strength bleach to change its colour to white, creating toxic dioxins. Acrolyn, a carcinogenic chemical is then added to solidify the white sludge. The end result is an extremely toxic product. By burning these candles, you produce the same toxins. If you really know how poisonous paraffin candles are, you would dump them and stop polluting the air in your home.
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4. Smell great as they are naturally scented by the honey and floral nectar in the honeycomb; carbon-neutral. | Contain artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances which also produce toxins and stains when burned, adding to the environmental damage. Some paraffin candles contain lead wicks. |
5. Have a high melting point (in fact the highest among all known waxes) which results in a significantly longer (2-5 times) burn time and drip very little, if any at all. This offsets their higher cost. | Not as efficient. Short burning and drip excessively, which means that they may not be that economical after all. Additional chemicals can be added to reduce dripping.
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6. Burn stronger and brighter. Emit naturally bright light of the same light spectrum as the sun (Green Rhino Spectrum, Solar Spectrum). They are a gift from nature! | Produce a flame that is not as strong and brilliant. Cannot evoke the same natural ambience of warmth and style as beeswax. |
7. Burn with even more beauty with age. Over time, beeswax develops a white film (especially in cooler climate), which is deemed as a very desirable feature. | Synthetic waxes do not bloom as time passes. |
8. The only candle that emits negative ions to purify, cleanse, improve air quality, and invigorate the body. A natural ionizer! | Produce harmful black soot that leaves streaks of black residue and stains home interior surfaces. |
9. Hypo-allergenic, benefit those with environmental allergies, sensitivities, and asthma. | Are to be avoided by those with allergies or asthma conditions. |
10. Originate from a renewable fuel - beeswax. | Originate from a non-renewable resource - petroleum. |
All the pictures of the candles you see in this video (left) are made of pure beeswax. I fell in love with these candles after discovering that their performance beats the paraffin candles hands down. And I also have to agree with what I have found in my research - that these lovely candles do burn more brilliantly, cleaner and longer! So, stop burning petroleum and polluting your home. Turn to beeswax. It will make a difference in your home ambience and the quality of life of those who love candles.
Hang on, what about soy candles? Don't they make a healthy choice as well? Like paraffin wax, soy candles have a lower meting point and hence do not burn as strong and bright as beeswax candles. But the biggest drawback of soy candles is that they will spoil without preservatives. Additives, bleach and hardeners are common ingredients of soy candles. Also, soy candles are mostly made from genetically modified soy crops that are heavily sprayed with toxic pesticides.
Wind down, light some therapeutic beeswax candles, curl up in the sofa with a cup of hot tea and let the stress of the day melt away.
To your excellent health,
Ruth Tan
Related Pages:
2. Get Beeswax Candle Care Tips
3. How to Make Beeswax Candles
4. If you are located in Singapore, check out our handmade beewswax candles at: Bee Healthy
5. Bee Wax Uses You Probably Don't Know
6. Honey Bees and Their Wondrous Products
7. Hexagonal Honeycomb Pattern