|
BEESWAX CANDLES
At the Fragrant Temple we have been making beeswax candles since 2002. All our designs are original and exclusive, hand rolled with love and intent.
Below is some information on bees and beeswax candles which you may find interesting along with some tips for burning your candles.
Prized since ancient times, healing and spiritual powers have been attributed to all products of the beehive. From very early times the bee was used as an image to represent the Mother Goddess and the hive was likened to her womb. Bees have existed in their present form long before humankind and in many cultures of the ancient world they were considered a symbol of immortality and rebirth.
In Celtic myth bees were considered as sources of great wisdom and messengers between the worlds. Honey was placed on the straw Bride bed of the Celtic Maiden Goddess Brigid on her festival Imbolc at the beginning of February. The honey represented fertility and abundance and is still one of its magickal meanings.
Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love was worshipped at a honeycomb-shaped shrine at Mount Eryx and her High Priestess was called Melissa (meaning bee). Because bees were divine messengers, honey made into sacred mead, brewed to a secret formula was favoured by the three maiden seers at Delphi.
The ancient Egyptians believed that bees were born from the tears of Ra, the Sun God. When his tears fell onto the ground they were transformed into bees that built honeycombs and produced honey. Bees became sacred and candles made from beeswax were used soley by spiritual leaders.
It takes approximately 150,000 bees to consume ten pounds of honey from which only one pound of beeswax is produced. The wax itself is exuded from the underside of the worker bee's abdomen and is then moulded into the honeycomb used as storage space for honey and pollen and for brood chambers for bee larve.
Beeswax varies in colour and scent and is a result of the floral sources the bees forage on.
Beexwax candles burn significantly longer than paraffin candles.
Beeswax produces no smoke or soot.
Beeswax emits a bright flame with a light spectrum like that of the Sun.
Beeswax candles produce a sweet natural honey fragrance.
Beeswax is a renewable resource.
Beeswax is hypo-allergenic, will not harm animals and can be used in aromatherapy.
Beeswax candles drip-less than paraffin candles.
Under varying conditions all candles will drip even the most expensive ones. Each hand rolled candle will burn differently due to its hand crafted nature - variences in rolling pressure, temperature of the wax, etc. Beeswax candles should be kept out of a draft since this is the most likely cause of dripping.
Always use a suitable candle holder just in case. Keep your candle out of drafts, don't burn it on a mantle shelf above a fire and keep the wick trimmed to 1/4".
NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED.
Over the years we have found that most of our customers don't mind drippy candles. They have said that any dripping adds to the hand crafted nature of the candle and they feel that their magick is working!
Many people use candle drippings as a form of divination. They seek the meaning of the symbols that appear in the dripping wax and on way and how it flows onto an astrological chart.
Even the way a candle flame burns can be used as a source of divination. If the flame of the candle is very low the energy around or running through the person or thing it was lit for will be very low and they may not absorb the healing well. Conversly if the flame is very high the energy around you is probably is very high and your magick or healing may have a greater impact.
We would recommend Candles, Meditation and Healing by Charlene Whitaker for further information.
Above all remember - Burning a beeswax candle facilitates a special mood of reverence, they are a link to a deep spiritual belief system and when you burn a beeswax candle you renew sacred traditions.
CIRCLES OF LIGHT SOY CANDLES
THE BENEFITS OF SOY WAX - Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin, with no petrol-carbon soot which can blacken walls, ceilings, and furniture, contaminate the air in your home, as well as add toxic carcinogens into the air you breathe.
Soy candles burn slower and cooler than paraffin wax, creating a longer burning candle and soybeans come from a renewable source, unlike paraffin, which consists of petroleum. Since soybeans are vegetables, soy wax (basically made from hydrogenated soybean oil) is naturally biodegradable. Soy wax is also easier to remove from materials and other surfaces than paraffin wax.
*******
When you receive your Circle of Light you may see white marks on the surface of the candle. This is called frosting or bloom and is a normal characteristic of natural waxes. It will not effect the burning process in any way and is in effect confirmation that your candle has been made using 100% soy wax.
When burning your candle for the first time it is important to give it a 'memory' burn. Your candle should burned for 1 hour (not more and not less) for each inch of its diameter.
The Circles of Light are 3 inches in diameter and should be burned for 3 hours to establish a memory. This allows your candle to establish a full melt pool increasing the scent throw.
If your candle is not given a proper memory burn and it is burned for a shorter period of time it will 'core burn' down the centre, a good scent throw will not be achieved and you will be left with wax at the bottom and on the sides of the container.
Allow your candle to cool and harden before re-lighting.
Discontinue burning your container candle when there is 1/4" wax left in the bottom. Soy wax cleans up easily in soap and water and you can then use the container for something else.
Use a wick dipper or candle snuffer to extinguish your candle and avoid the smoke that occurs when you blow out a candle.
Do not place soy candles in the fridge or in direct sunlight as extreme temperatures will cause discolouration.
Upon cooling your soy candle may appear 'bumpy' on the top. This is completely normal and a natural characteristic of all soy wax.
Our candles are scented with a combination of cosmetic grade fragrance oils and medicinal grade essential oils. Our fragrance oils are sourced within the UK and imported from the USA from a manufacturer that blends a high percentage of essential oils with synthetic to create the fragrances.
Circles of Light burn for approx 30 hours.
|
