Companies are greenwashing your candles. Here’s why that’s bad.
Greenwashing is the act of a brand creating misleading claims or marketing tactics that portray a product as environmentally friendly or natural when they’re not. This practice often exaggerates or misrepresents a company’s sustainability or eco-friendliness, deceiving consumers into believing they made the best choice for their well-being and the environment. In the context of candles, greenwashing occurs when manufacturers label their products as “vegan," “natural" or "eco-friendly" without substantiating these claims. For instance, greenwashed candles might contain synthetic fragrances, paraffin wax, or other non-sustainable and potentially harmful materials.
Australia is famous for greenwashed soy and palm wax candles
Laden with synthetic fragrance and Forever Chemicals that leave a lasting negative impact on the earth and our bodies.
Australia is also famous for beeswax.
Within Australia exists huge expanses of untouched wilderness. We get our wax from keepers in Queensland. Our beekeepers ethically-harvest beeswax from hives that are strategically situated within Queensland’s expansive landscape. The vastness of forest ensures that each honeybee travels well within the diameter of untouched land, eating pollen that is free from pesticides, sprays and man’s manipulation.
The precious wax is filtered by steam and sun, and meticulously purified through linen so that each drop is pristine. In the world of candle making, beeswax is a symbol of purity, luxury, and tradition. Beeswax carries a rich history in elegance and refinement, stemming all the way back from ancient Rome, and even further back to Egypt. Beeswax candles embody a skilled artisanal approach to candlelight, honouring the artistry and wisdom of a past era.
In contrast, alternatives like soy and palm wax exist simply because they are driven by commercial interests. Masking their true environmental impact, misleading claims of eco-friendliness hide the synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals that reside within these cheap, manufactured candles. They starkly oppose the natural allure of pure beeswax.
Let’s compare some wax.
Australian Beeswax
Longer Lasting
Beeswax candles are known for their long burn time, which is significantly longer than that of paraffin or soy candles. On average, a beeswax candle can last 2-5 times longer than a soy or paraffin candle of the same size. This is because beeswax has a higher melting point and a denser composition, allowing it to burn more slowly and evenly.
Good For You
Maintaining healthy air quality is crucial for a healthy environment, both indoors and out. However, burning scented and toxic candles in your home can negatively impact air quality. Studies have shown that soy candles release harmful carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and benzene. Many artificial waxes, including some marketed as "vegan," are hydrogenated and may also contribute to poor air quality. Opting for clean and unadulterated beeswax candles can provide a pleasant and healthful alternative to traditional candles.
Better For The Environment
We source Australian beeswax from forest-flow hives owned by beekeepers who practice bee conservation. Our wax is carefully considered, making our candles ethical and sustainable from harvest to pour. We strive for sustainability in every step, from the health of the hives to the packaging of our product.
Rich In Negative Ions
Ions are molecules that carry an electrical charge and can be either positively or negatively charged. Negative ions occur naturally in nature when air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. They can be found in abundance in areas such as the beach or near waterfalls, where tens of thousands of negative ions can be present. Negative ions have been found to improve depression, with no negative side effects, according to studies conducted at Columbia University. Japanese studies have also shown that burning beeswax candles can increase the quantity of negative ions in the air. Beeswax candles produce more negative ions than candles made from other waxes due to their hotter burning temperature. Negative ions have been said to improve mental clarity, decrease drowsiness, and protect against germs in the air, making us feel instantly refreshed and invigorated. Negative ions are also said to clear the air of pollutants, dust, mould, bacteria, and viruses, providing nature's air purifiers.
Naturally Scented
Beeswax candles have a completely natural sweet and subtle fragrance that won’t overpower your home. The scent comes from gathered pollen, which the bees use to make their wax. What we get after the wax has been melted and formed into a candle to be burned is a honey-like scent that is floral and unique to the bees of the local area. There’s nothing else like it.
Hypoallergenic
If you have sensitive skin or breathing issues with other candles and incense, beeswax might be your solution. With anti-allergenic properties, those with sensitive skin and those with breathing issues like asthma can enjoy the warm ambient glow of beeswax.
Ancient Medicine
Beeswax is known for its numerous health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It has been used in traditional medicine all over the world for centuries, and is still commonly used today in products such as skin care and natural remedies. Our beeswax is particularly high quality due to the pristine environment and diverse flora that our Australian bees have access to. This produces wax that is rich in nutrients and has a pleasant aroma. When sourced from ethical beekeepers, beeswax can be a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for consumers.
Manufactured Waxes
Soy Wax
Soy production devastates our planet’s forest. It’s a foreign material imported into Australia from China, Brazil, and other far-off places. Soy candles contain synthetic fragrances and additives that exacerbate health conditions like as asthma, cause headaches and nausea, and contribute to the toxic load of Forever Chemicals in the body.
When soy candles are burned, they release carcinogens such as formaldehyde and toluene into the air. Soy wax is also not a natural wax; it is a heavy-metal hydrogenated oil. This means that soybeans are treated with hydrogen and other catalysts to create the wax, and often, soybean farming involves the use of pesticides and fungicides that damage the environment.
Soy agriculture is heavily associated with deforestation. Our founder switched from soy candles to beeswax upon discovery of the truly un-vegan effects of the soy industry. Read more, here.
Palm Wax
Palm is a highly productive crop, producing more yield on less land than any other vegetable oil. Palm Oil is used in around 50% of products that are consumed on a daily basis, and the global demand for the oil continues to grow.
Palm plantations thrive in the tropics and produce incredibly high yields when grown within 10 degrees the equator. Indonesia and Malaysia account for around 87% of global Palm Oil production, and Indonesia is being deforested faster than any other country in the world. Large areas of forests and other ecosystems with high conservation values have been cleared to make room for Palm plantations, destroying biodiversity.
Clearing rainforests to make way for plantations has taken a huge toll on local communities, destroyed natural habitats for endangered species like the Orangutan, and has become a critical factor in climate change as replacing natural forests with Palm Oil plantations reduces the ability of vegetation to capture and store carbon dioxide. Scarily, there are over 200 names for palm oil derived ingredients in consumer products to deter aware consumers from purposefully avoiding it. Read more, here.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a petroleum by-product that is bleached with industrial strength bleach, creating toxic dioxins. It is then mixed with acrolyn, a known carcinogenic chemical, and sold to companies that add various other chemicals, artificial dyes, and synthetic fragrances to create scented candles. When burned, paraffin wax releases harmful chemicals such as benzene and toluene into the air. It can also trigger asthma attacks and irritate the lungs. We believe that paraffin wax should never be an option when choosing what to burn in your home.