Why I Chose Beeswax (And Didn’t Just Use A Cheaper Wax Like A Sensible Person)

When my eldest son asked for bees for his 16th birthday, I didn’t think I’d end up covered in wax and arguing with wicks almost four years later - but here we are.

We did a beginner beekeeping course together and somewhere between getting stung and learning how to smoke a hive without setting fire to ourselves, I started falling in love with the bees. Not just the honey, but the rhythm of it all. The quiet busyness, the order, the hard work. Proper admiration.

As we started learning the ropes, not really sure if we were getting things right; I found myself totally fascinated by these little creatures and their ridiculous work ethic. At first, I just wanted to make use of everything we were getting from the bees and that’s how I ended up on the slippery slope to candle making.

Beeswax isn’t the cheap route - not by a long stretch - but it’s the right one. It burns cleanly, doesn’t throw black soot all over your walls and even before you add fragrance, it smells slightly of sunshine and honey. It just feels like the kind of thing you’d want to bring into your home.

I blend it with coconut wax to make it pour better and throw scent more effectively; which means your house will actually smell of something when you light it, not just a faint whiff.

I also use fragrance oils instead of essential oils. Not because I’m anti-natural (far from it), but because essential oils don’t always behave in candles. Some are flammable, some just vanish and others smell like old socks once they hit the flame. I’m aiming for safe, consistent and good quality - not a potential fire hazard because I like to sleep at night.

Although it began as a way to support my son’s new hobby, it quickly turned into something I genuinely love. Mixing scents, pouring candles, trying to figure out which wick won't tunnel or set itself on fire... It's part science, part chaos, part therapy. I’ve always been a maker and will turn anything into something useful if you leave it lying around long enough. Candle making fits right into that; practical, creative and hands-on.

I don’t have a Pinterest-perfect life - it’s just me, trying to earn a bit extra doing something I care about. Everything is made by hand with a lot of trial, error, swearing and sniffing along the way. It’s not glamorous - there’s a lot of testing, re-pouring, nose fatigue and moments of wondering if I’ve lost the plot? However, I care deeply about what I make. I want people to enjoy these products, knowing they were made with thought, time and love - not mass produced in a giant warehouse.

If you’ve ever wondered why my products aren’t £4.99 - it’s because they’re made with the good stuff, pure and high quality that contain no nasties, no plastic, fluff or fairy dust by someone who actually cares.

So that’s how it started, from bees in the back field to candles in the kitchen. I handcraft everything in small batches (I’m talking jug in a pan of water small) and I try to keep things as natural, sustainable and honest as possible.

Thank you for being here. For reading this. For supporting something that started with a teenager wanting bees, a kitchen and a stubborn streak a mile wide.