Why Do Florists Recommend Beeswax Candles?

It’s not that we are partial to beeswax, though we are. Very. It’s that the science behind how beeswax is created versus how paraffin wax is created speaks for itself. There may be diehard fans of each type of candle…some very famous candle brands use paraffin wax…but we’d like to show you why we think beeswax is best, not just for you but also for the environment. Beeswax Comes from Nature.Beeswax is a substance that honeybees secrete from a special gland on their abdomen which is constructed into their honeycomb. When this honeycomb is harvested, the wax can be removed, melted, and used to create candles and many other products.Alternately, paraffin wax is the substance left over in the bottom of crude oil barrels. It must be bleached and treated with chemicals in order to get it ready for the candle-making process. Beeswax is Naturally ScentedThe light honey scent from natural beeswax doesn’t need to be enhanced with perfumes. Little Bee doesn’t add any artificial scent to the beeswax before we hand-roll our candles. The natural scent is lightly sweet and soothing.Paraffin wax, especially when used for candle-making, needs to be scented with chemically-created perfumes to get specific scents. Chain candle companies offer scents from “fresh linen” to “man cave”. Last time we checked, there was not a natural source for these aromas! Beeswax is a Naturally Renewable ResourceAs long as a hive is healthy, it will continually produce wax, which can be repurposed for use in beeswax candles. We must do everything we can to help keep the honey bee, and all bees, healthy and thriving, thereby allowing them, and all beekeepers, to do what they do best!Paraffin is not a renewable resource. It comes from crude oil, it is not sustainable and it is definitely not eco-friendly. Beeswax Production Is Environmentally FriendlyBecause beeswax is a natural substance, made by honeybees in beehives around the world, it does not harm the environment.Paraffin is made from the finite supply of fossil fuels we have left on earth. It is closely tied to our need for oil and the pressure this substance puts on our environment. Beeswax Candles Burn Cleanly and Safely100% Natural beeswax candles, the kind that we create at Little Bee of CT, burn slowly, evenly and beautifully, releasing a light honey-scented aroma. They are hypo-allergenic, toxin-free, and eco-friendly, making them a perfect choice to any home decor…inside or outside!Paraffin, on the other hand, is known to contain documented toxins, some of which are carcinogenic! These toxins can be released when you burn your candles. Paraffin also releases residue when it burns, and this can cling to walls and furniture.   Okay, so here is a bonus 6th reason! Beeswax candles naturally burn longer than other types of candles, including paraffin. This means you get to enjoy your candle and the experience of burning all-natural beeswax that much longer. We’d love for you to try our candles. Visit our website and click on Candles to see all the shapes and sizes we offer. We also welcome your feedback! Follow @littlebeeofct on Instagram and Facebook where we post daily on our favorite honeybee-related topics. Thank you again for supporting Little Bee of CT and the busy beekeepers around the world!

OK…that’s an understatement. COVID-19 has knocked us all for a loop in our personal and professional lives. At Little Bee of CT, we’re gearing up for the season of feasts, the season of joy and the season of togetherness. However, because of the current situation in our world, we’re going to celebrate this holiday season with immediate family only. Are your extended families and friends also opting to stay home and stay safe, rather than traveling to family gatherings and parties? We’re betting that will be a YES for most of you. It is certainly a hard decision to make no matter where you live. How will this affect your holiday traditions? Does this mean that the holidays are going to be cancelled? No. It does not! We won’t allow the pandemic to take the holiday season from us. And neither should you! What this new normal means for us is that we can now slow the pace of our entertaining, opt for quality over quantity, and make the holidays even more special than we could have hoped. It’s time to pull out the fancy china and glassware. Set a sparkling table. (Complete with hand-rolled beeswax candles, naturally!) Create new traditions that in years to come will be happy cherished memories. Take cozy family portraits around the table or fireplace. With a small group of people, it can be both manageable and memorable. Whether you have a working fireplace or not… a corner of your room, a table, a shelf, whatever you have available can be the setting for a brilliant focal point.   Surround a few beautiful candles with unique ornaments, greenery trimmed from shrubs, bowls of pinecones, scraps of birch bark, inexpensive sparkly sprigs from craft stores….the possibilities are ENDLESS… to create a beautiful vignette in your space. And that is the PROBLEM, right?  So many ideas, which one to choose?! :) We started with our fireplace.  Though it is large and beautiful, it is not used to burn wood – only candles!  We took on the challenge of not just creating one example of fireplace design, we created three unique designs, all using various re-purposed, borrowed, salvaged and inexpensive props.  (We sometimes like to overachieve!) Three very different feels, but each appealing to a wide range of tastes, and all delivering the coziness that I think we are all seeking this season. What do you think? Do you have a favorite? Simple and Sparkly Nature Inspired Playful Vintage We’ve also been thinking about how we will entertain this year.  In years past, we would host a Christmas Day celebration for 30+ adults and kids.  Complete with all the mayhem that goes with a large family gathering. This year, it will be for a party of five. Simple, elegant, and we are hoping… still very special. I think we’re also feeling a bit more sentimental this year because we’ve been forced to slow down, move our work spaces into our homes, and step out of our normal routines. Spending this much time in our homes, and with each other, has made us really stop and look around at our space…what we call home. We want to make the holidays shine for so many reasons this year. Have you felt it also? We’ve noticed that the use of vintage items is really appealing to us, now more than ever.  Somehow we have had a tiny bit more free time (we’re commuting a LOT less) and have been able to research the things we love, watch home decor videos, see what you all have been posting on your social channels, and we really have noticed a trend back to the nostalgic. A cherished holiday tablecloth, a few pieces of red depression glass, and colorful ornaments are reminding us of a simpler time. Setting our table with these pieces feels somehow true to our roots, and maybe we’ve missed some of that history in years past. So, if we opt for a dinner celebration, the use of timeless tartan with evergreens really sets a specific mood, and could actually be used all winter long.  We really like the New England feel of the table set with multiple pillar candles woven through with greenery but love that it’s still a look that is easily transferrable into many home styles. No matter what your style, rolled-beeswax candles will elevate your decor with a sophisticated ambiance. Please message us at info@littlebeeofct.com to share your story, and some photos! We will share our favorites on our social media pages. In closing, there are many things we wish for you this holiday season (health, happiness), but most of all, we wish for you… peace. Make sure to follow @littlebeeofct on Instagram and Facebook to see what we’re getting up to each week! And look for our next free giveaway, with a golden honey theme, which will be posted this week! And, boy is it a SWEET one! Thank you for supporting Little Bee of CT and the busy beekeepers around the world!

Many modern brides are leaning towards green weddings. Beeswax candles are long-lasting, natural and not made of genetically modified fragrances or additives. The uniqueness of beeswax is memorable and sure to create warm wedding photos. Cluster them in centerpieces, line long guest tables or fireplace mantels. Beeswax candles also make charming thank-you gifts for those who play an important role in a wedding ceremony. Consider celebrating your wedding with locally sourced beeswax candles, you will be supporting local bees and local businesses! A few of our romantic beeswax products, see the