Why beeswax candles?
Why beeswax candles?
Maybe you know the following situation: It's winter, it's cold outside and you're sitting comfortably on the sofa, drinking a hot drink and reading a good book or watching your favorite series. To create the perfect ambience, candles are a must. But which candles are best to buy? It's easy to grab the first thing you see in the supermarket or a shop selling decorative items. But have you ever thought about what these candles are made of?
Raw materials paraffin, stearin, beeswax
There are big differences between cheap candles and candles made from real, pure beeswax. Most candles in German stores, namely around three quarters of the range, are made from hard paraffin. Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum processing. These candles are therefore not sustainable because they are made from a fossil raw material. In addition, burning paraffin can release harmful substances.
The second most commonly used alternative is stearin, which is made from vegetable and animal fats and oils. The largest proportion of this is palm oil. The candles are of a higher quality than paraffin candles. However, stearin candles are not harmless either. Palm oil is also controversial, as huge areas of rainforest are cleared in Asia to grow oil palms. So you can't always speak of sustainability here either, even though renewable raw materials are used in production.
The third raw material from which candles can be made is beeswax. Candles made from beeswax must not contain any additives, and the wax is only available in limited quantities. This makes beeswax candles more expensive than the usual paraffin and stearin candles, but it also ensures higher quality and significantly more sustainability, especially in terms of the environmental friendliness of the raw material. Now you know the different materials from which candles can be made.
But how do you know what material a candle is made of?
Unfortunately, there is currently no obligation to label the ingredients of candles. Except for designated beeswax candles, which are required not to contain any additives, it is usually impossible to know what material or mixture of materials the candles are made of. Manufacturers of better and higher quality candles usually label these ingredients to justify the higher price. Cheap candles, on the other hand, are often not labelled and are usually made of paraffin.
Beeswax candles also have other advantages. Paraffin and stearin candles do not give off any smell when they burn, so fragrances have to be added. These can be particularly problematic for allergy sufferers. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, smell pleasantly good by nature and create a feel-good atmosphere without any additives. Wax candles are also very easy to make yourself from wax sheets and wicks. This makes candle rolling a family event in the winter.
Craft sets for beeswax candles from Wachsmann not only contain wax sheets that have been tested for purity and are 100% made in Germany, but also waxed wicks, cookie cutters and Raffa ribbon for decorating the candle creations, as well as easy-to-understand instructions. You can also find information, instructional videos and much more on our website and here in the blog. Regardless of whether and if so which candles are burning at home - we wish you a lovely winter with many cozy hours alone or with your loved ones!