My paraffin candle for my UCO candle lantern finally ran out, the last inch of the candle seemed to burn for close to 2 hours! So I finally had a chance to try out the slightly more expensive beeswax candles for the lantern. These supposedly last a few extra hours which would be nice in winter when I typically use them.
The first difference I noticed was the weight. The beeswax candle is a bit heavier, by close to an ounce if I had to guess. The second thing I noticed was the shape. They arent tapered nearly as much at the end as the paraffin candles. Lastly the wick for the beeswax candles doest seem as thick, and its not fully enveloped by the candle wax like the paraffin model. Instead it appears the beeswax candle just had a hole drilled through it and a wick dropped in.
I had read some Amazon reviews that mentioned the beeswax candles being messier so I put it in a different candle lantern that I could more easily clean. Lighting them both up you can see that the paraffin burns much brighter and more intense. The beeswax model does seem to melt a lot more, and the odd shape means that the wax pulls up limiting the burn of the wick before dripping over the side of the candle.
I’m glad I only bought a 3 pack of these beeswax candles. I’ll burn them in other lanterns besides my UCO lantern. The increased burn time isnt worth the mess it makes and the subpar light it throws.
Beeswax will produce a measured 30 degrees Fahrenheit more than paraffin and is non toxic. In a emergency scenario the difference may be lifesaving. I don’t plan on finishing The Mahabarrata by candlelight and many people find it more natural.
Many imported paraffin candles have lead tainted wicks. Rub yours on paper to test. Beeswax is renewable and supports a vital component in food production via pollination.
Lastly, unlike paraffin it is a renewable resource and