In case you haven't heard it enough from us here's your reminder that beeswax is a natural resource. This means each hive, batch, and candle may differ! We've spoken about the different scents beeswax may have and why that happens, today we'll talk about the different shades and opacities.
Here's why different orders of beeswax candles may vary slightly in shade (our candles are made-to-order and we do our best to make each order from the same batch of beeswax so they are similar in color and scent).
Pollen and Propolis Content
Beeswax can absord pigments from pollen and propolis which may result in different shades ranging from pale yellows to deep goldens, and sometimes even rich browns.
Age of the Beeswax
Fresh beeswax flakes shed straight off of the worker bee appears nearly white in color. Over time, is darkens as it collects natural substances like pollen, propolis, hive debris, and is exposed to air.
Bees Diet
If you you've heard the saying "you are what you eat", it's true and it goes for bees too! Flowers that bees collect nectar and pollen from may influence the color of wax. Some plants naturally produce more pigmented pollen which can tint the wax.
Processing and Filtration
Raw beeswax containts impurities including some of those we mentioned above like pollen and other debris. The filtration process used to remove excess debris can affect the color of the wax. Raw beeswax will typically remain darker in shade while a highly refined beeswax batch can appear nearly white (this is how we get our ivory wax- it's not colored it's just highly filtered).
Environmental Factors
Temperature, humidity, storage conditions, natural folliage, exposure to sunlight, exposure to air, can all affect the color of beeswax over time.
Did we miss anything? Let us know if we did, we'd love to hear from you!
Beeswax is an amazing natural resource, don't be afraid if your candles vary in shade. Instead, think about where your candle came from specifically and all of the wonderful, natural processes that it took to get to you!