Beeswax Candles 101: Does Colour Indicate Purity? How To Spot A Fake Beeswax Candle

Does The Colour Of Your Beeswax Candle Indicate Its Purity?

When it comes to beeswax candles, the colour of the wax can be a good indicator of its purity. Light coloured beeswax is often considered pure and high-quality, but it's important to understand the factors that affect the colour of the beeswax to ensure that the light coloured beeswax candles you are buying are indeed pure.

Beeswax is a natural wax that is produced by honeybees, and its colour can vary depending on the pollen and the diet of the bees.

Light coloured beeswax candles have been typically made from beeswax that has been harvested from bees that have been fed a diet that is rich in nectar from light-coloured flowers. This results in a light-coloured wax that is considered pure and high-quality. 

Dark colored beeswax candles are often made from beeswax that has a higher concentration of pollen and propolis, which gives it a darker colour. This colour doesn't necessarily indicate impurities and the darker colour can still be a sign of a high quality wax.

When looking to purchase beeswax candles it is important to note that the colour of the beeswax does not necessarily indicate its purity. Some manufacturers may bleach or filter the beeswax to lighten its colour, but this process can also remove impurities and the natural sweet scent of the beeswax. Other manufacturers have been known to add yellow colour to their wax to give it more of a "honey" appearance and dupe the customer into thinking that what they are getting is on fact a higher quality product when it is not!

If you are reading this and thinking that it is all too hard- especially considering that beeswax candles do tend to be more expensive than regular paraffin candles, there are some simple ways to tell if your candles are real or fake!

How Can You Tell If A Beeswax Candle Is Pure?

When purchasing beeswax candles, it's important to ensure that they are actually made from pure beeswax to ensure that you are getting a high-quality and natural product. Our beeswax candles are 100% pure beeswax as evident by the subtle honey scent and gorgeous glow when they are lit! If in doubt however, here are some ways to tell if a beeswax candle is pure:

1. Check the Ingredients: A pure beeswax candle should be made of 100% pure beeswax. If the ingredients list includes other types of wax or synthetic ingredients, it is not a pure beeswax candle (There is not always an ingredients list on the candle).
2. Look at the colour: Pure beeswax candles have a natural light yellow to golden colour (sometimes even towards brown). If the candle is pure white, it may have been bleached or mixed with other types of wax. The glow from a beeswax candle is also much warmer than from a paraffin candle.
3. Look at the wax pool: because beeswax has a higher density than paraffin, it tends to have a more complete burn and does not produce the dripping wax effect of the paraffin candles. If you want that ghostly wax drip effect- buy the cheap ones! 
4. Look at the texture: Pure beeswax candles should have a smooth texture but not look like plastic- if they look plastic, they are likely paraffin.
5. Check for a natural scent: Pure beeswax candles will have a natural sweet scent from the honey and pollen present in the wax. If the candle has a synthetic smell, it is not a pure beeswax candle.
6. Check for candle bloom: Candle bloom refers to the dull white powdery finish that appears on the surface of pure beeswax over time.  It is characteristic of pure beeswax candles and a good indicator that they are in fact natural beeswax. (Beeswax candles develop this over time, so do not be discouraged if your candles arrive and they do not have it- it is a longer term thing and it does not affect the quality of the candles)
7. Check for the price: Pure beeswax candles can be more expensive than other types of candles. If the price seems too good to be true, it may be a fake candle.
8. Ask the seller: If you still have doubts, you can ask the seller about the production process, the source of the beeswax and if they use any bleaching or filtering processes.

At Cygnet Studio, we have done the groundwork to ensure that the beeswax candles we sell are in fact beeswax! Our Candles are supplied by a local company that deals only in candles. By simply asking the seller, you should be able to ascertain if your candles are indeed pure. Remember if they seem too good to be true- if they are too cheap for example, they are probably not real!

If you are looking to purchase natural 100% beeswax candles, check out our beeswax candle collection here.

If you have anything to add to this list, please leave us a comment below. Do you prefer beeswax candles? Light or dark ? We look forward to hearing from you!