Glossary
A natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb. Beeswax is firm yet pliable and creates an excellent moisture barrier when used in skincare. It is the core ingredient in lotion bars, lip balms, and body butters.
Beeswax is secreted from special glands on the underside of worker bees' abdomens. Young worker bees, typically between 12 and 18 days old, produce tiny flakes of wax that they chew and shape into the hexagonal cells of honeycomb. The process is energetically expensive: bees must consume approximately 6 to 7 pounds of honey to produce a single pound of beeswax.
The resulting comb serves as the structural backbone of the hive. Bees use it to store honey and pollen, raise brood, and communicate through vibrations. When we harvest honey, we spin the frames to extract the liquid honey and return the intact comb to the hive so the bees can reuse it, saving them the enormous energy cost of rebuilding.
Beeswax is classified as a natural occlusive, meaning it forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface that locks in moisture without clogging pores. This makes it fundamentally different from petroleum jelly (petrolatum), which also creates a barrier but is derived from fossil fuels and does not allow the skin to breathe.
In our formulations, beeswax serves as the structural base that holds our lotion bars, lip balms, and body butters together in solid form. When you rub a lotion bar on your skin, your body heat melts the beeswax, releasing the shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils blended within. The beeswax then sets again as a thin, breathable layer that keeps those moisturizing ingredients close to your skin for hours.
We use beeswax exclusively from our own hives. This means we know exactly where it came from, what the bees were foraging on, and that no chemical treatments have been applied to the comb. Every product we make starts with this foundation.
Beeswax candles burn cleaner and longer than paraffin (petroleum-based) or soy candles. They produce negative ions when burned, which some studies suggest can help purify the air by attracting positively charged particles like dust, pollen, and pollutants. Beeswax candles also emit a subtle, natural honey aroma without any added fragrance.
The burn temperature of beeswax is higher than paraffin, which means beeswax candles burn more slowly and produce a brighter, warmer light. Our hand-poured beeswax candles are available in taper, votive, and pillar styles.
Yes. Beeswax is one of the gentlest natural skincare ingredients available. It is non-toxic, non-allergenic for most people, and has been used in skincare for thousands of years. It forms a breathable barrier that protects without irritating.
Beeswax is a natural product made by honey bees, while paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. Beeswax burns cleaner, produces negative ions, and has a natural honey scent. Paraffin can release potentially harmful chemicals when burned and has no natural benefits.
Yes, beeswax is edible and is commonly consumed when eating comb honey. It passes through the digestive system without being absorbed. It is recognized as safe by the FDA.
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