Why Burn Beeswax Candles?
Candles have been longed enjoyed but once were a necessity in illuminating the darkness. Not too long ago, candles and oil lamps were the only sourcing of light and now are primarily enjoyed for the ambiance and comfort they bring. What candles were burned most frequently back before electricity, what are the most common candles burned now? Why does it matter what type of wax is used in a candle? Are there any health benefits of burning specific types of candles? Are there any negative side effects? Most would not consider these questions before buying a candle, however with a rise in attention to what we breathe in and environmental issues, perhaps its time to start scrutinizing what’s easiest and most readily available to buy and considering how it may impact our lives and the lives around us. The following is information on each candle that has been used for hundreds of years and as of most recent. You decide for yourself which you think will benefit your life the most.
Tallow Candles
Tallow candles are made out of rendering animal fat and were the most common type of candle used due to it’s low cost, however the smell wasn’t the most enjoyable. Tallow candles were supposedly first discovered by the Romans in 500 BC and were made by dipping a fibrous material into melted tallow over and over again. However, the ancient Egyptians reportedly used the same method with tallow but soaked reeds in order to make what was called “rushlights”. Tallow candles were the most accessible type of candle due to tallow (animal fat) being present practically wherever you were. Tallow candles are still used today, while not as frequent as before, they are still available and can be scented to smell far more pleasant.
Paraffin
Paraffin candles are by far the most common type of candle today because similar to tallow, paraffin candles are fairly inexpensive. They can also be scented with nice fragrances to curate any home scent that is desired. Paraffin was first discovered in the mid 1800s when chemists learned how to separate the waxy substance from petroleum and due to it’s waxy properties, it was experimented with and made into a candle. Due to it being a by-product of the petroleum industry, it’s incredibly cost efficient to market because the waxy substance is being produced regardless of it’s usage in candles or not. However there is a major downside to paraffin that isn’t the smell like tallow, paraffin contains toxic materials that are dangerous to breathe in for long periods at a time and emit toxic soot similar to diesel exhaust.
“U.S. retail sales of candle products are estimated at approximately $3.14 billion annually. (Source: Mintel, 2013).” How many of these candle sales are made by companies who used paraffin? It’s unknown however, we can assume a vast majority to it’s accessibility in grocery stores and major department stores. It’s not common knowledge that paraffin candles emit soot that is toxic to breathe in and perhaps that’s intentional. I’ll leave that up to you to decide. But I will say anyone who begins a serious business making candles and finds this information, I’m sure they will not choose paraffin for their candles.
Soy
Soy wax is fairly new considering tallow and even paraffin. Soy wax for candle usage was discovered in 1991. “Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. The oil is then extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated.” Soy wax is a common alternative to paraffin but has raised some concerns regarding it’s impact on deforestation and its contribution to global industrialization. Soy wax in comparison to paraffin wax is considered non-toxic and safe to breathe in. It’s a common alternative to paraffin wax because of it’s non-toxic properties and being extremely inexpensive. Soy wax also doesn’t have a particular strong scent on its own so it makes it easy to pair with other scents. However, due to it’s environmental risks and supporting of global deforestation, it’s not popular among people who are aware of the soybean industry and its ill effects.
Coconut
Coconut candles are made by cold-pressing the coconut meal into an oil, the melting the oil and wicking it either by pouring the wax into a container with a wick or hand-dipping. Coconut wax is often times mixed with beeswax or soy wax to aid in common issues with burnability of soy candles. It can also be mixed with beeswax to make a smoother more consistent burn. Coconut wax is much more environmentally friendly, soot free, and highly regarded due to it’s fairly lower cost. However there is a downside, coconut wax has a relatively low melting point so it can be difficult to maintain form in hot climates.
Beeswax
Beeswax candles have been used for thousands of years in ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and many more places. However, pure beeswax candles were costly and difficult to obtain so were reserved for religious ceremonies and the upper class. Not much has changed from then. Beeswax remains the most expensive wax for candle making on the market, the most difficult and inconsistent to obtain, and the most expensive candles to buy for personal use. That is the drawback but the benefits are immense. Beeswax produces negative ions that neutralize any odors in a space. They clean the air, are safe to breathe in, soot free, and environmentally friendly due to the small amount of processing that goes on.
Why We Use Beeswax
We chose beeswax for our candles because we’re confident in beeswax’s low environmental impact and we choose beekeepers we can trust to ethically extract the beeswax from the hives. We can be assured that beeswax has and will always be a safe candle to light, never producing soot or containing chemicals that are dangerous to inhale. We’re confident in the way beeswax burns, bringing a warm ambiance to any environment. Not to mention, the scent of natural beeswax is incomparable to any other wax. It’s light honey-like aroma is not overpowering and makes a nice scent on its own but pairs well with pure essential oils.
While the cost of beeswax may seem intimating, beeswax candles have a much higher melting point than any other candle so the cost evens out due to the long lasting properties of a beeswax candle. It’s worth while to do your own research if you enjoy burning candles like we do, because prior to the creation of our business, we ourselves did not know a lot about the different types of waxes. It’s easy to buy what’s available at your local store but like us, we believe other people are waking up to what’s the easiest and most readily available, may not be the best for your overall wellness.
Beeswax candles have been enjoyed for time immemorial for good reason. There are many waxes to choose from, however it’s important to do your own research on what you are breathing in. Beeswax candles have been long enjoyed because beeswax is pure, and naturally occurring in nature. When burning beeswax candles, an ambient orange glow is produced which creates a feeling of coziness in the air. Beeswax candles help promote feelings of comfort, relaxation and calmness. That could be another reason why beeswax candles were used in religious ceremonies, they have a special feeling about them. When mixed with pure essential oils such as lavender, the natural honey scent of beeswax mixes with the floral herby notes of lavender and creates a new scent of its own.
Like the Romans, Greeks, and Ancient Egyptians, we too can use beeswax candles for our spiritual wellness. Whether it’s for praying, meditation, or just to create a feeling of comfort in your environment, beeswax candles can help ground an individual and ease away anxieties of the day. Some use candles to pray just for the duration the candle is lit, others burn the candle just to get the scent in the room, while some may burn the candle for longer periods of time. Beeswax candles can also promote better sleep, increased mental clarity, aid in deepen meditative states or a natural way to clean a room of any impurities.
