beeswax alchemy how to make your own soap
DESCRIPTION
Make your own beeswaxTRANSCRIPT
PetraAhnert
CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTIONTOBEESWAXBriefHistoryofBeeswax
HowBeeswaxIsUsedToday
CHAPTER1THEWAXCandleWax
BeekeepersWax
BroodWax
WhiteWax
InsiderTips
CHAPTER2CANDLEMAKINGRolledCandles
RolledTaperCandles
RolledPillarCandles
Wicking
MoldedCandles
VotiveCandles
MoldedPillarCandles
Hand-DippedCandles
Hand-DippedTaperCandles
Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles
CHAPTER3BALMSANDBARSBasicLipBalm
LipBalmwithButters
LipGloss
SolidBody-CareBars
SolidLotionBar
MassageBar
CuticleBalm
HeelBalm
ChestRub
NonPetroleumJelly
CHAPTER4SALVES,CREAMSANDSCRUBSSalveMasterRecipe
OilHerbalInfusion
All-PurposeSalve
CrackedSkinSalve
BurnSalve
ItchSoother
RosebudSalve
WoodworkersSalve
IcyJoint&MuscleBalm
EmulsifyingSugarScrub
BeeswaxCream
SolidNaturalPerfumes
SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe
PerfumeEssentialOilBlends
CHAPTER5SOAPSStarterRecipe(Nobeeswaxorhoney)
HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(Coldprocessrecipe)
Honey,Oats,andBeeswaxSoap(Hotprocessrecipe)
CHAPTER6HOMEPRODUCTSBeeswaxOrnaments
BeeswaxDippedLeaves
BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters
BeeswaxLuminaries
CuttingBoardConditioner
SolidWoodPolish
WoodConditionerCream
BeeswaxFurntiurePolish
WaxedFabric
WaterproofSneakers
WaxedCottonSandwichWraps
BeadingandSewing
ThreadConditioner
CHAPTER7BEESWAXARTBatik
Encaustic
CHAPTER8INGREDIENTSGUIDEButters
Oils
Miscellaneous
FattyAcidGlossary
Herbs
EssentialOils
Resources
Acknowledgments
AbouttheAuthor
Index
PREFACE
Istartedworkingwithbeeswaxin2003whenmyboyfriendandIgotourfirsthives,butmyloveaffairwithcraftstartedbackwhenIwasachild.IamanonlychildborntoGermanimmigrants.Mymotherlivedanadventurouslifebeforemeetingmydad.ShetrainedasakindergartenteacherinGermanyandspenteightyearslivinginPeru,teachinginaGermanschool.Itwastherewhereshewasinspiredtolearntomakethingsbyhandandfromscratch.BythetimeIcamealong,shehadbecomethequintessentialhousewife—anexcellentcook,accomplishedseamstress,andavidgardener.Latershestudiedweaving,pottery,andlapidaryatthelocalcommunitycollege.Shehadamantrathatstillechoesinmyheadtoday:“Youcanmakethat!”SheusuallyremindedmeofthiswhenIwaseyeingsomethingatthemallthatIwantedtobuywithmyallowanceandusually,underhertutelage,IsucceededinmakingsomethingIlikedevenbetter.
MyfatherwastrainedasamachinistinGermanyandhadtheveryprecisemindthistypeofworkrequired.HespentmostofhislifeworkingasamachinistinGermanyandtheUnitedStates,andlaterasanengineer.Athome,hewas“Mr.fix-it”and“Mr.build-it.”Healwayshadsomesortofprojectthatkepthimoccupied.Whenheandmymomfirstgotmarried,moneywastight,sohebuiltalltheirfurniture—bedandnightstandsinthebedroom,couchandcoffeetableforthelivingroom,andakitchentable.Beingsomewhatofatraditionalist,heencouragedmetospendmyfreetimewithmymother,helpingherwithcooking,cleaning,andgardening,buthewasdoingfarmoreexcitingthingsinthegarageandworkshop.SoIwouldoftenjoinhimtohelpwithhisprojectsandlearnaboutwoodworkingandmechanicalthingssuchaslawnmowersandcars.
Iamdefinitelyaproductofthesetwocharacters!Iremembertakinganinterests-and-careertestgivenbytheguidancecounselorinhighschool.IansweredeachquestionashonestlyasIcouldandthenwaitedforwhatseemedlikeweeksforthetestresults.Theresultscameintheformofanumberwithasupportingpiechartthatmappedthenumbersaroundtheoutside,andeachnumberrepresentedacareerpath.Myresultwas99andIsearchedthepiechartforalongtimebeforeIfinallyfoundit—rightsmackdabinthemiddleofthecircle.Idon’trememberexactlywhattheycalledthatcategory,butIthinkitwas“unclassified”orsomethingequallyobtuse.Iwasfurious!ItwasNOhelpatall!Intheyearssince,Ihavecometolovemy99score,realizingthatitallboilsdowntobalanceanddesire.Basically,IcandowhateverIwanttodo,ifIputmymindtoit.ButtobetrulyhappyatwhatIamdoing,Imustfindthebalancebetweentheanalyticalandthecreative.IttookmefiveyearsofcollegeandsixteenyearsofworkasanengineertorealizeIneededtoincludecreativeoutletsinmylifeaswell.
WhenImetmyboyfriend,Karl,hewaslookingfordirectioninhislife.Ashorttimelater,hemetabeekeeper ’swifeatthelibrary.SheneededhelpprintingoutsomethingandafterKarlhelpedher,hementionedhisfascinationwithbees,andaskedherifherhusbandeverneededhelp.Shechuckledand
saidthatmostpeoplewereleeryofworkingwithbeessohecouldusuallyuseahand.ThenextweekKarlwashelpinghim,andbytheendoftheseasonhehadastarterhive.Hewashooked!Thenextyearwerampedup,buyingtenmorecolonies,andlearnedthatkeepingthebeesalivewasnotallthateasy!Wedidhavesomesuperyummyhoney,though,andsomeawesomelightyellowbeeswax.
RightaboutthetimethatKarldiscoveredbeekeeping,healsostumbledonmystashofhandmadesoaps.Thesesoapsweretheproductofatwo-yearsoap-makingbinge.Yearsearlier,myfriendLauriehadcalledmeupandaskedifIwantedtolearntomakesoap.Atthetime,Itoldherno—Ihadtoomanyhobbiesalreadyanddidn’tneedtoputmytimeandmoneyintoyetanotherone,butshepersistedandaboutamonthlater,Icalledherupandsaid,“Fine!Youwin.Showmehow.”Iwentshoppingforsuppliesandwescheduledadayforsoapmaking.Togetherwemadetwoorthreebatchesofsoapthatday.“OHMYGOSH!!!”Itoldher,“Thisisthecoolestthingever!”Iwashooked!Aftersheleft,Iwentoutandboughtmoresuppliesandmadeenoughsoaptolastanarmyalifetime!Ihandedthebarsouttofamilyandfriendsandhoardedthemaway.WhenIcouldn’tjustifymakinganymore,Istopped.
Karlquicklydiscoveredthathelikedmyhandmadesoapsmorethancommerciallyavailablesoaps,sowhenwestartedsellingourhoneyatlocalfarmers’markets,wedecidedtosellmysoapsaswell.Ifine-tunedmyrecipeandpeddledthemalongwithourartisanhoneys.Itwasagreatmatch.Withasurplusofbeeswax,Istartedmakingotheritemssuchaslipbalms,solidlotions,andsalves.Encouragedbythesuccessofmyproducts,Icontinuedaddingtomylinewithcreamsandlotions,perfumes,andcandles.Witheachproductaddition,Iacquirednewingredientsandnewknowledge.Ialsolearnedthevalueofexperimentation.FollowingarecipethatcomesoutofabookorofftheInternetcanyieldagoodproduct,butwhatmakesitgood?Havingafirmknowledgeoftheingredientsandwhytheyareintherecipeisextremelyimportant.
NowIhavefoundthatmybusinesssatisfiesmeonalllevels—IusemyanalyticalskillstocreateandexecuterecipesandIusemycreativeskillstodevelopthescentandlookofmyproducts.Allinperfectharmony.
INTRODUCTIONTOBEESWAXBeeswaxisthemiracleofthebeehive.Thecombisbuiltupfromnothingandservesasahouse,anursery,andafoodpantry.Overthemillennia,beeshavefiguredoutthatbybuildingtheircombsintohexagons,thecombsholdthemostamountofhoneyandrequiretheleastamountofwax.Thecombsalsoserveastheperfectareaforabeetoundergoitsmetamorphosisfromeggtobee.
Sowhatisbeeswax?Inthesimplestterms,itisawaxproducedbyhoneybeesofthegenusApis.Beeswaxconsistsofatleast284differentcompounds,mainlyavarietyoflong-chainalkanes,acids,esters,polyesters,andhydroxyesters,buttheexactcompositionofbeeswaxvarieswithlocation.Ithasaspecificgravityofabout0.95andameltingpointofover140°F(60°C).
Morespecifically,itisawaxthatissecretedfromeightwax-producingglandsontheworkerbee’sabdomen.Thewaxissecretedinthinsheetscalledscales.Thescales,whenfirstsecreted,looksabitlikemicaflakes.Theyareclear,colorless,tasteless,andverybrittle.Beeswaxistypicallyproducedbytheyoungerhousebeeswhentheyarebetweentwelveandtwentydaysold.Asthebeegrowsolderandbeginstocollectpollenandnectar,theseglandsstarttoatrophy,buttheirabilitytoproducebeeswaxdoesn’tdisappearcompletely.Whenbeesswarmtheywillrapidlyproducewaxcomb,sincetheyneedtoquicklycreateaplaceforthequeentolayeggsandsomewheretostorefood.
Toformthebeeswaxintohoneycomb,thebeeswillhanginstringsandaswaxisextrudedfromtheglandsofthewax-producingbeesitispassedbetweenthelegsandmouthsofthebeesthatformthechain,beingchewedandmoldedintoshapealongtheway.Thebeeswillthenusethiswaxtobuildthefamiliarhexagon-shapedhoneycells.Itisduringthisprocessthatthewaxstartstodevelopitscolorandopacity.Dependingonwhatkindofnectarandpollencomeintothehiveandisconsumedbythebees,microscopicbitsofthepollenandnectarremainandgetaddedtothewax.Ittakesabout1,100scalestomakeonegramofwax.
Undertherightconditions—meaningthereisanadequatesupplyoffoodandtheambienttemperaturewithinthehiveisbetween91°Fand97°F(33°Cand36°C)—workerbeescanproducebeeswaxondemand.Theyachievetherighttemperatureoncoolerspringdaysbyclusteringaroundthewax-producingbeeswhentheyarebuildingcomb.
Theproductionofbeeswaxinthehiveisverycostly,however.Ittakesabout8.4pounds(3.8kg)ofhoneytocreate1pound(425g)ofbeeswax.Thishoneycouldbeusedtofeedthenonforagingbeesoritcouldbesavedfortimeswhennectarisinshortsupply.Forthisreason,beeswaxisoftenchewedoffinonespotandplacedwhereitisneeded.Thereusingofoldcombalsocontributestothecolor,sinceitmayhavebeenusedforbroodrearingorhoneystorageandmaycontaincocoonremains,propolis,orpollen.
Mostofthewaxthatiscommerciallyavailableismadefromwhatbeekeeperscall“cappings.”Whenbeesproducehoney,theforagingbeecollectsthenectarandstoresitinoneofhertwostomachs(onestomachisreservedforhoneycollectionandtheotherforpersonaldigestion).Thenectarinthehoneystomachmixeswithenzymesandwhenthebeereturnstothehivesheplacesitintoawaitingcell.Asmorecellsarefilledwithnectar,beesfantheirwingstocreateairflowthroughthehive,whichhelpsdryoutthenectar.Byloweringthemoisturecontentofthenectartolessthan19percent,thebeesareensuringthatthehoneywillnotspoil.Thenthebeessystematicallyworktheirwayacrossframesandacrosshoneyboxes,cappingoffeachcelltopreventadditionalmoistureloss.
Whenbeekeepersharvestthehoney,theyremovetheframeswithhoneyfromthehiveandbringthemtothehoneyhouseforprocessing.Sinceallthehoneycellshavewaxcapsonthem,justaddingtheframestoahoneyextractorwouldyieldnohoney.Sobeekeepersfirstremovethewaxcapusingeitherahotknifeorsomesortofflail.Thewaxcappingsareaddedtoacappingtankandtheframesareplacedintotheextractortospinoutthehoney.
Whatabeekeeperdoeswiththewaxcappingsdependstoacertaindegreeonhowmanyhiveshehas.Inmostcases,heatisappliedtothecappings,allowingthehoneyandwaxtoliquefyandseparateintotwolayers—honeyonthebottomandwaxonthetop.Afterseveralmorefilteringstoremoveresidualhoneyandmiscellaneousbeeparts,thewaxlooksprettycleanandisgenerallyreadytogo.
Beekeepersalsomeltdownoldhoneyandbroodcombinordertoinstallcleanwaxanddogeneralmaintenanceontheframes.Overtheyears,broodcombwillhaveraisedmultiplecyclesofbeesandthecocoonfromthelarvaestagewillhaveturnedthecombadarkbrown.Also,potentialpathogensmayhavebeenintroducedeitherfromtheenvironmentorfrombeescarryingthepathogenwiththem.Thesepathogenscandecimateahiveratherquickly,whichiswhybeekeepersoftenreplacetheoldbroodcombwithcleanwax.Whilewaxfromcappingsandhoneycombsisfairlypure,thewaxfrombroodcombscontainsawideassortmentof“stuff”whichmayincludecocoonsfrombothbeesandwaxmoths,excrementfrombeelarvae,mites,pollen,propolis,andbeeparts.Allthisextrastuffiscalled“slumgum,”andremovingtheslumgumfromthewaxisamoreinvolvedprocess.Onemethodistoputthebroodcombsintoburlapsacksandthenaddthebagtoahotwaterbath.Themeltedwaxwillflowthroughtheburlapandtheslumgumwillstayinthebag.Beekeepersthenpress
theburlapsackstoreleasetherestofthetrappedwaxfromtheslumgum.Oncemostofthewaxispressedout,theslumgumisdiscardedandthewaxismoldedinto30–50lb(14–23kg)blocks.Theresultingwaxisusuallysignificantlydarkerthanthecappingswax,rangingfromlightbrowntoalmostblack.Ifthiswaxweretobeusedforsomethingsuchascandles,itwouldgiveoffanunpleasantsmell.Alotofbeekeepersturnthiswaxintobeesupplystoresforcredittoward“clean”waxorwaxthathasalreadybeenturnedintofoundationforinclusionintonewframes.Thebeesupplystoresshipthisdarkwaxtocommercialwaxprocessingoperationsthathavespecializedequipmentwithcarbonfiltersthatremovethecolorfromthewax.Thisprocessisfarbetterthanhowwaxwasfilteredinthepast,whenitwasbleachedusingnoxiouschemicalstoremovethecolor.Mostofthewhitewaxavailabletodayisachievednaturallyusingcarbonfiltersinsteadofchemicals.
Onedrawbacktotheheavilyrefined,highlyfilteredwaxisthatthearomaandcharmofbeeswax(aswellasmanyofitsuniquehealthadvantages)actuallycomefromthenatural“contaminants,”includinghoney,propolis,andpollen.Bleachingoradvancedrefiningofbeeswaxtoremoveitscolorandfragrance,yieldsaproductthatisabitbland.
BRIEFHISTORYOFBEESWAXTherelationshipbetweenbeesandhumansdatestothehunter–gathererdayswhen,armedwithnothingbutalongstickandalotofresolve,menwouldknockdownhivesfromtreesandrun,returningtothescenetoharvestthehoneywhenitwasdeemedsafe.Later,humansdiscoveredthatusingsmokefromaburningstickhelpedtosubduethebees,makingthejobabiteasier.Theusefulnessofwaxcouldverywellhavebeendiscoveredthen.Althoughsomeofthisisconjectureonmypart,therearecavepaintingsinValenciaSpaindatingbackabout8,000years,thatshowtwopeoplecollectinghoneyandhoneycombfromawildbeehive.Theyusedbasketsandgourdstotransportthehoneycomb,andaseriesofropestoreachthehive.
