Sunday, February 23rd, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in store at 1319 Broad Street. FREE EVENT.
Come meet the person behind the beautiful, all natural hand made candles we carry! Join local beeswax candle maker Leslie-Jill Smith from Bees Wax Works as she demonstrates traditional beeswax candle dipping, answers all your questions on the benefits of burning beeswax candles in your home, how to care for them and the steps involved in candle making. Based out of Ladysmith, right here on Vancouver Island, Jill has been head chandler of Bees Wax Works for over six years and was an apprentice chandler before that.
Here at West Coast Refill we are proud to source many of our sustainable products locally, often from right here on Vancouver Island! We feel it is an important step in sustainability to source as many of our product as possible locally, not just because it supports a circular and more diverse economy, but also because it helps to cut down on fossil fuels from shipping and manufacturing from the other side of the globe. But mostly, we really love getting to know our suppliers! It is so much nicer working with people when you get to connect face to face and share your ideas and passions with each other. As Jill says on her website “…we truly believe we are a stronger group by surrounding ourselves with really talented and engaged folks.”
Here are a few tips from Bees Wax Work’s website all about caring for your candles:
Maintaining a Traditional Beeswax Candle
Trim the wick before, during and after each burn to a quarter of an inch, slightly longer for tapered candles.
As the candle burns down and after each burn, gently thumb the melted wax inwards, to contain the wax pool.
Generally, burn each candle one hour for every inch that it is wide.
To extinguish, smartly press the wick into the wax pool, then straighten the wick and trim to a quarter of an inch. This will not only ensure the absence of smoke but will re-coat the wick for the next lighting.
Bloom is a whitish patina that will form over time on pure beeswax candles. It is a sign of purity and quality in the wax. This is the natural rising of minerals to the surface, and may be wiped away with a lint-free cloth.
Keep candle groupings well spaced; too many candles too close will generate too much heat and cause neighbouring candles to melt.
Bees Wax Works candles are best burned in a draft free environment and on an even fire safe surface, to ensure a dripless candle. A flickering flame may indicate a draft.
Never put essentials oils into a molten wax pool; use an oil diffuser instead.
Beeswax has been used as a household aid for centuries; poured into gaps in wooden floors to prevent squeaking, rubbed on draws for an easier glide, drawn onto saw blades to prevent binding and rust, and even on metal zippers. It is also an essential element in the making of pure body balms and cosmetics.
Please remove all packaging and labels before burning.
Never leave a burning candle unattended; keep your burning candle in sight.
Please contact us at @beeswaxworks.ca with any questions, thanks.
