5 Best Beeswax for Candle Making: Tried & Tested (2023)
In this blog post, we’ll explore the 5 best beeswax for candle making. We’ll review the benefits of using beeswax vs. soy wax or paraffin wax, as well as the best beeswax available on the market.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. These are products I’ve personally used, as well as are recommended by other crafters and DIYers.
Yellow Beesworks Beeswax Pellets
These beeswax pellets are pure, natural, and responsibly sourced. They have a beautiful golden color and a subtle, sweet scent that will transport you straight to a field of wildflowers.
Sky Organics Organic White Beeswax Pellets
This high-quality, triple-filtered beeswax from a small family business. Each white pellet boasts cosmetic-grade quality and processed in smaller batches to guarantee a cleaner burn.
DIY LarkinCrafts Candle Making Kit
This premium starter kit includes the materials to make 4 different scented and sophisticated candles. Your candles will melt smoothly, adding a lasting air of sophistication to any décor.
I love beeswax candles because they burn longer and are cleaner than other types of wax. In addition, beeswax has a pleasant honey scent that helps create a cozy atmosphere in the home.
Its easy to make your own beeswax candles using a beeswax candle making kit or with a few supplies at home. Beeswax makes superior candles especially compared to paraffin candles because they last longer, smell better, and give off a naturally golden light that adds warmth and ambiance to any space.
Let’s explore some of the best beeswax for candle making.
If you’re interested in making your own candles, then you’ll love these other posts:
- Best Soy Wax for Candle Making: Ultimate Guide (2023)
- 7 Best Candle Making Kits For Beautiful, Aromatic Candles (2023)
- Ultimate Candle Making Supplies List: Everything You Need To Make Aesthetic Candles At Home
What is Beeswax?
Beeswax is the natural wax produced by honeybees. It has been used for centuries as a key ingredient in candle making, from traditional bayberry candles to luxurious rolled beeswax candles.
Beeswax candles have been cherished over other types of wax, as they burn cleaner and longer without producing toxic smoke, allowing your home to remain fresh and inviting.
Plus, these beeswax candles give off a warm aroma, which can help create a cozy atmosphere when you need some ambient lighting. Beeswax also adds unique beautifying qualities like the soft honey color or decorative texture for unique pillar candles.
Beeswax Pros
- Natural & non-toxic
- Nice scent
- Slowest burn time
Beeswax Cons
- Most expensive
- More difficult to work with because of high melting point
- Tunneling is common in beeswax candles
Beeswax forms
When it comes to making beeswax candles, there are a few different forms of beeswax that you can work with.
Trying to decide between different beeswax candles waxes such as raw organic beeswax, pellets, blocks, or yellow and white beeswax for candle making? Let’s explore the distinctions between the different beeswax forms.
Raw beeswax
Harvested from beehives, raw beeswax often requires filtering before use. You can pick up filtered raw beeswax in blocks or bars from local beekeepers, farmers’ markets, and stores. To make beeswax candles, you need to grate the beeswax blocks to form chips, which can be time-consuming.
Beeswax pellets
Beeswax pellets are small, granules of beeswax that are affordable and easy to store – making them a great option for DIY candle makers!
These pellets melt quickly and smoothly to make beautiful beeswax candles. Beeswax also burns cleaner and longer compared to other waxes such as soy wax and paraffin wax.
On the flip side though, bees wax can be more expensive than other waxes and it’s not always the most fragrant. If you want to make a scented candle with essential oils, you may have to look into some alternative wax options (soy wax or paraffin wax).
Yellow beeswax pellets vs. white beeswax pellets
Yellow beeswax pellets are more common in the candle making process. This wax is made from all natural pure, filtered wax cappings and comb – this results in a pleasant, natural honey scent and clean burn.
White beeswax pellets are often extracted using a process called “bleaching”. These particular tapers tend to produce paler colored candles and also have a minimal scent; they’re also slightly stiffer when melted compared to yellow beeswax.
Yellow beeswax is best for bright-colored candles with a pleasant smell and smooth texture, whereas white beeswax is better for a more subtle aroma and an opaque color. The melting point of beeswax varies between 140°F to 145°F so you don’t have to worry about it melting away too quickly.
Beeswax Prices
If you’re looking for yellow beeswax, be prepared to pay a bit more than what white wax would cost. A single pound of the former is around $17 while 10 pounds can average at about $9.74 per pound when bought in bulk. Not only does it come in bars and pastilles form, but I highly suggest purchasing the latter since they are much easier to measure as well as melt faster.
White beeswax is less expensive. One pound will be under $15 while 10 pounds could cost around $3.50/lb. Keep in mind that “white” bee’s wax isn’t truly white but more like a dark cream color.
