Genesis | More About Candles

Beeswax Candles

Beeswax is produced when honeybees consume honey. It takes about 8 1/2 lbs of honey to produce one pound of beeswax.

Honeybees collect nectar from approximately two million flowers to make one pound of honey, so nectar is collected from 17 million flowers to make 8 1/2 pounds of honey to make one pound of Beeswax!

Beeswax is secreted in the form of a scale about the size of a pinhead by worker Bees that are 12 to 18 days old. The worker honeybee has Eight Wax secreting glands under its abdomen. It takes about 800,000 scales to make one pound of Beeswax.

The bees wax scale when first secreted is tasteless, odorless, and almost colorless. Beeswax obtains its "natural" color of light to golden yellow due to propolis and pollen collected by the honeybees. The distinctive fragrance of bee wax is obtained from the propolis brought into the hive, and the storage of pollen and honey in the honeycomb.

Beeswax has a melting point between 146 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit.

Over time, Beeswax will develop a whitish coating called bloom. This is the result of softer oils rising to the surface. Rubbing the candle with a soft cloth or warming with a hair dryer will remove candle bloom. Once removed, bloom will again reappear on pure Beeswax. Bloom has no effect on how your bees wax candle will burn.

Burning of Beeswax candles produces a white rounded flame, giving a wonderful warm glow.

For proper burning of bees wax candles, trim wick to 1/4" before burning each time. Keep burning candles away from drafts. Keep candle wick centered.

When burning pillars, burn for about one hour per inch in diameter. After extinguishing the candle flame and your candle has cooled warm to the touch, gently mold candle edges inward if needed with damp fingers.

We use only 100% cotton wick. No lead or metal wick is used in our candles.

Burn candles only in a fireproof container. Never leave a burning candle unattended. A burning candle needs your attention.

Some uses of bees wax are: Candle Making, Batik, Fly Tying, Waxing Wooden Windows and Drawers, Quilting, Cosmetics, Furniture Polish, Leather Boot Conditioner, Marble Repair, and Coating Cookie Sheets.

How to make Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles are absolutely wonderful! A soft, warm glow, complimented by an incredibly sweet scent make Beeswax candles a must for around the house. Beeswax candles are quite simple to make, and something you can do together with the kids. Good wholesome fun for the whole family! You will need the following supplies to get started:

Some Beeswax sheets
Some primed wick
A sharp knife
A cutting board

Directions

Roll out the Beeswax sheet on your work surface.
Cut a length of wick, approximately two inches longer than the width of your Beeswax sheet.
Place the wick along the edge of the Beeswax sheet, and fold the sheet approximately 1/8 of an inch over the wick. Be sure to press down on the sheet to make sure the wax completely surrounds the wick.
Once the wick has been secured in the Beeswax sheet, it is time to start rolling. Be very careful not to damage or disrupt the honeycomb pattern on the wax. Roll the candle slowly, and be sure to keep it straight.
Once you have reached the end of the sheet, gently press down on the exposed edge to ensure that your candle does not come apart.
Pick which end you feel will make the best "top" and trim the wick down to approximately ½ inch. Also remove the exposed wick completely from the other end.

You now have some wonderful Beeswax candles that will provide you with hours of warmth and light! They make wonderful gifts, and your children will take great pride in having made them. These candles will add comfort, elegance, and tradition to your home or work space.

Beeswax candles have been used since the early 14th century, and they are still preferred by many due to their sweet, natural aroma. Beeswax candles are long lasting and clean burning. The American Lung Association has stated that burning paraffin candles can emit small amounts of toxins such as lead, benzene, and mercury into your home.