Big Dipper vs Bluecorn vs MBur: An Honest Beeswax Brand Comparison
You searched for "beeswax candle" and got 40 tabs deep before realizing half the brands selling "beeswax" candles are actually selling blends cut with coconut wax, soy, or worse. The beeswax candle market has a transparency problem, and three brands keep surfacing in the conversation: Big Dipper Wax Works, Bluecorn Beeswax, and MBur Candle Co.
This comparison breaks down what each brand actually puts in the jar, how long it burns, what it costs per hour, and who each one is best for. If you want to skip straight to browsing, MBur's full beeswax candle collection is worth a look. Otherwise, pull up a chair.
The Three Brands at a Glance
All three brands position themselves in the premium beeswax space, but their approaches differ more than you might expect.
Big Dipper Wax Works has been around since 1993. Production is now based in Atlanta. They're best known for tapers and pillars, traditional candle formats that lean more decorative than aromatic. Their catalog includes aromatherapy lines with essential oils and eco friendly dyes.
Bluecorn Beeswax launched in 1991 out of Montrose, Colorado. They started as a pure beeswax company but have since expanded into three distinct product lines: 100% pure beeswax, a beeswax and essential oil line called Beeswax Botanica, and a newer Aromática line made from coconut and soy wax. That last one contains zero beeswax.
MBur Candle Co. is the newest of the three, handmade in Queens, New York. Every candle is 100% pure beeswax with a wooden wick, non toxic phthalate free fragrance oils, and no chemical dyes. The lineup runs 12 scents across four sizes.
Side by Side: The Comparison Table
| Category | Big Dipper Wax Works | Bluecorn Beeswax | MBur Candle Co. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wax | 100% beeswax | — | 100% pure beeswax (every product) |
| Wick | Cotton | Cotton | Wooden wick (crackling burn) |
| Scent Options | Essential oil aromatherapy line; many unscented | Essential oils (Botanica line); unscented (pure line) | 12 curated scents, all phthalate free fragrance oils |
| Dyes | Eco friendly dyes in some products | No dyes in pure line; varies by product | No chemical dyes (ever) |
| Largest Jar Burn Time | — | — | 80 hours (largest size) |
| Price Range | + | + | $32 (20 hour) to $65 (80 hour) |
| Approx. Cost Per Hour (largest size) | Varies widely by format | + | |
| Production | Atlanta, GA | Montrose, CO | Handmade in Queens, NY |
| Founded | 1993 | 1991 | Newer brand |
A few things jump out of that table. One brand doesn't guarantee beeswax in every product. Another doesn't offer scented options beyond essential oils. And only one uses wooden wicks across the entire line. Worth digging into each of those.
Ingredient Transparency: Who Puts What in the Jar
Big Dipper keeps it straightforward. Their core products are 100% beeswax, and they've been consistent about that for three decades. The aromatherapy lines add essential oils. Some products include eco friendly dyes. If you want an unscented, traditional beeswax taper or pillar, Big Dipper delivers exactly that.
Bluecorn is where it gets complicated. The original pure beeswax line remains, but the brand now sells products under the same name that contain no beeswax at all. Their Aromática collection uses coconut and soy wax. If you're shopping Bluecorn specifically because you want beeswax, you need to read the product page carefully. The brand umbrella no longer equals the ingredient.
MBur uses 100% pure beeswax in every single candle. There is no blended line, no coconut wax alternative, no "inspired by beeswax" secondary collection. The wax is paired with wooden wicks and phthalate free, non toxic fragrance oils. No chemical dyes in any product. The ingredient list is short because the ingredient list is clean.
Scent and Fragrance Approach
This is where the three brands diverge sharply.
Big Dipper and Bluecorn both lean toward essential oils for their scented options. Essential oils have a natural appeal, but they come with a trade off: the scent throw (how far the fragrance travels through a room) tends to be lighter. If you want a candle that fills a living room, essential oil beeswax candles often fall short. Many buyers in this space report the scent fades quickly or doesn't project far from the flame.
MBur takes a different route by using non toxic, phthalate free fragrance oils specifically formulated for strong scent throw without the health concerns that come with toxic fragrance blends. The result is a candle that actually fills a room.
One MBur customer put it bluntly:
"Theres nothing I hate more than a candle that can't fill the room and baby this is NOT that. This candle permeates every corner of the room. Cant say enough about how impressed I am with this company." Tiffany Gordon, reviewing Retail Therapy
If scent throw matters to you, this is a meaningful difference. Essential oils are lovely in a diffuser. In a candle, they often can't compete with a well formulated non toxic fragrance oil.
Burn Time and Value
Beeswax burns longer than soy or paraffin because it has the highest melting point of any candle wax. That's true across all three brands. But the specifics vary.
Big Dipper's burn times depend heavily on format. Their tapers and pillars burn differently than container candles, so direct comparison gets messy. Pillars can run 60+ hours for large formats, but you're burning them on a plate, not in a jar.
Bluecorn offers a range of sizes with burn times that can reach 55 to 90 hours depending on the product line. Keep in mind their non beeswax Aromática line will burn differently than the pure beeswax products.