WeknowmoreabouttheancientEgyptiansandtheirrelationshipwithbeeswax.Theyrecognizedthevalueofbeeswaxinmummificationanduseditfortheembalmingprocess.Theyalsousedthewaxtosealthecoffinandmakeitairtight,furtherpreservingthebody.TheEgyptianspreservedtheirwritingsonpapyrusandoncavewallsusingbeeswax,andthesewritingshaveremainedunchangedformorethan2,000years.Theyevenrecognizedtheimportanceofbeeswaxinhealth,asprescriptionsdatingbackto1550BCcalledforbeeswaxinvariousformulations.Ancientjewelersandartisansutilizedthelostwaxcastingtechnique,whichinvolvessculptinganobjectinbeeswax,coatingtheobjectwithclay,andthenhardeningtheclaywithheat.Theheatmeltedthewax,leavingaclayshellthatwasaperfectreplicaofthebeeswaxsculpture.Moltenmetalwasthenpouredintotheclayshellandallowedtohardenbeforetheclaywasremoved.
Egyptianpriestsalsocreatedthefirstvoodoodolls,usingbeeswaxtocreatefiguresresemblingtheirenemiesbeforerituallydestroyingthem.Egyptiansalsolovedperfumesandwerereputedtohavemadeperfumedunguents,theprecursorstotoday’ssolidperfumes.Theyincorporatedbeeswax,tallow,andvariousaromaticsubstancesinfusedinoil,suchasmyrrh,henna,cinnamon,thyme,sage,anise,rose,andiris.Theunguentsweren’tsoldasperfumes,butratherforamultitudeofmedicaluses.
TheChinesealsorecognizedtheimportanceofbeeswax.About2,000yearsago,oneofChina’smostfamousbooksonmedicine,TheShennongBookofHerbs,praisedbeeswaxforitsbeneficialinfluenceonbloodandenergysystemsandattributedbeeswaxwithbeautyenhancementandantiagingproperties.Beeswaxwasalsorecognizedasanimportantingredientinwoundtreatmentanddietarysupplement.
BeeswaxcandleswerealreadyusedbytheancientEgyptians,ancientGreeks,andinRomeandChina.BeeswaxcandleshavebeenusedinEuropeanchurchessincethebeginningofChristianity.TheRomanCatholicChurchonlyallowedbeeswaxcandlestobeusedinthechurch.Althoughthislawisstillvalidtoday,candlesarenolongerrequiredtobe100percentbeeswax.Bytheeleventhcentury,however,churcheswereusinghugeamountsofcandles.Theywereabletomaintainthenecessaryamountofbeeswaxinpartbyhavingapiariesineverymonasteryandabbey.
InthedaysofMarcoPolo,beeswaxwasabundantandwasoftenusedtopaytributetokings.Butdespiteitsabundance,beeswaxcandleswereonlyinthehandsoftherich;thepoorhadtosufferwithtallowcandles.
HOWBEESWAXISUSEDTODAYToday,whentechnologyseemstotrumpallelse,itisencouragingtoseethataproductwithsucharichhistoryisjustasvitalinthetwenty-firstcenturyasitwaslongago.
Ourworldischangingandthefutureofthehoneybeeisabigunknown.Betweenclimatechanges,farmingpractices,geneticmodifications,andpesticideuse,thefuturelooksbleak,butthereisagrassrootsmovementtochangethingsforthebetter.Youngpeoplearerediscoveringrurallifeandareturningagriculturalwastelandsbackintoviablefarms.Thesefarmsarerichincropdiversityandtypicallyabidebymoreorganicfarmingpractices.Althoughbeeswaxdoesn’thavenearlytheapplicationsithadyearsago,itstillhasmanygreatuses.Thefollowingarejustafewexamplesofthediversewaysthatbeeswaxisbeingusedtoday.
CANDLESAlthoughthemetalmoldsthathavebeenusedforagesarestillbeingusedtomakebeeswaxcandles,therearealsomodernsiliconemoldsthatmakemoreintricateshapeseasy.
ORNAMENTSAdorningthehousewithdecorativebeeswaxelementsisatraditionthatseemstobecatchingasecondwind,frommoldedshapestowaxedfallleaves,withscentaddedorjustthenaturalbeeswaxsmell.
LIPBALMAlthoughthereareothermoderningredientsthathavebeenusedtofirmuplipbalmandformanocclusivelayer,nothingisbetterthanbeeswaxforkeepinglipssoftandmoisturized.
COSMETICSBeeswaxplaysahugeroleinthemakingofbeautyandpersonalcareproducts!Thingslikemoisturizer,lotionbars,andevenhomemademascaraallcontainbeeswax,whichhelpsprotectandmoisturizetheskin.Beeswaxisevenusedinhairpomadesanddreadlockwax.
MEDICINALCREAMSANDSALVESBeeswaxhasbeenusedasathickenerandocclusiveformillennia.
FOUNDATIONFORNEWHONEYCOMBINHIVESBeeswaxisgreatforreplacingexistinghivebodyandhoneysuperframeswithcleanwax,givingbeesaheadstart.
WATERPROOFLEATHERCombineequalpartsbeeswax,neatsfootoil,andtallow.Diparagintothemixture,andrubitontoapairofleatherbootsorgloves.
LUBRICANTFORFLY-FISHINGLINESRubalittlebeeswaxonfishinglinetokeepitfromtangling.
LUBRICANTFORFURNITURE,DOORS,ANDWINDOWSUsebeeswaxtolubricatethehingesofdoorsandwindows.
RUSTPREVENTATIVEFORTOOLSTonullifytheeffectsofoxidationcausedbymoistair,simplybrushthetoolswithasolutionof1/3pound(142g)ofbeeswaxmeltedwithonequartofturpentine.Thiscanalsobeusedonbronzeaswell.
WAXFORBOWSTRINGSBeeswaxhelpswaterproof,lubricate,andslickenbowstrings,makingthemeasiertoplay.
FRYINGPANSANDIRONSBeeswaxprotectspansagainstoxidation,helpsintheseasoningprocess,andimprovesnonstickqualityofpansandirons.
SOAPMAKINGBeeswaxhelpstomakeanice,firmbarofsoap.
BEARDANDMUSTACHEWAXBeeswaxisusedincommercialmustachecreams,especiallythoseusedtostiffenorcontrolaman’sbeardormustache.
GRAFTINGWAXPlantpropagatorsapplygraftingwaxeitherbyitselforincombinationwithgraftingtapeorstringtopreventthesurfacesfromdryingout,tokeepthescionandrootstocksurfacespressedtightlytogetheruntiltheygrowtogether,andtokeepoutwaterandairandtheaccompanyingplantpathogenstheymaycarry,includingbacteriaandfungi.A“cold”graftingwaxcanbemadeoutoffourpartsresin,twopartsbeeswax,andoneparttallow.
CRAYONSMakeyourowncrayonswithbeeswax,soap,andartistpigments.Mixequalpartsgratedsoapandbeeswax.Meltthebeeswaxandgratedsoapinadoubleboilerandstiruntilmeltedandthemixtureissmooth.Colorthemixturewithdryartist’spigment.
SEALINGONJAMSANDJELLIESUsejustlikeparaffintosealthetopsofjamsandjellies.
“LOST-WAX”CASTINGThisisamethodofmetalcastingwhereamoltenmetalispouredintoamoldthathasbeencreatedbymeansofawaxmodel.Oncethemoldismade,thewaxmodelismeltedanddrainedaway.
WOODFILLERFillsmallholesandcrackswithplainortintedbeeswax.
GLASSETCHINGAmixtureofbeeswaxandresinactasaresistormaskwhenetchingglass.
CANDYINGREDIENTBeeswaxgivesgummybearsandjellybeanstheirrubberyandchewytexture.
CANELÉSDEBORDEAUXTheseFrenchbakeryconfectionswithamahoganybrown,crunchyoutsideandacreamy,gooeyinsidearemoldedinindividualflutedcups,traditionallymadeofcopper.Itisatwotothreedayprocesstomakethem,andbeeswaxisusedasamoldreleaseandispartofthesecrettothecrunchyoutside.Canelésareaconfectionthatcanbemaddeninginitselusivenessandmanyhavegivenupwithouthavingreachedperfection.AlthoughIhaven’tgivenupyet,IamstillafarcryfrommakingwhatIwouldcalltheperfectCanelé!Staytuned.
CHAPTER1THEWAXMostbeekeepershavealove–haterelationshipwithbeeswax.Whentheyneedit,itisusuallynotthere,oratleastnotintheformneeded,suchasbeeswaxfoundation.Whentheyhaveit,itrequiresquiteabitofprocessingtomakeituseable,soitisoftensetasidetobehandled“later.”Theproductionofwaxalsoremoveshoneyfromthehivefoodstoresinordertofeedwax-producingbees,effectivelyreducingtheamountofhoneyyield,sotomaximizehoneyproduction,beekeeperstrytokeepasmuchcombinthehiveaspossible.Beekeeperstraditionallyprocesstheirwaxeitherduringhoneyextractionorduringthewinterandearlyspringmonthswhenotherbeekeepingmaintenanceiscomplete.
Inthischapteryou’lllearn
–Waxvarieties
–Insidertipsforworkingwithwax
CANDLEWAX
Forthingssuchascandles,especiallypillarcandles,theresidualhoneyinthewaxcausesthewaxtoburnunevenly,cloggingthewick.Thebestwaytogetthelastofthehoneyoutofthewaxistoallowittoclarifyinaheateddoubleboilerorwaxtank.Admittedly,thistaskiseasiertoaccomplishwiththewaxtankthanadoubleboiler,sincethewaxmustremaininaliquidstateforquiteawhileuntilallthehoneyhassettledtothebottom.Iusuallyletminesettleforacoupledays.Thebestwaytodetermineifitisdoneisbycheckingtheclarityofthewax.Whenitisfirstmelted,ithasmurkinesstoit.Asthehoneysettles,thewaxbeginstoclarify.Whenthewaxisclear,filteritthroughacleanpieceoffeltclothandpourintomoldstodividethewaxintouseableportions.Iusuallydoavarietyofdifferentsizes,from1-ounce(28g)ingotsupto10–20pound(4.5–9kg)blocksthatstoreeasily,butarestillsmallenoughtofitintomywaxmelter.ThisensuresthatIhavetherightsizeforwhateverIammaking.Theresultingwaxisstillyellowandretainsthesignaturehoneylikescent,althoughthefilteringmayhavelightenedupthewaxslightly.
BEEKEEPERSWAX
Myfirstwaxprocessingexperiencewaswhilehelpinganotherbeekeeperwithhishoneyextracting.Hisoperationseemedhugetomeatthetime(hemaintainsaround1,200colonies),butIhavelearnedthatincomparisontoothercommercialoperations,hisisprobablyonthesmallerside.Therearesomecommercialbeekeepingoperationsthatmaintainupwardsof50,000colonies.Thereisverylittledifferencebetweenhowthesetwotypesofbeekeepersdotheirwaxprocessing,exceptthatthelarge-scaleoperationsmayhaveamoreautomatedversionofwhatIexperienced.
Thefirststepintheprocessistoplacethehoneyframesintoamachinethatcutsthecapfromthetopofthehoneycells.Theremovedcappingsarefunneledintoatroughwheretheyarepushedthroughaverycoarsescreenbeforeenteringtheprocessingarea.Theframesaremovedtothehoneyextractor.Thewaxprocessingareamayhaveeitheracentrifugewherethehoneyisflungtotheoutside,renderingthecappingsvirtuallyfreeofhoney,oraheatedchamberwithaseriesofbafflesthatseparatethehoneyfromthewax.
Thewaxthatresultsfromeitheroftheseprocessesisgenerallywherethebeekeepersstop.Itisusuallyareallyniceyellowishwaxwithalovelyhoneylikesmell.However,thereisstillsomehoneyleftinthewax.Itmaynotbeallthatnoticeable,butitisthere.Forsomeapplications,suchaslipbalms,itisnotaproblemtoahaveabitofhoneyinthewax,butforotherapplications,cleanerwaxisneeded.
BROODWAX
Thisisthewaxthatcomesfrommeltingdownoldbroodcomb.Broodcombisusuallyreplacedonathree-tofive-yearcycle.Afterthehivehasrearedmultiplebatchesofbroodonaframeofwax,thewaxcellskeepgettingsmallerandsmaller,sincethecocoonmaterialremains.Inthewild,MotherNaturehasseentotherenewalofthiscomb,asthewaxmothlarvaelovestoeatthebroodcomb.Themothsarevoraciouseatersandcandecimateaboxofstoredcombsoverthewintermonths,forcingthebeestobuildupthecellwallsagainbeforethequeencanlayeggsintothatspace.Forkeptbees,beekeeperstakeontheroleofthewaxmothlarvaebyremovingtheoldwaxandreplacingitwithfreshwaxfoundation.
Theprocessofrenderingthewaxfromthecocoons,propolis,andotheritemsinthebroodcombisanarduousone.Alltheseadditionalelementsneedtobefilteredoutbeforethewaxitselfcanbecleaned.Todothis,mostbeekeepersputthewaxintoburlapsacks,stackingpressplatesinbetween,andheatthewholeworksuptomeltthewax.Oncethewaxismelted,theplatesarepressedtoreleasewhateverwaxremainsintheslumgumandthenthewaxisstrainedoffthetop.
Thewaxthatcomesfromthisprocessisusuallyreallydark.Althoughalotofthebiggerparticlesofpropolis,cocoon,andslumgumareremovedinthisprocess,themicroscopicbitsstillremain.Overtime,thesebitsactuallytintthewax,soevenfilteringthewaxwillonlylightenitslightly.Althoughitmaynotlookandsmellasniceasyellowcappingswax,itdoeshaveitsfavoredapplications.Itworksreallywellfordarkerwoodfinishes.Thelightwaxcanhavea“glazing”effectovertimethatisdiminishedwhenusingthedarkercoloredwax.Italsoworkswellondarkerleathers.Iuseourdarkwaxtoconditionandpolishmyshoes.Wealsosupplyalocalblacksmithwithsomedarkwax.Heprefersthedarkestwaxwehave,sinceheusesittosealandprotecthiswroughtironpieces.
WHITEWAX
BeforeIgotintoencausticpainting,Ihadnouseforanythingbesidesyellowwax.Ilovedthecolor,thescent,everything!SowhenIstartedmakingmyfirstbatchofencausticmedium,IusedwhatIhadonhand.IfiguredthatIcouldmaketheyellowcolorpartofmy“signature”look.WRONG!Asidefrommyineptskillsasanencausticartist,itlookedhorrible.Thecolorsweremuddyanddidn’tflowaswellasIhadenvisioned,soIdidsomeresearchon“white”beeswax.MyhopewasthatIwouldbeabletoremovesomeofthecolorfromthewaxmyself.FirstItriedbleachingitinthesun.Thatworks,butonlytoacertaindegree.Sundoeslightenthecolorofthewax,butthepresenceofmicroscopicbitsofpropolis,slumgum,andpossiblyhoneyaddedcolorthatcouldnotbecompletelybleachedbythesun.
Toremovetheinherentcolorantsinthewax,itneedstoundergoadifferentprocessthatmostathomecannotachieve.Inthepast,whitewaxwastreatedchemicallytoseparateoutthepropolisandother“contaminants.”Thisprocessyieldedanice,whitewax,buttracesofsomeofthechemicalsremained.Notgood!Today,mostofthewhitewaxisnottreatedchemically.Itisrunthroughaseriesofsuperfinefiltersthatremovethe“contaminants,”withouttheadditionofharshchemicals.
Thecoloroftheresultantwaxisverylightandasclosetowhiteaspossible,butthereisalsoatranslucencythatisnotavailableintheyellowwaxes.Thistranslucencyiswhatmakesitgreattouseforencaustics.Also,sincealotofthe“contaminants”arewhatgivethewaxnotonlyitssignaturecolorandsmell,butalsoitsmyriadhealthbenefits,whitewaxisnotmypreferenceforuseontheskin.
INSIDERTIPS
RECIPEUSAGEGUIDE
Allofmyrecipesarewrittenusingpercentages.Theadvantagetodoingthisisthattherecipecanbeeasilyscaledupordown.Thedisadvantageisthatalittlemathisrequiredtoconverttheequationintoausablerecipe.Here’showtodothat.
Examplerecipe:
SheaButter 31%
SweetAlmondOil 31%
Beeswax 31%
FlavorOil 7%
1.Chooseaunitofmeasurewithwhichtowork.Metricunits,suchasgramsormilliliters,workbest,astheyareeasiertomultiply.TheycanbeconvertedbacktoEnglishunitsattheendoftheprocess.Therecipesinthisbookincludegrammeasurementsinadditiontothepercentages.
