Beeswax Candle FAQs

I've been burned before by candles that didn't last

I've bought candles that burned out in a couple of hours. How long do yours actually last?

Short burn life usually comes from a soft wax and a thin candle. Beeswax is denser and burns slower. Every product page lists the burn time for that specific candle, and those are estimates based on shape and size rather than guarantees. Our 3-inch flat top pillar is rated at 40+ hours; a 10-inch taper is about 10 hours per candle. We publish those numbers so you can compare cost per hour, not just price.

My last candle tunnelled down the middle and left most of the wax behind. How do I stop that?

Tunnelling comes from burning a candle in short sessions, so the melted pool never reaches the outer edge. The fix is to give the first burn enough time, roughly an hour per inch of width. Candle Care walks through it, and covers how to coax a tunnelled candle back.

Candles have sooted my walls and jars before. Will these?

Most sooting comes from an untrimmed wick or a flame moving in a draft, not from the wax itself. Trim to about a quarter inch before every burn, keep the candle out of moving air, and beeswax burns very cleanly. The full explanation, and why soot is worth avoiding, is on Candle Care.

My candle dripped everywhere. Is that normal?

Almost always a draft, or a holder that isn't gripping the candle upright. Move it somewhere still and check it sits straight and snug; our tapers are about 7/8 inch at the base to fit most standard holders. More on drafts and holders in Candle Care.

What do I actually need to look after these properly?

Honestly, not much. A pair of scissors and somewhere still to burn will get you most of the way. A Wick Trimmer and a Wick Dipper make the two habits that matter easy enough that you'll actually do them, which is the only reason we sell them. They're in Candle Accessories, and the Box Set pairs them.

I don't know what I'm actually buying

The candle industry uses the word 'beeswax' loosely. How do I know yours is pure?

This is a fair question to ask any candle seller, because products are sometimes sold as beeswax blends, where beeswax is only part of the wax. Ours are 100% pure Canadian beeswax with a pure cotton wick, and nothing else. Our wax comes from Canadian beekeepers, mostly across British Columbia and Alberta, supplied by Poelman Apiaries in Fort Macleod, who filter and refine it with no additives, preservatives or chemicals. If you ever want to know which apiary region a batch came from, email us and we'll tell you.

Why do your candles vary in colour and scent between orders?

Because we don't dye, bleach, or add fragrance. Beeswax takes its colour and its faint honey note from the flowers the bees visited, so batches range from pale gold to deep amber and the scent varies in strength. We'd rather explain the variation than process it out. If you need a consistent colour across a set, order the pieces together and mention it in the order notes.

Is there any added fragrance in these candles?

No. Our candles are beeswax and a cotton wick, with no fragrance oils, essential oils or synthetic scents added. The scent you notice is the wax. We can't make health claims, so if you're sensitive to scented candles, we suggest starting with a single votive or a tea light box before committing to a larger candle.

There's a white film on my candle. Did it go bad?

No, and it's good news. That's bloom, the wax's natural patina rising to the surface over time. It's a mark of pure, unprocessed beeswax and one of the few things that's genuinely hard to fake, so we don't treat our candles to prevent it. We'd encourage you to leave it; either way the candle burns exactly the same. More on bloom in Candle Care.

How should I store candles I'm not burning yet?

Cool, dark and dry, out of direct sun and away from heat, with tapers flat or upright rather than leaning. Beeswax doesn't expire, so a box of tea lights bought today will be perfectly good years from now.

Why does this cost more than the candle at the big-box store?

Your candles cost more than soy or paraffin. What am I paying for?

Three things we can point at. Beeswax is produced by bees in small quantities and costs more as a raw material than petroleum-derived or crop-derived waxes. We buy Canadian wax from a named supplier rather than the cheapest available, and we never substitute imported wax. And each candle is hand-dipped or hand-poured in our own studio, not machine-moulded at volume. What you get back is more hours of light per candle, which is why we publish burn times: compare cost per hour rather than cost per candle.

Do you have options that fit a smaller budget?

Yes, and we design the range that way on purpose. Tea lights and single votives start at a few dollars, taper pairs sit in the mid-teens, pillars run from the high teens up, and curated bundles are for when you want a gift that feels considered. There's a genuine entry point at every level rather than one premium tier. Tea Lights & Votives is where most people start.

Are you going to discount these later? Should I wait?

We run seasonal promotions through the year, and our promotional terms are published on the site when an offer is live. We won't tell you a sale is coming when we don't have one planned, and we don't run permanent fake markdowns. If price is the deciding factor, join the email list and you'll hear when something is on.

I'm buying this as a gift

What's a safe choice if I don't know their taste?

A pair of hand-dipped tapers or a pillar set suits almost any home, because undyed beeswax doesn't clash with anything. Gifts for Every Occasion is curated for exactly this, and Our Best Sellers is the shortcut if you'd rather go with what most people choose.

What if I get it wrong, or I'm out of time?

A gift card arrives instantly and lets them pick. If you're ordering a physical gift, remember that candles are made in small batches by hand, so give us a little runway in the run-up to the holidays.

Candles as a practical thing, not just decor

We lose power where we live. Are candles a realistic backup light?

