BEESWAX

EC / List no.: 232-383-7 / 616-889-9
CAS no.: 8012-89-3 / 8006-40-4

Beeswax (cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. 
The wax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive. 
The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. 
Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.

Beeswax has been used since prehistory as the first plastic, as a lubricant and waterproofing agent, in lost wax casting of metals and glass, as a polish for wood and leather, for making candles, as an ingredient in cosmetics and as an artistic medium in encaustic painting.

Beeswax is edible, having similarly negligible toxicity to plant waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union under the E number E901.

Production
The wax is formed by worker bees, which secrete it from eight wax-producing mirror glands on the inner sides of the sternites (the ventral shield or plate of each segment of the body) on abdominal segments 4 to 7.
The sizes of these wax glands depend on the age of the worker, and after many daily flights, these glands gradually begin to atrophy.

The new wax is initially glass-clear and colorless, becoming opaque after chewing and being contaminated with pollen by the hive worker bees, becoming progressively yellower or browner by incorporation of pollen oils and propolis. 
The wax scales are about three millimetres (0.12 in) across and 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) thick, and about 1100 are needed to make a gram of wax.
Worker bees use the beeswax to build honeycomb cells. For the wax-making bees to secrete wax, the ambient temperature in the hive must be 33 to 36 °C (91 to 97 °F).

The book Beeswax Production, Harvesting, Processing and Products suggests one kilogram (2.2 lb) of beeswax is sufficient to store 22 kg (49 lb) of honey.
Another study estimated that one kilogram (2.2 lb) of wax can store 24 to 30 kg (53 to 66 lb) of honey.

Sugars from honey are metabolized in wax-gland-associated fat cells into beeswax.
The amount of honey used by bees to produce wax has not been accurately determined, but according to Whitcomb's 1946 experiment, 6.66 to 8.80 kg (14.7 to 19.4 lb) of honey yields one kilogram (2.2 lb) of wax.[3]:35

Processing
When beekeepers extract the honey, they cut off the wax caps from each honeycomb cell with an uncapping knife or machine.

Beeswax may arise from such cappings, or from an old comb that is scrapped, or from the beekeeper removing unwanted burr comb and brace comb and suchlike. 
Its color varies from nearly white to brownish, but most often is a shade of yellow, depending on purity, the region, and the type of flowers gathered by the bees. 
The wax from the brood comb of the honey bee hive tends to be darker than wax from the honeycomb because impurities accumulate more quickly in the brood comb. 
Due to the impurities, the wax must be rendered before further use.
The leftovers are called slumgum, and is derived from old breeding rubbish (pupa casings, cocoons, shed larva skins, etc), bee droppings, propolis, and general rubbish.

The wax may be clarified further by heating in water. As with petroleum waxes, it may be softened by dilution with mineral oil or vegetable oil to make it more workable at room temperature.

Bees reworking old wax
When bees, needing food, uncap honey, they drop the removed cappings and let them fall to the bottom of the hive. 
Beeswax is known for bees to rework such an accumulation of fallen old cappings into strange formations.

Physical characteristics

Beeswax is a fragrant solid at room temperature. The colors are light yellow, medium yellow, or dark brown and white. 
Beeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several chemical compounds. 
An approximate chemical formula for beeswax is C15H31COOC30H61.
Beeswaxs main constituents are palmitate, palmitoleate, and oleate esters of long-chain (30–32 carbons) aliphatic alcohols, with the ratio of triacontanyl palmitate CH3(CH2)29O-CO-(CH2)14CH3 to cerotic acid CH3(CH2)24COOH, the two principal constituents, being 6:1. 
Beeswax can be classified generally into European and Oriental types. 
The saponification value is lower (3–5) for European beeswax, and higher (8–9) for Oriental types.
The analytical characterization can be done by high-temperature Gas Chromatography.