2.Decidethedesiredsizeofyourbatch.Forthisexamplewewillusea10-ozbatch,whichisequalto283grams.
3.Determinethepercentageofeachportionoftherecipe.Multiplythenumberofthefullbatchbythepercentageforexample,283g×0.31(%)=87.73g.
4.Roundtothedesiredprecision(87.73roundedtothenearestwholenumber=88g).
5.Finalizetherecipe.Usingthesamplerecipe,itnowlookslikethis:
SheaButter 88grams
SweetAlmondOil 88grams
Beeswax 88grams
FlavorOil 20grams
6.Useadigitalkitchenscaleandaplasticdelicontainertomeasureingredients.Remembertozeroouttheweightofthecontainerbeforeweighingingredients.
SMALLAMOUNTSOFBEESWAX
WhenIneedsmallamountsofbeeswaxforarecipe,itcanbecumbersometobreakachunkofwaxoffalargeblockorgratesomewaxtouse.Beeswaxcanbepurchasedcommerciallyintheformofpastilles,whicharesmallsphericalbeadsofwax.Sincemostofthiswaxisthehighlyprocessed“whitewax,”Iprefertomoldmyownwaxinoneoftwoways.Thegoalistohavewaxthatmeltsquickly(thinpiecesworkwell)andiseasytomeasure(small).
Onemethodistopourthemeltedwaxintoamoldthatistraditionallyusedtoshapechocolate;themoldformsathinblockwithscorelinesthatallowthechocolate—orinourcasethebeeswax—tobebrokenatthescorelines.Thereareapproximatelysixsquarestoanounce(28g),(theyvaryabitindepthandactualbreaklines).Anycombinationofsquaresshouldworkforalmostanyrecipe.Iusethismethodtosaveanyleftoverwaxafterpouringcandles.
Thesecondmethodcallsforpouringthemeltedwaxontoacookiesheet(withsides)thatislinedwithfreezerpaper.Thiswillyieldasheetofwaxthatisvariableinthickness,butcanbebrokenintosmallerchunkseasily.IusethismethodwhenIhavewaxthatIwanttotransformintoflakes.
USETHEFREEZER
Beeswaxgetsbrittlewhenitisfrozen,makingiteasytobreakoffchunksasneeded.Istoremywaxinblocksthatweigharound35pounds(15.9kg).Althoughgreatforstorage,theseheavyblocksaretoobigtofitintomywaxtank.SinceIusethemostwaxinwinter,andweathergetscoldaroundhere,Iusethegreatoutdoorsasmy“freezer,”butaregularfreezercanbeemployedtodothesamething.
Oncemyblockisfrozen,Iputitinaheavy-dutygarbagebag(Iusetheblackplasticcontractorbags)anddropitonthepavementbehindmyhouse.Usually,itdoesn’ttakemorethanacoupleofdropstocreatesomegood-sizechunksthatareperfectforlargerprojectsortomeltdownandmoldintosmallerchunks.
Thefreezerisalsogreatforhelpingtoreleasecandlesthatarestuckinmetalmolds.Justleavethestubborncandleinthefreezerforahalfhourorso,andwhenthemoldisremovedthecandleshouldslipoutfairlyeasily.
PROTECTSURFACES
Whenusingbeeswaxforprojectsthatcallforwaxtobeapplied,eitherbybrushingiton,usinganothertypeoftooltoapplyit,ordippingitinwax,makesurethattheworksurfaceisprotected.Itisaloteasiertocleanupasheetofpaperthanitistocleanwaxoffthecountertop.
CLEANINGUPUTENSILS
Thejoyofanewlymadecandlecanquicklybecomefrustrationwhenfacedwiththetaskofcleaningup.Beeswaxdoesnotcleanupeasilyinthe“traditional”way.Soapandwaterwon’ttouchthewaxunlessitishot,andeventhenitwillonlysmearthewaxaround.Irecommendacquiringafewcontainersthatwillbeusedexclusivelyformeltingbeeswax.Thatway,thereisnocleanupneededandnoleftoverbeeswaxintomorrow’sdinner.Ifabeeswaxcontainerdoesneedtobecleaned,thebestwayIhavefoundistoturnitintoabalmbyaddingabitofoil,whicheffectivelydropsthemeltingtemperature.Thenwashwithhotwaterandsomegrease-dissolvingdishsoap.Tocleanawaxybowl,wipethebowlwithoil(anyoilwilldo)andheatthebowlwithaheatgun(lowheat)orinthemicrowaveifitissafetodoso,andwipewithapapertowel.Repeatuntilthebowlisrelativelycleanandthenwashwithdishsoapandwater.
Forproductssuchasbalmsandcreams,Iliketousenewplasticdelicontainersthatcanbetossedoncetheproductismade.Theyarequiteheatproof,foodgrade,sterile,andcomeinavarietyofsizes.Theyalsomakepouringproductintosmallercontainersrelativelyeasy,sincetheplasticismalleableenoughtopinchintoapourspout.Irealizethatthisnotthemosteco-consciousthingtodoandIreservetheiruseforthingsthatrequiresterility,suchaslotionsandcreams.
CHAPTER2CANDLEMAKINGAwell-madebeeswaxcandleisabeautifulthing!However,makingawell-madecandleisnotanafternoon’sfun.Thereisalotofmoldingandburntestingthatneedstobedone,beforeperfectionisreached.Ihopethedirectionsandhintsfoundinthischapterwillmakeyourroadtoperfectionshorterandmorefulfillingthanmine.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Rolledcandles
–Moldedcandles
–Hand-dippedcandles
ROLLEDCANDLESRolledcandlesareagreatstartingpointforcandlemaking,sincetheprocessrequiresveryfewtoolsandthecandlescanbemadeinawiderangeofcolors.Theycanbemadeastapers,pillars,square,orevenassmall,thincandlessuchasbirthdaycandles.
BEG INNER
ROLLEDTAPERCANDLES
MATERIALS1beeswaxsheet,alsocalledbeeswaxfoundation,8"×16"(20.5cm×40.5cm)
2pieces(9",or23cmeach)ofsquarebraidwicking(2/0isagoodsizetostart,mightbegoodtoalsohave3/0and1/0onhand)
Yield:2tapercandles
1.Gentlyfoldthebeeswaxsheetinhalf,bendingitbackandforthuntilitbreakstocreatetwo8"(20.5cm)squares.
2.Laya9"(23cm)pieceofwickalongtherawedgeofthesheet,withoneendofthewickflushwiththesideofthebeeswaxsheetandtheotherextendedout.
3.Pinchthebeeswaxoverthewick,sothatthewaxismoldedallaroundthewickfromoneendtotheother.
4.Startrollingthecandle,keepingevenpressureacrossthewidth.Don’tcrushthebeautifulhoneycombpatternonthebeeswaxsheets,butmakesurethecandledoesn’tcomeundone.Ifonesidestartsrollingtighterthantheother,unrollthecandleabitandtryagain.Itmaytakeacoupletriestogetitright.
5.Oncethecandleisevenlyrolled,gentlypresstheendedgeintothecandletokeepitinplace.
INTERMED IATE
ROLLEDPILLARCANDLESPillarcandlescanbemadeinavarietyofshapesandsizes.Hereisthebasicinformationneededtoexpandontherolledtapercandle.
MATERIALS1fullsheetbeeswax
wicking(#2willprobablywork,butalsohave#1and#3onhand)
scissors
Yield:1pillarcandle
1.Gentlyfoldthebeeswaxsheetinhalflengthwise,bendingitbackandforthuntilitbreakstocreatetwo4"×16"(10cm×40.5cm)pieces.
2.Cutthewicktoapproximately5"(10.5cm)andfollowdirectionsforRolledTaperCandlesonpage
23tosecurethewickandbeginrollingthepillar.
3.Whenyoureachtheendofthefirstsheetofbeeswax,laythesecondsheetagainsttheedgeofthefirstsheetandcontinuerolling.
4.Attheendofthesheet,gentlypresstheendedgeintothecandletokeepitinplace.Thecandleshouldmeasureapproximately2"(5cm)across.Doaburntest(page26)tomakesurethecorrectwicksizewasused.
VARIATIONSAlthoughbothtaperandpillarcandlesusearectangularorsquarepieceofbeeswaxfoundation,thebeeswaxcanalsobecuttocreateothershapes.
Tomakeacandlewithataperedtop,cutoffawedgepiecefromthetopofthecandle.
Rollingthetrimmedofftriangularpieceofwaxwillresultinaconicalshape.Fortheholidays,IlovetomakeaforestofsmallshortstylizedChristmastreesoutofgreenwaxusingthistechnique.
Arolledcandlecanalsobecompressedintoasquarebyflatteningagainstyourworksurfacethenrotatingthecandleninetydegreesandflatteningthenextside.Continuingrotatingandflatteninguntilthecandlehasanicesquareshape.
NOTE:Thistechniqueworksbetterwithpillarcandlesthantapers.
WICKINGAlthoughtherearelotsofdifferentkindsofcandlewicking,forbeeswaxIliketousesquarebraidcottonwicking.Thewickactsasapipelinethatcarriesthemeltedwaxintheformofavaportotheflameviacapillaryaction.Somewicksallowlotsoffueltoflowquicklythroughabigpipe,whileotherwickspumpfuelmoreslowlythroughasmallerpipe.Ifyougivetheflametoomuchortoolittlefuel,itwilleitherburnpoorlyorsputterout.Thebalanceoffuelandflowneedstobejustright.
Thenomenclatureofsquarebraidwickingreferstothenumberofbundles,theplyofthewick,andhowtightlyitisbraided.The6/0to1/0rangeofwicks,areconstructedabitdifferentlythanthelargerwicks,butallofthemaresquare,whichhelpstochannelthewaxfumesuptotheflame.Itisimportanttokeepyourwickswell-labeledandseparatedsincesimilarsizeslookidentical.Oftentheonlydifferenceisthetightnessofthebraiding.
Squarebraidwickformsacarboncaponthetopofthewick.Thecarboncapradiatesheatoutwardfromtheflame,whichhelpsmeltwaxthatisfurtherawayfromtheflame.Thewickalsobendsslightlyasitburns,minimizingcarbonbuild-upandmakingforacleanerburn.
THERIGHTSIZEWICKUsethefollowingtesttodeterminetheproperwicksizeandscaleupordownasneeded.Usethistestshouldforallcandles,althoughkeepinmindthatrolledcandlescanbeabitmoreforgiving.Thetestisespeciallyimportantwithmoldedpillarcandles.Dependingonthediameterofthecandle,differentwicksareneededtoprovideenoughflametomeltthewaxwithoutcreatingatorchthatthreatenstoburndownthehouse.
BASICBURNTESTTESTTHEPROPERWICKSIZEANDSCALEUPORDOWNASNEEDEDFORPILLARORVOTIVECANDLES.
A.Thiswickistoosmall.(Theflameisdrowninginthesmallmeltpool.)B.PerfectC.Thiswickistoolarge.(Theflameistoolarge,resultinginalotofsmoke.)
1.Trimthewicktoalengthof1/4"(6mm).Ifyouaretestingmorethanonewick,makesurethecandlesareclearlylabeled.
2.Placethetestcandlesonaclean,flat,heat-resistantsurfaceabout3"to6"(7.5cmto15cm)apart.Besuretoselectadraft-freespotthatisfullviewofyourworkspace.Donotleavelitcandlesunattended.
3.Lightthecandlesandrecordthetime.Itiscriticaltokeepaneyeonthecandleswhiletheyareburning,especiallywhentestingnewwicks.
4.Iftestingpillarcandles,allowthemtoburnfortwohoursthenrecordthedetailsofthemeltpoolandwickappearance.Ideallythemeltpoolwillachievethedesireddiameterbythispoint.Althoughthereareindividualpreferences,Ilikemymeltpooltoextendalmostouttotheedgeofthecandle,leavingapproximately1/4"–1/2"(6mm–1.3cm)ofwaxaroundtheoutside.Iftheflamehasnotmeltedenoughofameltpool,thewickismostlikelytoosmall.Noteanysootormushroomingonthewick.
5.Allowthecandletoburnforanotherfourhoursandrecordthedetailsofthemeltpoolandwickagainbeforegentlyblowingouttheflame.Atthispointthemeltpoolofawell-wickedcandlewillhaveachievedthedesireddiameterandshouldbeapproximately1/2"(1.3cm)deep.Ifthewickismushrooming,thecandleissooting,orthemeltpoolissubstantiallydeeperthan1/2"(1.3cm),thewickismostlikelytoolarge.
6.Allowthecandletocoolforatleastfivehoursandrepeatsteps3,4,and5untilthecandleis
completelyburned.Thequalityofburnwillalmostalwayschangeduringtheentireburningofthecandle.Burntheentirecandlebeforedecidingonawick.
MOLDEDCANDLESAllmoldedcandlesarebasicallymadethesamewayandrequirethesamebasictools,justdifferentmolds.Itisimportanttousethecleanestwaxpossiblewhenmakingmoldedcandles.Impurities,suchasresidualhoney,willaffectthelookandperformanceofthecandle.
BEG INNER
VOTIVECANDLESVotivecandlesandtealightsaretheworkhorsesofthecandleworld.Votivesareintendedtobeburnedinavotiveholder,notontheirown.Thismeansthatthecandleshouldfitwithintheholderreasonablywellandthecandleshouldbewickedsothatthewaxisliquidallthewaytotheedge.Mostvotivesburnforsixtoeighthours.
MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
Eco-2pre-tabbedwicks
doubleboilerorwaxmelter
Kraftpaper,newspaper,orbutcherpaper
siliconespray
votivemolds
wickpins,enoughfor10candles
beeswaxpouringpitcher
thermometer
heatgun
feltcloth,optional(enoughtowraparoundeachofthemoldsonce)
Yield:8–10votivecandles
1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerorawaxmelter.Donotmeltbeeswaxdirectlyonthestovewithoutthewaterbath.WhenIfirststartedmakingcandles,Iusedacleancoffeecantomeltmywax.Periodicallycheckthetemperatureofthewaxtomakesureitisn’tgettingtoohot.
TIP:CoverworksurfacewithKraftpaper,newspaper,orbutcherpaper.Thiswillhelpwithcleanupifsomewaxshouldaccidentallyspill.
2.Whilewaitingforthewaxtomelt,preparethemolds.Ifusingmetalmolds,spraytheinsidewithamoldreleasespray(silicone).Spraythewickpinsaswellandmakesuretheyareproperlyseatedonthebottomofthevotivemold.
3.Oncethewaxiscompletelymelted,usethethermometertocheckthetemperatureofthewax.Iliketopourmycandleswhenthewaxisinthe165°F–170°F(74°C–77°C)range.Ifitishotterthanthat,letitcoolabitbeforepouringintothemolds.
TIP:Tocreateabeautifulcandlewithasmoothsurfaceandsymmetricalshape,startwithawarmmold.IuseaheatguntowarmthemoldrightbeforeIpourinthehotwaxtoensurethatthewaxdoesn’thardentooquicklyalongtheedgeswhereitcomesincontactwiththemold.Alsobesuretoallowplentyoftimeforthecandletocooldownslowlyinthemold.Whileslowcoolinginthemoldsismoreimportantwithlargerdiametercandles,it’sbesttokeepallcandlesfromcoolingtooquickly,regardlessoftheirsize.Toslowthecoolingprocess,Isuggestwrappingalayeroffeltclotharoundthemoldstoinsulatethem.
4.Warmthevotivemoldswiththeheatgunthenpourthewaxintothemolds.Letthewaxcoolcompletelybeforetryingtoremovefromthemold.Pulluponthewickpinstoremovethecandleandthentapthewickpinagainstasolidsurfacetodislodgeitfromthevotive.
5.Threadapre-tabbedwickuptheholeleftbythewickpin,trimthewick,andletitsitadayortwobeforedoingatestburn.
INTERMED IATE
MOLDEDPILLARCANDLESPillarcandlesarethelongestburningcandles.Evenshorter3"×4"(7.5cm×10cm)pillarcandleshavebeenknowntoburnforsixtyhoursormore,makingthemwellworththeinvestmentinbeeswax.
MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
squarebraidwicking(try#3for2"(5cm)diameterand#5for3"(7.5cm)diametermolds)
pillarmolds
siliconemoldreleasespray
high-temperaturemetaltaper(orothersealersuchaswickputty)
beeswaxpouringpitcher
thermometer
heatgun
feltcloth(enoughtowraparoundeachofthemoldsonce)
Yield:2–3smallpillarsor1largepillar
1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerorawaxmelter.Donotmeltbeeswaxdirectlyonthestovewithoutthewaterbath.Checkthetemperatureofthewaxoccasionallytomakesureitisn’tgettingtoohot.
2.Whilewaitingforthewaxtomelt,preparethemolds.Ifusingmetalmolds,spraytheinsidewithasiliconemoldreleasespray.
3.Mostpillarcandlemoldscomewithaholeatthebottomofthemoldtoinsertthewicking.Ifinditiseasiesttodipapartofmywickinginbeeswaxandletithardenbeforetrimmingthedippedendatanangletomakeiteasiertothreadthewickthroughtheholeandfarenoughintothemoldtoallowmetoretrieveitfromtheopenend.Apairofplierscanhelpwiththisifthemoldisabitdeeperthancanbeeasilyreachedbyhand.
4.Extendthewickaboutaninch(2.5cm)orsoabovethecandlemold.Useawoodendowel,toothpickorabobbypintoholdthewickinplaceandkeepitcentered.Wrapthewickingaroundthedowelandmakesureitistightinsidethemold,butnotstretchingthewick.You’llalsoneedtosealthespotwherethewickingextendsthroughthebottomofthemold.Thereareanumberofproductsthatcanbeusedforthis.Myfavoriteishigh-temperaturemetaltape,whichisavailableintheheatingsectionofhomeimprovementstores.
TIP:Isometimesuseanothersealercalledwickputty,amalleabledoughthatconformstothebottomofthemoldandsealsthemoldaroundthewick,preventingbeeswaxfromleakingout.
5.Wrapthemoldswithalayeroffeltclothandconfigurethemclosetogetherwithtallercandlesinthecenterandshortercandlesontheoutsidetomakepouringthewaxintothecandlemoldsquickandefficient.IliketodoadryrunwithmypouringpitchertomakesureIdon’thavetopourthehotwaxfromapointthatistoohighup.
6.Oncethemoldsareprepared,checkonthewax.Thetargettemperatureshouldbeintherangeof165°F–170°F(74°C–77°C).Ifitishotterthanthat,letitcoolabitbeforepouringintothemolds.
7.Beforepouringthehotwax,makesurethereisenoughwaxinthepouringpitchertofillthemoldcompletely.Ifthecandleispouredinseveralstages,thelinebetweenpourswillbevisible.
Useaheatguntoquicklywarmtheinsideofallthepillarmoldsandimmediatelypourthewaxintothewaitingmolds.Fillthemoldstoabouta1/2"(1.3cm)fromthetop.
FILLINGCAVITIES:Tocounteractthecavitythatformsaslargerpillarcandlescool,Imakeareliefholeorwidenanexistingholewithanailorpieceoftoothpick,thenIaddsomemeltedwaxtothehole.Itmaynotlooklikemuchofahole,butyoumaybesurprisedbytheamountofwaxneededtofillthespace.Repeatwithmorewaxifnecessarybeforeitcoolscompletely.
8.Thewaxwillcontractasitcools.Howevenlythewaxcontractsdependsontheambienttemperatureoftheroom.Coolertemperatureswillforcethetopofthecandletoskinoverandbecomeasolidmassbeforetherestofthecandlecancontractsufficiently.Theresultisacavityinsidethecandle.Thebiggerthewaxmass,thelongeritwilltakeforthecandletocoolandthegreaterthepotentialforalargecavity.Thiscanbedangerousifleftasis,sincethewickcanturnintoatorchwhenithitstheopencavity.
9.Allowthecandlestocoolcompletelybeforetryingtounmold.Iliketodothisthefollowingday,especiallyifitisalargerdiametercandle.
10.Tounmold,firstremovethetapeorwickputtyfromthebottomofthemold.Thenlightlytapthesideofthemoldagainstasoftsurface,rotatingthemoldwhiletapping.Oncethecandleisloosenedfromthemold,tuggentlyonthewickandremovethecandle.Ifitisn’tcooperating,don’tforceit.Putthewholeworksinthefreezerandletitcoolforanhourorso.Thentryagain.Thistrickshouldwork.Trimthewickflushatthebottomandto1/4inch(6mm)atthetop.
11.Thebottomofthecandlemaybebumpyanduneven.Iuseadedicatedelectricskillettomeltandflattencandlebottoms.Startwiththetemperatureoftheskilletonlowandseeifthewaxwillmelt.Electricskilletsvarybymanufacturer,soabitofexperimentationisnecessary.Iflowdoesn’tmeltthewax,increasethetemperatureuntilitstartstomeltthewaxrelativelyquickly.Placethecandleintheskilletandspinitsothatthehighpointsinthecandlebottombecomemoreevident.Failuretodothiswillresultinaleaningcandlethatwillburnunevenly.Oncethebottomissmoothedoutandeven,letitcoolslightlyandthencleanuptheedgeswithcleanfingers.
12.Nowthehardpart:waitingforthecandletocure.Waitatleastadayortwoforthecandlestocurebeforelightingthem.Thistimeframeallowsthebeeswaxmoleculestoalignandsettledown.Withpillarcandles,aburntestisimperativetomakesurethattherightwicksizeisused.Itsometimestakesfiveormoretriestogetthewickingright,sodon’tgetdiscouraged.Candlesthatarenotburningcorrectlyarenotawaste.Simplymeltthemdownthenexttimeyouaremeltingwax.Thewickisnotreusable.
HAND-DIPPEDCANDLESHand-dippedcandleshavebeenaroundforever,probablybecausetheyareeasytomake.Aleisurelyafternooncanyieldacoupledozenpassabletapers,especiallyiftheydon’thavetobeperfect.However,iftheperfecttaperisthegoal,thereisabitmorecraftinvolved.Iwillbeginwiththebasicsandthendelveintothedetailsofcreatingbeautifulcandles.
BEG INNER
HAND-DIPPEDTAPERCANDLESHand-dippedtapercandlesaremadefrompaper-thinsheetsofwaxthatareaddedonelayeratatimebydippingthewickrepeatedlyinhotwax.Mostregulartapercandleshavetwentyormorelayersofwax.
MATERIALSAtleast5lb(2.1kg)beeswax(approximately5oz[142g]perpairoftapers),includingsomesmallpiecesandwaxflakes
2/0or1/0squarebraidwicking
tallmeltingpotwithdoubleboiler
scissors
nutorbolttouseasweight
paintsticks
THEIMPORTANCEOFTHECONTAINERTomakehanddippedcandles,atallwaxmeltingcontainerisimportant.Thelengthofthefinishedcandleislimitedbythedepthofthewaxinthedippingcontainer.Acoffeecanisgreatcontainertouse,asitcanbefoundaroundthehouse.Theonlydisadvantagetousingacoffeecanisthatitwillprobablyonlyyielda3–4"(7.5–10cm)-longcandle.Tomaketallercandles,lookforataller,narrowmetalcontainer.Anasparaguspotorsomethingsimilarworkswell.Therearereallytalldippingpotsavailablecommercially,andIusedoneearlyon,butIhadaproblemkeepingthewaxhotfromthebottomtothetop.Tomaintainaconstantwaxtemperature,atallouterpotforthewaterbathisalsorequired.Itdoesn’tneedtobeastallasthedippingpot,butitshouldbeabletoholdwatertoaheightofatleasttwo-thirdsthelevelofthewax.
BEFOREYOUBEGINMakesurethereisplentyofwaxonhand.Rememberthateverytimethewickisdippedinthewax,waxisremovedfromthepot.Thismeansthatonceafewcandleshavebeendipped,thewaxleveldropsandcandleswillnotbeastallasthefirstonesmade.Toremedythisproblem,simplyaddmorewax.Iliketokeepsmallpiecesandflatwaxflakesonhandfortheseoccasions.Unlikebigblocksofwax,theymeltquicklyandkeeptheprocessofmakingcandlesmovingsmoothly.
Ifyouaredippingpairs,usethefollowinggeneralformulatocutthewicksintouseablelengths:
(Heightofdesiredfinishedcandle+2"[5cm]lossonthebottom+1"[2.5cm]lossontop+1/2"[1.3cm]forwiggleroom)×2.
Sotomake8"(20.5cm)finished-lengthcandles,cutthewickapproximately23"(58.5cm)long.
Intheaboveformula,Iallowedabitextratotieaweightsuchasawasherornuttothebottomofbothwicks.Thishelpskeepthewickstraightthroughsubsequentdippings,producingabeautiful,straightcandle.
Temperatureofthewaxisveryimportant.Ifthewaxistoohot,thecandlesdon’tbuildupproperlyorbuildupmoreatthetopthanatthebottom.Ifthewaxistoocool,thecandleswilllookbumpyandhaveanexaggeratedconeshape.Itisbesttoplayaroundwithdifferentdippingrhythms.Howthecandleslookwilldependonwaxcomposition,temperatureofthewax,temperatureoftheroom,andindividualstyle.Trydippingslowlyonthewaydownandpullingitbackoutquickly.Thentrytheopposite.Alsotryleavingitatthebottomforanextrasecondortwo.Seehowtheshapeofthecandle
changeswithacoupleofdips.Experimentationisthekey.
1.Prepareaplacetohangin-processcandleswhiletheycool.Iliketousepaintsticks,astheyarewideenoughtoallowthecandlestohangfarenoughaparttokeepthemfrombumpingintoeachotherandthesticksarelongenoughtoeasilyplacethemacrossaboxorbetweentwochairbacks,allowingthecandlestohangfreely.
2.Primealltaperwicksbydroppingagoodquantityofwickintohotwaxandlettingitabsorbcompletelybeforepullingitbackoutagain.Watchforthebubblesandoncetheystop,waitabitlongerandthenremovethewick.Asitstartstocool,untanglethemassandstarttostraightenitout.
TIPS:Saveallthetrimmings.Thewaxcanbemeltedoffandtheweightsreused.
Beeswaxisveryforgiving.Ifacandledoesn’tturnout,putitbackintothedippingvat.Oncethewaxhasmeltedoffthewicking,retrievethewickingandstartover.
3.Taketheprimedwickandusetheformulaabovetocuttothedesiredlength.Attachanutornailtotheendofeachendofthewickandbendthewickinhalfsothatbothsidesarethesamelength.
4.Makingsurethatthewickisasstraightaspossible,holdthewickatthebendanddipthewickintothewax.Thereisnoneedtodothisquickly.Idipthewickforabout3–4seconds—1seconddown,1–2secondsatthebottom,and1secondup.
5.Beforedoingthesubsequentdippings,Iliketowaituntilthewaxchangescolorslightly,approximately3–4minutes.IfIamdoingmultiples,IhanguponeandmoveontotheothersandbythetimeIhavecompletedoneroundwithallthewicks,thefirstisreadyforroundtwo.
6.Continuedippinguntilthecandleshavereachedabout75percentofthedesiredthickness.Waxcontractsasitcools,whichmeansthatafreshlydippedcandlemeasuring3/4"(2cm)willprobablybethinnerwhenitiscompletelycooled.Takethisintoaccountwhenmakingthecandles.Waitforthewaxtocoolabitlongerandtakeaverysharpknifeorscissorsandcutthenutofftheendofthewick.
7.Completeacouplemoredipstofinishthecandleandhanguptocoolcompletely.Ifthedippingvatisonthestovetop,makethelastdipaslightlyhotterone(around180°F[82°C]).Thisproducesasmootherandshiniercandle,enhancingtheoveralllookofthefinishedtaper.
BEG INNER
HAND-DIPPEDBIRTHDAYCANDLESBirthdaycandlescanbemadeinacoupledifferentways.Sincetheyaresimplyreallythintapercandles,theycanbemadeinthesameway,stoppingwhentheapproximatediameterreaches1/2"(6mm).ButIprefertomakethemlookmorelikethetraditionalbirthdaycandles—squaredoffatthetopandbottom—sothesecandlesaredippedfirsttoalongerlengthandthentrimmedtothedesiredlength.HereishowIdoit.
MATERIALSbeeswax
2/0or3/0wicking
scissors
ruler
Yield:10–15longercandles(5–7"[12.7–17.8cm])or25–30shortercandles(3–4"[7.6–10.1cm])
1.Cutandprimethewick,stretchingitoutaspertapers,page38.Thereisnoneedtobotherwithaweight,sincethesecandleswillonlybedipped6–8timestotal.
2.Dipthecandles5–6timesandmeasurethediameter.Ifitisclosetothethicknessdesired,dipanothertimeforgoodmeasureandletitcooluntilitjuststartstoturnfromthepastelyellowtothemoregoldcolor,butisstillabitwarmtothetouch.Withscissors,cutthewickjustaboveandbelowthedesiredlengthofthecandle.
3.Tomakethe7"(18cm)candlesshownabove,cutcandlesinto71/2"(19cm)sectionswithasharppairofscissors.
4.Rollthecutsectionsonthetabletopbetweentwosheetsofwaxedpapertostraightenandsmooththeimperfections.Thecandlesalsoneedtocoolabitmorebeforecontinuingtothefinaltrimming.
5.Measure7"(18cm)fromoneendofthecandleandwithasharpknife,cutintothebeeswaxwhilerollingittocutthewax,butnotthewick.Pullthelittlechunkofwaxoffthewickandthecandleiscompleted.
CHAPTER3BALMSANDBARSLipbalmisoneofthefirstthingsImadewithourownbeeswaxandforgoodreason.Beeswaxcanhelpprotectthelipsfromtheharmfulraysofthesun,hasapleasantsmell,anditcanhelppreventinfectionsandcoldsores.Inapinchitcanalsobeusedtomoisturizeotherbodypartssuchasroughelbowsorraggedcuticles.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Lipbalmsandgloss
–Solidlotionandmassagebars
–Cuticleandheelbalms
–Chestrub
–Nonpetroleumjelly
BEG INNER
BASICLIPBALMAlipbalminatubeneedstobestiffenoughtoholditsshapeandshouldnotmeltifkeptinapantspocket,yetwhenappliedtolips,itshouldglideoneasily.Pourthatsamelipbalmintoatin,anditwillprobablybetoostifftobepickedupwithafingerandappliedtothelips.Ipreferlipbalmintubes,andthefollowingrecipeisoneofmyfavorites.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 27g 30.00%
virgincoconutoil 26g 29.60%
sweetalmondoil 26g 29.70%
castoroil 1g 1.00%
lanolin 8g 9.30%
VitaminEoil 0.1g 0.10%
rosemaryoleoresinextract(ROE) 0.1g 0.10%
lip-safeflavoroil 0.2g 0.20%
woodenstirstickorkabobskewer
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:20tubes
1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weightheingredients.Placethebeeswax,oils,andlanolinintoasmallpotorheat-safebowl.Gentlyheatinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandoilshavemelted.
2.Oncemelted,removefromthedoubleboilerandaddessentialoilsandVitaminEoil,stirringwithastirstickorwoodenkebabskewertocombine.Whileitisstillhot,pourthemixtureintolipbalmtubes.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipbalmcontainers.
BEG INNER
LIPBALMWITHBUTTERSHereisalovelyvariationthatincludescocoabutter.Cocoabuttercomesineitherthe“natural”scent,whichsomedescribeassomewhatchocolatelike,ordeodorized.Thereisnodifferencebetweenthetwo,exceptpersonalpreference.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 20g 21.64%
cocoabutter 20g 21.64%
sunfloweroil 45g 48.70%
lanolin 5g 5.41%
VitaminEoil 2g 2.16%
lip-safeflavoroil 12drops 0.44%
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:20tubes
1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weighingredients.Placethebeeswax,butter,sunfloweroil,andlanolininasmallpotorheat-safebowl.Gentlyheatthemixtureinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandbutterhavemelted.
2.Oncemelted,removefromthestovetopandaddessentialoilandVitaminEoil.Immediatelypourthemixtureintolipbalmcontainers.
3.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipbalmcontainers.
