The MBur Difference: Hand Poured Candles Made in Queens, NY
The MBur Difference: Hand Poured Candles Made in Queens, NY
You have probably burned a candle from a big box store and thought, "this smells amazing in the store, why does it smell like burning plastic at home?" That is not your imagination. That is paraffin wax, petroleum byproducts, and toxic fragrance doing exactly what they do. The moment a flame touches that wick, your cozy living room becomes a chemistry experiment.
Here is what is different about MBur. We make our candles by hand, in Queens, New York, using 100% beeswax and phthalate free fragrance. No shortcuts, no blends, no mystery ingredients. Just a clean burn that actually smells the way it is supposed to, from the first light to the last.
If you have been looking for a candle brand rooted in New York that does things differently, keep reading. By the end of this post you will know exactly why MBur candles burn longer, smell better, and make you feel like you finally found the one.
Why Most Candles Disappoint You
Let us be direct. Most mass produced candles are made from paraffin, which is a byproduct of petroleum refining. When you burn paraffin, you are releasing benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde into your indoor air. That headache you get after burning a candle for an hour? That is not a coincidence.
Soy candles are marketed as the clean alternative, but the reality is messier. Most soy candles on the market are blended with paraffin to cut costs and improve scent throw. And many are loaded with toxic fragrance oils that contain phthalates, hormone disruptors that most candle companies never mention on the label.
The candle industry is not heavily regulated. Companies can call their product "natural" without meeting any meaningful standard. Which means you are often paying premium prices for something that is, at best, mediocre and, at worst, actively bad for your air quality.
What We Actually Put in Our Candles
MBur candles start with one ingredient: 100% pure beeswax. Not a beeswax blend. Not "beeswax derived." Beeswax. The oldest candle material on the planet, used since approximately 5,000 BCE, and still the cleanest burning wax available.
Beeswax has the highest melting point of any candle wax, which means it burns slower and lasts longer. Our 12oz candles are rated for up to 80 hours of burn time. Compare that to a typical paraffin candle the same size, which might give you 40 to 50 hours if you are lucky.
We pair that beeswax with wooden wicks. Wood wicks create a low, steady flame and produce that soft crackling sound that makes a candle feel like an experience rather than just a light source. They also promote an even melt pool, which means you get full fragrance throw from edge to edge, not just a sad little tunnel down the middle.
Our fragrances are phthalate free and non toxic. Zero chemical dyes. No metal core wicks. Everything that goes into an MBur candle is something we would be comfortable telling you about out loud, in detail.
Take our Room Service beeswax candle as a starting point. It is our bestseller for a reason: a warm, layered scent built on saffron, white tea, and lush florals, burning cleanly for up to 80 hours in the 12oz size ($60). It fills a room without overwhelming it, and the wooden wick crackle makes it feel like a whole moment.
Made by Hand in Queens, New York
Small batch is not a marketing phrase for us. It is the only way we know how to make candles. Every MBur candle is hand poured in Queens, NY, which means a real person is pouring each one, checking each one, and packaging each one before it ships to you.
Making candles this way is slower. It costs more. It means we cannot fulfill a Walmart order. And we are completely fine with all of that, because it is the only way we can guarantee the quality that our customers have come to expect.
You can read more about how this brand started and what drives it in our story, handcrafted in Far Rockaway, but the short version is this: MBur was built on the belief that you should not have to choose between a candle that smells amazing and one that is safe to burn indoors. You can have both.
"These have been my favorite candles since I discovered them a few years ago! I find that the scent spreads throughout my whole home so much more than any other candle I have tried. I love the wooden wicks! It is a beautiful glow and it makes a very subtle crackling sound. And I can really tell the difference in the natural materials, especially compared to other big brand named candles that I have tried which make me feel like I need to cough." Sarah Thompson, 5 stars
The MBur Lineup: A Scent for Every Room
We did not build a catalog of 200 scents. We built a tightly edited collection where every scent has a point of view. Here is how to think about them:
Do Not Disturb
Fresh fruit, early florals, and something unmistakably spring like. Built for bedrooms, built for unwinding, built for anyone who wants their space to smell like the best version of a warm evening. Starting at $20 for the 20 hour size.
Wine Down
Lavender, chamomile, sage, and rosemary. The candle equivalent of finally sitting down after a long day. If you burn candles in the bath or before bed, this one was made for you. Our Wine Down beeswax candle starts at $20 for the 20 hour size.
Sunday Reset
Peppermint, eucalyptus, cedar, and patchouli. The scent of a space that has been cleaned and reset. Perfect for WFH days, focus sessions, or anyone who needs their environment to feel like a fresh start. Our Sunday Reset candle also starts at $20 for the 20 hour size.
Room Service
Our bestseller. Saffron, white tea, and lush purple blooms. The scent of a hotel room you saved up to stay in. Available starting at $20 for the 20 hour size, up to $60 for the 80 hour 12oz.
People Watching
Warm citrus, spice, and something that just smells like a good morning. Multiple reviewers have called it the perfect fall candle. One customer described it as "a warm cup of tea that makes me happy every time I light it."
Not Sure Where to Start? Try a Sample First.
If you have never burned an MBur candle and you are not ready to commit to a full size, our candle sample collection lets you try individual scents for $5 each. It is the lowest risk way to figure out which scent belongs in your home before you go all in on the 80 hour version.
"I absolutely love these candles! I instantly notice the difference in the air quality, in comparison to the Bath and Body scented candles. I love Bath and Body's candles but I acknowledge that it caused a slight headache and other minor respiratory discomfort. Awesome products. Totally addicted." Jason H., 5 stars, Retail Therapy candle
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do MBur candles actually burn?
Our 12oz candles are rated for up to 80 hours. That is because beeswax has the highest melting point of any candle wax, which means it burns slower than paraffin or soy. The 20 hour 2.5oz size and 40 hour 5oz size are great for trying a scent. The 80 hour 12oz candles are for when you already know you are obsessed.
Are MBur candles actually non toxic?
Yes. 100% beeswax wax, wooden wicks (no metal core), phthalate free fragrance, and no chemical dyes. Nothing hidden, nothing blended in. You can read more in our post on our commitment to clean candles.
What if I do not know which scent to pick?
Start with a sample. Individual scent samples are $5 each, and a two scent sample pack is $10. It is the easiest way to try before you commit to a larger size.
Are MBur candles made in the US?
Every candle is hand poured in Queens, New York. Small batch, made by hand, not outsourced.
The Bottom Line
If you have been burning mass produced candles and wondering why they disappoint you, the answer is almost always in the ingredients. Paraffin wax, toxic fragrance, metal wicks and chemical dyes are the industry default, and most brands do not advertise that.
MBur is the alternative. Hand poured in Queens, made from 100% beeswax, with wooden wicks and phthalate free fragrance. Every single candle. No exceptions.
Our most recommended starting point is the Room Service beeswax candle, our bestseller with hundreds of five star reviews and a scent that genuinely works in any room. The 20 hour size is $20. The 80 hour size is $60 and will last you months.
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