Female honeybees produce beeswax from 4 pairs of wax glands on their abdomens. These glands are at peak production on worker bees for only 6 days, from 12 days to 18 days of life. Bees must consume 8 pounds of honey to produce just one pound of wax. But oh, what miraculous wax it is. Beeswax is the only natural wax. It has never been synthesized in a lab, so there is no chemical substitute that will do everything beeswax does.
Some of the uses of beeswax are…..
- Lotion bars
- Chapstick/ lip balm
- Rub on shovel so the snow slides off
- Candles
- Soap
- Sore muscle salve
- Thickening carrier for any oil
- Unstick a drawer
- Sealing envelops or documents
- Melted on fabric for food wraps
- Furniture polish
- Smooth the movement of doors and windows
- Prevent bronze from tarnishing
- Coat nails and screws to prevent the wood from splitting
- Conditioner for wood bowls and cutting boards
- Reduce bow string friction
- Seal stick matches