How to Melt Beeswax
For smaller batches, you can melt beeswax in the microwave with a glass measuring cup or even better yet by using a double-boiler over stovetop heat. It’s absolutely essential to be extra vigilant when monitoring temperature as it will burst into flames at 400° F.
Beeswax has a much higher melting point compared to other candle making waxes, making it take longer to melt and giving you less time to work with.
As soon as it’s removed from the heat source, It will solidify very quickly. If you’re used to working with soy wax or paraffin wax then prepare yourself for an agonizingly slow process when dealing with beeswax -it feels like forever!
Best Beeswax for Candle Making
When choosing wax for your beeswax candle, you should consider 3 things.
- Block or pellets: If you’re looking for the traditional beeswax candle making experience, beeswax blocks or bars are your best option; although they may require greater time and effort on your part. Beeswax pellets – once again, slightly more pricey than blocks/bars but better suited for beginner candle makers and are easier to work with.
- Yellow or white: If you’d like the authentic aroma and hue of your beeswax candle, yellow is your go-to. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to craft beeswax candles with bright colors, white pellets are your best bet.
- Quantity: It’s important to consider the number of beeswax candle you will be making and how often you use them in your home. Doing so can help give you a better idea of how much wax each candle requires.
Here are our picks of the best beeswax:
Yellow Beesworks Beeswax Pellets
Natural beeswax of cosmetic-grade quality is incredibly safe and healthy to use in candle making.
These beeswax pellets are pure, natural, and responsibly sourced. They have a beautiful golden color and a subtle, sweet scent that will transport you straight to a field of wildflowers.
These pellets meltdown quickly and evenly, making them super easy to work with. Plus, they come in a convenient resealable bag that keeps them fresh and ready to use.
WHAT I LIKE: WHAT I DON’T LIKE:
Not only does this make the best beeswax candles, but this beeswax is also very versatile and can be used for other DIY projects like creating your own lip balm, lotion bars, and more.
Sky Organics Organic White Beeswax Pellets
This high-quality, triple-filtered beeswax from a small family business is the optimal base for your beeswax candles. Each white pellet boasts cosmetic-grade quality and has been processed in smaller batches to guarantee a cleaner burn.
The wax itself has only a mild smell which will not interfere with your added essential oils. Furthermore, they melt quickly, making it easy to mix different colors together; all of this is conveniently stored away in an eye-catching 16-oz resealable bag.
WHAT I LIKE: WHAT I DON’T LIKE:Beesworks Yellow Beeswax Bars
These yellow beeswax bars from Beesworks are perfect for those who need small batches of wax. The bars pack a strong, natural aroma and are easy to break into small chips that can be used in various DIY projects like lip balm or lotion bar recipes.
The amount of wax per bar is just the right amount for candle making, and it’s easy to melt and pour into the molds. Plus, these beeswax bars are high quality and made with pure, responsibly sourced ingredients.
WHAT I LIKE: WHAT I DON’T LIKE:Toadily Handmade Beeswax Candle Making Kit
This beeswax candle making kit makes it super easy to make all natural beeswax candles.
This kit instructions are clear and concise. This was my first time working with beeswax sheets and it was really easy to make my beeswax candle.
WHAT I LIKE: WHAT I DON’T LIKE:This kit offers everything you need for your candle-making projects:
- 10 full size (approx. 8″ x 16 1/4″)
- 100% beeswax honeycomb sheets
- 6 yards of cotton wick
You can easily create two 8″x1″ taper candles with each sheet included.
DIY LarkinCrafts Candle Making Kit
This premium starter kit includes the materials to make 4 different scented and sophisticated candles. With our house blend of soy wax and beeswax, your candles will melt smoothly, adding a lasting air of sophistication to any décor.
This kit comes with easy-to-follow instructions to follow when making your candles. It also provides tips on how to prevent common candle making mistakes like cracks, dips and wet spots.
WHAT I LIKE: WHAT I DON’T LIKE:Kit includes:
- 1 electronic thermometer
- 1 borosilicate melting pot
- 4 beautiful ceramic jars (3.25 inches high with wooden lid, 2 in black and 2 in white)
- 4 pouches of our wax blend (180 grams each / 6.35oz)
- 4 unique fragrances: Sunday Morning, Mood Boost, Relaxing and The Den (see description below); each vial holds just enough fragrance to create a rich, yet subtle, scent
- 4 wicks, 6″ HTP wick
- 4 candle wick glue dots
- 4 simple centering tool
Wrap-Up
If you’re looking for a longer-lasting and cleaner burning candle, beeswax is the way to go. We hope that this article helped you select the best beeswax for your candle making.
Check Out These Other Candle Making Posts
If you’re interested in making your own candles, then you’ll love these other posts: