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Do Beeswax Candles Clean the Air?

Last Updated: 02.11.24

 

You will find more info here about how beeswax candles release negative ions in the air, thus cleaning it from positively charged dust, pollen, and other pollutant microparticles. Beeswax candles can be either homemade or mass-produced by pouring the melted wax into the desired molds. They also help relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.

Beeswax candles have been around for centuries. Long before the discovery of electricity, natural beeswax candles were used to bring light into people’s homes. Also, back then, candles were used in religious ceremonies, just as they are today. Beeswax candles have been an important part of people’s lives and rituals for a very long time. 

Candle making has developed independently in many places across the world, throughout history. While beeswax candles were the most commonly used ones, in some parts of the world, candles were made out of different materials, including whale fat. Each particular culture had a specific way of manufacturing candles, according to their own tradition.

Scented candles have been around since the dawn of time, since ancient people used plants, such as cinnamon or vanilla sticks, to give their candles a pleasant smell. At the same time, these scented candles would release a nice odor in the entire room. In the case of ceremonies, these scents had a mystical meaning upon them.

As time went on and technology developed, new types of candles became available on the market. It was in the mid 19th century that an English man patented a candle-making machine that revolutionized the industry at that time. This way, candles began being mass-produced and became much more affordable to the masses.

 

What are beeswax candles?

Beeswax candles are candles made out of 100% natural beeswax that is produced by honey bees. Adult worker honey bees have a special gland on their abdomen that releases wax flakes over an extended time period. Soon after the small wax scales are produced, the bees will start chewing them, this way mixing them with pollen, until they reach a certain texture. 

The result is the building material they use to build the honeycombs they store honey in. When the wax is moldable in the desired shape, the worker bees will start building the combs with it. A certain temperature is needed within the hive for this whole process to take place, between 91 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit.

The freshly produced wax is glass-clear and colorless. When bees start chewing it to make it a suitable building material, the wax will turn opaque. Soon after, the beeswax will turn light yellow because bees mix it with pollen and other substances while manipulating it. Another factor that influences the color of the wax is the bee species that produced it.  

When used for candle making, beeswax is melted and then poured into the desired shape. The fact that beeswax has such a low melting point is both an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time because extra caution is needed when melting it. Only gentle heat sources are to be used and wax should never be allowed to boil as it will change color and properties. 

Since beeswax will become hard again as it cools down, melted wax should be poured into the special containers as soon as possible. In case the candles turn out to be other than perfect, there is no need to worry, as wax can be melted again as many times as needed without losing its precious properties. 

Creating homemade beeswax candles can be both a useful and fun activity, given that you can make the candles to your own liking while enjoying the many benefits they come with. Homemade candles, either scented or not, can also bring an extra income to the family since they are so much appreciated on the market. 

 

 

Benefits of using beeswax candles

One benefit of making beeswax candles come from the possibility of sharing this fun activity with your children while teaching them a lot about chemistry and physics. It is important to sometimes break the everyday routine children have and candle making offers a much-appreciated alternative to do just that.

Besides natural beeswax candles, there are also other types of candles available on the market, such as paraffin candles. Paraffin candles are made from paraffin wax, a by-product that comes from the petroleum refining process. Since paraffin is the result of a complex chemical process, it is also filled with these substances.

When using more chemical processes to bleach it, to give it synthetic colors and fragrances, you end up with a wonderful looking and smelling product that is made out of synthetic chemical substances. As opposed to natural candles, when paraffin candles burn, a lot of toxic fumes are released into the air. This is definitely not the case of beeswax candles.

When they burn, beeswax candles release negative ions into the air. Not many of us know, but most air particles, such as dust, pollutants, dirt or pollen carry a positive charge. It is because of their positive charge that they are able to stay suspended in the air. When the negative ions from the beeswax are released, they negate the positive charge of air contaminants.

As these pollutant particles are negated, they lose their ability to stay in the air and simply fall to the ground. Many air purifiers and water filters use this effective negative ion technology. Since beeswax candles clean the air, including reducing indoor pollutants, they can also help reduce allergies, hay fever, and asthma symptoms. 

Most people will never go back to using paraffin candles once they’ve tried the natural beeswax candles because they do not release irritating fragrances and toxins. Many customers state that using natural candles has had a positive effect on the air quality in their home, significantly improving their quality of life.

And if you make a habit out of burning candles in the place in your room, you will be happy to know that unlike paraffin candles, beeswax candles will not stain your walls or drapes. These black soot stains paraffin candles make are microscopic, and they can also get into your lungs, causing severe respiratory irritation.

 

 

Beeswax candles and different respiratory problems

In case of asthma, if you burn beeswax candles in the bedroom every night, for about two hours before you go to sleep, the asthma symptoms will be significantly reduced. This happens due to the negative ions that they release in the air as they are burnt. As shown before, the negative ions help clean the air in the room, reducing irritating factors.

The same process takes place in case of allergies, as well. The more you clean the air in your home, the fewer allergy symptoms you will experience. Of course, this is not a cure for either of these two conditions. However, it helps create a comfortable environment inside your home, especially at the peak of the allergy season.

If you want to fully enjoy the benefits of natural beeswax candles, but you do not choose to make them yourself, then look for a place that sells genuine beeswax candles. The problem with commercial natural candles is that they label candles as “pure beeswax”, but the real content is of around 51% beeswax and 49% paraffin wax.

According to law and regulations on the matter, the word “pure” can be put on a product as long as it contains at least 51% of that particular substance. Therefore, the way to go is to look for candles that are labeled “100% Pure Beeswax”. This way you make sure the candles you are about to buy will suit their intended purpose.

One way to go about this is to buy them from a convent or church. Most sisters have mastered the art of beeswax candle making and will be more than happy to offer you some of the high-quality products they make. Also, you will get them at a better price than if you were to buy them from a commercial shop.

You need to be aware that natural candles are a bit more expensive than regular paraffin candles. However, nothing can be too expensive when our health and wellbeing are at stake. For this reason, when buying high-quality natural candles you should see it as an investment you are making for your health. 

It is not recommended that you make candles from scratch if you have no prior experience, for health issues. There are so many variables that make such a big difference, such as a five degrees change in the melting temperature or the type of wax you make the candles from, that you should only see it as a fun activity. Candle making classes are available.

 

 

 

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