Beeswax candles are a lovely choice for most homes. They are made from natural beeswax, which is leftover after the honey is harvested from the hives. You can find these candles in health food stores, natural food stores, and even craft stores across the country. However, they are quite different from the paraffin candles you're probably used to seeing more often — so there are a few things to know before you buy one.

Beeswax candles are expensive for a reason.

If you pick up a beeswax candle and are a little surprised at the price, rest assured that there is a good reason for this. It's unlikely that the store owner is overcharging you. Beeswax candles take a lot of time and labor to make. Beekeepers have to tend to a hive for months—if not years—before there is enough beeswax for them to take some away from the bees. Even once they remove the wax, it has to be separated from any honey. Then, it has to be melted down and made into candles, a process that is usually done by hand. The high price of the candles accounts for all this labor and waiting.

Every beeswax candle is a bit different.

Different types of bees make wax with slightly different consistencies. The texture of the beeswax also depends on what type of nectar the bees were collecting from flowers at the time. So, if you buy more than one beeswax candle and they don't burn quite the same, that's to be expected. Some candles melt faster than others, some might split a little as they burn, and others may burn a bit cooler. This is all part of the fun of burning beeswax candles — getting to know each candle individually.

Beeswax candles need to burn for a longer time.

Whenever you light the beeswax candle, make sure you have time to let it burn for a few hours. This way, the sides will soften enough that you can push them in after each burn. This is necessary to help the beeswax keep its shape. If you only do shorter burns, the candle will tunnel down the middle and you won't be able to hug it in.

With this information in mind, you are better equipped to buy and enjoy a beeswax candle. Remember, this is a work of art made by both bees and humans, working together.