Beeswax has a relatively low melting point range of 62 to 64 °C (144 to 147 °F). 
If beeswax is heated above 85 °C (185 °F) discoloration occurs. 
The flash point of beeswax is 204.4 °C (400 °F).[10]

When natural beeswax is cold, it is brittle, and its fracture is dry and granular. 
At room temperature (conventionally taken as about 20 °C (68 °F)), it is tenacious and it softens further at human body temperature (37 °C (99 °F)). 
The specific gravity of beeswax at 15 °C (59 °F) is from 0.958 to 0.975; that of melted beeswax at 98 to 99 °C (208.4 to 210.2 °F) (compared with water at 15.5 °C (59.9 °F)) is 0.9822.

Uses
Candle-making has long involved the use of beeswax, which burns readily and cleanly, and this material was traditionally prescribed for the making of the Paschal candle or "Easter candle". 
Beeswax candles are purported to be superior to other wax candles, because they burn brighter and longer, do not bend, and burn cleaner.
Beeswax is further recommended for the making of other candles used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Beeswax is also the candle constituent of choice in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Refined beeswax plays a prominent role in art materials both as a binder in encaustic paint and as a stabilizer in oil paint to add body.

Beeswax is an ingredient in surgical bone wax, which is used during surgery to control bleeding from bone surfaces; shoe polish and furniture polish can both use beeswax as a component, dissolved in turpentine or sometimes blended with linseed oil or tung oil; modeling waxes can also use beeswax as a component; pure beeswax can also be used as an organic surfboard wax.
Beeswax blended with pine rosin is used for waxing, and can serve as an adhesive to attach reed plates to the structure inside a squeezebox. 
Beeswax can also be used to make Cutler's resin, an adhesive used to glue handles onto cutlery knives. 
Beeswax is used in Eastern Europe in egg decoration; Beeswax is used for writing, via resist dyeing, on batik eggs (as in pysanky) and for making beaded eggs. 
Beeswax is used by percussionists to make a surface on tambourines for thumb rolls.
Beeswax can also be used as a metal injection moulding binder component along with other polymeric binder materials.

Beeswax was formerly used in the manufacture of phonograph cylinders. 
Beeswax may still be used to seal formal legal or royal decree and academic parchments such as placing an awarding stamp imprimatur of the university upon completion of postgraduate degrees.

Purified and bleached beeswax is used in the production of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. 
The three main types of beeswax products are yellow, white, and beeswax absolute. 
Yellow beeswax is the crude product obtained from the honeycomb, white beeswax is bleached or filtered yellow beeswax, and beeswax absolute is yellow beeswax treated with alcohol. 
In food preparation, Beeswax is used as a coating for cheese; by sealing out the air, protection is given against spoilage (mold growth). 
Beeswax may also be used as a food additive E901, in small quantities acting as a glazing agent, which serves to prevent water loss, or used to provide surface protection for some fruits. 
Soft gelatin capsules and tablet coatings may also use E901. 
Beeswax is also a common ingredient of natural chewing gum. 
The wax monoesters in beeswax are poorly hydrolysed in the guts of humans and other mammals, so they have insignificant nutritional value.
Some birds, such as honeyguides, can digest beeswax.
Beeswax is the main diet of wax moth larvae.

The use of beeswax in skin care and cosmetics has been increasing. 
A German study found beeswax to be superior to similar barrier creams (usually mineral oil-based creams such as petroleum jelly), when used according to its protocol.
Beeswax is used in lip balm, lip gloss, hand creams, salves, and moisturizers; and in cosmetics such as eye shadow, blush, and eye liner. 
Beeswax is also an important ingredient in moustache wax and hair pomades, which make hair look sleek and shiny.

In oil spill control, beeswax is processed to create Petroleum Remediation Product (PRP). 
Beeswax is used to absorb oil or petroleum-based pollutants from water.

Historical uses
Beeswax was among the first plastics to be used, alongside other natural polymers such as gutta-percha, horn, tortoiseshell, and shellac. 
For thousands of years, beeswax has had a wide variety of applications; it has been found in the tombs of Egypt, in wrecked Viking ships, and in Roman ruins. 
Beeswax never goes bad and can be heated and reused. 

