Caring for Beeswax Candles
Pure beeswax candles burn longer, brighter, and cleaner than paraffin. They also release a faint honey scent without added fragrance. A few small habits keep them burning beautifully.
Trim the wick
Trim the wick to 5mm before every burn. This is the single most important thing.
- Longer wicks burn taller, hotter, and start to smoke.
- Untrimmed wicks form a mushroom-shaped carbon "head" that breaks off and lands in the wax.
- Use proper wick trimmers (small angled scissors) or even small kitchen scissors held at 45°.
The first burn
The first time you light a candle, let it burn long enough for the melt pool to reach the full diameter of the candle. For most pillar candles, that means 2–3 hours.
If you blow the first burn out too early, the candle "tunnels" — burns straight down the middle leaving wax walls. Once tunnelled, a candle can't recover.
Burn in a draught-free spot
Draughts make the flame flicker, lean to one side, and burn unevenly. Pillar candles need calm air to keep their shape.
The "bloom"
Beeswax develops a soft white powdery surface over time — particularly in cool storage. This is the natural "bloom" and a sign of pure beeswax (paraffin candles never bloom).
To remove: wipe gently with a soft cloth. Or polish lightly with the warmth of your hand. Some people prefer the bloom and leave it.
Safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Never burn within 10cm of curtains, books, or other flammable items.
- Always burn on a heat-resistant surface.
- Stop burning when the wax level reaches 1cm above the base.
A 220g pure beeswax candle burns for approximately 45 hours when looked after well.