MBur's largest size is an 80 hour candle priced at $65. That puts the cost per hour at roughly $0.81. Their entry point is the 20 hour size at $32, which comes to about $1.00 per hour. Both are competitive for 100% beeswax with a curated fragrance and wooden wick.
The real value question is what you're getting for that cost per hour. A Big Dipper taper might cost less per hour, but it's unscented and has no container. A Bluecorn jar candle might land in a similar range, but you need to verify you're actually buying their beeswax line and not the coconut/soy alternative.
The Wick Factor
Both Big Dipper and Bluecorn use cotton wicks. Cotton wicks are perfectly fine. They're a standard choice for clean burning candles.
MBur uses wooden wicks exclusively. The practical difference: wooden wicks create a wider, more even melt pool (which helps prevent tunneling), they crackle softly like a small fireplace, and they produce a broader, steadier flame. The aesthetic difference is real too. A wooden wick flame looks different from a cotton wick flame. It's wider, warmer, and quieter in a way that changes the feel of the room.
If you've never burned a wooden wick candle, it's the kind of thing that's hard to go back from. The sound alone changes the experience.
Health and Clean Burning
All three brands avoid paraffin, which is the baseline for any candle brand that takes clean burning seriously. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct that releases benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde when burned. Avoiding it is table stakes.
The fragrance question is where health conscious buyers should pay closer attention. Many candle brands, even those using natural wax, load their products with toxic fragrance oils containing phthalates and parabens. These compounds are endocrine disruptors, and they're hiding behind the word "fragrance" on ingredient labels.
Big Dipper and Bluecorn both use essential oils in their scented lines, which sidesteps the toxic fragrance issue entirely. The downside, as mentioned, is weaker scent throw.
MBur uses fragrance oils but specifically sources non toxic, phthalate free formulations. You get the scent throw of a fragrance oil candle without the health concerns. Another reviewer captured this well:
"I absolutely love these candles! I instantly notice the difference in the air quality, in comparison to the Bath & Body scented candles. I love Bath & Body's candles but I acknowledge that it caused a slight headache and other minor respiratory discomfort. Awesome products. Totally addicted." Jason H.
Who Each Brand Is Best For
Choose Big Dipper if:
You want traditional, unscented beeswax tapers or pillars for a dinner table or decorative setting. Their format range is the widest of the three, and they've been doing it for over 30 years. If fragrance isn't a priority and you prefer a classic candle shape, Big Dipper is solid.
Choose Bluecorn if:
You want a pure beeswax candle scented only with essential oils and you're comfortable navigating a catalog that now includes non beeswax products. Their Beeswax Botanica line is a good option for essential oil loyalists. Just double check you're buying from the right product line.
Choose MBur if:
You want a scented beeswax candle that actually fills a room, burns clean, and sounds like a tiny fireplace. MBur is the pick for people who care about ingredients but refuse to sacrifice scent throw. Every product is 100% beeswax with wooden wicks and non toxic fragrance. No guessing, no checking which product line you're in. The Room Service candle is the bestseller for a reason: it smells like a five star hotel lobby and burns for up to 80 hours in the largest size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a beeswax candle is actually 100% pure?
Look for "100% pure beeswax" on the label, not "beeswax blend" or "made with beeswax." Pure beeswax is naturally golden and develops a whitish film called bloom over time. If a candle is bright white or unnaturally colored, it may contain additives. Every candle in MBur's collection is single ingredient beeswax with no blending.
Do beeswax candles really purify the air?
Some studies suggest beeswax releases negative ions that may help neutralize pollutants, but the scientific evidence for a significant air purifying effect from a single candle is limited. What is well established is that beeswax burns cleaner than paraffin, producing far less soot and no petroleum based toxins.
Why are beeswax candles so much more expensive than soy?
Beeswax is a natural byproduct of honey production. It cannot be manufactured in a factory or grown as a crop. Sourcing it is labor intensive, and the supply is inherently limited compared to soy (a commodity crop) or paraffin (a petroleum refinery byproduct). The tradeoff is a longer burn time per ounce, a cleaner burn, and no chemical processing.
What should I avoid when shopping for beeswax candles?
Avoid candles labeled as "beeswax blends" (often mostly paraffin), anything with toxic fragrance or chemical dyes, and wicks with metal cores. A trustworthy beeswax candle brand should list every ingredient clearly. If "fragrance" appears on the label with no further detail, that's a red flag.
The Bottom Line
All three brands make good beeswax candles, but they serve different people. Big Dipper owns the traditional taper and pillar space. Bluecorn offers range, though that range now includes products with no beeswax at all. MBur is the brand for anyone who wants a scented, clean burning beeswax candle with maximum scent throw, wooden wick warmth, and zero ingredient ambiguity.
If you want to see what 100% beeswax with a wooden wick actually smells like, browse MBur's full beeswax candle collection. Twelve scents, four sizes, starting at $32 for the 20 hour size. Every candle is handmade in Queens, New York.
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