The Disadvantages of Beeswax Candles: An Honest Look at the Catch
We make beeswax candles. We think they are the best candles you can buy. But if you are researching whether to spend the money on one, you deserve a straight answer about the downsides, not a sales pitch dressed up as honesty.
So here is the real list of disadvantages, what they actually mean in practice, and whether any of them should change your decision. If you already know you want one and just want to see what is available, our full collection of 100% beeswax candles is here.
Disadvantage 1: Beeswax Candles Cost More
This is the real one. A 100% beeswax candle costs more than a paraffin or soy candle of the same size. There is no way around it.
A typical paraffin candle from a big box store runs $8-15. A soy candle from a mid-range brand is $20-30. A pure beeswax candle starts around $20 and goes up from there depending on size. The sticker price is higher. That is a fact.
But sticker price is not the whole picture. Here is why:
The Cost Per Hour Math
Beeswax has the highest melting point of any candle wax, which means it burns significantly slower than paraffin or soy. When you calculate cost per hour of actual burn time, the gap narrows or disappears entirely.
| Candle Type | Typical Price | Burn Time | Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big box paraffin (3-wick) | $15 | 25-35 hours | $0.43-0.60/hr |
| Mid-range soy candle | $25 | 40-50 hours | $0.50-0.63/hr |
| MBur beeswax (40hr size) | $23 | 40 hours | $0.58/hr |
| MBur beeswax (55hr size) | $37 | 55 hours | $0.67/hr |
| MBur beeswax (20hr size) | $20 | 20 hours | $1.00/hr |
The 40-hour size at $23 comes in at $0.58 per hour, which is right in line with what you would pay for a paraffin candle that releases petroleum chemicals into your air. The 20-hour size is the most expensive per hour at $1.00, but it is also the lowest commitment entry point if you want to try a scent before sizing up.
The cost-per-hour comparison does not account for the fact that beeswax produces zero soot (so no black residue on your walls or ceilings), releases no VOCs, and does not require you to replace it as often. If you factor in those externalities, the value tips further.
Why the Raw Material Costs More
Paraffin is a petroleum refining byproduct. It is cheap because it is essentially industrial waste repurposed for consumer products. Soy wax comes from large-scale agriculture with subsidized supply chains. Both are produced at massive scale with low input costs.
Beeswax is produced by honeybees. It takes bees visiting roughly two million flowers to produce a single pound of wax. There is no factory shortcut for that. The raw material is genuinely more expensive to source, and that cost is reflected in the final product.
On top of that, beeswax has a high melting point (144-147°F) which makes it harder to work with than softer waxes. It requires more precision during the pouring process. Every MBur candle is hand-poured in small batches in Queens, NY, not mass-produced on an automated line.
Disadvantage 2: Beeswax Is Not Vegan
Beeswax is an animal byproduct. If you follow a strict vegan lifestyle, beeswax candles are not compatible with that choice. That is a straightforward limitation with no workaround.
For vegan alternatives, 100% soy or coconut wax candles with phthalate-free fragrance and cotton or wooden wicks are the closest equivalent in terms of clean burning. They will not have the air-purifying negative ion release that beeswax provides, but they avoid paraffin and are plant-based.
We chose beeswax because it is the highest-performing candle wax available for burn time, air quality, and soot production. Our beeswax is sourced from ethical apiaries where the health of the bee colonies is the priority. But we respect that this is a personal choice, and we are not going to pretend it is not a real consideration.
Disadvantage 3: Fewer Scent Options at Most Brands
Many beeswax candle brands offer limited scent selections because beeswax is harder to scent than softer waxes. The high melting point means fragrance oils need to be carefully formulated to bond with the wax properly. Some brands skip scented options entirely and only sell unscented beeswax candles.
This is not a limitation we share. MBur offers 12 distinct scents across the full collection, all using phthalate-free fragrance oils formulated specifically for beeswax. The scent throw is comparable to conventional candles without the chemical load. But if you are buying beeswax from other brands, limited scent options is something you may run into.
Disadvantage 4: Natural Color Only
Beeswax candles come in the natural color of the wax, which ranges from pale yellow to deep golden depending on the batch. You cannot get a bright red or deep blue beeswax candle without adding synthetic dyes, which defeats the purpose of choosing a clean-burning natural wax.
If matching a specific color scheme is important to your decor, beeswax is limited to its natural palette. Our candles use thick glass vessels that provide the visual variety instead, but the wax itself will always be some shade of natural beeswax gold.
