Creating beautiful things from wood and wax
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Locally Made
The beeswax used are sourced from our own hives and the woods are from native fallen trees, demolition timber, or from swamp kauri
Eco-friendly
All our products are handmade from natural and organic materials so you are assured that it is environmentally safe
Open to commissions
We accommodate bespoke wood and wax art pieces. Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements further
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We offer free shipping for orders $100 and above. We also ship your orders within 3-5 business days upon receipt of payment
Hand crafted Art Pieces
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Beeswax Luminaries
Artistic Wood Pieces
Small Beeswax Candles
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FAQ
What is a Beeswax Luminary?
Luminaries are thin walled, coloured "bowls", made of pure beeswax. They are beautiful by day and simply stunning at night. We've taken luminaries to a whole new level by using beeswax with striking colours and patterns. The tealight glows through the wax and creates an illuminated work of art. The luminaries themselves do not burn, they don't melt - just the tealight candles - and will give you years of pleasure.
Each luminary is unique and individually crafted so that no two are exactly the same. When you purchase a luminary from us you are buying an original that can never be repeated.
The beeswax tealight will burn for 3-4 hours. Naturally, the tealights are made from our beeswax, the wicks are 100% cotton and the spectacular colours come from vegetable dyes.
Each luminary comes with 2 pure beeswax tealights, a piece of cork (for insulation) and care instructions.
Why is Beeswax so much better than other waxes?
Beeswax is the longest and cleanest burning wax. It helps to purify the air and gives off a wonderful evocative honey scent, even when it's not burning! Beeswax is environmentally friendly and completely sustainable. We use only 100% pure beeswax from our own beehives.
How long do the Luminaries last?
One of our beeswax luminaries will last indefinitely as long as you follow some simple care instructions. The luminary does not melt. You place a beeswax tealight (we supply you with two) inside the luminary and each one burns for 3 to 4 hours. We supply you with a flat piece of cork which insulates the luminary from the heat of the tealight. Please order additional beeswax tealights which are available in a range of colours.
What type of finish do you use on your wood?
We make our own mixture of beeswax, vegetable oil and carnauba wax to finish each piece. This nourishes the wood, highlights the gorgeous grain, seals the wood from moisture and dirt and leaves a semi-gloss finish which is totally food safe.
Do the Luminaries melt?
No! The luminaries themselves do not burn or melt - just the tealight candles. The luminaries will give you years of pleasure. Luminaries are thin walled, coloured "bowls", made of pure beeswax. You light a beeswax tealight and place this inside the luminary. The tealight glows through the translucent wax and creates an illuminated work of art.
What are the candle wicks made from?
The wicks that we use in all our beeswax candles are 100% cotton.
Do Beeswax candles last longer than other candles?
Beeswax candles are proven to burn longer than both paraffin and soy candles. So, although beeswax candles can cost more than paraffin, they last much longer and this is what makes them a great investment and a better choice for your home. (Beeswax Candle, Honey and Honeybee FAQs (canadacandle.com)
Is the finish/polish food safe?
We make our wood polish from beeswax, vegetable oil and carnauba wax. And, yes, it is food safe and safe even if a child decides to put it in their mouth!
Why you should buy our beeswax luminaries, artistic wood pieces and beeswax candles?
We are a small family run business operating on a bend of the Wairua River in Northland (Tai Tokerau), New Zealand.
We know where our raw products come from and we are involved in every process and stage involved in creating beautiful items for you.
We produce unique hand crafted, artistic pieces of the highest quality for your pleasure.
Our beeswax:
- Comes from our own honey bees situated in beautiful Northland, New Zealand (Aotearoa)
- Is 100% pure, natural and renewable
- Is Eco-friendly.
- Is a natural by-product of our own bees, which are essential for the pollination of a myriad of flowers, plants, vegetables, fruits and trees in New Zealand (Aotearoa).
How do bees make beeswax?
Bees produce wax from glands under their abdomen. These glands mature in worker bees from 10 days old. Once the bees graduate to being flying forager bees (at about 20 days old) the wax-producing glands start to atrophy: that is the wax glands slowly become non-functional.
It takes a considerable amount of honey and nectar consumed by the bees to make beeswax. It is estimated that 6 to 8 kilograms of honey is needed to make 1 kilogram of beeswax, so making beeswax uses up a lot of resources. Naturally, the bees won't make beeswax comb unless it is absolutely essential to do so. There must be a lot of honey in the hive, or a lot of nectar coming into the hive before the bees will make beeswax. This is most likely to occur in Spring and Summer.
