Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you get your beeswax? Do you keep bees?
Although we do not keep bees ourselves we are very intentional about our source of beeswax. We have developed long-standing relationships with talented and conscientious beekeepers in Western Canada and choose to support them exclusively. By making the choice to support local farmers and purchasing fairly-traded wax we are helping to maintain a farming culture and support bee populations.
What are the benefits of beeswax?
Beeswax is all natural, it is the only natural candle wax that does not require dedicated land use! It is a by-product of the honey farming and food pollination and supports optimal food production. When compared to other waxes, beeswax naturally burns cleaner, brighter, hotter and longer than most choices and does not require chemical processing or additives to enhance these properties. With an inherently pleasant but gentle aroma, beeswax is the perfect choice for the eco-friendly home. Explore our Learn pages to discover more about why we love working with beeswax.
Why would I choose beeswax candles over paraffin candles?
Paraffin is a petroleum by-product. It is bleached and cleaned with solvents and other chemicals to prepare it for candle use. It produces soot and emissions when burned. Because it has a lower melting point and no natural scent it is often chemically hardened and filled with artificial fragrances.
Why would I choose beeswax candles over other natural candles like soy wax or palm wax?
Beeswax candles come in their natural state. The only process the wax goes through is filtering. It doesn’t go rancid like soy wax. Both soy wax and palm wax are hydrogenated and both come with substantial concerns about their environmental impact regarding land use and industrial processing.
How do you make your beeswax candles?
Our candles are all carefully handmade in small batches. Most candles are made by pouring liquid wax into molds but in some cases (such as Birthday, Gala, Hanukkah and Chakra candlesticks), the wick is dipped into wax until it reaches the desired size. Then they are cooled, trimmed, finished, labelled and boxed.
Do you filter your wax?
Yes! We take the extra step to filter beeswax right here in our shop to take out any remaining impurities. This step takes time but it ensures an optimal burning experience. Because we do this ourselves we know that is a completely non-toxic process with no chemical additives.
Do you bleach your white wax?
No. We do not use bleach or dye to make our white beeswax. White beeswax is achieved through an extensive physical filtration process with no toxic additives.
What do you use to color your beeswax?
We use very minute amounts of envirodye to make our colored candles. Our dye is REACH compliant, vegetable based, not tested on animals, is solvent free and has no components listed on the California Prop 65 list.
Why are your candles so expensive?
Our prices are comparable to many other beeswax candle companies’. Pure beeswax is a high value natural material. It’s made by bees – bees that are carefully and painstakingly cared for by Canadian beekeepers. Our candles are made in Canada of 100% solid pure Canadian beeswax. We do not mix or blend our wax with any other waxes or with any offshore beeswax. Plus beeswax candles are much more labour intensive to make than other waxes that can be industrially processed on a large scale. Sometimes 100% pure beeswax candles in a rolled honeycomb format can seem less expensive. At Honey Candles we do not make any candles from rolled honeycomb. While these are more cost effective from a decorative standpoint, they do not burn as long or as efficiently, our focus is on the burning experience.
Are your candles similar to what I would find at my local farmer’s market?
Maybe! Some beekeepers are excellent candle makers, offer a fantastic product and you can be proud to support them. For others candles are a side line to the very difficult and important job of beekeeping and harvesting honey. At Honey Candles our only focus is candles, and we buy wax from beekeepers who choose to leave candle making to the chandeliers. Because we make a lot of candles it allows us to make them consistently, and to choose wick specially for each size and shape we make. We back up our product by offering a lot of information and resources and we are available to help you full time from our customer service desk.
Do you scent your beeswax?
The majority of our candles have no added scent, only the delicate sweet aroma of natural beeswax. By popular demand, we have curated a small line of Honey Candles® Essentials Votives and Tins that are scented with special blends of 100% pure essential oils.
Where do you source your packaging?
We are proud that the vast majority of our paper and cardboard kraft packaging is both recycled and recyclable. We source all of our boxes, paper and labels in North America and are making intentional choices to support other domestic businesses.
Why are my natural beeswax candles different shades?
Beeswax comes off the honey frames in a variety of colors ranging from pale beige to dark caramel. The color of the wax is dependent on what the bees are foraging on at the time and changes with the season and location. Although we do our best to blend our wax to maintain consistency, beeswax is a natural product and colour variation should be expected and appreciated!
Why are my candles covered in a white film?
All 100% pure beeswax candles will develop bloom over time. This whitish film is an indicator of purity and is cherished by candle connoisseurs. Fully developed bloom will sparkle beautifully in the light and look like crystals or snowflakes. Many candle lovers like the look of fully bloomed candles, especially for Christmas. Beeswax candles that have been blended with other waxes will not develop bloom. If you prefer a polished look, simply buff with a soft cloth, nylon stockings or cheesecloth. You can also run a warm blow dryer over the candle.
Why do you say 100% pure beeswax? Isn’t beeswax just beeswax?
We believe that beeswax candles should be made from pure beeswax. Period. But sadly as the popularity of beeswax grows, so do the number of people cutting it with inferior waxes. Beeswax is a high value natural product, but it can also be tricky, and sticky, to work with. We say 100% pure beeswax so you know that you are getting only beeswax in our products. There are no rules stating that something that says beeswax must be 100% beeswax. Read other labels carefully and watch for the words “blend” and “mix” and “made with” to ensure that you getting exactly what you are paying for.
My beeswax pillar burned a tunnel down the middle when I burned it. What happened?
Beeswax pillars need to be burned at least 3 hours to form a pool of melted wax the width of the candle. Then the sides should be ‘hugged’ in to create a level burning surface to ensure the best flame for the whole life of the candle. For some excellent information on proper burning of pure beeswax Honey Candles® pillars and other varieties check out our Candle Care page or search our blogs.