Beeswax Candles - a honey of a choice
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
I’ve been eating, drinking, sleeping, sharing, reading, thinking and celebrating sustainability (throw in a little fretting, too) for so long that sometimes I take things for granted - like the information that I’ve collected over a decade that keeps me in the green groove. Each time I’ve learned something new that I can do or change to make a difference in my health and my world, it’s a bigger and better rush than a king-sized espresso - and I can’t wait to tell others. If some of these ideas are old news to you, indulge me by simply passing it on to someone who may not have yet heard.
Did you know? Paraffin candles are a non-renewable waste-product of the petroleum industry. That’s why they are toxic and that’s why they are cheap. The petroleum in the wax releases toxins and most of the wicks are made with lead, which also leaches into the air when burned. This petrol-toxic soot stains walls and contaminates our lungs and tissues. Don’t buy them, don’t burn them. Nature provides a beautiful and better alternative in Beeswax. (How do the bees do it? Find out here.)
It’s not hard to understand that beeswax candles are “natural” but the good news only starts there. Beeswax candles and their lead-free cotton wicks give off the same bright light spectrum as the sun, rather than the “disorganized” light from paraffin that can cause eye strain. Beeswax is naturally and subtly scented by the honey and flower nectar that the bees eat. Beeswax not only burns longer but emits healthy negative ions which actually clean the air and potentially energize the body.
You’ll find a wealth of sources for natural beeswax candles both online and in health stores. Remember to buy local when available and support your small farmers. Bee Well!
October 15th, 2007 at 4:00 am
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