Flip over almost any candle on a drugstore shelf and you'll find two words in the ingredients list: paraffin wax. It's cheap, easy to work with, and holds fragrance well. It's also a petroleum byproduct — the same category of material as the residue left in the bottom of an oil barrel.
The Problem With Paraffin
Paraffin releases trace amounts of benzene and toluene when burned — both classified as carcinogens. In a well-ventilated space with a single candle, the risk is minimal. But light paraffin candles every day in a small room, and those numbers add up.
Beyond health, paraffin tends to produce black soot that coats glass jars and nearby walls over time. You've seen it: that dark ring around the inside of a candle jar after a few burns.
Why Beeswax?
Beeswax burns cleaner than any other natural wax. It produces negative ions when it burns, which can actually help neutralize airborne pollutants. The flame is bright and steady, and the natural honey scent is subtle enough that it doesn't compete with the candle's fragrance.
Beeswax is denser than paraffin, which means it burns slower — and that longer burn time is one reason Sweetwick candles last 35–45 hours.
Why Add Coconut Wax?
Pure beeswax can be brittle and difficult to pour. Blending in coconut wax gives the candle a creamier texture, improves fragrance throw, and creates a cleaner surface finish. Coconut wax is also sustainably sourced and burns without petroleum byproducts.
The result is a candle that burns evenly from edge to edge, holds its scent, and leaves a clean jar when it's done.
What We Don't Use
No paraffin. No soy (here's how beeswax and soy compare). No colorants. No UV inhibitors. No phthalates. The full ingredient list is on our Ingredients page — because we think you deserve to know what you're burning.