Historically, it has been used:

As candles - the oldest intact beeswax candles north of the Alps were found in the Alamannic graveyard of Oberflacht, Germany, dating to 6th/7th century AD
In the manufacture of cosmetics
As a modelling material in the lost-wax casting process, or cire perdue
For wax tablets used for a variety of writing purposes
In encaustic paintings such as the Fayum mummy portraits
In bow making
To strengthen and preserve sewing thread, cordage, shoe laces, etc.
As a component of sealing wax
To strengthen and to forestall splitting and cracking of wind instrument reeds
To form the mouthpieces of a didgeridoo, and the frets on the Philippine kutiyapi – a type of boat lute
As a sealant or lubricant for bullets in cap and ball firearms
To stabilize the military explosive Torpex – before being replaced by a petroleum-based product
In producing Javanese batik
As an ancient form of dental tooth filling
As the joint filler in the slate bed of pool and billiard tables.

Beeswax is a product made from the honeycomb of the honeybee and other bees. 
The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color.

Beeswax is used for high cholesterol, pain, fungal skin infections, and other conditions. 
But there is no good scientific research to support these uses.

In foods and beverages, white beeswax and beeswax absolute (yellow beeswax treated with alcohol) are used as stiffening agents.

In manufacturing, yellow and white beeswax are used as thickeners, emulsifiers, and as stiffening agents in cosmetics. 
Beeswax absolute is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes. 
White beeswax and beeswax absolute are also used to polish pills.

Beeswax Uses for Skin Care
There are good reasons why beeswax has been used topically on the skin since ancient Egyptian times.

You can find beeswax in many products today, including:

makeup
sunscreen
baby products

Here are our top ten uses for beeswax:

Candles that don’t drip and create no smoke.
Cosmetics, healing balms, salves, creams, and ointments.
Mix with palm oil for soap – palm oil reduces scars and the wax acts as a natural moisturizer.
Polish for shoes and floors.
Lubricant for old furniture joints.
Smooths drawers, doors, and windows movement.
Furniture polish when mixed with linseed oil and mineral spirits in equal parts.
Coat nails and screws to prevent the wood from splintering.
Waterproofs leather.
Keeps zips moving smoothly.

Description    
Beeswax (cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis.
Beeswax is generally available as yellow, white, or bleached. 
Yellow beeswax comes directly from the honeycomb, while white and bleached beeswax are processed form of yellow beeswax. Beeswax can be produced synthetically. 
In medicine, beeswax is used for lowering cholesterol, for relieving pain, and for swelling (inflammation), ulcers, diarrhea, and hiccups. 
Beeswax is also used for tablet coating. In food industry, beeswax is used as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products, e.g. it is permitted for the surface treatment only of certain fruits. 
White beeswax and beeswax absolute (yellow beeswax treated with alcohol) are used as stiffening agents in beverages. 
Beeswax is also used as a carrier for colors in food. 
In manufacturing, yellow and white beeswax are used as thickeners, emulsifiers, and as stiffening agents in cosmetics. 
Beeswax absolute is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes. 2,3 Furthermore, beeswax can be used to polish furniture.

Chemical Properties    
White beeswax is produced by bleaching the constituent pigments of yellow beeswax with peroxides, or preferably it is bleached by sunlight. 
Beeswax has a faint characteristic odor, free from rancidity

Yellow or light brown pieces or plates with a fine-grained, matt and non-crystalline fracture; when warmed in the hand they become soft and malleable. 
Beeswax has a faint odour, characteristic of honey. 
Beeswax is tasteless and does not stick to the teeth.

White wax consists of tasteless, white or slightly yellow-colored sheets or fine granules with some translucence. Its odor is similar to that of yellow wax but is less intense.

Beeswax absolute is obtained by alcohol extraction of beeswax. 
The yield is generally less than 1%.The yellowish-brown, viscous product has a mild, honey-like odor, and high tenacity; it is used almost exclusively in fine fragrances.

Crude yellow beeswax is harvested together with honey and represents a secondary secretion of the bee. Once the honey is recovered from the honeycomb by draining the cells, the wax combs are washed with water, melted and poured into molds to harden. 
The wax is refined by melting in hot water to which sulfuric acid or alkali may be added to extract impurities. 
The resulting wax is referred to as yellow beeswax. 
Yellow beeswax contains cerolein, a mixture of fatty acids and soluble in hot alcohol and slightly soluble in cold alcohol; myricyl alcohol and myricyl palmitate, insoluble in alcohol. 
Beeswax is produced worldwide with the same chemical composition. 
The odor may vary slightly, depending on the source.

