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 Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, using 100% beeswax and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance. We do not cut the wax with cheaper blends or hide anything in the fragrance. Just a clean burn that 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 why MBur candles burn longer, smell better, and tend to make people stop reaching for the candles that gave them headaches. Browse the full MBur beeswax candle collection any time as you read.
Why Most Candles Disappoint You
Most mass-produced candles are made from paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum refining. When you burn paraffin, you release benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde into your indoor air. If you get a headache after burning a candle for an hour, the ingredients are a likely reason.
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 a 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, 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, and not "beeswax-derived." Just beeswax, one of the oldest candle materials humans have used, 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 80-hour size is rated for up to 80 hours of burn time. A typical paraffin candle in the same size class might give you 40 to 50 hours.
We pair that beeswax with wooden wicks. Wood wicks create a low, steady flame and produce a soft crackling sound that makes a candle feel like an experience rather than just a light source. They also promote an even melt pool, so you get full fragrance throw from edge to edge instead of a tunnel down the middle.
Our fragrances are phthalate-free and non-toxic. No synthetic 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, tobacco, orchid, vanilla, and tonka bean, burning cleanly for up to 80 hours in the largest 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 Far Rockaway, Queens
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 Far Rockaway, Queens, which means a real person pours, checks, and packages each one before it ships to you.
Making candles this way is slower and it costs more. It means we cannot fulfill a Walmart order, and we are fine with that, because it is the only way we can hold the quality our customers expect.
The short version of how this brand started: 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, Sunday Reset Candle, 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
Soft pear, peach blossom, vanilla, and sandalwood. Made for bedrooms and for unwinding, for anyone who wants their space to smell like the best version of a warm evening. The Do Not Disturb candle starts at $20 for the 20-hour size.
Wine Down
Lavender, chamomile, sage, cedar, and sandalwood. 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
Eucalyptus, peppermint, clove, cedar, and patchouli. The scent of a space that has been cleaned and reset. Good for WFH days, focus sessions, or anyone who wants 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, tobacco, orchid, vanilla, and tonka bean: 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.
People Watching
Orange, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and vanilla, something that just smells like a good morning. Multiple reviewers have called it a perfect fall candle. One customer described it as "a warm cup of tea that makes me happy every time I light it." The People Watching candle starts at $20 for the 20-hour size.
Not Sure Where to Start? Begin with the 20-Hour Size
If you have never burned an MBur candle and you are not ready to commit to the largest size, the 20-hour size at $20 is the entry point across every scent in the line. It is the lowest-commitment way to figure out which scent belongs in your home before you size up to the 40-hour at $25 or the 80-hour at $60.
"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., Sunday Reset Candle, 5 stars
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do MBur candles actually burn?
Our largest size is rated for up to 80 hours, because beeswax has the highest melting point of any candle wax and burns slower than paraffin or soy. The 20-hour size at $20 and the 40-hour size at $25 are good for trying a scent. The 80-hour at $60 is 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 non-toxic fragrance, and no synthetic dyes. Nothing hidden or blended in.
What if I do not know which scent to pick?
Start at the 20-hour size at $20, which is available in every scent in the line. It is the easiest way to try a scent in your own space before committing to the 40-hour at $25 or the 80-hour at $60.
Are MBur candles made in the US?
Every candle is hand-poured in Far Rockaway, 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 synthetic dyes are the industry default, and most brands do not advertise that.
MBur is the alternative: hand-poured in Far Rockaway, Queens, made from 100% beeswax, with wooden wicks and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance, across every candle in the lineup with 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 works in any room. The 20-hour size is $20, and the 80-hour is $60 and will last you months.
Shop the full MBur collection and start with Room Service
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