Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive

Petra Ahnert

Feb 2015 · Quarto Publishing Group USA

About this ebook

Featuring over 40 DIY projects that illustrate how to transform one of the world’s most natural ingredients into tangible creations, Beeswax Alchemy is the perfect amalgamation of recipe craft book and beekeepers’ guide.

Considered the miracle of the beehive and used by humans for 8,000 years, beeswax remains a vital ingredient to society and is still used as the foundation for many household products in the twenty-first century. Learn from apiarist and entrepreneur Petra Ahnert about the history of beeswax, as well as tips and techniques on how to mold it into beautiful, reusable creations.
 
An introduction details the different ways in which beeswax has been used throughout history, as well as the products that contain it today. You’ll also find an explanation of the different types of beeswax, as well as insider tips on working with beeswax, followed by step-by-step instructions for making candles, balms, salves, creams, scrubs, soaps, ornaments, art, and more out of beeswax (either your own or store-bought). Color photos illustrate the processes and show finished results throughout. Among the useful and beautiful things you’ll learn to make out of beeswax:

• Hand-Dipped Birthday Candles
• Lip Balm with Cocoa Butter
• Rosebud Salve
• Solid Natural Perfumes
• Honey, Oats, and Beeswax Soap
• Beeswax Luminaries

Whether you are an expert beekeeper or experimental crafter, Beeswax Alchemy is the best guide for anyone aspiring to make wellness-boosting treasures to keep or gift to friends and family.

Ratings and reviews

I absolutely enjoyed this book ! The author gives a lot of great information for beginners as well as advanced artists ! A wide range of what all can be done with beeswax, from salves, to soap, to candles and also art ! Absolutely would recommend this book for anybody that wants to explore beeswax in any form. The book includes instructions and easy to follow recipes ! Simply great !

WHEN WORKING WITH LYE , YOUR CALCULATIONS NEED TO BE CORRECT!!! THIS BOOK IS GOING TO END UP HURTING SOMEONE.. Two different water/lye amounts for the same soap recipe!! Which one is it???🤡 Other than that, there are some great recipes in this book..

Excellent. Informative and fun too read.

About the author

Petra Ahnert is the creative force behind Beehive Alchemy (beehivealchemy.com), an artisan soap, body care, and home goods business. After a serendipitous meeting with a beekeeper at the library in 2002, Petra soon had a couple hives of her own and extra honey to sell. Since that time, she has sought out ways to make good use of the extra wax, too, often replacing items in her home with ones she can create herself. Eventually, these beeswax-based items made their way into the product line-up for Beehive Alchemy and the projects featured in her book, Beeswax Alchemy.