Physical properties    
Beeswax is a yellowish-white solid, somewhat translucent in thin layers. 
White beeswax is insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in cold alcohol. 
Boiling alcohol dissolves cerotic acid and part of the myricin, which are constituents of the wax

Beeswax is a yellowish to grayish-brown solid, somewhat brittle when cold, and presents a dull granular, noncrystalline fracture when broken. Beeswax becomes pliable at about 35°C.

Uses    
beeswax (white) is regular beeswax that has been bleached. unbleached beeswax is yellow.

beeswax is one of the oldest raw ingredients used in cosmetic preparations. 
Beeswax is traditionally used as an emulsifier for water-in-oil emulsions and is now also used to regulate a formulation’s consistency. 
Beeswax is used as part of the wax composition of solid and paste products such as creams, lipsticks, and pomades. 
When on the skin’s surface, Beeswax can form a network rather than a film, as is the case with petroleum. 
Though there is no scientific proof for Beeswax, beeswax is credited with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antioxidant, anti-bactericidal, germicidal, skin-softening, and elasticity enhancing properties. 
As an anti-oxidant, beeswax has some free-radical scavenging ability.
Depending on its source, beeswax can be considered a non-comedogenic ingredient. 
Beeswax rarely causes sensitivity, and allergic reactions to beeswax are low.

Beeswax is the purified wax obtained from the honeycomb of the bee is insoluble in water and is sparingly insoluble in cold alcohol. 
Beeswax is used to glaze candy, in chewing gum, in confections, and as a flavoring agent.

Pharmaceutical Applications    
White wax is a chemically bleached form of yellow wax and is used in similar applications: for example, to increase the consistency of creams and ointments, and to stabilize water-in-oil emulsions. 
White wax is used to polish sugar-coated tablets and to adjust the melting point of suppositories.
White wax is also used as a film coating in sustained-release tablets. 
White beeswax microspheres may be used in oral dosage forms to retard the absorption of an active ingredient from the stomach, allowing the majority of absorption to occur in the intestinal tract.
Wax coatings can also be used to affect the release of drug from ion-exchange resin beads.

How to storage BEESWAX?
When the wax is heated above 150℃, esterification occurs with a consequent lowering of acid value and elevation of melting point. 
White wax is stable when stored in a well-closed container, protected from ligh

How Do Bees Make Beeswax?
The worker honey bee has eight wax glands on their abdomens.  
A young worker bee produces brittle, scaly, wax flakes. 
After some additional production by the bee, the wax scale is now soft, pliable, and ready to create honeycomb cells to store honey.  
White beeswax turns yellow into honey and pollen.

How is Beeswax Harvested?
A bee hive is full of honey that lies under a protective layer of beeswax.  
To harvest the honey, you must separate it from the wax. 
Once collected, you can turn it into lip balm, beauty products, lotion, and other cosmetic and personal care products.

Personal Care Products
If you pick up a skin care product and look at the ingredient list, there is a good chance you will find beeswax listed. 
Beeswax is often used in skin care products because it protects against irritants while still allowing the skin to breathe. 
Beeswax also offers anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral benefits making it helpful in treating skin irritation.   
People with sensitive skin find beeswax products soothing and protective.

But you can use this natural wax for so much more than dry skin and chapped lips.  
Beeswax has a multitude of non-candle and non-cosmetic uses.
This versatile by-product of honey production has several uses around the home as well.

How Can I Use Beeswax?

Batik
Batiking is a method of fabric dyeing in which the fabric not intended to be dyed is covered with removable wax. 
The ideal mixture for batik preparation is 30 percent beeswax and 70 percent paraffin, creating the perfect batik wax mixture.

Ukrainian Egg Decorating
A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist (batik) method. 
The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, “to write,” as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax.

Prevent Rust
Coat things like hand tools, cast iron pieces, and shovels to prevent them from rusting out. 
You can even rub beeswax on the wooden handle of your shovel to help protect against wear and tear.

