Beeswax: manufacturing and benefits
Beeswax is a natural substance produced by bees to store their honey & pollen and protect their larvae. Offering many benefits , beeswax is a versatile natural ingredient that can be used in cosmetics, for wood or leather maintenance, in decoration with candles or even in medicine. In fact, beeswax never ceases to amaze us with its properties!
In this article, we will explain in more detail:
- How beeswax is produced
- What are its advantages in the world of cosmetics. We will also give you a little recipe for 100% natural lip balm
- Why beeswax is so popular in natural candle making. And why you should adopt it too!
Beeswax: a manufacturing secret well kept by bees
The production of wax is a phenomenon patented by bees for thousands of years. At the very beginning, man thought that it was brought from outside into the hive like pollen for example or propolis. After many observations, they realized that bees were indeed the origin of this substance.
In reality, there are several steps:
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Bees collect nectar from flowers and turn it into honey in their stomachs.
- Bees consume honey and produce a substance thanks to the 8 special wax glands located on their abdomen. But be careful, these glands only work for a very short time and only in worker bees aged 12 to 18 days. They then disappear! Once the wax stage is over, the glands are no longer functional and the bees become foragers.
- The wax glands thus produce wax which is deposited on the ventral segments of the bee's abdomen. This material is in liquid form at first, it will then harden to become a kind of scales.
- The bees carefully chew these scales to make them softer and form balls from them, from which they make their entire bee house like modeling clay. At the very beginning, the still virgin wax is white, almost colorless. Then, with kneading, the bees add a little of their saliva (which contains carotenoids). The wax then turns yellow.
The peak wax production period is between May - June.
Did you know?
To produce 1 kg of wax, bees need to eat 7 kg of honey!
Nature is impressive, isn't it?
What do bees do with wax?
Beeswax is the basic material that makes up the hive . It is from this substance that bees create thousands of hexagonal cells. To build them, they form a chain by clinging to each other in order to reach a temperature of more than 35° so that the wax is more flexible and malleable. The bees build these cells on frames going from top to bottom.
It is also inside these cells that the queen will lay her eggs. Then, the brood (nymphs, larvae and eggs protected by the workers) will be capped when it triggers pheromones.
Finally, they will also serve as a real pantry and accommodate honey and pollen.
The hive must initially have enough honey to build its hexagonal combs. It can then receive up to 27 kilos of honey.
The work of the beekeeper
The beekeeper will harvest 2 types of wax:
- The wax that has been arbitrarily deposited by the bees, outside the frames that it has deposited in the hive. These are fresh combs that are then melted.
- But also the wax that was placed by the bees to seal the honey within the cells.
This wax is collected in a tank and then melted in boiling water (about 64°) to purify it with a filtration system. It will remain on the surface since it has a lower density than water. The impurities that float are then removed. Cooled, the wax will harden and form a block. Tadam, we have in our hands a 100% natural product.
Beauty - What are the benefits of beeswax for your skin?
Beeswax has been used in cosmetics for a very long time. Ancient civilizations used it as a balm to treat skin problems.
Beeswax has real anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It contains over 250 different chemical compounds.
It is frequently used for:
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Moisturize the skin : Beeswax is an excellent emollient, which means it can help retain moisture in the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.
- Protect Skin : Beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin that can help protect against environmental damage such as pollution, wind and cold.
- Exfoliate Skin : Beeswax can be used as an ingredient in scrubs to gently exfoliate the skin and remove dead cells.
- Fight signs of aging : Beeswax is rich in vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Nowadays, beeswax is used in the manufacture of soaps, creams or even balms and lipsticks. In this article, we give you a very quick recipe to make your homemade lip balm based on beeswax and coconut oil:
You will simply need:
- 3 tablespoons beeswax
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
After combining these two ingredients in a bain-marie, you will quickly obtain a 100% natural and highly effective balm. Tell us in the comments if you have adopted this little recipe!
Decoration - Why adopt beeswax candles in favor of paraffin candles?
Beeswax is also particularly used to make candles! I'm sure you're seeing more and more of them these days. They're trendy and you'll quickly understand why!
- Beeswax candles are healthy . Their composition is ultra-clean: only beeswax! There is no synthetic fragrance or chemical components. And then, you will definitely love its sweet honey smell.
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They are perfect for you a relaxing atmosphere. Unlike paraffin candles, beeswax candles release negative lions which are beneficial for our health. It is exactly the same principle as the salt stone/Himalayan stone, I am sure you visualize!
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They have a longer lifespan. Beeswax candles last three to four times longer than a traditional candle. And you can also collect it to recycle it!
Our little tip: place them in the refrigerator for a few hours before using them, they will last even longer!
- Finally, you support beekeeping and the entire environment by choosing this candle. A nice little gesture, isn't it? 🌱
You will find several models of wax candles on our online store. You will certainly appreciate the smell, the warm light and the atmosphere that they generate in your room. You thus offer yourself a decoration that is entirely healthy, natural and ecological.