When a honey flow occurs and the bees are frantically foraging and bringing in nectar, the bees need to store it. When there isn't enough room to store the honey, the bees produce wax and make honeycomb. (https://www.ceracell.co.nz/articles/tips-for-getting-frames-drawn)
We only use the wax that comes from uncapping the honey frames when the honey is extracted and from scrapings of excess wax in the hives.
Why is burning beeswax better than other types of waxes?
Beeswax candles burn cleaner and far, far longer when compared to paraffin candles and soy candles.
Paraffin wax is a petroleum by-product that is created from the sludge waste when crude oil is refined into gasoline. There are concerns about some of the carcinogens produced when Paraffin wax is burned.
Soy wax candles made with pesticide-free, non-GMO soy are a clean, renewable choice. Soy wax is less firm than paraffin and, consequently, most soy wax candles come in glass containers and burn quicker than beeswax.
Palm oil candles also burn cleanly, but palm tree plantations are often responsible for major deforestation in SE Asia, especially in Indonesia.
Beeswax candles are 100% safe to use with no side effects. Beeswax is an environmentally responsible, clean and renewable resource (Beeswax Candle, Honey and Honeybee FAQs (canadacandle.com).
Why is my beeswax candle developing a white coating on it, and what can I do about it?
Over time, beeswax candles will develop a whitish coating called bloom. This is the result of softer oils rising to the surface. Use a soft cloth to polish the bloom off. Alternatively warming the candles carefully with a hair dryer will remove candle bloom. Bloom has no effect on how your beeswax candle will burn.
Are all beeswax candles made with 100% Pure Beeswax?
Be careful when buying beeswax candles. In some countries, candles containing as little as 10% beeswax are sold as "beeswax candles". Here in New Zealand so called "beeswax" candles only have to have 51% beeswax. Our beeswax candles are made from 100% pure New Zealand beeswax from our own hives.
How much honey does it take to make beeswax?
It is estimated that 6 to 8 kilograms of honey is needed to make 1 kilogram of beeswax, so making beeswax uses up a lot of resources. Naturally, the bees won't make beeswax comb unless it is absolutely essential to do so. There must be a lot of honey in the hive, or a lot of nectar coming into the hive before the bees will make beeswax. (https://www.ceracell.co.nz/articles/tips-for-getting-frames-drawn/)
What do people use Beeswax Luminaries for?
Here are a range of things people have used luminaries for:
- Give them as a gift
- Use instead of a candle: the tealights are easy to replace and the luminaries last indefinitely
- Wedding table centre pieces
- Display one or more as an art feature
- Wedding present
- A beautiful bowl for flowers
- A mother's day gift
- Fill with potpourri for added fragrance
- A unique house warming gift
- Sensual illumination in your bedroom
- Valentines present
- Place one on your dining table
- Light one as a focus for prayer or meditation
- Use as a memorial for someone who has died
- Gorgeous illumination outside when you have a bbq
- Beautiful amongst flowers in your garden
- Line your path or entrance for a party or wedding
- Use them in a religious celebration
How do you look after your Luminary?
We love our beeswax luminaries and we want you to be able to enjoy them for a long time. A little care can make a huge difference.
Keep your luminary out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources (including other candles). This will ensure the shape is kept and you don't end up with a colourful lump of melted wax! Always place it on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Place the tealight in the centre of the luminary. The tealight will get hot, so place it on your insulating material (i.e. the cork we supply, or a pile of rice, salt or sand). Trim the tealight wick to about 5mm if necessary and burn completely.
You probably already know this but, just in case, flames don't work in draughts so keep them away from the air conditioner, fans and open windows. Whilst we're talking about draughts, if you need to blow the tealight out, do it gently.
We're sure you would prefer your house looking beautiful and uncharred, so never leave a burning candle unattended. While you're at it, it's best to keep your luminary away from children and pets.
Beeswax will naturally develop a white "bloom" over time. This is normal and, in fact, proves that it is 100% pure beeswax. A quick and regular polish with a soft cloth will restore the wow factor. Hold a soft cloth on the inside as you polish the outside to keep the luminary's shape.
We enjoyed creating your luminary and we know you will enjoy using it. We always love to hear any comments, suggestions or feedback, so don't hesitate to let us know.
About Us
Made with Aroha
We collect beautiful NZ wood and beeswax and fashion them into gorgeous, distinctive and unique artistic pieces that will fill your home with beauty, colour, light and peace.
What Our Clients Say About Us
Wairua Wood and Wax
021 858648 (Simon)
021 0319129 (Sarah)
RD9, Whangarei
New Zealand
Open for Business
Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm
Saturday - 10am to 2pm
Sunday - CLOSED
021 858648 (Simon)
021 0319129 (Sarah)
RD9, Whangarei
New Zealand
Open for Business
Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm
Saturday - 10am to 2pm
Sunday - CLOSED
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