Cheese Waxing
If you produce your own cheese, beeswax is the best natural cover for cheeses. 
If the cheese is wet, you will need to let Beeswax dry before applying the hot wax. 
This is to ensure a proper seal because the wax will not adhere to wet surfaces. 
Beeswax works well for sealing because Beeswax has a low melting point.

Waxed Thread
Waxed thread is often used in handmade crafts such as hand-sewn leather goods and making jewelry. 
The wax on the thread provides lubrication that can make sewing easier. 
Plain thread can be rubbed against a cube of bee’s wax, coating the thread in the wax.

Coating Nails & Screws
Once you coat your nails and screws with beeswax, they do not splinter the wood while you hammer them in.

Wood Lubricant
Rub beeswax on sliding glass doors, windows, or drawers that tend to stick to restore smooth movement. Beeswax is also a fantastic lubricant for oiling very old furniture joints.

Beeswax Crayons
There are many different variations for making beeswax crayons, but most use equal weight amounts of beeswax and white bar soap. 
Beeswax crayons tend to be harder than the soy, giving the ability to add more details to pictures.

Envelope Seal
You can make a beeswax seal and apply it to an envelope that you are sending out. 
This would be great for an invitation to a wedding or baby shower.

Waterproof Shoes and Boots
Rub the beeswax over the entire shoe. 
Next, use a blow dryer to melt the wax all over the shoe then let set for about 5 minutes before wearing!

DIY Shoe Polish
Restore leather boots, shoes, pocketbooks, and more with this basic shoe polish formula. 
Combine and heat 2 oz of oil and 1/2 oz beeswax until the beeswax is melted. 
Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 to 1 tsp pigment, adding more for a darker color. 
Makes ½ cup, just about what you’d buy in the store. Store in a small jar.

Beeswax For Hair
Beeswax is used as a remedy for dry hair, to help start and maintain dreadlocks, and as wax for a man’s beard or mustache. 
Combine & heat equal parts of beeswax and coconut oil. 
Allow it to cool and set. 
Using small portions at a time, work Beeswax into the mustache. Comb to style.

Grease Cookie Sheets
If you have a block of wax, you can simply rub it over your pans and use it in place of butter or oil. (Beeswax is edible, so this is perfectly safe.) Beeswax works best if you warm the sheet a bit first. 
You can also melt the wax and apply it that way. 
Over time, the pan will take on a permanent coat of wax, eliminating the need to grease every time.

Make Canelés
Beeswax is also traditionally used in making canelés, a small French pastry with a custard center and a caramelized crust, giving them their crispness and a slight honey flavor. 
A coating of beeswax and butter, frozen to the molds before baking, helps create a protective outer skin that will help protect the shape of the canelés as they bake.

Candles & Luminaries
Beeswax candles burn brighter, remove toxins from the air and have a sweet, warming honey smell, accentuated when mixed with other essential oils. 
They also burn slower than paraffin candles.  

Furniture Polish
To make beeswax furniture polish melt 1 T of grated beeswax and stir in 3 T of coconut oil until melted. 
When this cools and hardens, use a clean cloth to rub it onto your wood furniture. 
Then using another cloth, buff the furniture until all residue is removed.

Granite Countertop Polish
Keep your granite countertops shiny with beeswax. 
Rub warmed beeswax in, allow it to dry, and then wipe down to remove any excess.
The polish will also help prevent staining.

Reusable Food Wrap
An alternative to plastic wrap…..make your own beeswax coated cotton material. 
The warmth of your hands allows you to mold the beeswax to whatever shape you want, and it stays there.
When refrigerated, it forms a firm cover to protect your leftovers.

DIY Beeswax Modeling Clay
Modeling clay made from beeswax and plant dyes makes a natural and non-toxic craft.
When warmed in your hands to a soft consistency, beeswax modeling clay easily forms into shapes. 
To preserve your sculpted creations, let the beeswax cool and keep it away from heat.

Care For Wooden Utensils
Make spoon (or board) butter out of mineral oil and natural beeswax. 
Smooth it into your spoons, spatulas, boards, and bowls. 
Let them sit for a couple of hours, then rub down with a clean cloth and return them to normal use.