BEG INNER
LIPGLOSSLipglossisgenerallyasofterbalmthatisstoredinajarortinratherthanatubeandusuallyhasingredientsthataddabitofshineaswell.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 10g 9.87%
castoroil 20g 19.74%
sweetalmondoil 30g 29.62%
sheabutter 25g 24.68%
cocoabutter 15g 14.81%
lipsafeflavoroil 0.3g 0.30%
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
lipglossjarsortins
Yield:Makestwelve1/4oz(7g)jars,orsix1/2oz(15g)tins
1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weightheingredients.Placethebeeswax,butter,andoilsandputintoasmallpotorheat-safebowlandgentlyheatinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandbuttershavemelted.
2.Oncemelted,removefromthestovetopandaddessentialoil.Immediatelypourthemixtureintolipglosscontainers.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipglosscontainers.
SOLIDBODY-CAREBARSMuchlikelipbalms,solidbody-carebarsareverysimpletomake,butitcantakeawhiletoachievejusttherightcombinationofbutters,oils,andwaxforbothpersonalpreferenceandregionalweatherconditions—apersoninthetropics,forexample,maywantacompletelydifferentlotionthansomeoneintheArctic.Experimentationiskey.Myaimwhenmakingasolidlotionbaristofindabalancebetweenemolliencyandskinfeel.Let’sfaceit,solidlotionbarswillleaveskinfeelinggreasierthanaliquidlotion,sincethereisnowatertocutthegreasyfeeling,butwithagoodrecipe,thatgreasinesscanbesignificantlyreduced.
BEG INNER
SOLIDLOTIONBARSolidlotionbarsareananhydrousblendofbutters,oils,andwaxes,notemulsifiedproductsthatcontainalargepercentageofwater.
Thisblendyieldsabarthatcanbehandledeasilywithoutmakingamess,butmeltsoncontacttosootheandcreateanemollientbarrier.Althoughbutterssuchassheabutterandcocoabutterarewonderfulfortheskin,theydonotdirectlymoisturizetheskin.Themoistureneedstocomefromothersources,suchasthedampnessthatremainsafterhandwashing.Whenthesebuttersarepairedwiththebeeswax,however,theyworktogethertocreateanocclusivebarrierthatsealsinthatmoisture.Variousbuttersalsocontainfattyacidsthathelptonourishtheskin.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 27g 30.20%
virgincoconutoil 6g 6.90%
sweetalmondoil 12g 13.80%
jojobaoil 12g 13.80%
sheabutter 10g 10.50%
cocoabutter 12g 10.50%
mangobutter 5g 5.30%
VitaminEoil 0.1g 0.10%
rosemaryoleoresinextract(ROE) 0.1g 0.10%
scent 0.9g 1.00%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
clearplasticguestsoapmolds.(Theyholdabout1oz(28g)ofbalmeachandthecavitiesaresmallenoughthattheresultingbalmsfiteasilyintoatin.Muffintinscanalsobeusedbyfilling1"(2.5cm)deep.)
2–3oz(57–85g)shallowtins(optional,butanicetouch)
Yield:Makesapproximatelythree1oz(28g)lotionbars
1.Meltbeeswax,coconutoil,sweetalmondoil,andjojobatogetherinadoubleboileronlowtomediumheatuntilthebeeswaxiscompletelyliquefied.Addcocoabutterandmangobutterandmeltuntilliquefiedandthenremovefromheat.
2.Slowlyaddsmallpiecesofsheabuttertothemixtureandallowtomelt.
3.Afterthesheabutterhasmeltedintothemixture,addtheVitaminEoil,ROE,andscentandpourintomolds.
4.Putthemoldswiththelotionintothefreezerforabout15minutesandtheninvertthemoldontoacleanworksurface.Thesolidlotionbarsshouldcomeouteasilywithalighttap.
5.Placeonesolidlotionbarineachofthetins.
BEG INNER
MASSAGEBARThismassagebarisessentiallyasolidlotionmadewiththeoilsandbuttersthatworkwellformassage.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 56g 25%
cocoabutter 79g 35%
sesameoil 88g 39%
scent 2g 1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
molds(clearplasticsoapmoldsormuffintinsworkwell)
tinswithcovers,largeenoughtoholdeachbar
Yield:Makesfour2oz(57g)bars
Withmassage,itismoreimportanttohaveenoughslipandadequateworkingtimeratherthanaproductthatdoesn’tfeelgreasyandabsorbsquickly.Iliketouseabutterthatcreatesbothahardbarandabarthatmeltsaroundbodytemperature,sococoabutterisastellarchoice.Moldtheseinnicelargepuckssothattheyareeasytouseandcancoverlargeareas.
1.Heatthebeeswaxwiththesesameoilinadoubleboileroverlowheatuntilmelted,thenaddthecocoabutter.
2.Oncethecocoabutterismelted,addscent,pourintomolds,andchillfor15minutesinthefreezer.
3.Unmoldthebarsontoacleanworksurfaceandplaceeachbarinatinorsomeothercontainertokeepthebarclean.
BEG INNER
CUTICLEBALMMycuticlestakeabeating,soIliketokeepcuticlebalmstashedthroughoutthehouseandcar,soitisavailabletomewheneverIremembertoapplyit.Thisbalmwillhelptokeepcuticleslookingnicewhileimprovingnailsatthesametime.Ilovetoincludelanolinandlecithininmycuticlebalm.Thesetwoingredientsactasbarriers,preventingnailsfromabsorbingtoomuchwater,andthephospholipidsinthelecithinkeepsthenailflexibleandlesspronetobreakage.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 29g 28%
mangobutter 32g 30%
soybeanoil 21g 20%
lanolin 10.5g 10%
lecithin 10.5g 10%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
lemon5-foldessentialoil 0.3g .33%
pinkgrapefruitessentialoil 0.4g .34%
peppermintessentialoil 0.3g .33%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:Twenty1.5oz(42g)tubes
1.Heatthebeeswax,mangobutter,andsoybeanoiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilcompletelymelted.
2.Addthelanolin,lecithin,andVitaminEoil,andwhencompletelymeltedandmixed,addtheessentialoils.
3.Thiswillbeastiffmixturewhencooled,soIliketopouritintolipbalmtubes.Ifmoreofabalmlikeconsistencyisdesired,cutbackthebeeswaxto15percentandaddthedifferencetotheoils.
BEG INNER
HEELBALMMyheelsareespeciallypronetocracking,andapplyingthisheelbalmconsistentlyoveratwo-weekperiodalwaysdoesthetrick.Thisrecipehasemuoilinit,whichissupposedtopenetrateskinandhelptobringotheringredientsintotheskinaswell.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 29g 20%
sheabutter 51g 35%
coconutoil 36g 25%
emuoil 12g 8%
sweetalmondoil 14.5g 10%
VitaminEoil 1.5g 1%
peppermintessentialoil 0.7g .5%
lemon5-foldessentialoil 0.7g .5%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
delicup
largetwist-uptubes(Ilikeovalminideodoranttubes,but1/2oz[14g]lipbalmtubesworkaswell)
Yield:Five1oz(28g)tubes
1.Heatthebeeswax,sheabutter,andcoconutoiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilcompletelymelted.Removefromheat.
2.Addtheemu,sweetalmond,andVitaminEOil,stirringwithastirsticktoensureitisthoroughlymixedandalltheoilsarecompletelymelted.Letthemixturecoolslightlyandaddtheessentialoils.Stirtoincorporate.
3.Transferasmallportionofthebalmtothedelicupandreturntheresttothedoubleboilertostaywarm.Pinchthedelicuptoformapourspoutandpourthebalmintoatube.repeatuntilremainingtubesarefilled.Allowtocoolundisturbed.
4.Whenthebalmhascooled,addthecaps.
BEG INNER
CHESTRUBAlthoughchestrubscanbepurchasedcommercially,mostaremadewithpetrolatum.Myversionisasoftbalmrecipeutilizingessentialoilsthatimproverespiratorycongestion.Forveryyoungchildren,usehalftheamountofessentialoils.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 26g 23%
oliveoil 85g 75%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
eucalyptusessentialoil 0.6g .5%
camphoressentialoil 0.5g .35%
birchessentialoil 0.1g .15%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
4salvecontainers,1-oz(28g)each
Yield:Makesapproximatelyfour1oz(28g)portions
1.Heatthebeeswaxandoliveoilinadoubleboileruntilmelted.
2.RemovefromheatandstirintheVitaminEoilandessentialoils.
3.Pourintosalvecontainers.
BEG INNER
NONPETROLEUMJELLYNonpetroleumJellyisaproductthatlooksandfeelsalotlikepetroleumjelly,butitismadewithnonpetroleumproducts.Castoroilandbeeswaxhaveasymbioticrelationship.Whenheatedbeeswaxiswhiskedintoheatedcastoroilandwhippedtoajellyconsistency,themixtureprovidesaprotectivebarriertotheskin,holdinginmoistureandhelpingtopreventchappingorirritation.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 9g 9%
castoroil 90g 90%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
pot
Yield:Makes100grams,orapproximatelytwo2oz(57g)jars
1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerandwarmthecastoroilinaseparatepot.
2.AddthecastoroilandVitaminEoiltothemeltedwax,gentlywhippingthemixtureasitcools.Whenfinisheditshouldhaveajellylikeconsistency.
3.Packagejellyintojars.
CHAPTER4SALVES,CREAMS,ANDSCRUBSSalvesconsistofinfusedoils,beeswax,andattimes,essentialoils.Byusingherbsindifferentcombinations,youcanmakesalvesthatserveavarietyofpurposes.Makingsalvesfromscratchisnothard,butitcantakesometime.Keepinmindthathealingherbsaredelicate,andrequireagentlehand.Iliketotaketheslowmethodofroomtemperatureinfusiontoextractthe“goodstuff”fromtheherbs.Ifeelthisisthekindestandbestwaytoextractthehealingessences.Somepeoplewilluseheattospeeduptheprocess,andwithawatchfuleye,thiscanbedonesuccessfully,butitisveryeasytoscorchtheherbsandnegateanyhealingproperties.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Salves
–Jointandmusclebalm
–Emulsifyingsugarscrub
–Beeswaxcream
–Solidnaturalperfumes
BEG INNER
SALVEMASTERRECIPESincetheonlythingthatdifferentiatesonesalvefromanotheristheherbused,Iusethisamasterrecipeasabase,andI’veprovidedacoupleoffavoriterecipesthatutilizethatbaserecipe.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 40g 20%
liquidoil,infusedwithherb 158g 78.5%
VitaminEoil 2g 1%
essentialoilblend 1g .5%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
4tins,2oz(56g)each
Yield:Makesenoughtofillapproximatelyfour2oz(56g)tins
1.Heatthebeeswaxandinfusedoilinadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxiscompletelymelted.Takecarenottogettheoiltoohot,sothatthereisnodamagetotheoil.
2.Removefromheat,andaddVitaminEoilandessentialoils,ifdesired.
3.Stirtomixwellandpourintowaitingcontainers.Ifusingplasticjars,makesurethemixtureisn’ttoohotbeforepouringintojars,astheycandeformwithtoomuchheat.
BEG INNER
OILHERBALINFUSIONIliketousethe“simplers”methodtoinfusemyoils,meaningthattherecipeisbasedonratios,andmeasurementsarereferredtoas“parts.”Thissimplewayofmeasurementallowstheformulatortomaketherecipeinanyvolumedesired.
MATERIALSherbsofyourchoice
high-qualityextravirginoliveoil
VitaminEoil
canningjarwithlid
BEFOREYOUBEGINForsalves,useahigh-qualityoil,suchasextravirginoliveoil.Itiswonderfulforskinallonitsownanditismadeevenbetterwiththeadditionofherbs.Otheroilstotryaregrapeseedoil,sweetalmondoil,andapricotseedoil.Foreachofmyrecipes,Iwillsuggestanoil.Whileitisnotnecessarytousethatoil,understandthattheoilwaschosenforwhatitbringstothetable.
Manyherbscanbeusedinoilinfusions.Thecombinationsarelimitedonlybytheimagination.Irecommend,however,thatonlydriedherbsareused.Itisespeciallyimportanttouseherbsthatarecompletelydry,asanymoisturewithintheoilwillspoilthebatch.Ifthematerialsarenotcompletelydry,bacteriawillflourish,resultinginamoldy,unusableproduct.
Fortheactualinfusion,mypreferredvesselisacanningjar.Itisdurable,hasalid,andcomesinavarietyofsizes.
1.Addherbstothejarandthenpourthechosenoilovertheherbsuntiltheyarecompletelysubmerged,leavingalittleairspaceatthetop,tohelpmixthingswhenthejarisinverted.
2.Coverthejartightlyandplaceinawarmspot.Lettheherbsinfuseforabouttwoweeks,gentlymixingtheblendbycarefullyinvertingthejar.
3.Forastrongeroil,addafreshbatchofherbsandletinfusefortwomoreweeks.Straintheoil.
4.AddVitaminEoilat1percentoftheoiltoretardrancidityandprolongshelflife.Keepthestrained,infusedoilinacooldarkplaceuntilneeded.
BEG INNER
ALL-PURPOSESALVEThisismyfavoritesalve.Icallitmybasicfirst-aidsalve.Itworksreallywellatsoothingandhealingminorcutsandscrapes.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usinginfusedliquidoilwiththefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
1partcalendulablossoms
1partlavenderblossoms
1partcomfreyleaf
1partplantainleaf
1partchickweedleaf
OILS
equalpartsoliveandgrapeseed
ESSENTIALOILS
lavenderorlavandin
BEG INNER
CRACKEDSKINSALVEWhenwinterravagesskin,thissalvecanbeasavior.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
2partscalendulablossoms
1partplantainleaf
1partSt.John’sWort
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOILS
1partpineneedle
1partGermanchamomile
1partlavender
1partteatree
BEG INNER
BURNSALVEMinorburnscaneasilybetreatedwiththislovelysalve.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
1partcalendulablossoms
1partplantainleaf
1partlavender
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOIL
lavender
BEG INNER
ITCHSOOTHERItchescomeinmanyforms.Thissalveisgreatforinsectbitesandotherskinconditionsthatcauseitchyskin.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
2partschickweed
2partschamomile
2partscalendulablossoms
1partthyme
1partcomfreyroot
1partmarshmallowroot
OILS
3partsolive
1partcastor
ESSENTIALOILS
3partslavender
3partshelichrysum
1partpeppermint
BEG INNER
ROSEBUDSALVEInadditiontosmellinggreat,thissalveworkswellformoisturizingelbowsandtamingfly-awayhair.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
OrganicRosebuds
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOIL
roseabsolute
BEG INNER
WOODWORKER’SSALVEInadditiontohealingskin,thissalvealsohelpstopullwoodormetalsplinterstothesurfaceoftheskin.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
2partschickweed
2partsplantain
2partscomfreyleaf
2partsrosemary
pinchbentoniteclay
OIL
oliveoil
ESSENTIALOIL
lavender
BEG INNER
ICYJOINT&MUSCLEBALMThissoothingbalm,madeupofnaturalvegetableoilsandbeeswax,providesabaseforthecoolingtherapeuticmentholcrystalsandablendoftherapeuticessentialoils.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 30g 25%
cocoabutter 6g 5%
extravirginoliveoil 26g 21.5%
almondoil 22g 18%
castoroil 24g 20%
mentholcrystals 10g 8%
VitaminEoil 0.6g .5%
eucalyptusdivesessentialoil 0.7g .6%
rosemaryessentialoil 1g .8%
camphoressentialoil 0.6g .5%
teatree,Australianessentialoil 0.1g .1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
1-oz(27g)tins
Yield:Four1oz(28g)portions
Irecommendstoringitin1oz(27g)containerssotheycaneasilybetossedintoagymbagorcarriedtothejobsitewheretheycanprovideconvenientandinstantrelieffromnaggingmuscleachesandpain.
1.Warmalltheoils,mentholcrystals,andbeeswaxinadoubleboileroverlow-mediumheat,stirringuntilallsolidsaremeltedordissolved.
2.Removefromheatandallowtocoolslightly.Addtheremainingingredients.
3.Pourinto1oz(27g)tinsandallowtocoolcompletely.
VARIATIONIfdesired,thisalsoworkswellinlargelipbalmtubes.Additionalbeeswaxmaybeneededtoachievetherightconsistencyforstickapplication.
INTERMED IATE
EMULSIFYINGSUGARSCRUBIloveagoodscrub.Althoughthereareoil-basedscrubsavailable,Ihonestlyfindthatwithoutanemulsifier,theyleavealayerofoilonmyskinthatIfeelinclinedtoscrapeoff.
