
My kids and I have been a fan of beeswax candles for a long time.
These are the perfect inclusion to any room to make it feel more cozy and inviting, and they come with a whole host of benefits over traditional paraffin wax candles.
When these aromatic candles burn, they release negative ions. These particles bond with positively charged ions, such as dust, pollen, and toxins in the air. The result is cleaner, healthier air.
But with any else on this earth, not all things are entirely free of drawbacks. Every story has both sides, and beeswax candles are no different.
In this post, I will discuss the pros and cons of using beeswax candles this festive season. Let’s look at some pros and cons before you plan to buy them for your home or for gifting purposes.
Pros of Beeswax Candles
Before discussing the real advantages that come with these beautiful aroma candles, let us have a look at what they are in brief.
Beeswax candles are made from the wax that is produced by bees. This wax is then purified and used to make the candles. The candles generally are yellow-colored with a rich texture.
Some of the best benefits that come with these candles are:
1- Smells Great
Well, this one is obvious, and you will certainly not buy a candle if it doesn’t smell great, right?
The best thing about these candles is that they come with a very sweet and light honey-like fragrance that can make your home feel warm and inviting.
And as I mentioned before, the smell they produce is also good for your health as it can help clear your sinuses.
2- Aesthetically Pleasing
Beeswax candles have a natural and beautiful appearance. They come in different colors like ivory, yellow, and even honey-gold.
The candles also have a smooth, creamy texture that makes them very pleasant to look at.
Additionally, when you burn them in your room, they burn much stronger and brighter with a natural bright light that is as pleasing as the spectrum of the sun in winter.
This all simply means you can use them as decoration pieces without worrying about them looking out of place.
Since beeswax candles also come in different shapes and sizes, you can choose the ones that best suit your needs and preferences.
Beeswax pillar candles are the ones I love the most for burning in my home. And for gifting purposes, I have many times bought beeswax candles in a masonry jar. My friends just loved them.
3- Natural Ionizer/Purifier
You might have heard of air purifiers that come with an ionizer. These devices help in reducing the toxins and pollutants in the air and make it healthier for you to breathe.
Beeswax candles work similarly. When you burn them, they release negative ions.
These particles then bond with the positively charged particles like dust, pollen, and toxins in the air. The air around you becomes cleaner and healthier.
And not just that, these ions also help in reducing static electricity in the air. This is the reason why you feel more relaxed and calm when you are near a beeswax candle.
4- Eco-Friendly with No Toxins
Beeswax is a natural byproduct of beekeeping, and no chemicals or pesticides are used in its production. The candles are completely non-toxic, eco-friendly, and produced with renewable resources.
This means, when burned in the room, beeswax candles do not release harmful chemicals or pollutants into the air like paraffin wax candles that can be harmful to kids, pets, or the aged.
Additionally, these candles are made of natural materials that can be easily broken down and reused.
5- Burns Clean and Slow to Hold On to the Goodness for Long
One of the best things about beeswax pillar candles is that they burn much cleaner and slower than paraffin wax candles.
On average, a beeswax candle can burn for about 20% longer than a paraffin wax candle of the same size.
The time your beeswax candles will burn is generally determined by the type and size of the candle you are using.
- Beeswax tea light composed of 100% beeswax should last for approximately 8-9 hours.
- Votives 2 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall can burn for about 15-17 hours.
- If you use beeswax pillar candles over 5 inches in diameter – they can burn for as long as 60-80 hours.
This means you don’t have to replace them often, and they are excellent value for your money. Additionally, they produce very little soot when burned, so they won’t leave a messy residue on your walls or ceiling.
Paraffin wax candles, on the other hand, produce black soot that can be harmful to your health if inhaled.
Beeswax candles also have a lower melting point than paraffin wax candles, so they can be quickly extinguished if needed.
Cons of Using Beeswax Candles
Although beeswax candles come with many benefits, there are a few disadvantages you should be aware of before using them.
1- They are Expensive
The biggest disadvantage of beeswax candles is that they are quite expensive compared to paraffin wax candles. Yes, some of them are about ten times higher than regular paraffin wax candles.
The high price tag is because the production of beeswax is a time-consuming process, and not many manufacturers are involved in it.
To gather enough nectar to produce 500 gms (18 oz) of honey, a hive of bees must fly an estimated 56,000 miles (90,000 km).
Also, the success rate for extracting honey from beeswax is very low. According to the study, only 1-2 pounds of beeswax may be collected for every 100 pounds of honey produced.
On top of that, the tools and materials required for making beeswax candles are also quite expensive.
If you have a tight budget, these candles might not be the best option.
2- They Might Not Be Completely Natural
Although most of the beeswax candles available in the market are made of pure and natural beeswax, some manufacturers may add other materials to them to make them cheaper.
When you are buying, keep in mind that the ingredients used are not fixed. Some may have added colors, while some have essential oils to make them smell nice.