Corrosion Control
Beeswax actually prevents bronze items from getting tarnished. 
To guard against oxidation caused by moist air, make a solution of ⅓ pound beeswax melted in one-quart turpentine, then brush on the solution. 
Buff it with a towel to create a thin, hard coat. 
Similarly, you can seal a copper sink by rubbing it with softened beeswax and polishing off the excess with a lint-free rag.

I’ve known about the amazing benefits of HONEY for a long time…but never knew BEESWAX had so much to offer as well. 
After compiling this list, I have realized I need to start utilizing it more in my life. 
It truly is an amazing substance!

Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey. 
Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties, beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products. 
Also, beeswax is used in the food industry: as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products. 
Exactly as the honey which Beeswax contains, beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises, inflammation and burns. 
Recently, the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax.
The few studies showed antimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger; these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil. 

Made from the honeycomb of the honeybee, beeswax is the purest and most natural of all waxes. 
For each pound of beeswax provided by a honey bee, the bee visits over 30 million flowers. 
To produce one pound of wax requires the bees to consume about eight to ten pounds of honey. 
They secrete the beeswax from the underside of their abdomens, and then use the wax to construct a honeycomb.

Beeswax is an incredible natural substance with a seemingly never ending array of uses. 
From lip balm to candle wax, and even as plastic-free food storage, beeswax is an environmentally friendly material that’s a must-have in your non-toxic home.

1. All natural
Coming from the honeycomb of the honeybee, beeswax is a completely all natural substance straight from Mother Nature. Honeybees consume honey and pollen to produce the wax.
It takes about eight pounds of honey to produce just one pound of beeswax.

2. Antibacterial
Like honey, beeswax has antibacterial properties helping keep things clean and reducing risks of contamination. 
This makes it a common ingredient in skin treatments, salves and more.

3. Antifungal
Beeswax is also thought to have antifungal properties preventing the growth of yeasts and other fungi.

4. Edible
While it wouldn’t provide you many nutrients, beeswax is non-toxic and safe if ingested which is one of the reasons it makes an excellent lip balm.

5. Better even when burned
Unlike candles made from other wax, beeswax candles burn brighter and cleaner as they emit negative ions that are known to help purify the air. 
Beeswax also smells great when burned without any added chemicals or scents, as Beeswax’s naturally aromatic from the honey and flower nectar that’s found in the honeycomb.

6. Waterproof
Beeswax has been used throughout history as a sealant and waterproofing agent for items like belts, tents and shoes. 
By rubbing beeswax onto a surface like leather or canvas then heating Beeswax, the wax seeps into the materials’ fibres and blocks water from passing through.

7. Moisturising
A common ingredient in lotions, salves and balms, beeswax helps lock in moisture making it a great defense against dry skin, lips or hair.

8. Eco-friendly
Since Beeswax comes directly from bees and is non-toxic, beeswax is completely environmentally friendly and an important ingredient in a range of eco-friendly products. 
Also we use it to make our Beeswax Wraps.

9. Never goes bad
Beeswax contains a natural, powerful protective substance called propolis, which shields beeswax from ever going bad. 
Made by the bees by combining tree resin with wax flakes and pollen, propolis is used to used fix and strengthen the beehive while protecting the hive with an antiseptic barrier – the name propolis comes from the Greek meaning “defense of the city.” These protective qualities are so effective that unspoiled beeswax has even been found in ancient tombs. 
That said, Beeswax is possible for commercial or homemade beeswax products that also include other ingredients to go bad.

Beeswax and it’s beneficial properties
With so many beneficial properties, beeswax is a healthy and harmless alternative to plastic for storing food in. 
SuperBee beeswax wraps use the natural power of beeswax to protect and store your food in a safe way as a plastic wrap alternative. 
Since beeswax is waterproof, it keeps unwanted moisture out of food while trapping the food’s natural moisture in. 
Meanwhile, its antibacterial and antifungal properties keep bacteria and germs at bay while the fact that its all-natural and non toxic mean that, unlike chemical-filled plastics, it’s safe to have close to your food. 
Many people even use beeswax to seal fresh cheeses for ageing – you can’t get much closer than that!

