10+ Creative + Useful Things to Make with Beeswax
Beeswax is such a versatile ingredient and has been treasured for centuries. It can be used to make everything from beauty products to furniture polish, and more. Check out this list of things to make with beeswax that will make any beekeeper happy.
What Makes Beeswax So Special?
Beeswax is produced by the wax glands of worker honey bees. When bees store honey, they “cap” each frame with beeswax. When you look at honeycomb out of the hive, you’ll see that it’s made of beeswax.
Beeswax has some unusual properties that make it so useful for DIY projects. It is naturally very hard and very flammable. It is a great addition to homemade soaps, lotions, candles, and balms. It helps balms of all sorts stay solid, and it burns cleanly and steadily in candles and fire starters.
The downsides? Well, being very hard and very flammable makes it difficult to work with. If melted beeswax hardens on a surface it can be difficult to remove, and it’s hard to measure out exactly if you’re using big chunks or bars. You’ll also need to be careful.
Since beeswax can only be produced in such a specific way and is relatively difficult to harvest, it is quite expensive per pound if you don’t keep your own honey bees. Just keep in mind that a little goes a long way.
Most of these uses for beeswax use other ingredients too.
Whether you’re a beekeeper or just someone who loves natural and handmade projects, you’re sure to find one of these things to make with beeswax right up your alley.
Best Beeswax For Crafting + Source
Most of these projects use beeswax in smaller amounts, and you’ll probably find that beeswax pellets are best. They are easy to work with because you can measure the exact amount you need without chopping into hard bars of wax. Find beeswax pellets here.
If you’re making candles or something else that uses wax in larger quantities, you’ll prefer to buy bars. They are more affordable per ounce.
Beeswax bars can be found on Amazon here.
Some people prefer the look of white beeswax, especially for skin care products, so make sure you make a note of the color before purchasing.
Making A Gift?
Be sure to grab these free bee printables and you can package up your homemade gift with a vintage style tag.
[Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive] [Author: Ahnert, Petra] [April, 2015]Beekeeper’s Lab: 52 Family-Friendly Activities and Experiments Exploring the Life of the HiveThe Beeswax Workshop: How to Make Your Own Natural Candles, Cosmetics, Cleaners, Soaps, Healing Balms and MoreBeeswax Candlemaking: A Complete Guide To Pouring and Molding Beeswax CandlesBeeswax Alchemy: Practical Applications of Beeswax: Applications of BeeswaxBeeswax Candle Making for Beginners: How to Bring Warmth to Your Home
![[Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive] [Author: Ahnert, Petra] [April, 2015]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61MF8dh7PkL._SL500_.jpg)
Beeswax Candles
This beeswax candle tutorial uses 100% beeswax, which produces a beautifully hard and clean burning candle. Beeswax candles were historically highly prized and saved for special occasions. But you can make your own with a few specialty tools, without spending a fortune! The natural golden beeswax color paired with the natural sweet beeswax scent make this pear candle appear almost good enough to eat!
Homemade Hand Cream
A rich, moisturizing hand cream for those drying winter days. Whips up in just a few minutes! This hand cream recipe is a simple blend of whipped oils and butter that’s perfect for dry, rough skin. It’s more like a body butter in consistency.
Homemade Body Cream
This rich and nourishing beeswax and shea butter body cream is perfect for dry or sensitive skin and easier to make than you think. It’s softer and lighter but still thick and nourishing thanks to the added beeswax.
Beeswax Furniture Polish
This furniture polish is simply beeswax and olive oil blended to create a polish that shines and protects your wooden surfaces. It’s all-natural and easy to make. You just mix it and buff it with a clean cloth! Since beeswax is a great water repellent, it does a great job sealing and protecting your furniture from everyday damage.
Homemade Soap
This beeswax and honey cold process soap recipe uses a beekeeper’s bounty to make a beautiful bar of soap. If you are looking to add natural and local ingredients to your soap, beeswax and honey are perfect. This DIY recipe yields a sweetly scented bar that makes a charming gift… or something special for yourself.
Gentle Homemade Baby Soap
This recipe uses nourishing oils and shea butter. You can use essential oils for fragrance and customize it in other ways. (Lavender helps relax little ones after a long day!)
Beeswax Food Wraps
These homemade beeswax food wraps couldn’t be easier. They are cute, make sweet gifts, and are a great way to use up extra fabric. They will also save you money and reduce your waste over time, as they replace plastic wrap in your food storage.
Lotion Bars
We’ve already learned that body cream and hand cream can be enriched with just a little beeswax. But if you want to add a lot, you can make lotion bars, which stay completely solid and are rubbed onto the skin. If you’ve never used a lotion bar, you’ll love how portable they are and how effective they are for very dry skin.
Cast Iron Conditioning Oil
Just like how beeswax shines and protects wood, it does the same with cast iron. And you only need the smallest amount to mix with olive oil and make the best conditioning balm ever. It’s easy to make, easy to use, and super practical.
Hair And Beard Pomade
This is a real money saver because these boutique-style pomades are expensive. But they are so affordable and simple to make at home.
It helps you to tame crazy hair and even condition beards! If you use a blow dryer regularly it can help protect your hair, and if you have flyaways it’s great at smoothing things out.
Homemade Lip Balm
Here’s a use for beeswax where it shines! Lip balm is one of the best ways to use beeswax because it helps the balm keep its shape beautifully, even at room temperature. If you want to try the world of DIY beauty products but feel a little intimidated by soaps and lotions, lip balm is a great choice.
I hope you found something to try on this list of things to make with beeswax. It is so essential to many household products that once you make your own, you won’t bother with the store. I’d love to hear in the comments how your recipes turned out and if you’re a beeswax convert like me! Enjoy!
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.
