I discovered beeswax candles a few years ago when I entered my “romanticize everything” era and decided I wanted to read by the candle light early in the morning, before the whole world had woken up.  There’s something magical about that quiet time, when you get to curl up with a good book and a steamy cup of coffee or tea, while the rest of the world still sleeps. I can’t be the only one who thinks these are some of the best hours.

At first, I was drawn to beeswax candles because I liked their charming, almost rustic yellow hue. However, what really sold me was their clean, non-toxic burn as compared to candles made from paraffin (which also happen to be much cheaper).

Why Beeswax Over Other Candles

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: most mass-produced candles, while smelling incredible, are made with paraffin wax – a crystalline flammable substance primarily derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale.  When burned, candles made with this wax release chemicals that are linked to cancer, including toluene and benzene.  You can imagine how prolonged exposure to these substances can contribute to a plethora of issues, including respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and other more severe health concerns over time. Add in artificial fragrances, and you've got a recipe for indoor air pollution, not ambiance. This surprised me, given how many influencers these days promote the daily use of paraffin candles, in every possible scent imaginable.

In more recent years, soy wax candles seem to have gained popularity as an eco-friendly and healthier alternative to paraffin wax candles. While they are objectively better than paraffin candles, they are not without their own issues. Soy wax is made from soy beans, which go through an intensive processing journey consisting of chemical extraction, hydrogenation, and bleaching. What’s more, even when they are marketed as soy wax candles, they are often blended with paraffin. In short, soy candles aren't always as “natural” as they seem.

Beeswax Candles: The Clean Alternative You Can Feel Good About

Beeswax candles have been used for thousands of years. Made by bees to build honeycombs, pure beeswax is a natural and renewable material. The best part?  They burn clean, don’t emit any toxic byproducts, and are the only type of candle that purifies the air as it burns. 

I’m about to get a bit sciency, but when burned, beeswax releases negative ions that bind with pollutants in the air, neutralizing them thus improving indoor air quality. Additionally, unlikely synthetic scents found in paraffin and soy wax candles, beeswax emits a subtle, sweet honey aroma that doesn't overpower the room.

When I learned this, I was certain I wanted to make the switch to beeswax candles. I felt the benefits outweighed the higher cost, and found their natural scent to be subtle yet noticeable. After buying a few from a small Etsy shop, I decided to try making some at home.  I ordered some pure beeswax in blocks, and got to work.

Method 1: Hand-Dipping – The Ancestral Way

For my first batch, I decided too try the way of our ancestors: hand-dipping cotton wicks in melted wax repeatedly until, layer-by-layer, they formed imperfect yet beautiful taper candles. This method is simple and doesn’t require any special tools, which was perfect because I wasn't ready yet to invest on candle-making materials.

I found this method very relaxing and satisfying, but I did have to dedicate an entire afternoon to completing it. I thought the candles had a certain charm in their imperfection and it was lovely to watch them slowly burn knowing that I had made them with my own hands.

• What I Loved: The process was very relaxing and meditative. The resulting candles had a certain charm in their imperfection, that made them lovely to watch slowly burn knowing all the work that had gone into them.
• What I Didn’t: It took all afternoon. This method is time-consuming and best suited for occasional, small batches.

Method 2: Hard Plastic Molds – The Frustrating Shortcut

To help me speed up the process a bit, and avoid spending hours hand-dipping candles, I decided to give molds a try.  I opted for a cheaper option that was available on Amazon just to see what the process was like, since I knew I could return it if it wasn't to my liking.

The process itself was very easy, and much faster than the first method. However, my troubles started when it came time to unmold the candles.  No amount of twisting or tugging would get them out cleanly. I had to resort to using a needle to dislodge them, which damaged the bottoms.

• What I Loved: Much faster than hand-dipping and resulting in uniform shapes.
• What I Didn’t: Difficult unmolding. Damaged candles. Overall, not worth the headache.

After a few tries, I still couldn't get candles to come out of their molds undamaged, so I decided to return the molds and move on.

Method 3: Soft Silicone Molds – The Winner

I thought trying a soft mold might make the unmolding easier and thus avoid the damage caused by the second method.  Silicon molds do come with a higher price tag, but since I knew I wanted to make frequent batches, it was worth the investment. I found a high-quality set on Etsy that lets me pour 8 taper candles at once.

The mold is a bit flimsy, which made inserting the wicks tricky. I ended up using a piece of flexible wire to guide the wick through each of the eight small openings at the bottom. Once that was done, the process was smooth: pour, cool, unmold. And best of all? No damage. The candles slid out perfectly!

• What I Loved: Easy unmolding, consistent results, great for batching.
• What I Didn’t: Slight learning curve with wick placement.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking to make your own beeswax candles, here’s my quick takeaway:

• For air quality, aesthetics, and peace of mind: Beeswax candles are 100% worth it.
• For speed and consistency: Skip the hard molds and go straight for silicone.
• For a slow, mindful project: Try hand-dipping. Great for a rainy afternoon.
  
  

Not only do beeswax candles look beautiful and smell naturally sweet, but they also offer a non-toxic, sustainable alternative to many of the store-bought options. I now have made a few batches, and the warm glow and clean scent never gets old.

Thinking of Trying It Yourself?

Let me know if you’d like a follow-up post with a beginner’s supply list or a detailed beeswax candle tutorial — I’d love to share what I’ve learned!