Bees wax has many uses.
Beeswax has many uses around the house, here are some of the more common:
- Beeswax is produced when honeybees consume honey. It takes about 8-1/2 lbs. of honey to produce one pound of beeswax.
- Beeswax is great lubricant for oiling furniture joints. It is also good for smooth movement of doors and windows.
- Beeswax is a regular component for mustache creams.
- You can polish your granite counter tops regularly with molten beeswax to keep them shiny bright! Just apply the beeswax, allow it to dry up and then wipe it off with a suede piece of cloth.
- In archery, bow strings are bees waxed both in order to reduce friction as well as to protect the string from damage due to dirt.
- To waterproof leather boots & gloves, rub beeswax on to outerwear.
- Baking pans are coated with beeswax for a natural non-stick surface.
- Beeswax is used to coat the sewing thread to strengthen it and to give it a smooth coating so that it is less likely to catch or snag material while sewing.
- Beeswax has a melting point between 146 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Burning of beeswax candles produces a white rounded flame, giving a wonderful warm glow.
Benefits of Beeswax
Pure Beeswax is one of nature’s perfect products. Prized since ancient times, fragrant beeswax candles burn longer and cleaner than ordinary wax candles. In fact, pure beeswax has the highest melting point of any known wax. Their slow, smokeless flames gives off more light and heat than other waxes and are virtually drip less “if kept away from drafts and fans”. Made by industrious honey bees from the nectar of flowers, beeswax has a sweet, natural fragrance all its own. Initially beeswax candles may seem to be more expensive than paraffin candles, yet this is not so. Paraffin wax burns away much quicker than beeswax nullifying any price disparity since beeswax has a much longer burn time.
Negative Ion Emitter
Beeswax is the only fuel to emit (Negative Ions) when burning. Dust, hair, odors and other things floating in the air are doing so because the particles are positively charged. Beeswax candles purify the air instead of giving off fumes and black soot as paraffin candles do. Allergens and toxins become positively charged through static electricity created by heating systems and friction caused by normal activity (such as when you walk across the carpet). This ensures that the fumes are non-toxic and non-allergenic. Pure beeswax candles help rid your home of toxins by emitting negatively, charged ions, as well as, burning away positively charged particles that float toward the burning halo flame. This process cleans the air of positive ions such as dust, odors, toxins, pollen, mold, dust mites feces, and viruses. This is beneficial for people who have allergies, and environmental sensitivities and who are diagnosed with asthma. Paraffin is a bi-proouct of the petroleum industry. It is what is left after all the gas and oil is removed from the crude oil. It needs to be bleached and scented using a chemical process, and when burned, will release these toxins and impurities into the air. People with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems should be especially aware of this. I only use 100% beeswax in the Candles I make.
What’s so great about beeswax as a candle and as a fuel in general? First and foremost, beeswax candles burn brighter, longer, and cleaner than any other candle! The flame emits essentially the same light spectrum as the sun and in the process of burning emits, negative ions that are known to clean the air and invigorate the body (reportedly, stimulating the puitary gland, thus increasing creativity, intuition, and dream activity). WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BURN ANYTHING OTHER THAN PURE BEESWAX CANDLES IN THEIR HOMES?
Normally, burn about two or three times a week for half an hour. In flu season and when someone is sick, burn more often during the week. With parties or gatherings, burn the candles to prevent sickness and breath better!
Finally, this 100% natural fuel created by bees is naturally scented by the honey and nectar of flowers packed into the honeycombs and gives off a subtle fragrance as it burns and acts as a whole room air freshener . In short, it’s a natural substance straight from mother nature.
THE ART OF BURNING BEESWAX CANDLES & CARE
Whenever you light your candle, make sure the wick is trimmed to the proper length, 1/4″ or so works best and prevents the holder from overheating and cracking.
Beeswax candles should be put out by dunking the wick into the pool of liquid wax and straightening it up again (for a dunk stick you can use a chopstick, a toothpick, etc.). Or use a candle snuffer to put out your candle. Never blow out a beeswax candle. The cotton wicks we put into each of these candles will continue to smolder if blown out. Smoldering can char the wick and inhibit proper burning.
BEESWAX CANDLE CARE AND BURNING TIPS
How do I decide what candle size to use?
Choose candles based on your burning style. If you like to burn candles for a short period of time, Tapers, Tubes and Bases are a good choice. If you like to burn candles for many hours at a time, Pillars are best. When Votives are burned in the proper sized votive cup they can be burned for various lengths of time. Columns are less sensitive than Tapers, Tubes and Bases and are also suited to various burn times.
How do I properly burn a Pillar candle?
Pillars must be burned on a heat and flame resistant plate. Before lighting your Pillar, trim the wick to ¼” long. For full wax consumption, let a wax pool form to the outer edge of the candle by allowing the pillar to burn for at least 3 hours each time you light it (sometimes longer depending on draft, temperature etc.) This prevents the Pillar from burning a hole just down the center. As the Pillar burns down, you can fold the edges into the wax pool for an even burn throughout. If the flame gets too small pour some melted wax out. Instead of blowing out the candle, dunk the wick into the wax pool and straighten. When you light your candle, light the base of the wick not the tip.
Hurricane lamps or glass lanterns are not recommended for beeswax pillars as the lamp holds in the heat and reduces oxygen flow to the flame. This may cause the melted candle wax to spill over the side or may cause the wick to smoke up the glass.
How do I properly burn natural beeswax Candlesticks?
These candles must fit snugly in a secure holder. Generally the wicks don’t need to be trimmed, but if they appear too long you can trim it to ½”. Do not cut too short as this may cause dripping to occur (the wax is being melted, but there is not be enough flame to burn it up before it spills over the edge). If a carbon cap develops on the tip of the wick, extinguish the candle, trim the wick and relight. We do not use chemical additives to harden the outside edge of our candles to prevent dripping. Under most conditions natural beeswax candles are virtually dripless, however all candles are sensitive to drafts. When a candle flame is exposed to a draft, it may start to flicker. If your candle drips, extinguish, remove the candle from the draft and relight. Forced air furnaces, ceiling fans and quick movements around the candle all create draft. Extinguish the flame of your candle before it comes in contact with your holder as the heat may crack glass holders.
How do I properly burn a natural beeswax Votive candle?
Votives require a votive cup as they are designed to fully liquefy. Candles in glass cups require special attention. Make sure to choose an appropriate holder, as the thickness of the glass cup will affect the quality of the burn. Thick holders draw heat away from the Votive and you may end-up with an incomplete burn. Usually the wick doesn’t need to be trimmed on a Votive unless the flame is flickering and producing smoke you can put a teaspoon of water or coarse salt in the bottom of the Votive cup before placing the votive in it. This makes for easier removal of the wick tab and wax after the candle has burned down. You may also place the cup in the freezer for easy wax removal. The easiest way to remove beeswax from your holder is to place it in the freezer for a few hours. Votives have a large wick tab to hold the wick up and centered. The tab also helps disperse the heat for a safer burn.
How do I properly burn natural beeswax Tealights?
Tealights must be burned in the Tealight cups we provide or other cups made specifically for them. They are designed to fully liquefy. You don’t need to trim the wick and they are are best burned in one lighting. If you choose to extinguish the candle it may not relight if less than half the wax is left. Thick holders draw the heat away from the Tealight and you may get an incomplete burn. Tealights have a large wick tab to hold the wick up and centered, the tab disperses the heat for a safer burn.
*Never leave burning candles unattended. Keep out of reach of children. Remove any potential flammable material from the vicinity of candle.*
To help conserve our environment, you will receive 50 cents off your next purchase if you return our glass honey jar.