Benefits of Beeswax
Beeswax is an excellent addition to cosmetic products, for many reasons.

When used in lotions and creams, beeswax creates a barrier which helps to seal moisture into the skin. This is especially beneficial in lip chap during the dry winter months.
This barrier also helps to protect the skin from environmental toxins and irritants.
Unlike petroleum jelly, which is used in a large variety of beauty products, beeswax will not “suffocate” the skin, but rather allow it to breathe while still providing a protective barrier.
Beeswax helps to thicken homemade cosmetics and lotions because it is solid at room temperature and has a relatively high melting point of 147 degrees Fahrenheit. 
This is especially helpful in recipes that include high amounts of coconut oil, which has a low melting point, or other oils that are liquid at room temperature.
Beeswax also has vitamin A, which improves hydration to the skin and promotes cell regeneration.

12 Uses for Beeswax Around the Home
Beeswax is an incredibly versatile natural ingredient for DIY beauty and natural home products. It is a staple in my homemade beauty products and around our house.

While beeswax uses are almost endless, there a few easy ways I use it at home. If you haven’t already, try beeswax in these homemade recipes:

1. Homemade Deodorant
I’ve been making my own deodorant for years because Beeswax works so much better than store bought. One of the ingredients I use is beeswax because Beeswax helps form a natural protective moisture barrier. This means Beeswax helps avoid sweat stains on clothes without the need for harmful and unnecessary chemicals. Here’s my favorite DIY deodorant recipe, as well as a super-powered version for men.

2. Lotion Bars
I’m biased, but these are the best moisturizers in the world. A perfect combination of oils, shea butter, and beeswax forms a solid soap-like bar that is used on dry skin. It helps soothe skin, locks in moisture, and even has natural anti-wrinkle properties. Make your own with this simple tutorial.

3. DIY Lip Balms
You can make dozens of homemade beauty products with the same set of simple ingredients. This lip balm recipe uses the same ingredients as the lotion bars but with a couple of added ingredients for scent or color. Once you have these basic ingredients on hand, you can make lip balm for pennies a tube (instead of the $2-3 in stores!). My favorite is this imitation Burt’s Bees lip balm.

4. Lotion Bar Sticks
Like the lotion bars above, this recipe uses beeswax, oils, and shea or cocoa butter. This recipe is a modified version that allows it to be used in a deodorant container. This makes it a little easier to store and apply than the traditional lotion bar. Recipe here.

5. Beeswax Candles
I ditched the scented candles and air fresheners years ago. We only use beeswax candles in our home and they are easy and fun to make yourself. They also make great homemade gifts for the important people in your life. Try this tutorial to make your own!

6. Homemade Soaps
Beeswax is often added to soap recipes to make the finished soap harder and last longer. It should only account for up to 2% of your soap recipe. Add any more than that and your soap will begin to lose lather. Try this spiced essential oil soap. My husband loves it!

7. Baby Products
Most babies will have a diaper rash at some point. I make an effort to only use natural skin care products, but with the new sensitive skin of a baby, I take extra care to make sure all ingredients are natural and safe. I use beeswax in diaper rash cream as a thickener and because Beeswax provides a protective barrier for the skin while helping the other beneficial ingredients stay on the skin so they can have a greater effect on clearing up the rash.

8. Soothe Cracked Heels
A simple salve of beeswax, coconut oil, and magnesium makes a great remedy for cracked heels. 

9. On Cracked Hands
I really believe that almost everything we need to remedy minor ailments can be found in nature. 
Beeswax is a great remedy for cracked hands from gardening or outdoor work. 
Beeswax also creates a protective barrier to help avoid future damage.

I like to add in beneficial herbs from the garden to speed relief even more. 
Plantain grows in most yards and is a natural remedy for bites and stings and even sunburn. 

10. Natural Neosporin Alternative
I keep this “boo-boo lotion” on hand to treat scrapes, stings, poison ivy, bruises, and for any other sort of mild injury my kids manage to get. 
Beeswax works almost as well as kisses for relief of minor scrapes and boo-boos.

11. Cold and Flu Relief
When any illness strikes, I turn to beeswax based natural remedies. 
Homemade natural vapor rub helps when coughing and congestion hit and provides some relief without slathering petroleum jelly all over your skin.

