Filtering Beeswax

[Jen]

My large freezer door is full of beeswax from years past. I'm going to filter it with a solar melter this year for candle making. My friend did one filter and the wax came out more yellow than the creamy beige color that we are used to seeing. He was told to filter it again because there is still to much honey in the wax.

I like that golden yellow beeswax color. What would happen if I only did one filter and made candles?

Would that wax burn differently?

Would burning a yellow candle smell more like honey? To me that would smell delicious 

[apisbees]

Honey will usually show up as black specs or the wax being darker at the bottom of the block. bright yellow wax is good for making candles. you just do not want any specks in it.

[Jen]

Are the specks considered unattractive? or will they melt down with the wax?

I won't be selling any of these candles so it doesn't have to be perfect...

[Bakersdozen]

Hopefully riverbee will chime in on this topic.  She has a lot of experience with beeswax.
I recently melted down some old, dark brood comb in the solar wax melter.  It was the dark yellow you are referring to.  Then I melted and strained it twice, through an old sweatshirt.  It never lightened up in color.  But I never saw any impurities in the wax either.  It smelled good.

[apisbees]

The color of wax can range in color and even if is is a dull dirty yellow color it will not effect it's burning to much. Black specks or other materials, may not burn of will smoke and can smell when burning.

[Jen]

Good info here. Thanks guys!

[riverbee]

"What would happen if I only did one filter and made candles?

Would that wax burn differently?

Would burning a yellow candle smell more like honey?"

jen, beeswax intended to be used for candle making must be aggressively filtered for the candle to burn properly, no impurities, honey, debris, dirt, etc...it clogs up the wick. i would filter more than once, otherwise you will experience problems with candles not burning correctly.

the color of the candle really makes no difference in the 'smell'. in my experience, beeswax candles irregardless of the color range, smell 'sweet'. (i only use cappings wax for candles). i have had a variety of color ranging from white/cream to a dark yellow.  i have also 'sun bleached' some wax, as long as the wax is not overheated, the colors all smell the same to me.