How Beeswax candles support air quality
With air pollution and related aliments at an all time high the quality of our air is of great importance as to maintain a healthy environment inside and out.
Air quality can be effected in many ways such as a lack of trees and related vegetation, vehicle exhaust fumes, smoke or soot, dust, coloured and/or scented candles, along with increased quantities of positive ions generated by electronic devices.
Studies conducted in japan have shown burning beeswax candles will increase the quantity of negative ions in the air. These independent test results have shown beeswax candles can produce 126,800 negative ion particles per cc. [1]
The widely known benefits of negative ions include increased oxygen availability, enhanced immune function and even removal of airborne allergens, dust, mold spores, bacteria and viruses. [2]
Making the use of clean, unadulterated beeswax candles not only a pleasant experience but also beneficial for your health and the quality of air within your home.
Why select beeswax candles over alternative wax?
Beeswax is made by nature’s worker bees, this spontaneous natural exudation from the bee is what makes up a vast portion of their hive. All honeycomb cells are made from beeswax then lined with small quantities of propolis before filling with nectar, pollen or eggs/brood. Once nectar is transformed into honey the comb is ‘capped’ over with what is commonly known as virgin wax, virgin wax is very fine white beeswax that has not been stained by propolis’ dark colour.
These virgin wax cappings are removed before the extraction of honey can take place, once separated from the honey this wax is melted and poured out into 10kg beekeepers blocks with very little filtration used.
Beeswax is directly derived from trees, flowers and bees, When cared for with the utmost attention beeswax will remain pure, free from harmful toxins.
Commonly used cost effective waxes such as paraffin, soya, coconut, palm or gel require extensive treatment to take a waste by-product to a “clean” product. Forms of treatment commonly include exposure to extreme heat, heavy metals and chemical bleaching, as you can imagine although the end product may reflect a ‘clean white’ appearance there is a different reality behind the face value.
Beeswax candles are they all the same?
Beeswax although relativity consistent in its nature, can become adulterated upon refining. Most commonly beeswax contains varying amounts of honey, propolis and other extraneous matter which all hinder the candle wick’s up take of viable fuel, consequently leading to a dull flame and ineffective burn.
Exposing Beeswax to excessive heat or common town water will ‘burn’ the wax creating a dull appearance, and especially in the case of being exposed to town water the wax will become laden with the chemicals present at any point of contact as well as via leaching. Beeswax being primarily two acids will absorb/eat almost everything it comes into contact with, given the opportunity and enough time it will absorb paper, cloth and even some metals!
With this in mind Northern Light only ever allows our own on site rain water come into contact with our beeswax, This water is naturally sent through a process of slow filtration via gravity. Read more here…
Not all beeswax candles are equal, here are some questions we should ask ourselves and producers before showing our support:
- Where did this beeswax come from, Is it pure Australian beeswax?
- Does this candle contain added colour, scent (essential oils, natural or artificial scents) or alternative wax?
- At any point has this Beeswax come into contact with town water?
- What form of filtration has been used?
- Was this wax insulated from excessive heat?
Knowing these few simple things will save your time/money, health and air quality. Support products that support you and the health of our planet!
Northern Light has and always will be committed to providing the best product possible with minimal adverse implications upon our customers, their homes and our planet.
You can read more about our commitment to and sustainability here…
References:
[1] https://www.yourtimeboutique.com/pages/beeswax_candles
[2] https://www.airtamer.com/negative-ions-positive-effect-human-body/