Frequent nose blowing during illness can wreak havoc on the tender skin around your nose. 
This sore nose soothing balm recipe combines herb-infused oil with beeswax and shea butter for a healing, nourishing balm.

12. Reusable Food Wraps
Heather from Mommypotamus has a great tutorial on how to make your own reusable food wraps.
These have a “cling” that makes them a wonderful alternative to plastic wrap.

Beeswax – the world’s first plastic – is beneficial in so many ways, and not just for moisturizing your skin:

anti-inflammatory – soothes irritated skin
anti-bacterial
beeswax contains vitamin A – which helps to protect the skin from UV radiation, improves healing of wounds and reduces wrinkles
naturally free of toxins
promotes a chemical-free, sustainable lifestyle
beeswax hardens (or thickens) homemade cosmetics – this, in turn, makes them more shelf-stable and easier to apply
water-repellent – a suitable feature for making beeswax wraps to replace plastic cling film
With all these beeswax benefits in mind, it is easy to see why it has been used for what feels like an eternity, in cosmetics, as a lubricant, in lost-wax casting and more.

IUPAC NAMES: 
BEESWAX
Beeswax
beeswax
Beeswax (The wax obtained from the honeycomb of the bee. It consists primarily of myricyl palmitate, cerotic acid and esters and some high-carbon paraffins.)
Beeswax extract
cera alba

SYNONYMS:

BEESWAX, YELLOW
BEESWAX ABSOLUTE
BEESWAX ABSOLUTE BRECHE
BEESWAX, BLEACHED, WHITE
BEESWAX, WHITE
BEESWAX
CERA ALBA
CERA FLAVA
FEMA 2126
Bee wax white
WHITE BEESWAX NF PASTILLES)
BEESWAX, WHITE CAKE
BEESWAX, WHITE PRILLED
WAX, BEES, YELLOW
WAX WHITE
WAX
WAX, BEES
WAX, BEES, WHITE
WHITE BEESWAX
WHITE WAX
YELLOW BEESWAX
YELLOW WAX
White?Bee?Wax
Chinese(insect) wax
BEESWAX, REFINED, YELLOW
BeesWaxPure(White)ForHistology
Ceraalbaorflava
Chinese (insect) wax,white wax
Beeswax,pure,refined, yellow
MOLYBDATOPHOSPHORIC ACID HYDR. NP ACS/RP
Wax, Microcrystalline 180
Beeswax refined
Beeswax,Cera alba
Bleached yellow wax
Waxes honeybee
Beeswax, Yellow, Cake, FCC
White Wax, Bees, Slab, NF
White Wax, Cake, NF
Yellow Wax, Cake, NF
WAX, BEES, WHITE
WAX, BEES
WHITE BEESWAX
PROTEIN PRECIPITATION KIT
Microcrystal wax
BEESWAX, WHITE (APIS MELLIFERA L.)
Beetle powder
Sichuan wax
Wax white in pastilles
Beeswax, refined, yellow, pure
WAX,BEES,BEADS
WAX,BEES,YELLOW,CAKE,FCC
WAX,WHITE,BEES,CAKE,FCC
WHITEWAX,BEES,CAKE,NF
WHITEWAX,PASTILLES,NF
YELLOWWAX,BEES,YELLOW,NF
BEES WAX, WHITE PELLETS
BEES WAX, NF
BEES WAX ABSOLUTE NATURAL & SYNTHETIC
BEESWAX, YELLOW CAKE
Chinese wax
raworbleached(whiteoryellow)
BEESWAX
BEESWAX, YELLOW
BEESWAX, WHITE
BEESWAX, BLEACHED, WHITE
BEESWAX ABSOLUTE BRECHE
BEESWAX ABSOLUTE
CERA FLAVA
CERA ALBA
FEMA 2126
YELLOW WAX
YELLOW BEESWAX
WHITE WAX
WAX, BEES, YELLOW
WAX WHITE
WAX
Bees Wax, Yellow Pellets
bee's wax fandachem
Bee propolis powder
bee's wax USP/EP/BP
Bees Wax, 100% Natural