Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax created by bees, which they then use to form combs, i.e. cells in which they grow brood and store honey and pollen. It has been used for thousands of years and has found many different applications.
Bees use beeswax as the foundation of their home. They store pollen, nectar, closed honey and raise their brood (eggs, larvae) in individual cells. This wax is secreted as a liquid from eight wax-producing glands on the abdomen of the worker bee. The liquid wax hardens into white flakes when it comes into contact with cold air. Over the millions of years that bees have existed on Earth, they have learned that building cells in the shape of a hexagon allows them to hold the most honey by weight while using the least amount of wax.
Worker bees have different roles in society depending on their age. Young worker bees, or “house bees,” which are approximately 12 to 20 days old, are responsible for producing beeswax. In order to produce 1 kg of wax, the hive must produce 3-5 kg of honey. In order for wax-making bees to secrete wax, the ambient temperature in the hive must be between 32 and 36 °C. On colder days, bees reach the right temperature by clustering around bees that produce wax when they make combs. Beeswax starts out as clear and colorless, but becomes opaque after chewing and adding pollen, honey and propolis. To conserve energy, bees will often reuse beeswax which can also affect the overall color of the wax. The darker the beeswax, the more times it has been used.
To extract the wax, the comb is melted after removing the honey. It is later strained to remove impurities and pressed to extract as much wax as possible. In today’s technology, wax is sculpted using modern wax melters that use a variety of energy sources (electricity, gas, wood) to melt the honeycomb.
Application
We mentioned that beeswax was used in ancient times and found a wide range of applications in various areas of life. The ancient Egyptians had many uses for beeswax. It was used for mummification and for sealing coffins. Ancient records were also preserved on papyrus and cave walls using beeswax as far back as 2,000 years ago, and the Chinese used beeswax medicinally and to treat wounds. An ancient form of dental filling was made from beeswax. European churches have used beeswax candles since the beginning of Christianity. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church has allowed only 100% beeswax candles to be used in church.
Honeycomb, hexagonal cells made of beeswax, is edible. Although it does not taste very good, it can be used in food. This makes it safe to use in products such as lip balm.
The raw honey contained in the honeycomb is rich in enzymes and antioxidants. Beeswax contains long-chain fatty acids and alcohols that can improve heart health. This natural wax is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties and can reduce the risk of contamination and prevent the growth of fungi and yeast.
Beeswax is used as a natural covering for cheeses. It works well because of its low melting point.
Beeswax paints are great for small children because they are natural, non-toxic and more durable than regular crayons.
Beeswax is amazing! It looks beautiful, smells divine and is a multi-purpose ingredient in many products that we use every day such as soaps, moisturizers, hair creams, deodorants, makeup. The first cosmetic cream was created in 150 BC by the Greek physician Galen from Pergamum. It is made from beeswax, olive oil and water.
Beeswax is often used in skin care products because it provides protection to the skin while remaining breathable. Irritated skin can benefit from beeswax because it is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
