Unique Beeswax Giving from the Victory Garden

I have a few guilty pleasures – one is thrift stores, obsessively looking at seed catalogs and spending too much time on Pinterest. There are just so many ideas of things to make as gifts on Pinterest! I was searching for something to make with the little bit of beeswax I collected this summer from my beehives.

Of course, beeswax candles are delightful. They burn longer than synthetic candles and smell like what dreams are made of. It’s also remarkable that they purify the air rather than polluting it, and the negative ions they emit reduce things like dust, mold, and dander in the air we breathe. Beeswax candles would be an amazing gift; but I was interested in other things I could do with my beeswax, and I’m astounded by what else you can make!

Beeswax Soap

In this bizarre era of COVID-19, many of us are concerned about anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory products. Honey has a TON of remarkable healing properties. When you use honeycomb in your soap making, you are getting the same healing effects. It seems odd, but you can make it into a facial soap. Not only will it moisturize your skin but it will even heal cracked skin, making it soft and supple. The wax actually coats your skin and seals in the moisture.

Soap making recipes using beeswax are available on the internet. Most contain different oils and some honey along with the beeswax that helps to harden the soap bar. One of my favorite websites is this one from Lovely Greens that explains how to make Honey Oats and Beeswax Soap. The author, Tanya, admits that using beeswax and honey is not the easiest DIY project, but she gives some good advice that that will help if I decide to try my hand at soap making. https://lovelygreens.com/honey-oats-and-beeswax-soap/

Skin Moisturizer

Making a moisturizer is a far less complicated process than making soap. And it’s just as good for your skin. The softening and healing properties in beeswax can be used for diaper rash and eczema. With its Vitamin A and emollient properties, it also helps dry, chapped, and rough skin.

The recipe is simple as you just combine jojoba or almond oil, some Vitamin E oil, and aloe with your beeswax. There’s a simple recipe that beekeeper Charlotte Anderson uses on her Carolina Honeybees website using shea butter. (https://carolinahoneybees.com/beeswax-lotion-recipe/). I’m definitely trying this one.

Sewing Thread Strengthener 

My grandmother always kept about a two-inch square of beeswax in her sewing basket. Anytime she needed to sew a button on a pair of pants or shirt, out would come that beeswax square. Before threading her needle, she would hold the thread next to the beeswax with her thumb and pull it along the wax with her other hand to coat it. I didn’t know why she did it until recently. By coating the thread with a thin coat of wax it is more durable and is less likely to break. 

She also waxed her thread when she made quilts. I’m not a quilt-maker, but I do sew buttons on when necessary. I’m not sure how much this would be used unless it is a gift to a quilter. What I love is that it is so easy to make. Thinly slice off some wax from your beeswax, melt it with a little water at a low temperature on the stove and pour into your small container. Ta-Da! Stocking stuffer!

Furniture Polish

I love this one. Not only is it simple, I am trying to cut back on chemicals we use in our home. It’s basically just a combination of beeswax and olive oil melted together. On her Lovely Greens website, Tanya suggests adding clear grapefruit seed extract or Vitamin E oil. This will stabilize the olive oil so it won’t become rancid. You also can add essential oil for the fragrance you desire. https://lovelygreens.com/how-to-make-natural-beeswax-furniture/

If you have small children in your home, this is a particularly good furniture polish to use since it’s harmless should they somehow get their precious little hands on it. Safety and a beautiful sheen on my furniture. That works for me.

Mustache Wax

Mustaches don’t always do exactly what is expected. For that reason, guys who have them often use products to make that upper lip hair “behave,” if you will. Using beeswax, you can make an excellent mustache wax with the addition of coconut and essential oils. I thought the recipe on the website instructables living had the best and easiest method. https://www.instructables.com/id/Homade-Mustache-Wax/

This also would make an excellent gift for a teacher, relative, or anyone you know who has a mustache.

Where to get beeswax

There are a plethora of things you can make using beeswax, but we aren’t all beekeepers, so what do you need to know before buying? First, you need to know what kind to purchase. While pellets are easy to work with, large blocks are less expensive. It also comes in sheets, which are best for making candles, and you can purchase mini-bars for small projects. What size and form depend on what you are doing and how much you need.

Beeswax is naturally white, but pollen will cause it to become yellow, and the older the frame, the darker it will be. If you’ve ever seen a frame, each cell is capped and the tops are a beautiful white, but as you remove them, you will see the yellowish tinge. If you get pure white beeswax, it’s probably been treated with a whitener, such as bleach.

Of course Amazon has beeswax if you don’t have a local resource. A quick search will help you locate a local beekeeper. Easily find a beekeeper near you by doing a search by state. For instance, if you live in Texas, you would search Texas Beekeepers Association.

I hope you’ve been inspired to decide on which product to make, find some quality beeswax, and get to work. I know I have. I can’t wait to see how that moisturizer is going to feel on my face!

Happy beeswaxing!

DeeAnn
The Victory Garden Gal

www.victorygardengal.com