Beeswax is an extremely popular and versatile candle wax that’s been a part of candle making for thousands of years.
Below you’ll learn what beeswax candles are, what makes them so popular, and what to know when using beeswax in your candles.
What Are Beeswax Candles?
Beeswax is the most natural wax you can get, as it is made by bees and doesn’t require any chemicals or artificial ingredients to harvest or produce.
Beeswax is made as part of the honey-making process. Bees secrete the wax and use it to build the hexagonal honeycombs we’re all familiar with to store honey.
Beekeepers then remove the honeycombs and separate the honey from the wax.
The wax is then cleaned, filtered, and melted down to sell to candle makers.
Beeswax is a popular option for those who prefer an all-natural wax that burns cleanly with a golden glow.
Benefits of Beeswax Candles
Long Burn Time
The high melting point and hardness of beeswax make it the longest-burning candle wax.
Beeswax candles are a naturally long burning wax without the need for additives commonly used in other waxes like paraffin.
100% Natural
Beeswax is considered the most natural of candle waxes.
Chemical processing is not required, and bees, not factories, produce beeswax.
As long as you keep the wick trimmed, you’ll enjoy a clean burn that is safe and non-irritable for people with asthma or allergies.
Naturally Scented
Beeswax has a natural scent that is often sweet and can fill a room with a great aroma.
The scent will vary depending on the location of the bees and the source of nectar around them.
Hundreds of floral sources for bees can produce mild to bold scents in the wax.
Sustainable
As a byproduct of the beekeeping industry, beeswax is a sustainable and renewable resource.
What’s the Difference Between White and Yellow Beeswax?
The color of beeswax can vary because bees, not factories, make beeswax. The location of the bees and the flowers they are harvesting will impact the wax color.
These factors can lead to different shades of yellow and white wax.
Where in the bee hive the wax is located will also determine the color. For candle makers, you’ll be using either honeycomb wax or the wax from honeycomb cappings.
Honeycomb wax has a yellowish-golden color. Although all beeswax starts as white, the honeycomb wax is exposed to honey, pollen, and bees, turning it yellowish-golden.
Cappings wax is used in the hive to seal the honey in the honeycomb. This wax is very light in color with a more subtle aroma.
In some cases, yellow beeswax is bleached to achieve the white color through a natural filtration process or chemical treatment.
You’ll want to verify with your beeswax supplier to get a clear answer for the source of their beeswax.
When Should I Use White or Yellow Beeswax?
Yellow beeswax has a sweet aroma from the honey and is the wax you want if you’re looking for the natural fragrance of beeswax.
If you’re planning on coloring the candle or adding fragrance, go with white beeswax.
What Types of Candles Can You Make with Beeswax?
Beeswax is versatile and is suitable for container, tealight, taper, wax melts, votive, and pillar candles.
Because beeswax has a higher melt point and solid structure, it’s an excellent option for pillar, taper, and molded candles.
Can you Make Scented Candles with Beeswax?
Many prefer to leave beeswax unscented since it can have a naturally sweet and pleasant aroma. Beeswax has a subtle scent, and achieving a strong hot throw can be challenging.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use fragrance.
Beeswax has great scent retention and is an excellent option with fragrances like vanilla, cinnamon, and lavender.
However, something to remember is that beeswax doesn’t mix well with all added scents.
Some fragrances may clash with the balance of the beeswax, so it’s best to test a small batch before committing to larger projects.
What Wick Should I Use with Beeswax?
Beeswax is highly viscous, has a high melt point, and can vary depending on where the beeswax originated and how it was harvested.
All these points lead to a problematic wicking process for beeswax.
You need a wick that can provide enough fuel to generate the heat necessary to melt the candle properly.
I recommend starting with a 100% cotton square braid wick, like from premium craft wicks. Square braid wicks are thicker and designed for the viscosity of beeswax candles.
An alternative is the ECO series wicks.