Beeswax is one of nature's fragrant, useful treasures. Beeswax was a welcome alternative to the tallow candles, which had a rancid, smokey burn. Beeswax candles, however, were only available to the wealthy and religious leaders.

Today, thankfully, paraffin wax has replaced animal fat as the main ingredient in candles. Many people still prefer beeswax candles over paraffin-based candles for their clean, sootless, long-lasting and natural burn.

Traditional paraffin wax candles are made with petroleum by-products and stearic acid, which helps with the hardening. Other chemicals, including those contained in the dyes and scents used in the process of producing candles, are released into the air when burning.

Beeswax produces a clean, long-burning candle with a subtle honey aroma. The actual beeswax comes from the honeycomb. The aroma and colour of beeswax is absorbed from the honey, the honeycomb and residues within the honeycomb. Beeswax fragrance may actually vary with the type of pollen the bees used in producing their honey.

One pound of beeswax takes 60 pounds of honey to produce, with 160,000 bees contributing to the project!

Beeswax candles are available in almost every type a paraffin candle is: taper, pillar, votive, jar, floating, scented, wedding and unity. Most will have a cotton or cotton-paper braided wick, although the votive, jar and pillar varieties may have a metal core wick.

Rolled or tapered beeswax candles won't burn as long as solid beeswax, but the tighter the wrap, and the connection to the wick, the longer the burn.

Stubs from beeswax candles can be put to many other uses. Melting and mixing the beeswax with other ingredients can produce such things as lip balm and make-up removers, and even furniture polish.