Why Beeswax Is Better
Beeswax is a completely natural and sustainable product that can be used to make many different kinds of products including beeswax wraps, skincare products or other high quality handmade items.
Beeswax is most recognisable for its use in candle-making, and it's a good idea to choose pure, pesticide-free beeswax for this.
It is a healthier option than cheaper, manufactured wax which often contain unhealthy additives.
Beeswax Is A Natural Product
Unlike soy and paraffin wax, natural beeswax is used in its pure, unadulterated state.
Produced entirely by hard-working bees, it is a completely natural and sustainable product, so long as we humans look after the bees! We could start by banning the use of neonicotinoids, a poison regularly sprayed all over our food that also poisons the bees.
However, I digress…as that’s a whole other blog post!
Beeswax Candles Burn Cleaner
Beeswax candles are an incredibly sustainable and eco-friendly product that can be used in any room of the house.
Unlike paraffin candles, they burn for a substantial amount of time and produce almost no smoke or dripping wax.
Burning a paraffin candle also produces an unpleasant petrol-like odour and a black sooty smoke that not only contaminates the air but will also eventually leave permanent marks on the surrounding area.
Beeswax Candles Burn For A Long Time
100% pure beeswax candles can burn up to three times longer than paraffin wax.
Our pure beeswax tea lights, for example, have a burn time of 4-4.5 hours and without the use of chemical or stabilisers to enhance burn time.
Other manufactured waxes such as soy, are likely to contain a cocktail of chemicals to increase burn time and to help produce a small white flame.
Natural Honey Scented Candles
Pure beeswax candles are a deliciously fragrant and a much better alternative to the more common paraffin candles.
The natural honey-like fragrance is quiet and subtle, but if you prefer your wax candle to have an even stronger scent, using pure essential oils as an additive will ensure that your candle emits a pleasant aroma that lingers for hours.
Manufactured Candles Can Be A Health Hazard
Paraffin and soy are both manufactured waxes that contain added chemicals that help stabilise the burn time and to enhance any added scent.
The synthetic fragrances that are commonly used to scent these candles often contain phthalates which is a hazardous chemical that has been linked with causing health problems.
These types of candles, especially those scented with synthetic fragrances, can essentially increase indoor air pollution while they burn.
These are just more examples of why beeswax candles are better.
About Soy Wax Candles
Soybeans are a crop that’s frequently grown from genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) and routinely sprayed with insecticides and pesticides.
Soy wax, a derivative of the soybean, is sometimes mixed with petroleum-based paraffin and scented with synthetic, phthalate-based fragrances. They may also contain chemicals to enhance burn time.
Although soy candles are better than conventional paraffin, they are still nowhere near as environmentally friendly as burning beeswax candles.
Why You Should Avoid Paraffin Wax Candles
Paraffin wax is an unsustainable, cheap by-product derived mainly from the petroleum industry.
The manufacturing process of petroleum products is one of the biggest environmental contributors to carbon dioxide.
Paraffin contains several known carcinogen compounds that when burned emits fumes similar to those produced by a car’s exhaust system. This is not something you’d want inside your home!
In summary, burning paraffin wax has been shown to decrease air quality, leave sooty marks on walls and should not be used in enclosed spaces.
When compared to paraffin wax, we can see clearly why beeswax candles are better.
Beware of buying cheap beeswax from overseas
When buying beeswax to make your own beeswax candles, always look for minimally processed, unbleached beeswax with no additives.
Research by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council has discovered products from China can be fake and pose a biosecurity risk. They found some so-called beeswax to be up to 80% paraffin, and secondly, it contains chemical residue from treatments used for the varroa mite.
Pay a little more and buy quality, locally produced wax!
Collombatti Naturals beeswax is produced here in Australia and is free from pesticides and impurities, making it perfect for all applications.
Make an informed decision
With this blog post we hope we made it a little clearer as to why beeswax candles are the better choice and will enable you to make an informed decision next time you're shopping for candles.