Yes, and it's one of the most practical reasons to keep beeswax on hand. It burns long and steady, gives a warm bright light, needs nothing but a match, and stores for years without degrading. A tea light or votive box spreads light through several rooms; one pillar gives you the most hours in a main room.

What should I keep in the house so I'm not scrambling?

A box of tea lights or votives, one or two pillars, matches, and a stable heat-safe holder for each, stored somewhere cool and dark. Check burn times on the product pages and buy for the hours you want, not the number of candles.

How do I use candles safely with kids, pets, or during an outage?

Always a stable heat-safe holder on a flat surface, always clear of curtains, bedding, and anything loose, never unattended, never within reach of children or pets, and always extinguished before sleeping. Beeswax is no exception to any of that. The full safety list is on Candle Care.

Can I use your candles every day, or should I save them for occasions?

Use them. A significant share of our repeat customers buy the same tapers or tea lights again and again for ordinary dinners and evenings. Saving candles for special occasions is how they end up in a cupboard for five years.

Where does this come from, and who am I buying from?

Where are your candles made?

In our studio at Revelstoke, British Columbia. The wax comes from Canadian beekeepers, mostly across British Columbia and Alberta. The product is Canadian from the hive to the box. Our Story is the longer version.

How big is Beeswax Works, really?

We're a small operation, and we'd rather you know that. Candles are made in small batches by hand in Revelstoke, which is why you'll occasionally see a design go out of stock or a made-to-order lead time rather than instant availability. We're scaling deliberately, adding capacity in step with demand instead of outsourcing production or moving to machine pouring.

Why do some designs disappear and come back changed?

We rebuild our collections each year around our core categories: tapers, pillars, tea lights, votives, decorated candles, and accessories. Those core types are available year-round. Seasonal and decorated designs rotate, and we sometimes bring a favourite back in a new form. If there's a piece you want to see again, tell us; that feedback genuinely decides what we make.

What if something arrives damaged or isn't right?

We offer a Money Back Guarantee. Email hello@beeswaxworks.ca or call 1-833-570-5427 with your receipt or proof of purchase. Returns are inspected when they arrive, and refunds go back to the original payment method. To be upfront: customers cover the cost of return shipping, and shipping charges aren't refundable. If a candle arrives damaged in transit, contact us before returning anything and we'll sort it out directly.

Shipping, Canada, and the United States

How soon will my order ship?

Orders typically ship within three to five business days. Rates and delivery estimates for Canadian and US orders are shown at checkout, and expedited courier options are available.

Will candles survive shipping in hot or freezing weather?

Beeswax has a high melting point and travels well, and candles are packed for transit. Bring your parcel indoors promptly in hot weather rather than leaving it on a step. If something arrives damaged, our Money Back Guarantee covers it.

I'm in the United States. What will I actually pay?

Shipping options and costs are shown at checkout. US customers are responsible for any applicable duties and brokerage fees, which are charged separately from your order by the carrier or customs broker. We ship via ClickShip/UPS where available, and use Canada Post for PO Boxes or addresses that can't accept courier delivery. We won't quote you a duty figure we can't guarantee, so if landed cost matters to you, check current US import charges for candles before you order.

Are you still shipping to the United States?

Yes. US customers have long been an important part of our business. Because of tariff changes this year, we've shifted our growth focus toward our home, regional, and Canadian customers, and we're being straight with US shoppers about duties and brokerage instead of absorbing costs quietly or promising something we can't control.

Do you ship within Canada, and is there free shipping?

Yes. Free standard shipping applies to Canadian orders over $150 CAD; current thresholds and any active promotions are shown in our shipping policy and at checkout.

I want to stock these, or buy in volume

Do you sell wholesale?

Yes, and we're proud of it. Alongside this retail shop, we run a dedicated wholesale store at beeswaxworkswholesale.ca for shops, studios, and other stockists. It's a separate storefront with its own account registration and pricing, run by the same small team from the same Revelstoke studio. For wholesale and stockist enquiries, email candles@beeswaxworkswholesale.ca.

Can I buy Beeswax Works candles in a store near me?

Often, yes. Our Stockists page lists the shops that carry us, concentrated across British Columbia. Supporting those retailers is part of how we grow, so if one is near you, buying there helps both of us.

I want candles for a business, a venue, or corporate gifts. Who do I talk to?

Email hello@beeswaxworks.ca or call 1-833-570-5427 and tell us quantities and timing. Buying a quantity of candles for one occasion is a retail order, not a wholesale one, so it is handled by the same team you would order from normally. If you are buying to resell in your own shop, that is wholesale, and candles@beeswaxworkswholesale.ca is the address you want. Either way, because candles are made in small batches by hand, lead time is the thing to raise early.

Why does the wholesale side matter to me as a retail customer?

Because it's the reason the studio stays busy year-round, which keeps our core candles available to you outside the holiday rush. Retail and wholesale funding the same workshop is what lets a small Canadian maker keep making everything in-house.

Still have a question?

Email hello@beeswaxworks.ca or call 1-833-570-5427 and a person here will answer. If you'd rather read first, Candle Care covers burning and troubleshooting, and Our Story covers who we are and where the wax comes from.

Pure ~ Simple ~ Light