Asanalternativetooil-basedscrubs,tryanemulsifiedscrub,whichbasicallyturnsintoalotionwiththeadditionofwaterfromthebathorshower,leavingtheskinmoisturizedbutnotgreasy.
NOTE:Althoughthisrecipedoesnotcontainwater,Ihaveincludedapreservativetopreventbacteriagrowthinthescrub.Sincethescrubisusedaroundwater,thelikelihoodofwaterbeingintroducedisveryhigh.
MATERIALS
saffloweroil 120g 12%
sweetalmondoil 100g 10%
cocoabutter 60g 6%
mangobutter 60g 6%
E-waxNF 40g 4%
yellowbeeswax 7.5g .75%
scent 7.5g .75%
Optiphen 5g .5%
VitaminEoil 5g .5%
sugar,granulated 595g 59.5%
kitchenscale
doubleboiler
spoon
thermometer
smallmixingbowl
handmixerwithwhiskattachmentorstandmixer
four8oz(227g)jarswithlids
Yield:Approximatelytfour8oz(227g)jars
1.Weighsaffloweroil,sweetalmondoil,cocoabutter,mangobutter,emulsifyingwax,andbeeswaxandaddtoadoubleboiler.
2.Heatuntileverythingiscompletelymelted,stirringoccasionally.
3.Whenthetemperatureofthemeltedmixturereaches120°F(49°C),addOptiphenpreservative,VitaminEoil,andscentblend.Stir.
4.Transfermixturetoasmallmixingbowlandplaceintherefrigeratortocooltoaround80°F(27°C).
5.Removeandwhipusingahandmixerwithwhiskattachmentsorstandmixer.Whiskuntilitlookslikepudding.
6.Addsugarandwhiskuntilwellincorporated.Pourintojarsandallowtosetup.
ADVANC ED
BEESWAXCREAMI’llbehonest.Iwasveryclosetonotincludinganykindofemulsifiedlotionorcreamusingbeeswax.Why?Becauseitisaverydifficultproducttomakesuccessfullywiththetoolsthatarereadilyavailabletothehomecrafter.Commercialoperationsusefancyhomogenizerstomixtheingredientsatveryspecifictemperatures,achievingaproductthatlooksandfeelsgood,isstable,andwillnotseparateovertime.
Havingsaidthat,thereareproductsthatcanbemadethatutilizebeeswaxasathickener,insteadofrelyingonthebeeswaxtohelpwiththeemulsificationsystem.Thisrecipeforanallaroundbodycreamisagreatstartingpoint.Ithasaniceskinfeel,absorbsquickly,anddoesn’tfeeltoogreasy.Tomakeamorespecializedcream,theoilsandbuttersinPhaseBcanbeswappedouttomakesomethingthatworksfortheapplicationinmind.Ifthesameconsistencyisdesired,trytokeepthepercentageofbuttersandoilsthesame.Donotchangetheproportionofemulsifiertowax.
MATERIALS
PHASEA
distilledwater 260g 56.5%
honey 9g 2%
PhaseB
E-waxNF 23g 5%
StearicAcid 23g 5%
yellowbeeswax 23g 5%
mangobutter 23g 5%
coconutoil 69g 15%
lanolin 9g 2%
VitaminEoil 14g 3%
PhaseC
Optiphen 5g 1%
scent 2g .5%
2heatproofquartsizecanningjars
doubleboiler
digitalscale
thermometer
immersionblender
four4oz(113g)jarswithlids
bowllargeenoughtouseforcoldwaterbath
Yield:Four4oz(113g)jars
BEFOREYOUBEGINTheheatandholdprocessreferredtointhefollowinginstructionssimplymeansthatyoushouldheatthemixturetothetemperatureindicatedandhold—ormaintain—thattemperatureforthetimeprovided.Thisensuresthatthewaterphaseremainshotenoughforalongenoughtimetokilloffwhateverpathogensmightbeinthewaterandtocompletelymeltparticlesintheoilphase.
1.Inapan,combinetheingredientslistedinPhaseA.Inaseparatepan,combinethePhaseBingredients.
2.PlacethetwopansintoadoubleboilerandheatandholdbothphaseAandPhaseBinseparatecontainersatatemperatureof158°F(70°C)for20minutes.
3.PourPhaseBintoPhaseAandcombine,usinganimmersionblenderonhigh.Placethejarinacoldwaterbathtohelpcoolthemixturedownquickly,continuingtoblendonhighuntilthemixturereachesatemperatureof104°F(40°C).
4.AddphaseC.ContinuemixingonlowuntilphaseChasbeenthoroughlyincorporated,takingcarenottolifttheimmersionblenderup,whichwillincorporateair.Pourintofour4oz(113g)jars.
SOLIDNATURALPERFUMESIlovecreatingwithessentialoilsandforme,makingperfumesisparticularlyrewardingwhenIamabletoachievesomethingthatisbetterthatthesumofitsparts.
MyfirstexposuretosolidperfumeswaswhenItouredaperfumehouseinGrasse,France.Iwantedtogohomewithsomethingfuntoremindmeofmytrip,soIboughtasix-packofsolidperfumes.TheseperfumesendedupbeingsomeofmyfavoritesouvenirsfromFrance.Ilovethetactileandsensuousnatureofsolidperfumes.WhenIstartedcreatingperfumesmyself,solidperfumeswerefirstonmylist.
Awell-madenaturalperfumestrikestheperfectbalancebetweentopnotes,heartnotes,andbasenotes.Thosewhoareunfamiliarwith100percentnaturalperfumeswillbeamazedatthecomplex“story”eachperfumesrelates.Thetopnotesarethefirstonesto“speak,”andareusuallymostexuberant.Whenthetopnoteshavecalmeddownabit,theheartnoteskickintocontinuetellingthebulkofthestory.Thebasenotesareheardfromlast,butoncetheyarenoticed,therealizationhitsthattheyhavebeenthereallalong.Thebasenotesaretheworkhorsesoftheperfumeandareresponsibleforitsoverallcharacterandstayingpower.Solidperfumesaretobeappliedtopulsepointsand,unliketheirspraycounterparts,areintendedforadiscreetaudience.
Creatingaperfumeisnotaleisurelyafternoon’sactivity.Perfumesneedtimetomarryandmeldandcansometimestakeayearormoretofinishitsmagic.TherecipesIhaveincludedherearebestlefttomarryforacouplemonths,buttheywillbereadytouseinlessthanayear.
Althoughtheseperfumerecipescanbemadeinanoiloralcoholbase,thescentofthenaturalbeeswaxinthisrecipebecomesauniquepartoftheperfumeblend.
Ishouldnotethatthefollowingrecipeswillalsoworkwithfragranceoils.Fragranceoilscanalsobeblended,butkeepinmindthatbynaturetheoilsarealreadyablendofdifferentnotes.Before
addingfragranceoilstoyourperfumes,besuretocheckthemanufacturer ’srecommendedsafetylevelsforskinapplication.
BEG INNER
SOLIDPERFUMEBASEBALMRECIPEIliketomakeupalargerquantityofmySolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipeandthenjustwarmtheamountIneedfortheparticularcontainerIamfilling.Thereareendlesspossibilitiesforcontainersforthesesignatureperfumes,fromsmalljarstolocketsthatcanbewornaroundtheneck,releasingscent.Therecipeforthisbaseisharderthanmysalvebase,sincetheideaistopickupjustalittlebitwhenthefingerisrubbedacrossthesurface.
MATERIALS
liquidcarrieroil(jojobaorfractionatedcoconutoil) 60g 60.00%
yellowbeeswax 40g 40.00%
heat-proofglassmeasuringcup
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
plasticstoragecontainerwithlid
Yield:Makesenoughtofillapproximately61/2oz(14g)jars
1.Addthecarrieroilandthebeeswaxtoasmall,heat-proofglassmeasuringcupandwarminadoubleboiler,takingcarenottooverheatthemixture.
2.Stirwelltocombineandpourintoastoragecontaineruntilneeded.
INTERMED IATE
SOLIDPERFUMEMASTERRECIPEIhavewrittentheserecipesinparts.Whenexperimentingwiththeblends,useonlydropsinsteadofpartsandplaceintoasmallbottleorvialforacoupleweekstoallowthescentstomeld.
MATERIALS
solidperfumebase 17g 85%
essentialoilblend 3g 15%
digitalscale
smalldelicup
woodenstirstick
microwave
4–5lipbalmtubesor2–3slidetins
Yield:Makesapproximately4–5lipbalmtubesor2–3slidetins
Thebestwaytotestthescentofaperfumeblendistouseperfumetesterstrips.Caution,sincethisisanundilutedessentialoilblend,donottrythisdirectlyonskin.Iuse140-poundacidfreewatercolorpaperandcutitintothinstripsthatfitintomyessentialoilblendvialorbottle.Dipthestripintotheessentialoilblendandsniffitat5minutes,30minutes,2hours,and5hours.Writedownyourimpressionsoftheperfumeatthevariousintervals.Notethechangesthatthescentundergoesoverthecourseoftime.Lettheperfumemeldforanotherweekandtryagain.
1.Tomakeaperfume,simplycutaportionofthesolidperfumebaseofftheblockwithasharpknife.
2.Addthedesiredamountofsolidperfumebasetothedelicupandmeltinshortspurtsinthemicrowave.Itshouldmelteasilyin20–30seconds.Donotoverheat.
3.Addtheessentialoilblend,stirtoincorporate,andpourintotheperfumecontainer.
4.Letitsitinplaceuntilcool.Addthecapandenjoy.
INTERMED IATE
PERFUMEESSENTIALOILBLENDSHereareafewgreatblendstotry.Feelfreetotweakandadjustasdesired.Oncetheperfectblendisachievedonthescentstrip,testonskin,sinceeveryperson’sskinchemistryaltersthescentslightly.Totrytheblendonskin,addadropoftheessentialoilblendtoabout10–15dropsofacarrieroilandapplytotheskin.Ihopeyoufindonethatyoulike!
BLEND1
TOPNOTESFennelEO*SweetOrangeEO
2parts5parts
HEARTNOTE Roseabsolute 3parts
BASENOTE MyrrhEO 2parts
BLEND2
TOPNOTESTangerineEOBergamotEOLavenderEO
6parts6parts9parts
HEARTNOTESClarySageEONutmegEOylangylangEO
15parts8parts11parts
BASENOTE patchouliEO 14parts
BLEND3
TOPNOTE LavenderEO 20parts
HEARTNOTE ChamomileEO 2parts
BASENOTE BenzoinEO 1part
BLEND4
TOPNOTE BergamotMintEO 5parts
HEARTNOTESSpruceEOCypressEO
10parts5parts
BASENOTESBenzoinresinCedarwoodEOVetiverEO
3parts4parts3parts
BLEND5
TOPNOTE SweetOrangeEO 4parts
HEARTNOTESCorianderEOJuniperEO
3parts3parts
BASENOTE FrankincenseEO 1part
BLEND6
TOPNOTE BergamotEO 3parts
HEARTNOTES PalmarosaEO 2parts
RoseAbsolute 2parts
BASENOTE SandalwoodEO 4parts
BLEND7
TOPNOTESBergamotEOLavenderEO
2parts2parts
HEARTNOTE ClarysageEO 2parts
BASENOTESHelichrysumEOVanillaAbsolute
4parts1part
*EssentialOil
CHAPTER5SOAPSSoap,whichhasbeenaroundforever,isoneoflife’sbasicnecessities.Whiletheactualoriginofsoapisunclear,weknowthatforthepast5,000years,peoplehavebeencombiningalkalinesaltwithfatstomakesoap.TheSumerianscreatedaslurrybycombininganimalandvegetablefatswithashesandboilingthemixture.AncientEgyptianslaterwroteaboutsoaprecipesthatcalledformixturesoffatsandalkalinesalts.TheRomanswereusingbarsoapintheirbathsby200CE.
Themaindifferencebetweenthesoapsweusetodayandwhatpeopleusedwaybackwhenisthatoursoapsarereliablygentleontheskinandconsistentfromonebatchtothenext.Thisisbecausenowweknowaboutthechemicalreactionthattakesplacetocreatesoapandweknowhowtocreatelye—amainingredientinsoap—thatisofaknownpurity,whichensuresresultsthatcanbeeasilypredictedandduplicated.Wealsohavemoderntoolssuchasdigitalscalesandimmersionblendersthathelpwiththetask,buttheessentialshavenotchangedforthepast5,000years.
Inthischapteryou’lllearn
–Soap-makingbasics
–Soap-makingequipment
–Coldandhotprocesses
FAT+LYE=SOAPWithoutlye,thereisnosoap.Lyeisrequiredtocreatethechemicalreactionthatproducessoap.Whenasoaprecipeiscalculatedcorrectly,nolyeremainsinthefinalproduct.Allthelyeisconvertedtoasalt.
Whyputbeeswaxinsoap?Beeswaxhelpsmakethesoapemollientandcreatesahardbarthatlastslongerintheshower.Thebiggestmistakethatmostbeginnersmakeisaddingtoomuchbeeswax,whichcreatesabarthatfeelsrubberyandabitgummy.Butaddingjustalittlebitofbeeswax,say1to2percentofaddedoils,improvesthebarconsiderably.
Sincebeeswaxisnotanoil,notallofthewaxwillreactwiththelye.Beeswaxcontainsabout50percentunsaponifiables.Unsaponifiablesarethesubstancesinbeeswaxthatdonotreactwiththelye.Theunsaponifiablesmaybesubstancesthathelpdecreasethetracetimeinrecipesusingbeeswax,butarealsoprobablythesubstancesthatmakeasoapnicefortheskin.
Iconsiderusingbeeswaxinsoaptobeanadvancedsoap-makingtechnique.Themainreasonisthatbeeswaxhasameltingtemperatureofatleast145°F(63°C),whilemostsoapsaremadeatatemperaturethatisquiteabitcoolerthanthat,atsay100°F(38°C).Theoilsandlyeneedtobecombinedatahighertemperaturetoensurethatthebeeswaxremainsmelted.Thehighertemperatureswillmakethesoapsaponifymorequickly,whichcouldresultinafailedbatchifyou’renotcareful.
Forbeginningsoapmakers,Ihaveincludedabeeswax-freestarterrecipethatcanbemadeeasilywithoilsfoundatmostgrocerystores.Istronglyurgepeoplewhohavenotmadesoapbeforetomakethestarterrecipefirst—tobecomefamiliarwiththeprocessandgainanunderstandingofthedifferentstagesthesoapgoesthrough.Oncethebasicsoap-makingtechniquesaremastered,thecoldprocessorhotprocesssoaprecipesthatfollowwillbelessdauntingandyou’remorelikelytomakeasuccessfulbatchofsoap.
EachoilusedinsoapmakinghasaSaponificationRatiovalue,alsoknownastheSAPvalue,whichistheamountoflyeneededtoconvertthatoilintosoap.Sinceeachoilhasadifferentvalue,donotmakeanyoilsubstitutionswithoutrecalculatingtheamountoflyeneededfortheoilyouareconsidering.Theamountoflyeneededcanbecalculatedbyhandorusinganonlinecalculator.Irecommendrunningeveryrecipethroughalyecalculator,regardlessofthesource.Therecipecouldhaveinadvertenterrorsliketransposednumbersorincorrectunits.Itisalsonicetohaveapapercopytocheckoffingredientsastheyareaddedandaddnotesonscentorcolor.Usingthelyecalculatoralsoallowsforresizingarecipetofitaparticularmold.Therearefreeweb-basedlyecalculatorsthatwillcalculatetheamountoflyeneededandallowtheusertoprintouttherecipe.Somecalculatorshavepredictivevaluesforhardnessandlatherthatareusefulwhencreatingrecipesfromscratchortweakingrecipestofittheingredientsonhand.
Althoughitispossibletomakeasoapwithjustoneoil,therearereasonsthatmostsoapmakersusemorethanone.Eachoilhasadifferentbreakdownofessentialfattyacidsthatbringdifferentpropertiestothesoap.Coconutoilisreallyhighinlauricacid,yieldingasoapthatmakesloadsofbubbles,willdissolvereallyquickly,andisverycleansing(tooharshformostpeopleifusedinhighproportion).Oliveoil,ontheotherhand,whichisloadedwitholeicacid,makesasoapthathasmoreofacreamylather(thatalmostfeelsslimyifnotproperlyaged),issupergentleontheskinandoncefullycured,ishardasabrick.Mostoftheotheroilswillfallsomewherebetweencoconutandoliveoil.Intheingredientglossary,IhaveincludedprofilesforalltheoilsIuseinthisbookplusacouplemorethatmightmakenicesubstitutions.
