Beeswax Lotion Bars

A couple years ago I decided I wanted to get into candle-making, beeswax candles to be specific. So I bought like 16 pounds (in 1lb bars) of triple filtered beeswax from a beekeeper in Ohio. I made candles a couple of times, but it's a bit of a pain so I stopped and gave away the majority of my candle-making supplies. I kept the beeswax because it has so many uses and was somewhat expensive. One block goes a VERY long way and so I still have a lot of beeswax left, so now I look for ways to use up the beeswax in ways other than for candles. Beeswax lotion is really expensive in stores, but super easy to make at home.

This recipe is made using ratios. So if you use 1 tbs of beeswax, you want to use 4 tbs of oil. Doing it this way makes it super easy to increase or decrease the amount of ingredients based on your needs. If you're making a bunch of lotion as gifts, you can calculate how much you'll need to fill your containers.

My recommendation is to use a kitchen scale and measure your amounts by weight.

1 part beeswax (chopped/shredded)

6 parts oil (coconut, almond, olive etc.)

1 part aloe (gel form is best)

10+ drops of essential oils (optional)

Melt the beeswax with oil over a double boiler, stir often to prevent burning. Having the water already heated and using a metal bowl means the melting time is quicker.

The first three pictures are beeswax and olive oil, the fourth is beeswax and coconut oil.

Add aloe (and essential oils) and whip the mixture until it is well combined. The lotion will start solidifying quickly. I found that olive oil solidifies a lot faster than coconut oil.

I love the natural scent of beeswax, so I try to avoid additional scents that could mask the honey scent of beeswax.

Transfer the lotion to an airtight container or pour into flexible silicone molds and allow to harden. If for some reason your lotion is too hard when it cools, melt it again and add a little more oil. If it's too soft, melt again and add more beeswax.

Store the lotion in a cool and dry place.