Collection: Pure Beeswax Candles

Beeswax burns hot and slow, throws a warm honey-gold light, carries the faint sweetness of the hive and leaves no soot — which is why beeswax tops any list of non-toxic candles. Every candle here is handmade in small batches by Big Dipper Wax Works, on 100% cotton wicks, with no paraffin.

Pillars and tapers

Pure Beeswax Pillars are the center of the range, handcrafted in the USA in three sizes — 2" x 4.75" burns 40 hours, 3" x 3.5" burns 60, 3" x 6" burns 90 — in Natural, Ivory, Orange and Black. The Aromatherapy Pillars are the same sizes, scented with essential oils alone and dyed to match the blend: Harmony is pure lavender, Love is geranium and ylang ylang, Meditation is cedarwood and balsam. Holiday Aromatherapy Beeswax Pillars swap those blends for Spice, Mint and Pine. Natural Beeswax Tapers come as a pair joined at the wick, hand dipped so they burn dripless and smokeless for over 12 hours, in colors from Natural and Ivory to Forest Green and Cherry Blossom.

Tea lights, indoors and out

Pure Beeswax Tea Lights come six to a set with matches, poured into reusable polycarbonate cups; each burns five hours. Citronella Beeswax Tea Lights are the outdoor version, made in the USA from beeswax and a little soy wax with pure citronella and cedarwood essential oils, for the lanterns on a porch or table.

Sculpted shapes and holiday scents

Beeswax Sphere Candles are cast four inches across in three designs — Flora, Lotus and Deco — that light up from the inside as the wall thins; each burns over 50 hours. Beeswax Pinecone Candles are hand cast in three sizes, each in its own color: Forest at 3.5" x 2" for 24 hours, Chestnut at 4" x 3" for 40, Natural at 5" x 2.5" for 50. Holiday Aromatherapy Beeswax Candles in Jar hold 3 oz of scented beeswax behind glass, burn for 25 hours and arrive in a cardboard tube. When a sphere or jar burns down, drop a tea light inside and keep the glow.

Why beeswax and not paraffin is the subject of How to Choose Non-toxic Candles for the Holidays.