Beeswax Info

About Beeswax

Honeybees consume honey and pollen to produce beeswax. It takes about 6kg of honey to produce 1kg of beeswax. Honeybees collect nectar from approximately two million flowers to make 1kg of honey, so nectar is collected from 12 million flowers to make 6kg of honey to make 1kg of beeswax!

The distinctive fragrance of beeswax is from the propolis, pollen and honey in the honeycomb.

Beeswax has a melting point between 60°C and 65°C. Over time, the beeswax will develop a whitish coating called bloom. This is the result of softer oils rising to the surface. Rub the candle with a soft cloth or warm it with a hairdryer to remove. Bloom has no effect on how your beeswax candle will burn. Beeswax candles produce a white rounded flame, giving a wonderful warm glow.

For efficient burning of beeswax candles, keep away from drafts. Burn candles only on a fireproof surface. Never leave a burning candle unattended, a burning candle needs your attention.

About Our Beeswax Crafts

All of our crafts are made with 100% pure NZ beeswax.
Our beeswax crafts are all handmade by us with love in Baton Valley, Nelson.

We use only unbleached 100% cotton wicks for beeswax candles.

Being handcrafted, some slight irregularities may occur in our candles.

Beeswax does not smoke when it burns and has a pleasant honey aroma.

The colour of our natural beeswax candles may vary due to the different sources of pollen, nectar and propolis collected by the honeybees.

What is beeswax?

Beeswax is the material honeybees produce and use to build the unique beehive structure with its symmetrical and hexagonal honeycomb cells. Beeswax is clean and non-toxic, making it perfect as a bright and clean-burning fuel source in beeswax candles.

Beeswax is hypo-allergenic, which is great for people with allergies or sensitivities.

Beeswax vs Paraffin

Paraffin wax is a non-renewable wax that is from the production of petroleum, coal, or oil shale. Paraffin is treated with chemicals and is highly toxic. It isn’t a clean or bright burning fuel source. Burning Paraffin wax releases toxins into the air, which settle in our environments and lungs and can cause irritations and respiratory problems.

Beeswax is Non-Toxic

Beeswax candles contain none of the harmful chemicals found in paraffin wax.
Paraffin candles contain a plethora of toxic chemicals, such as benzene and toluene.
Beeswax candles naturally burn significantly longer than paraffin candles.
Paraffin candles burn quickly, even with the addition of chemicals. Manufacturers add stearic acid 4 to increase burn time, but it's still not as efficient as beeswax.

Beeswax is Clean Burning

Beeswax candles burn very cleanly when the wick is trimmed properly, producing hardly any soot.
Paraffin candles produce a lot of soot. This soot stains and covers the walls in your home, leaving streaks of black residue.

Beeswax Burns Brightly

The light emitted by a beeswax candle is much stronger and brighter than that of any other candle.
Since paraffin wax has a lower melting point, it has a weaker, less brilliant flame than a beeswax candle.

Beeswax is Renewable

Beeswax is a renewable resource. Humanity has embraced beeswax for thousands of years!
Paraffin wax is made from fossil fuels and does nothing to help lessen the stranglehold oil has on us.

Beeswax is a Better Value

Paraffin candles may initially seem cheaper, but that misrepresentation of savings dissolves when comparing their significantly shorter burn times to the burn times of beeswax candles.

Switch to Beeswax Candles!

100% Pure beeswax candles burn slower than other types of candles.
Beeswax burns brighter, and cleaner and purifies the air as it burns. Beeswax candles are the cleanest candle you can buy.
As the beeswax burns, it releases negative ions which trap dust and debris in the air, making your air cleaner – a great candle for allergy sufferers.
Beeswax does not smoke when it burns and has a pleasant honey aroma, which is added naturally by the bees that make the wax.

General Safety and Burning Tips for Beeswax Candles

Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Keep candles away from children and pets.

Keep candles away from flammable materials.

Burn candles only in a draft-free environment away from fans, open windows, air ducts, etc. This will help to prevent any dripping or smoking.

Do not add foreign substances to the melted wax pool (matches, paper, etc).

Light the wick from the base of the wick, where the wick comes out of the candle, to allow the beeswax to absorb into the wick. A lighter works best.

Properly extinguish the candle flame, do not blow it out - this will cause splatters and smouldering wicks.

To get the most out of your candle – extinguish your candle every 2-3 hours, trim the wick to 0.5-0.8cm and relight, this will control the size of the flame and avoid the wick mushrooming which can result in unnecessary soot.