One way to clean beeswax is to filter it using charcoal, diatomaceous earth, and clay. Another way to clean (not quite as thorough) is to strain the melted wax with cheesecloth, hosiery, or better yet, an old sweatshirt, fleece side up. No bleach is used in Lumina's beeswax.
Naturally fragrant beeswax burns cleaner and longer than petroleum-based waxes. There's no smoking since there is no petroleum by-product burning in the candles. That's why burning beeswax candles is safe around (pet) birds and those sensitive to allergens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the melting point of beeswax?
A. 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q. Does beeswax have a smell?
A. Yes and no. When beeswax is created by the honeybee, it is white and odorless. During storage in the honeycomb, the wax absorbs its fragrance and color from pollen, honey, and propolis (a brownish resinous material of waxy consistency collected by bees from the buds of trees and used as a cement). So each batch of wax collected will have a unique honey-like fragrance and color.
Q. Why do some honeycomb sheet colors smell differently?
A. The type of plant from which the honeybee harvests pollen determines the fragrance of the beeswax. A lighter beeswax indicates the bees are collecting materials from blossoms. A darker beeswax is produced when bees collect from plants such as eucalyptus and avocado. Logically, if a light colored wax sheet is desired (such as almond), one would start off dying a lighter base wax. Conversely, if a darker color is desired (such as deep blue), it does not matter so much what tone the base wax has and usually a darker beeswax will be used.
Q. What is bloom?
A. Bloom is the dull "finish" or sometimes frosty-like "film" that appears on the surface of beeswax, usually when the wax is cold and exposed to air. It is the softer oils in the wax coming to the surface. It is not harmful or anything and may be removed by blowing warm air from a hair dryer over the wax (not so close you melt the wax) or by buffing the candle with a nylon stocking (although this does not work well with the texture of the honeycomb).
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