This white film, called bloom, is normal and occurs with all pure beeswax. This is caused because some of the components of the beeswax migrate to the surface. Bloom can be easily removed by wiping the candle with a soft cloth, applying gentle heat with a hair dryer, or placing the candle in warm sunlight. Even though the bloom is easily removable, many people actually desire this effect as it tends to give the beeswax candle a unique and rustic look and feel.
Where does the beeswax come from?
Our beeswax is from Honeyflow Farm in Michigan. The wax is from the nectar of clovers, thistles and other wildflowers native to these area. The wax is not filtered, only lightly strained by hand.
How do you make your beeswax candles?
We make all of our beeswax candles by hand. No mass production at all. We melt wax in our wax tanks and the pillars, figurines, votives and tealites are poured from this wax.
Do you filter your beeswax?
A more natural, unprocessed beeswaxwax is preferred for our handcrafted candles at Candleshop Creations. We use only "straining" (with cheesecloth type material) and "settling" (the wax debris either floats or settles to the bottom of the tank) procedures to clean the wax, leaving the clean beeswax for your candles. This procedure will not affect the beeswax smell, color, or texture.
Other candle shops that use automated machinery and are mass producing candles require highly filtered wax that removes many things in the wax - some unwanted - some wanted. We prefer our more simple and natural procedure.
Did you know?
Ancient Egyptians recognized the value of beeswax as a preservative, and early Romans fashioned coins from beeswax to pay their taxes. Invention of the candle dates back to about 400 B.C., but the idea to use beeswax to form candles didn't emerge until the Middle Ages.
What causes a candle to smoke, and what can I do to correct it?
A well made candle will create virtually no smoke when burning properly. However, if the wick becomes too long, or an air current disturbs the flame's teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) will escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. Any candle will soot if the flame is disturbed.
To avoid this, always trim the wick to ¼ inch before every use and be sure to place candles away from drafts, vents or air currents. If a candle continually flickers or smokes, it is not burning properly and should be extinguished. Allow the candle to cool, trim the wick, make sure the area is draft free, then re-light.
Is candle soot harmful?
No. The minuscule amount of soot produced by a candle is the natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. Candle soot is composed primarily of elemental carbon particles, and is similar to the soot given off by kitchen toasters and cooking oils. These everyday household sources of soot are not considered a health concern, and are chemically different from the soot formed by the burning of diesel fuel, coal, gasoline, and so on.
