Did you know that candles can have health benefits?
Yes, these humble household items can actually help improve your living environment. We'll tell you how they can improve your health further in to this blog, but first, let us tell you a little history on the humble Beeswax candlestick.
Beeswax candles have been used for thousands of years, with the earliest known examples dating back to ancient Egypt.
The ancient Greeks and Romans used beeswax candles in their religious ceremonies and to light their homes.
In the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were a luxury item, only affordable for the wealthy. They were used in churches and castles, and were even used as currency in some parts of Europe.
Poor families could only afford tallow candles, which are made from animal fat. These tallow candles let out a strong fatty smell and smokes easily, Whereas beeswax candles burned cleanly and had a subtle floral scent to them, hence why they were favoured by the wealthy.
In the 19th century, with the invention of the electric lightbulb, the popularity of beeswax candles began to decline. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in natural and sustainable products, and beeswax candles have seen a resurgence in popularity.
Today, beeswax candles are made using the same traditional methods that have been used for centuries. Beeswax is collected from beehives, cleaned and filtered to remove impurities, and then melted so that cotton wicks can be hand dipped to form the classic taper candle.
This process is often done by small-scale, local beekeepers and artisans, who take pride in producing high-quality, natural candles. The candles we sell at The Hive are hand dipped in Cumbria by a small family run business.
Despite being a small business; our candle makers supply candles to the candlelit sam wanamaker playhouse, which is part of the shakespears globe theatre, as well as film makers and set designers all over the world.
As mentioned at the beginning of this blog, in addition to their rich history, beeswax candles have many benefits.
They are non-toxic and emit negative ions when burned. These negative ions clean the air of mold spores, pollutants, bad odours, ect. They are particularly good for asthma sufferers.
They are also a sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to paraffin wax candles.
Currently we stock two types of Beeswax candle in The Hive. The first candle is a classic 9" tapered dinner candle, which has a burn time of up to 9 hours.
The second candle option is a giant stubby candle, which has an impressible burn time of up to 22.5 hours!
To get the most out of your candles we recommend the following usage guide:
Don't burn candles near a draft. Burning a candle near a draft can cause the candle to burn unevenly and dramatically shortens the burn time.
Cut the wick to size. Too long a wick can cause tunnelling as the flame gets too hot. Too short a wick can reduce the effectiveness of the candles burn. We recommend cutting your wick to about 1/4 of an inch long. Keeping the wick trimmed to this length reduces soot which can cause smoking from the flame and can fall back in to the wax.
Follow these simple tips and you will enjoy the sweet honey scent of beeswax candles and cleaner air in your home.