Beeswax Candles Vs Soy: What’s All the “Buzz” About?
Hey guys, so you enjoy the natural beauty of candles? Beeswax and soy varieties are the top two contenders, as both of them are safer to use instead of the traditional paraffin.
Although beeswax candles are supposed to be the best kind, soy candles come in a close second. Let’s take a good look at what you can expect from both of these beauties right here and now.
They’re Both “Clean Burning”
One real negative about traditional paraffin wax is that the candles give off black soot as they burn – I’m sure you’ve noticed this with anything in that department you might have gotten from the gift store, etc.
Like beeswax candles, Soy candles are made of all natural ingredients and do not contain any petroleum by-products, such as oil.
So they both burn slower than paraffin, and cleaner too!
Where Do Beeswax Candles Come From?
Beeswax candles are made from – yep you guessed it – all natural ingredients made by honeybees. When bees eat honey, they produce this wax 🐝.
Beekeepers filter the beeswax from the honeycombs, cool it and sell it for use in making all kinds of natural beauty products, like lip balms and glosses, soap and candles. Beeswax candles are the most natural candles on the market today!
🐝 Beeswax is a natural beauty product staple with much to offer – In my copy of The Handcrafter’s Companion, I learned a great deal about its function, especially with homemade lip gloss!
You can find them in tapers, votives, tea lights and pillar candles. For those with sensitive allergies, beeswax candles allow them to enjoy the warmth and beauty of a burning candle.
Why Both “Make Scents”!
You don’t need to add any scent to a bees wax candle because the wax is naturally scented with honey. Therefore beeswax candles rarely have any additives and this includes color. The natural yellow color adds to the ambiance of the candle and the scent of honey will perfume the air.
Candles that are pre-scented give off their aromas even when they are not lit. For this reason, lots of people acquire highly scented soy candles simply for the fragrant effect. Whether you choose pillar, taper or votive soy candles, you can choose from a wide variety of scents or combination of scents.
Or you can add your own natural scents via essential oils which have more health-promoting properties that “fragrance oil” scents.
In addition, beeswax candles rarely have extra scents added whereas soy candles, if you get them pre-scented, will hold the scent until the candle is completely burned out.
Colors
The color of the wax used in making beeswax candles can vary from white to a light brown. In some cases, candle makers may add bleach to the wax to lighten the color of the beeswax.
Candles that have been bleached may not have as much of a honey scent to them, but you won’t be able to smell the scent of bleach.
The bleach also helps to filter the beeswax. A candle made from unfiltered bees wax may contain small bits of wood or even parts of the bees.
What’s the Powder on My Beeswax Candles?
Over time, you may notice that there is a white powder on the outside of your beeswax candles. This does not mean that your candles are no longer any good – the development of this powder is a natural occurrence with beeswax taper candles and is called “blooming”.
You can easily wipe the powder off of the beeswax candle. It’s actually a good thing to observe; this sign of “blooming” is a sign that your bees wax taper candles have been made from pure beeswax.
Cost
One of the disadvantages of using beeswax taper candles is that they cost more than soy or paraffin candles. Which leads me to the next part….
Pure Yellow BEESWAX Blocks 100% Natural, Craft Grade
🐝 Thinking of DIYing Your Own Beeswax Candles?
If you like making your own candles, I’ve got good news: beeswax candles are some of the the easiest ones to make at home. Beeswax is sold in sheets and blocks, and you don’t have to bother with any additives, colors or candle scents.
The beeswax that you buy is already filtered so you don’t need to bother with lightening it. If you have the other items on hand, such as wicks, jars, etc., pretty much everything you need if you want to work with soy wax, you should be in good hands.
All you have to do is melt it down and pour it into your molds and let them set.
So the next time you hear someone say “mind your own beeswax” you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about LOL…(Couldn’t resist going there!🐝 )
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