Beeswax is one of nature's most amazing products! It is derived from the nectar of flowers collected by honeybees (the same source that honey comes from). Honeybees have four pairs of glands on the underside of their abdomen that produces this incredible product. They use this beeswax to build the wax comb within their hives. Beeswax is considered to be among man's earliest raw materials having been used for thousands of years to make cosmetics, medicines and art.
Beeswax is a very hard, sticky substance. Because of this, it can be difficult to break into small chunks to use in recipes. We recommend to use beeswax pearls to forego this messy process. They are especially easy to measure and pour. With a beautiful light gold color and sweet honey aroma, they are completely ready-to-use. No additional processing or filtering necessary.
Projects
Our beeswax pearls work beautifully to make a variety of different body care products including lip balm, salves, creams and lotions. They also work great for making candles and beeswax ornaments.
Sourcing
We are proud to say that we source all of our beeswax pastilles from beekeepers in the United States.
How to Melt
Whether making body care products, candles or ornaments, you will first need to melt your beeswax pearls. We recommend using the double boiler method for melting. You should never melt beeswax over direct heat as it may cause scorching or fires. The double boiler method allows for the beeswax to melt at a lower, more consistent temperature. Here are the steps on how to use the double boiler method:
1. Fill an old large saucepan with 1-2 inches of water. The saucepan should be large enough for a metal melting pot to fit inside.
2. Place the saucepan container the water on the stovetop and heat on high until the water reaches a steady, rolling boil.
3. Set the metal melting pot on the stand ring inside the larger saucepan containing the boiling water and lower the heat so that the water is at a gentle simmer. Make sure that the metal melting pot does not sit directly on the bottom of the lower saucepan. If this happens, we recommend using a double boiler stand ring.
4. Gently pour your measured beeswax pearls into the metal melting pot. Make sure no water splashes in from the bottom saucepan.
5. The beeswax pearls will melt fairly quickly, anywhere between 15-30 minutes, depending on how many pastilles are in the pot. Make sure to not leave the beeswax unattended while melting. We also recommend using a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the beeswax while it melts. Beeswax has a melting point of approximately 145° F. To prevent scorching of the beeswax, be sure that the temperature does not go above 170° F. Also be sure to monitor the water level in the bottom saucepan. It will evaporate over time and you may need to gradually add more water as the wax melts.
6. After the pearls are completely melted, you can use as desired..
Bloom (White film on beeswax)
Over time, our beeswax will develop a naturally occurring white film on its surface. This white film is called "bloom" and is very similar to what happens to pure chocolate over time and is an indication of the quality of the beeswax. If you do not like the look of bloom, it can simply be removed by buffing the surface of the candle or other beeswax product with a soft cloth or applying low/warm heat with a hair dryer.
