Candles have been used as a source of light and to illuminate celebrations for more than 5000 years. Dating back as far as to the Egyptians, it is believed that the Ancient Egyptians used rushlights which was a type of candle made by soaking the dried pitch or core of the
rush plant in melted animal fat or grease.
Fast forward to the Romans, tallow candles were the most widely used types of candles, because tallow was cheap and easily available. However, in the 1500's, beeswax was introduced as an alternative to tallow, because beeswax candles burn brighter and longer with less smoke. Ancient Romans are also credited with developing the wicked candles we know today.
Centuries later candles are still an essential part of our lives, perhaps now for different reasons. If like me, you have a love affair with an open flame flickering in the background while you listen to the crackling of the wick ~ you will understand the sentiment behind why candles have become part of most homes around the world. Lighting a candle after a long hard day not only is aesthetically pleasing but carries the added benefit of being a great stress reliever and aiding in relaxation while creating an ambience in your home.
While every candle has its own unique traits and special attributes, my love for beeswax (and bees in general) started many years ago when I visited a bee farm in South Africa. I fell in love with the colour of beeswax, the natural bright yellows and tinted browns that is caused by the mixing of pollen oils into the honeycomb. The process that bees follow when making honey and beeswax has always fascinated me and when I was pregnant with my daughter, her baby shower was bee themed and so was her first bedroom! My love for beeswax and its incredible variety of uses stems from a deep connection with nature and the many benefits that it holds within its composition. Getting to know beeswax and all its incredible uses and benefits has been a personal journey for me and every day my admiration for this natural resource just continues to grow. In the same breath, working with beeswax and perfecting the art of chandlery is no mean feat and has been a enormous learning curve for me and one that has instilled a deep passion and love for beeswax products.
Being a natural and renewable resource, beeswax is the greenest candle you can burn. Did you know that beeswax is antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, non-toxic and naturally smells like honey? Beeswax releases a sweet honey scent as it burns, which becomes more pronounced when the candle flame is extinguished. Volatile organic compounds also known as aroma compounds are the ones responsible for the honey aroma. The volatile compounds found in flowers’ nectar are transferred to honey and provides a happy relaxing feeling.
Beeswax candles have the ability to purify and pull toxins from the air by releasing negative ions into the air that binds to positively charged airborne particles such as dust and pollen to neutralise pollutants and create a cleaner environment. Additionally, beeswax candles do not produce toxins when burned, making them a more environmentally friendly and healthier option for use in the home.
Beeswax has a much higher melting point than most other waxes and in turn burns much slower, lasting much longer and brighter. The light emitted by a beeswax candle is much stronger and brighter than that of any other candle. A beeswax candle is much with a light that is similar to the light spectrum of sunlight. This is thanks to beeswax’s high melting point of approximately 149° and brighter than that of any other candles.
Yes, beeswax can be more expensive compared to other types of wax used in candle-making, such as paraffin or soy wax. This is because beeswax is a natural product that requires considerable effort and resources to harvest and process. But, each and every one of my candles are individually made and hand-poured in small batches, as well as tested against wick performance ensuring only the finest quality ~ making it well worth the investment.
Our Bee colours beeswax wood wick candle has quickly become our best seller. Its unique design comes together with a bottom layer of black beeswax, a centre layer of natural yellow beeswax and a third and top layer of natural white beeswax. Each layer carries the same fragrance right through, ensuring a subtle and gentle scent that isn't overpowering. My favourite fragrance will always be the natural "unscented" beeswax honey fragrance option, but our fragranced candles are gently scented with a large variety of natural fragrance oils, so there's a fragrance for everyone.
Last but not least our candles are topped with our signature beeswax melt, which carries the same scent as the candle. This beeswax melt can either be taken off and placed in a wax melt burner, or can be burnt with the candle, creating a beautiful effect.
Our wood wick candles are eco-friendly and make a crackling sound when burning.
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