About Beeswax

Beeswax is the all natural, non-toxic waxy substance secreted by bees after they consume honey. Bees use this wax to construct their honeycombs, and when cleaned and filtered, it can be used for beautiful and beneficial candles.

Many people prefer beeswax candles to paraffin candles because as an all natural product. The bees are not harmed in the production of beeswax candles, and because it takes approximately 33 million visits to flowers for bees to create a single pound of beeswax, many individuals also feel beeswax has a stronger spiritual connection to the power and productivity of nature than other types of candles. It is the beeswax candle health benefits that attract most users, however, and those benefits can be substantial depending on the type of candle and the health of the person burning it.

Types of Beeswax Candle Health Benefits

Beeswax candles are reputed to have several health benefits, including…

• Lower Toxicity: Because beeswax candles are all natural, they do not produce toxic byproducts and heavy soot when burned. Some types of candles produce minute traces of chemicals known to be carcinogenic, but this is not a problem with beeswax candles.
• Neutralizing Pollutants: Beeswax candles produce negative ions when burned, and those ions help to neutralize pollutants in the air. This helps eliminate dust, odors, and mold in the atmosphere, easing allergy and asthma symptoms and improving breathing for anyone nearby.
• Safety: Because beeswax candles are all natural and produce no byproducts, they are naturally dripless when used properly and are thus safer to burn. This avoids the risk of burns and other injuries that can result from burning other types of candles improperly.
• Light: Beeswax candles have the brightest, purest light of any candles and are closest to natural sunlight. If the candles are to be used as a light source, this can help minimize eye strain and reduce headaches.

What’s Healthier: Soy Candles or Beeswax Candles?

As paraffin candles gain notoriety for being unhealthy, soy candles have risen in fame as a healthy alternative. Soy wax is a renewable resource, and soy candles are biodegradable. They also last longer than paraffin candles. However, are soy candles truly good for the environment?

We believe beeswax remains the most environmentally friendly candle material. But we’re not just biased.

Here’s why you should choose beeswax candles over soy candles.

• Environmental Impact: The soy industry is closely linked to deforestation. Soybean production has caused forests to be cleared and tilled, leading to destroyed habitats and soil erosion.
  
  The Amazon rainforest is one of the soy industry’s biggest victims. Deforestation there suddenly rose in 2015 and is continuing to rise due to an increase in demand for soy products.
  
  Beeswax, on the other hand, is a natural byproduct from the beekeeping industry. Honey bees’ bodies regularly produce beeswax to construct the combs in their beehives. When beekeepers are ready to collect honey, they remove the wax caps of the honeycomb cells and sell the wax.
  
  
• GMOs and Pesticides: Most soybeans are grown from genetically modified seeds. These seeds have been altered to become resistant to an herbicide, glyphosate, enabling farmers to heavily use herbicides to kill weeds without killing their soy plants.
  
  In addition to herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are commonly used in commercial soybean farming practices. These chemicals pollute the environment, and traces of them may be found in soy wax.
  
  With beeswax, there is a less direct risk of exposure to pesticides. (If the bees are pollinating in fields that have been chemically treated, trace amounts can end up in the beeswax.)

Initially, soy candles may seem like a healthy alternative to paraffin candles. But they’re no match for beeswax once you compare how each is sourced and made.