SOAP-MAKINGEQUIPMENTSoap-makingequipmentonlyhasacouplerequirements.First,ifusingmetal,ONLYusestainlesssteel.Thelyewillreactwithothermetals.Second,neveruseglasstomixthelye.Overtime,thelyewillcreateminutecracksandscrapesintheglass,eventuallycausingittoshatter,potentiallyspillinghot,causticlyewaterallovertheplace.
Useadisposablepaperplateorbowltomeasurethedrylye.Thismakesclean-upeasy.Lyecrystalscanhavequiteabitofstaticelectricityandtheindividualbeadscanescape.Takecarewhenmeasuringandgiveallsurfacesaquickwipedownoncethelyeisinwater.
Irecommendusinganimmersionblender(A)tomixthelyewiththeoils.Immersionblendersareavailableatbigboxstoresatreasonablepricesandtheyhelptoensurethatthesoapbatterismixedproperly.Theimmersionblenderhasahighshearbladethatmixesthesoapeasilyandreliably.Ahandwhisk(B)orspooncanalsobeused,butitwilltakequiteabitlonger.
Formixingthesoap,Iliketousestainlesssteelstockpots,bowls(C)orplasticbuckets.Asmall,flat-bottomedmopbucketworksreallywell,sinceitisdurableenoughtowithstandsomewarmertemperaturesandisnottootall,allowingthesoapmakertouseanimmersionblenderorwhiskwithease.Amopbucketalsohasahandle,whichisusefulfortransferringthesoapbattertothemold.
Soapmoldscanbeassimpleasalinedcardboardbox(D)orascomplicatedasanornatesiliconemold,witheverythinginbetween.Therecipesinthisbookaresizedforaregularbreadloafpan(Ilikesilicone,whichdoesn’tneedtobelined),whichyieldsapproximatelyeightbarsofsoap.Forliningsoapmolds,Ipreferfreezerpaper.Linethemoldswiththeshiny,coatedsidefaceup,restingagainstthesoap.Tolineamoldorbox,cuttwopiecesoffreezerpaperandlaythemintheboxinoppositedirections,makinganicecrispcornerwherethebottommeetsthesidesandleavingtheextrafoldedoverthesidesofthebox.Therewillbeaslightgapatthecorners,wherethetwopiecesoffreezerpapermeet,butIhavenotfoundthattobeaproblemaslongasthesoapispouredintothemoldatthepropertime.
Adigitalscale(E)isimperativefortheserecipes,asallingredientsaremeasuredingrams.Reasonablypricedscalescanbefoundatanybig-boxstore.Measuresolidingredientsonapieceoffreezerpaperandliquidingredientsinplasticdelicontainers(alwaysremembertozeroouttheweightofthecontainerbeforeaddingingredients).
PROTECTIVEGEARLyerequiresseveralitemsbeusedforpersonalandenvironmentalsafety.Incrystalform,lyecanbeannoying,butitisrelativelyharmless.Itcandevelopastaticchargethatcausesthelyetoendupfarfromitsoriginalcontainer.Onceithasbeendissolvedinwater,itismuchmorecaustic,butlesslikelytocreateproblemssincetheliquidiseasiertomanipulatesafely.
Clothingshouldbethefirstlevelofprotection.Wearalong-sleeveshirt,longpants,andclosed-toeshoes.Ontopofthat,glovesandgoggleshelpkeepyourhandsandeyesprotectedfromerrantlyecrystalsandfromrawsoapmix.Next,whenthelyeisbeingaddedtowater,thereactiongivesoffsomefumesthatcanbeirritatingandarebetternotbreathedin.Iliketomixthelyeintowateroutsidewherethefumesaren’taproblem,butforthosewhoprefertodothisintheirsoapingspace,Irecommendtheuseofarespirator.Itisnotneededfortherestofthesoap-makingprocess.
INTERMED IATE
STARTERRECIPE(NOBEESWAXORHONEY)
MATERIALS
oliveoil(Ipreferpomacegrade) 312g 36.7%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 227g 26.7%
Crisco(“palm”recipe,seenote) 283g 33.3%
castoroil 28g 3.3%
distilledwater 323g
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 117g
fragrance(ifdesired) .43g
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73)
liquidmeasuringcup
stockpotormicrowave-safecontainer
stainlesssteelstockpotorflat-bottomedmopbucket
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
largeplasticcookingspoon
chef’sknife
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpaper(ifloafpanisnotsilicone)
pieceofcardboard,cuttothesizeoftheloafpan
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
BEFOREYOUBEGINThefirstthingIliketodowhenImakesoapistogatherallmyingredientstogetherandputthemonmytableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.Idothisfortworeasons.First,IcanchecktomakesurethatIhaveenoughofallmyingredientstoactuallymakethesoap.It’sbettertorealizethatthereisnocastoroilbeforemakingsoap,ratherthanrightinthemiddleofsoapmaking.Secondly,Icangrabtheoilsinorderandcheckthemoffonmyprintedrecipe.IthelpstoensurethatImeasureoutthecorrectamounts.
NOTE:IspecificallycallforCriscoinsteadofgenericvegetableshortening,sinceCrisco’sSaponificationRatio(SAP)isknownbythelyecalculatorsandtheproportionsofoilsinthevegetableshorteningblendmaybedifferentwithotherbrands.Also,Criscochangedtheirformulaseveralyearsbackandversioncommonlyfoundonstoreshelvesismadewithpalmoil.ChecktheingredientslistingontheCriscopackagetomakesureitincludespalmoil.
1.Alwaysmakethelyesolutionfirst,asitrequirescoolingtime.Measurethelyeintoadisposable
paperbowlandsetaside.
2.Measureoutthecorrectamountofdistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer.Placethecontaineronahighheat-resistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stirwithaplasticcookingspoonuntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Setthelyemixtureasidetocool.
3.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
4.Heatallthesolidoilsinastockpotonthestovetoporinthemicrowaveinaheat-safecontainer.Oncemelted,pourtheoilsintothemixingcontainer,eitherastockpotoraflat-bottomedmopbucket.Addtheliquidoilsandstirtomix.
5.Checkthetemperaturesofthelyeandtheoils.Ideally,bothshouldbearound100°F(38°C).Ifthetemperaturesarehigher,letitcooldownabitmore.
6.Tomakethesoap,pourthelyewaterintotheoilsandmixwiththeimmersionblender(A).Noticehowthemixturechangesfromtransparenttomilky.Continuemixinguntilthesoapreachesastagecalled“trace.”Youwillknowthatyouareatthetracestagewhenyoupulltheimmersionblenderoutofthesoapmixtureanditleavesavisibletrailinthetopofthesoap(B).Iliketotakemysoaptoamediumtoheavytrace,whichisalmosttheconsistencyofasoftpudding.Dependingonthetemperatureoftheoilandlyeandthespeedoftheimmersionblender,theactualmixingportionshouldnottakethatlong,maybefivetotenminutes.
7.Ifthisisyourfirsttimemakingsoap,Irecommendnotaddinganycolororscent.Butoncetherecipeismorefamiliar,thiswouldbethetimetoaddthoseingredients.
8.Pourthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold.Scrapeoutthesoappotandtapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupletimestomakesuretherearenoairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandcoverthemoldwithapieceofcardboardtoholdinsomeoftheheat.
NOTE:Whenusinghoney,beeswax,oranykindofmilk,thoseingredientscancausethesoaptogethotterthannormalanditmaynotbenecessarytocoverthemold.
9.Allowthesoaptositforseveralhours.Sincesoapmakingisanexothermicchemicalreaction,thesoapwillheatupinthenextcouplehoursandgofromwhatlookslikeanicecreamysoapintosomethingresemblingpetroleumjellyanditwillbeHOT.That’swhatiscalledthe“gel”phase.While
it’snotcompletelynecessaryforabatchofsoaptogothroughgel,Ithinkitmakesforabetter,moreconsistentendproduct.
10.Afterabouttwenty-fourhours,thesoapshouldbecool,relativelyhard,andreadytounmoldandslice.Ifitstillseemsabitsoft,leaveitinthemoldabitlongerandcheckitagainafteranotherdayorso.Onceitseemshardenough,usethechef’sknifetocutthesoapintoindividualbars,keepinginmindthatthereisstillquiteabitofwaterinthesoapthatwillevaporateovertime,causingthebartoshrinkabit.Setthecutbarsonsomefreezerpaperwithabitofairspacebetweenthemandsetthemsomewhereoutofthewaytodryandcure.Curetimeisatleastonemonth.
ADVANC ED
HONEYANDBEESWAXSOAP(COLDPROCESSRECIPE)Oncethebasicrecipehasbeenmastered,itistimetoaddsomegoodiessuchasbeeswaxandhoney.Thebeeswaxwillmakeaharderbarandthehoneywillboostlatherandprovidesomemoisturizingbenefits.
MATERIALS
oliveoil 358g 44.8%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 225g 28.1%
palmoil 177g 22.2%
castoroil 32g 4.0%
beeswax 7.2g 0.9%
distilledwater 276g 9oz
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 111g
honey 1tbsp
fragrance(ifdesired) 2tbsp
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipmentp73)
largeplasticspoonorhighheatspatula
stainlesssteelpotormicrowave-safecontainerforoils
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpapertolinemold
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
1.Gatheralltheingredientstogetherandarrangethemonthetableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.
2.Alwaysmakethelyesolutionfirst,asitrequirescoolingtime.Measurethelyeintoadisposablepaperbowlandsetaside.
3.Measureout5oz(140g)ofdistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73).Placethecontaineronheatresistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stiruntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Setthelyemixtureasidetocool.
4.Inamicrowave-safecontainer,addthehoneytotheremaining4oz(115g)ofwaterandstirtoincorporate.Microwaveforacoupleofsecondsatatimeuntilthehoneyiscompletelydissolved.Setaside.
5.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
6.Heatallofthesolidoilsandbeeswaxinastainlesssteelpotonthestovetoporinamicrowave-safecontainerinthemicrowave.Oncemelted,pourthemeltedsolidoilsintothemixingcontainerandaddtheliquidoils,stirringwelltoensureitisallmixed.
7.Checkthetemperatureofboththelyeandtheoils.Tokeepthebeeswaxfromhardening,theidealtemperatureoftheoilswillneedtobearound120°F(49°C).Thegoalistohavethelyerightaroundthattemperatureaswell.
8.Addthereservedhoneywatertothelyewater.Itwillprobablyturncolors;mineusuallyturnssomesortofpinkishhue.That’snormal.
9.Pourthelyewaterintotheoilsandmixwiththeimmersionblender.Onceitisemulsified,butnotyetattrace,addthefragranceifdesired.Keepmixinguntilitgetsto“trace.”Forthissoap,Irecommendmixinguntilitisalighttomediumtrace.Oncetraceisachieved,workquicklytogetthesoapintothemold,asitmaysolidifyquickly.
10.Pourthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold,takingcaretoscrapeallofthesoapresidueoutofthepot.Tapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupleoftimestoremoveanyairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandcoverthemoldwithapieceofcardboardtoholdinsomeoftheheat.
NOTE:Whenusinghoney,beeswax,oranykindofmilk,theseingredientscancausethesoaptogethotterthannormalanditmaynotbenecessarytocoverthemold.
11.Afterabouttwenty-fourhours,thesoapshouldbecool,relativelyhard,andreadytounmoldandslice.Ifitstillseemsabitsoft,leaveitinthemoldandcheckitagainafteranotherdayorso.Oncethesoapseemshardenough,cutitintoindividualbars.Placethecutbarsonfreezerpaperwithspacebetweenthemandsetasideforaboutamonthtodryandcure,rotatingthemoccasionallysothatallsidesdryevenly.
12.Iliketostoremysoapsinacooldryplaceuntilneeded.Astheyage,theywillcontinuetolosewater,makingthemlongerlastingintheshowerandmoremild,sooldersoapsareagoodthingtohavearound.Iftheyaretobegivenasgifts,apapercigarband,paperbox,ormuslinbagarebestforpackaging,sincetheyallowthesoaptobreathe.
ADVANC ED
HONEY,OATS,ANDBEESWAXSOAP(HOTPROCESSRECIPE)Hotprocesssoapissoapthatiscookedthroughthesaponificationstage.Iliketouseaslowcookerwitha“warm”settingforthisrecipe.Makesurethatthereisplentyofroom,approximatelydoublethesizeofthesoapvolume,sinceitmay“fluffup”abitduringcooking.A5–6quart(5–6L)slowcookershouldbeagoodsize.Thisrecipealsohassomeoatsforsoothingandscrubbiness.Iliketorunminethroughacoffeegrinderorfoodprocessorfirsttochoptheoatsintosmallerpieces.
MATERIALS
oliveoil 370g 44.8%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 232g 28.1%
palmoil 183g 22.2%
castoroil 33g 4.0%
beeswax 7.5g 0.9%
distilledwater 285g 10oz
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 115g
honey 1tbsp
oats 4tbsp
fragrance(ifdesired) 2tbsp
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73)
largeplasticspoonorhighheatspatula
slowcooker
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpapertolinemold(ifnotasiliconemold)
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
1.Gatheralltheingredientstogetherandarrangethemonthetableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.
2.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
3.Measurethelyeintoadisposablepaperbowlandsetaside.
4.Measureoutthedistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73).Placethecontaineronheat-resistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stiruntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Withhotprocess,thereisnoneedtowaituntilthelyeandtheoilsarethesametemperature.
5.Melttheoilsintheslowcookeronlow.Oncetheyarecompletelymelted,addthelyemixtureandblendwiththeimmersionblender.Keepblendinguntilitgetsto“trace.”
6.Withtheheatonlow,continuetostiroccasionallyusingthewhiskasthesoapgoesthroughvariousstages.Earlyon,itmayseparate.Lateronitmaybubbleupandthreatentoboilover.Ifthathappens,turnofftheheattemporarilyandwhiskalittlehardertodeflatethebubbles.Onceithassettleddownagain,putitbackontheheatandcontinuethecookingprocess.Onceitisatastagewhereitresemblespetroleumjelly,whichusuallytakesabout30–40minutesofcookingtime,itisalmostdone.Becarefulnottoovercookthesoap.Takeittojustthepetroleumjellystageandthenremovefromheat.
7.Addthehoney,oats,andfragrance,ifdesired,andstirwellbeforetransferringthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold.Tapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupletimestomakesuretherearenoairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandsetasidetocool.
8.Whencompletelycool,cutthesoapintoindividualbars.Placethebarsonfreezerpaperwithspacebetweenthemandsetthemasidetodryforatleasttwoweeks.Althoughwiththehotprocesssoapstheyarefullysaponifiedanduseable,thereisstillextrawaterinthebarsthatshouldbeallowedtoevaporate.
CHAPTER6HOMEPRODUCTSBeeswaxproductsareagreatadditiontothehomeaswell,rangingfromdecorativetocompletelyuseful.EversinceMandiscoveredbeeswax,hehasbeenusingittomakehislifebetter.Hediscoveredthatwaxmadesurfacesmorewaterresistantandmoredurableanditcouldbemoldedintoavarietyofshapes.Itmadewoodniceandsmoothandsealeditfromtheelements.Itconditionedleather,makingitmorewaterresistantandsupple.Itstrengthenedthreadandstring,soitemsmadewithitlastedlonger.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Ornaments
–Dippedleaves
–Luminaries
–Conditionersandpolishes
–Waxedfabric
–Waterproofsneakers
–Waxedcottonsandwichwraps
BEG INNER
BEESWAXORNAMENTSBeeswaxornamentsareagreatwaytoscentandbeautifyanyroom,especiallyduringtheholidays.Theyareeasytomakeandlastalongtime.
MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
fragranceoil(ifdesired)
stringorribbonforhanging(6’[1.8m]cutinto8–10"[20.5–25.5cm]lengths)
pouringpitcher
doubleboiler
thermometer
candymolds
siliconemoldrelease(ifusingmetalmolds)
toothpick
Yield:10–12ornaments
1.Ifyouareusingmetalcandymolds,spraythemwithsiliconemoldrelease.
2.Meltthebeeswaxinthepouringpitcherusingthedoubleboiler.Oncethewaxismelted,checkthetemperature.Ifit’shotterthan170°F(77°C),letitcoolto170°F(77°C).Addthefragranceintheamountsuggestedbythemanufacturer,stirtoincorporate,andpourintothecandymolds.