This also means that some candles may have 5% beeswax (with a significant component being paraffin), and many of them include 70-80% percent pure beeswax.
So, before you buy a beeswax candle, make sure to check the label carefully to see if it is made of 100% pure beeswax or not. This is important if you desire the best benefits of using scented beeswax candles.
3- Prone to Allergic Reactions
Although 100% beeswax is considered safe for most people, some may be allergic to it.
Especially when there are other waxes and colorants used to lower the costs and to make them beautiful, they can be the main reason for an allergy.
The symptoms of a beeswax allergy include itching, swelling, redness, and difficulty breathing.
If you find any of these symptoms after using a beeswax candle, it is best to stop using it and see a doctor.
TIP: Avoid using beeswax candles if you are allergic to bees or bee stings.
4- They Require Special Care
Beeswax candles are quite delicate and need to be handled with care. The high melting point of beeswax makes it susceptible to heat damage.
So, ensure to store them in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Also, avoid touching them with your bare hands as the natural oils in your skin can damage the candles.
5- They Might Not Be Vegan-Friendly
Beeswax candles are not vegan-friendly as they are made from the wax secreted by bees. So, if you are vegan or against animal cruelty, these candles might not be the best option.
That said, stores like Amazon and Etsy have started selling vegan beeswax candles that are made from plant-based waxes like soy wax, coconut wax, etc.
So, if you want to use beeswax candles but don’t want to harm the bees, then you can go for these vegan options.
These are good for home decorations or as a gift to someone on festive occasions such as Christmas, Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, etc.

How to Burn Beeswax Candles – With all the Safety?
Now that you know the pros and cons of burning beeswax candles, let’s see the right way of doing it.
The first thing is to remove the paper label before burning it. If you don’t do this, the label will get charred and will become difficult to remove.
Next, trim the candle wick to 1/4″ before lighting it. If you don’t do this carefully, the flame will be large and can cause the wax to melt quickly, making a mess.
While burning, don’t leave your candles unattended. If you leave the room for any reason, extinguish the candle first.
Also, keep your candles away from children and pets. They can accidentally knock them over and cause a fire.
It’s also good to always use a pillar plate or a pillar holder when you are burning beeswax candles. This will help catch the dripping wax and keep the candle in place.
Set the candle on a firm, flat surface that is heat resistant. And avoid burning them in any type of hurricane glass or other tall-walled containers – they can cause the wax to melt quickly and make a mess.
Finally, while burning your beeswax candles, keep them away from drafts to avoid any wax build-up.
It’s best to choose a place that is far from any type of flammable materials like curtains, blankets, fans, open windows, air ducts, etc. This is essential to avoid any kind of wax dripping or smoking.
Reed Diffuser vs. Candles: What’s a Better Option for My R?
Many people just love to enjoy the flicker of candlelight that produces an appealing ambiance in a room.
And when it’s a scented candle, the love for it becomes everlasting.
In fact, lighting a few scented candles in a room can add a cozy effect that cannot be replicated by any other means.
However, when it comes to diffusing essential oils at home, Reed diffusers are better than Candle diffusers due to their flame-free feature.
As a reed diffuser does not require any heating (and disperses the scent into the air naturally), it is much safer than any other option for diffusing essential oils into your home or office.
Especially if you have kids at home, you should never risk lightning-scented candles in their bedroom.
Reed diffusers can be a much better choice for them.
You can also use them in a bathroom, kitchen, or even your large living room.
Is Beeswax Better Than Soy Wax – What’s the Difference Between Them?
When it comes to buying candles, remember that there are a few different types of wax that can be used.
The most popular types on the market are beeswax and soy wax. So, what’s the difference between them? And which is better?
Beeswax is made from the wax that bees produce to build their honeycombs. It’s a natural product with a variety of benefits. For example, it’s hypoallergenic, long-lasting, and clean-burning.
It’s also believed to emit negative ions, improving air quality.
On the other hand, soy wax is made from soybean oil. It’s a renewable resource and is said to be eco-friendly.
Soy candles also have a number of benefits, such as being clean-burning and emitting little to no soot. They’re also said to be slower-burning, so they last longer than beeswax candles.
So, which is better? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re concerned about the environment, then soy wax might be the better option.
However, if you’re looking for a natural product with various benefits, then beeswax is the way to go.
The Conclusion
100% Beeswax candles have a lot of benefits, but they also come with some disadvantages.
The majority of the candles that you find in the market are made of non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials. These candles burn cleaner and longer than traditional paraffin wax candles.
But since these candles are expensive to buy and come with certain other drawbacks, you will need to keep those in mind before you can decide for yourself whether they are worth the investment or not.
Meen Smith is a nurse by profession who loves writing online, spending time with her family and caring for the elderly. She has already worked as an associate editor on various moms, babies, home appliances, kitchen, and healthy living blogs. In her spare time, she also enjoys drawing, reading/writing kindle eBooks and improving her skills a bit.