More restaurants and hotels are choosing to go ‘green’. Their customers are asking for it and more owners find ‘green’ their first choice as well. We know that we all can find cleaning products that are safe, green and non-toxic. That’s a great first step. Fastidious restaurants are selecting local organic produce and meat for their menu and natural candles to put on their tables. If you are asthmatic or a ‘candle snob’ you will notice and appreciate this move.
As a manufacturer and supplier of what we consider the most natural of ‘natural’ candles we have recently had calls from restaurants and hotels going green asking about our beeswax candles. The Penticton Lakeside Inn and Casino in Penticton BC burn our square and round pillars, lots of them every year. A restaurant in Edmonton called enquiring about beeswax candles. They were burning regular tealights and wanted beeswax because it was cleaner and burned longer. When I found out how long they wanted the candles to burn I suggested beeswax votives in a cup. They bought several glass cups and a couple cases of votives to try. My suggestion must have worked because a year later they are still ordering several cases of votives at a time. When a restaurant in Victoria called me with the same question about what might work for them I suggested the same, votives in glass cups as it was working so well for the Edmonton restaurant. They too now have placed several orders for votives.
Why votives and not tealights you might ask? Tealights are great too. They burn continuously for 4 to 5 hours. But our beeswax votives will burn 14 to 15 hours and that is time saved when employees don’t have to be changing candles. The advantage of tealights is that you don’t have to clean out the cups, they are disposable, unless you buy our refills. But that makes them less environmentally friendly. The whole point of burning beeswax is to have less impact on the environment and if you can reuse the cups that makes a big difference.
To make cleaning the votive cups easier we recommend a teaspoon of water in the bottom of the cups or a sprinkle of salt. When the votive has burned down remove the metal tab left on the bottom and if there is just a trace of wax left on the jar wipe it out and wash it in soapy water and dry. Put in your water or salt, whichever you prefer and put another votive in. It’s good to go. If there is a too much wax leftover you can freeze the votive cup and the wax will chip out quite easily. If you have more questions about beeswax votive care I suggest this link.
If you are a restaurant interested in keeping the air you, your employees and customers breathe free of petroleum related toxins from traditional oil lamps or paraffin candles give us a call at 1-800-558-7292. We can talk about your particular needs. Restaurants qualify for wholesale pricing so it is worth your while. If you have a good idea of what you want already or would just like to take a look at what we have register here at our wholesale registration.
Honey Candles are made in Canada of 100% pure Canadian beeswax from Western Canada. By purchasing beeswax candles you also support beekeepers that manage the bees that pollinate the good fruit and veggies you put on your customers’ plates. It’s a win/win situation!
I have to tell diners here now that you can make a difference! If you have a favorite restaurant and they don’t know about beeswax candles and are burning oil or paraffin you might be doing them a favor by telling them how much you would appreciate beeswax candles at your table and why.
Photo by Marlie Marchewka