Disadvantage 5: Harder to Find
You cannot walk into Target or Walmart and find a 100% pure beeswax candle. Most mass-market candles are paraffin because it is cheap, or soy because it is trendy. Beeswax candles are primarily sold by small, independent brands online.
That means you are ordering ahead rather than grabbing one on impulse. Shipping adds time. You cannot smell before you buy unless the brand offers samples. This is a real inconvenience compared to picking up a candle at the store.
What About the Benefits?
This post is about the disadvantages, but the context matters. The reason people accept these tradeoffs is because beeswax delivers things no other candle wax can:
- Zero soot. No black residue on jar rims, walls, or ceilings.
- No VOCs. No toluene, benzene, or formaldehyde released into your air.
- Longest burn time of any candle wax, hour for hour.
- Negative ion release that binds to airborne pollutants and allergens.
- Naturally hypoallergenic. Safe for people with allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities.
- Highest melting point means it holds up in heat and burns more completely.
Whether those benefits outweigh the disadvantages depends on what you value. If price is the only factor, paraffin wins. If you care about air quality, burn time, and not coating your home in petroleum soot, beeswax wins.
If You Want to Try It Without a Big Commitment
The cost concern is the most common reason people hesitate. Here are three ways to try beeswax without a big upfront spend:
Start with the 20-Hour Size: $20
Every MBur scent is available in a 20-hour size at $20. That is enough burn time to test the scent, see the zero-soot difference, and decide if you want to size up. The Wine Down beeswax candle (lavender, chamomile, sage) is the most popular starting point for first-time beeswax buyers.
Best Value: The 40-Hour Size at $23
The 40-hour size at $23 is the sweet spot for cost per hour at $0.58/hr. That is comparable to a paraffin candle but with none of the chemicals. The Do Not Disturb beeswax candle (vanilla, sandalwood, peach blossom) and Room Service (vanilla, tobacco, saffron) are the two bestsellers in this size.
Best for Gifting: The Gift Set at $50
If you want to try multiple scents or give beeswax candles as a gift, the handmade candle gift set is $50 and includes multiple candles. More variety, better per-candle value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are beeswax candles worth the extra money?
It depends on what you are paying for. If you want the longest burn time, cleanest burn, and zero soot, beeswax is the only wax that delivers all three. The cost per hour is comparable to paraffin and soy when you account for the longer burn time. If price is your only consideration and you do not care about air quality or soot, paraffin is cheaper upfront.
Why are beeswax candles so expensive compared to soy?
Raw beeswax costs significantly more than soy wax because it is a natural resource produced by bees, not a mass-agriculture commodity. It also requires more skill to work with due to its high melting point. The result is a candle that burns longer, cleaner, and without the VOCs that soy-paraffin blends release.
Do beeswax candles smell as good as regular candles?
Unscented beeswax has a natural honey-like scent that is subtle and pleasant. Scented beeswax candles depend on the brand. Some brands only offer unscented options because beeswax is harder to scent. MBur offers 12 scents using phthalate-free fragrance oils with scent throw comparable to conventional candles. The Retail Therapy candle (jasmine, amber, peach, tonka bean) is one of the strongest scent-throw options in the line.
Can I get colored beeswax candles?
Not without synthetic dyes, which add chemicals to the burn. Pure beeswax ranges from pale yellow to deep gold depending on the batch. If you want color variety, look for candles in colored glass vessels rather than dyed wax.
Is beeswax better than soy?
For burn time, soot production, and air quality, yes. Beeswax burns 30-50% longer than soy, produces virtually no soot, and releases negative ions that help purify air. Soy is a step up from paraffin but most soy candles on the market are blended with paraffin and use synthetic fragrance. For a detailed comparison, our post on paraffin vs beeswax vs soy breaks it all down.
The Bottom Line
The real disadvantages of beeswax candles are: they cost more upfront, they are not vegan, the color is limited to natural gold, scent options are limited at most brands, and they are harder to find in stores. Those are all true.
Whether those matter to you depends on whether you care more about the sticker price or what you are actually breathing. A $15 paraffin candle releases toluene and benzene into your air and coats your walls in black soot. A $23 beeswax candle burns clean for 40 hours with zero soot and no chemical off-gassing. The cost per hour is nearly identical.
If you want to find out what the difference feels like, start with the Wine Down beeswax candle at $20 for the 20-hour size, or the Do Not Disturb if you prefer vanilla and sandalwood.
Shop the full beeswax candle collection
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