NOTE:Othermoldscanbeused,suchassiliconemuffinmolds,whichnowcomeinavarietyofseasonalshapes.Thoseworkwell,butIwouldsuggestnotfillingthemalltheway.Halfwayismorethanenough.
3.Takeeach8–10inch(20.5–25.5cm)lengthofstringandfolditinhalf.Oneendwillbeembeddedintothewax.IlikeputtingtheloopedendintothewaxsoIcantietheornamentontotreebranchesorotherlocations,buteitherendwillwork.
4.Oncethewaxbeginstoskinoveronthemoldside(butnotontop),addthestring,pushingitintopositionwithatoothpicktoembeditinthewax.Makesurethestringiscenteredandcompletelysurroundedbywax,notjustsittingontopofit.
5.Allowtocoolinthemold.Onceitiscompletelysolid,invertthemoldonthetabletopandtapgentlytorelease.Ifanyornamentssticktothemolds,placethemoldinthefreezerfor5–10minutesandtryagain.
6.Cleanuptheornamentsonthebacksidebywarmingabutterknifeoveraflameandusingittomeltawaytheroughedges.
7.Hangtheornamentsandenjoy.Iftheornamentsgetdusty,wipethemdownwithrubbingalcoholandasofttoothbrush.Allowtodry.Torevivethescent,warmtheornamentslightlywithablowdryer.
BEG INNER
BEESWAXDIPPEDLEAVESIlovefall.HereinWisconsinweusuallyhaveaverycolorfulfallthatisalwaysmorefleetingthanIwouldlike.Thisprojectisaperfectwaytopreservesomeofthatfallcolortoenjoyyearround.Forthissmallinvestmentinbeeswax,youcanmakeatree’sworthofleaves,ifyoudesire.
MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
driedleaves(colorful,pliableleavesworkbest)
fragrance(ifdesired)
smallelectricskillet
waxedpaperorfreezerpaper
1.Firstpreparetheleaves.Sortthroughalltheleavesandselectthebestonesforthisproject.Theyneedtobedry,soputtheminawarmoven(about200°F[93°C]foraboutahalfhour)todryifnecessary.
2.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet,takingcarenottooverheatthewax.Oncethewaxismelted,addthefragranceintheamountsuggestedbythemanufacturerandstirtoincorporate.Thewaxlevelshouldbehighenoughtoeasilyimmersetheleavesintothehotwax.
3.Workingwithoneleafatatime,holdontothestemanddiptheleafintothehotwax.Useawoodenchopstickortoothpicktopushtheentireleafunderthewax.Removeandsetasideonthewaxedpapertocool.
4.Placethefinishedleavesinadecorativebowlorstringthemonafishinglinetocreateagarland.
BEG INNER
BEESWAXPINECONEFIRESTARTERSStartafireinstylewiththesepineconefirestarters.Theyarestylishenoughtobeautifyaspaceandfilltheroomwithlight,pleasantscent.Theyrequirequiteabitofwaxbutitdoesn’thavetobethesuperhigh-qualitywaxusedincandlemaking.
MATERIALS2lbs(850g)beeswaxforpinecones(lowergradewaxisfinehere)
5lbs(2.3kg)beeswaxfordippingcontainer
12pinecones(seenote)
candlewicking(Iprefersquarebraid2/0cottonwicking)
fragranceoressentialoil,optional
doubleboiler
thermometer
woodenstirstick
freezerpaper
Yield:Approximately12medium-sizepinecones
1.Inthedoubleboiler,heatthewaxtoapproximately190–200°F(88–93°C).
2.Whilethewaxisheating,tiean8–10"(20.5–25.5cm)pieceofwickingaroundthepineconeclosetothetop,leavingalongtailandcuttingtheotherendclosetotheknot.Threadthelongendup,closetothemiddleofthepineconeatthetop.Thiswillultimatelybethewickforlightingthepinecone,butit’salsousefulfordippingtheconeintothewax.Prepareallthepineconesthesamewayandsetaside.
3.Oncethewaxishotenough,addthescent,ifdesired,andgiveitaquickstirtomix.Holdingthepineconebythewick,dipitintothewaxandleaveitthereuntilallthebubblesstopcomingup—probablyabout10secondsorso.Theideaistogetathincoatingonthepinecone.Whenitfirstgoesintothewax,itwillbecoldandmorewaxwilladhere,butasitwarmsupsomeofthewaxwillmeltoffagain.Atthispoint,pulltheconeoutofthewaxandsetitonthefreezerpapertocool.Continuewiththeremainingpinecones.
4.Touse,simplylightthewickandplaceinthefire.Enjoy!
NOTE:Pineconesthataren’tcompletelydrymayexplodeoncetheyareinthefire,sotobesafe,makesurethatthepineconesarecompletelydry.Iliketoplacethemonabakingsheetand“bake”themforanhourorsoatthelowestovensetting.Iftheovendoesn’tgoreallow(minegoesdownto150°F[65°C]whichisperfect),heattheovenonthelowestsettingandthenturnitoffandaddthepinecones.Leavethemintheovenuntilcool.Nowtheyarereadytobemadeintofirestarters.
BEG INNER
BEESWAXLUMINARIESTheselittlegemsaretheperfectwaytocreatemoodlightinginsideorinoutdoorentertainingspaces—andtheymakeuseofhandmadebeeswaxtealightsorvotivecandles.Thisisafunprojecttodowitholderchildren.
MATERIALS1lb(425g)ormorebeeswaxforluminaries
5lbs(23kg)fordippingcontainer
doubleboilerforwax
balloons(highqualityroundonesworkbest)
coldwater
Yield:3–6luminaries
1.Meltthebeeswaxinthedoubleboiler.Useacontainerthatislargeenoughtobeabletofittheballoonsinwithatleastalittlewiggleroom.
2.Fillaballoonwithcoldwater,payingattentiontotheshapethatthewatercreatesasitfillstheballoon.Oncethedesiredshapeisattained,tieofftheballoon.Makesurethattheballoonisnotstretchedtoomuchoritmayburstwhenitcomesincontactwiththehotwax.Whendeterminingthesizeandshapeofthevotive,alsoconsidertheheatthatwillbegivenoffbythecandle.Itisbettertomaketheluminaryslightlylargerthanneededratherthanriskinghavingitmeltbecauseitwasmadetoosmall.
3.Holdingtheballoonbythetie-offknot,dipitpartofthewayintothemeltedbeeswaxandpullitbackout.Settheballoonlightlyonatabletocreateaflatspotonthebottomthatwillhelptokeeptheluminarystable.Thecoldwaterintheballoonwillhardenthewaxquicklybuttheshapeestablishedearlyonwilldeterminethefinalshape,soworkfast.
4.Diptheballoonandsetitonthetabletohardenseveralmoretimesuntiltheluminaryhasthedesiredthickness.Iliketodominefivetosixtimes.Experimentwithdippingtheballoonata
differentangleeachtime,keepinginmindthatthosevariationswillshowoncethereisacandleinside.
5.Drainthewateroutoftheballoonbyeitherundoingtheknotorbypoppingtheballoon.Theballoonwillpeelrightoffthewax.Ifdesired,theluminarycanbeleftlikethis.However,Iliketocleanuptheluminaryabitmorebyusingmyhotplatetomeltaflatareaonthebottomandsmoothingouttheedges.Simplyturntheluminaryupsidedownandlightlyrunitstopedgealongthesurfaceofthehotplate.Addabeeswaxtealightandenjoytheambience.
BEG INNER
CUTTINGBOARDCONDITIONERWoodencookingtoolssuchascuttingboards,woodenspoons,androllingpinsneedoccasionalcare,andsincetheywillbeincontactwithfood,it’snecessarytouseafoodgradeproduct.Iliketouseafood-grademineraloil,sinceIknowthatitwilllastindefinitelyanddoesnotgetgummyovertime.Forcuttingboardsthatseealotofuse,walnutoilisanoptionaswell.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 70g 20.6%
food-grademineraloil 270g 79.4%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarortinwithlid
Yield:5oz
1.Heatthebeeswaxandmineraloiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilmelted.Mixwellandpourintowide-mouthjars.
2.Touse,simplyscoopoutsomeoftheconditionerwitharagoryourfingersandrubitalloverthewood.Letitsitovernightandbuffitwithasoftcloththenextmorning.
BEG INNER
SOLIDWOODPOLISHKeepwoodlookingbeautifulwiththisage-oldrecipe.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 75g 33.33%
boiledlinseedoil 75g 33.33%
turpentine 75g 33.33%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarortinwithlid
Yield:Approximately8fluidounces(235ml)
Combineallthreeingredientsinadoubleboiler,stirringoccasionally.Whenitisallmelted,transfertoawide-mouthjarortinandallowtocool.
BEG INNER
WOODCONDITIONERCREAMThisrecipeisperfectfornourishingthewood.Itcleansandprotectsinonestep.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 150g 71.5%
turpentine 60g 28.5%
doubleboiler
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarwithlid
Yield:Approximately8fluidounces(235ml)
1.Heatthewaxinadoubleboileruntilmeltedandremovefromheat.
2.Stirintheturpentine.Mixwellandpourintoawide-mouthjar.
BEG INNER
BEESWAXFURNITUREPOLISHBeeswaxfurniturepolishisconsideredtheultimateinwoodcaredueinlargeparttothesoft,satinshineitgivestothewood.Thetouchofcarnaubawaxinthispolishresultsinaharder,shinierfinish.
MATERIALS
beeswax,yellow 43g 10%
carnaubawax 10g 2.4
turpentine 372g 87.6%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarsorbottleswithlids
Yield:Makesapproximately16fluidounces(475ml)
1.Meltthewaxesinadoubleboiler.
2.Removefromheatandstirintheturpentine.
3.Onceitiscompletelymixed,pourintowide-mouthjars.
4.Applythepolishwithacleanclothandrubinsmallcircles.Turntheclothasitbecomesdirty.Allowthepolishtodry,thenbuffwithacleancloth.Ifmorethanonecoatisdesired,waittwodaysbetweenapplications.
BEG INNER
WAXEDFABRICApplyingbeeswaxtofabrichaslongbeenamethodofwater-proofingsomethingthatnormallyisanythingbutwaterproof.
Almostanysmooth,natural-fiberfabriccanbemademorewaterresistantbyapplyingalayerofbeeswax,butsomefabrics,suchascorduroy,justdon’tlendthemselvesasreadilytothisprocess.Canvas,twill,muslin,andnumerousotherfabricsworkreallywellandcanbeturnedintoamultitudeofuseful,environmentallyfriendlytools.
Howbesttoapplythewaxisdeterminedbytheobjectyou’dliketowaterproof.Ifyouarestartingwithaflatfabric,thebestwayistosoakthefabricinbeeswaxandthenremovingtheexcess.Thisprocessensuresthatthewaxpenetratesthefibersandcreatesafilmkeepingwaterout.Whenworkingwithobjectsthatarealreadymade,suchascanvassneakers,thewaxwillneedtobeappliedtothe
finisheditem.
BEG INNER
WATERPROOFSNEAKERSImaginesloshingthroughwaterpuddlesinsneakersandnotgettingwetfeet.Soundsgreat,right?Well,Ican’tpromisethattheendresultwillyieldcompletelydryfeet,buttheywillbesignificantlydrier.Unlikeplasticrainshoes,thebeeswaxstillallowsfeettobreathe,andyou’lllookalotmorestylish!
Thistechniquecanbeemployedforanythingalreadymade,notjustsneakers.
MATERIALS8oz(212.5g)beeswax
pairofcanvassneakers
2tallkitchengarbagebags
newspaper
papertowels
smallelectricskillet
cheap2"(5cm)naturalbristlebrush
heatgun
1.Stuffeachofthetwokitchengarbagebagswithafewsheetsofnewspaperthenstuffthegarbagebagsinsidetheshoes.Theplasticwillkeepwhateverwaxseepsthroughfromstickingtothepaperinsidetheshoe.Thepaperistheretohelptheshoekeepthepropershape.
2.Heattheelectricskillettoaround200°F(93°C)andaddthebeeswax.Whencompletelymelted,dipthepaintbrushinthewaxandletitwarmupforabout30seconds.
3.Paintthehotwaxontoallcanvaspartsoftheshoe,makingsurethatthecriticalareas,suchastheinterfaceofthesoletothetop,isthoroughlysoaked.Settheshoeasideandrepeattheprocesswiththeothershoe.
4.Pullthebagsoutoftheshoesandallowtheshoestocoolabit.
5.Tocleanoffsomeoftheexcesswax,stuffabigwadofpapertowelingintheshoeanduseaheatguntowarmthesloppysectionfromtheoutside.Thewaxwillquicklymeltandappeartowickaway.Movethepapertowelingtoanotherareaoftheshoethatneedsworkandrepeatthesameprocess,replacingthepapertowelsasneeded.
6.Lettheshoecoolandcheckforanymissedspots.Touchupthemissedsectionsandtryontheshoes.Theywillfeelabitstifferuntilthewaxsoftensupabit.Torejuvenatethewaxcoating,hititquicklywithaheatgun.Overtimethewaterproofingmaywearoffandrequireanotherapplication.Thistimeonlyalittlewaxwillbeneeded,butfollowthesameprocessasbefore.
BEG INNER
WAXEDCOTTONSANDWICHWRAPSThesewrapsareperfectinthiseco-consciousworldwelivein.Theyaresimplicityatitsfinest.Theykeepasandwichfresh,keepalltheingredientsinplaceandcanserveasaplacemat/platewheneatingthesandwich.Howgreatisthat!Inasmallersizetheycanalsobeusedasareplacementforplasticwrap.Justwarmthewrapandmoldaroundthetopofthejarorbowl.
MATERIALS3/4yard(68.6cm)ofmedium-weightcottonfabric(Iliketousetwillfabricforthis)
1lb(425g)beeswax
electricskillet
tongs
papertowels
heatgun
Yield:Approximately8wraps
1.Measurethewidthofthefabric.Manytimescottonfabricwillcomeina45"(114.5cm)width.Othertimesitwillbe60"(152.5cm)ormore.Myidealsizeforsandwichwrapsisa12"(30.5cm)square,butIwigglethosedimensionsabittousethefullwidthofthefabric.Sometimesthatmeansmakingthem11"×12"(28cm×30.5cm).Noworries;thesandwichwillstillfit.
2.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet.Onceitismelted,laythewrapinthehotwaxandwaitforthebubblestodisappear,abouttenseconds.
3.Usingthetongs,pullthefabricoutofthewaxandletasmuchofthewaxdripoffaspossible.Asthewaxcools,trytostraightenoutthefabricsothatitsnotstucktogetherweirdly.Therewillstillbequiteabitofwaxonthefabric.Setitasidefornowandrepeatwithanothertwoorthreepiecesoffabric.
4.Toremovesomeoftheexcesswaxfromthefabricpieces,placetwoorthreelayersofpapertowelsonaprotectedsurfaceandthenlayanunwaxedsquareoffabriconthepapertowelswithawaxedpieceoffabricontopofit.Usingtheheatgun,startatonecornerandmeltthewaxuntilit“disappears”(seepsintothelayerbelow),dabbingwithballeduppapertowelstosoakupanyexcesswax.
5.Continuerunningtheheatgunovertherestofthetopfabricpiece.Liftoffthetoppieceandchecktoseehowthoroughlythelowerpieceisnowwaxed.Mosttimesitjustneedsalittletouchuptomakesureitisallevenlywaxed.Setthesetwoasideandrepeatwiththeremainingwraps.
6.Whilethewrapsarestillwarm,makesurethattheyarecompletelysquare.Ifnot,gentlytugatthecornerstopullthembackintoshape.Oncethewrapsarecooltheyarereadytouse,butwillbequitestiff.Astheyareusedtheywillsoftenupandbecomemoremalleable.
7.Toclean,wipedownwithadampcloth.Ifneeded,washwrapsincoolwaterbyhand.
BEADINGANDSEWINGThethreadorstringusedinjewelryorotherbeadingprojectsneedstobethinenoughtogothroughtheholeoftinybeadsandstrongenoughtowithstandalltheabusethewearerwillputitthrough.Thesamegoesforsewing.Beeswaxhelpsstrengthenandconditionthethread.Itpreventsfrayingandmakesbeadingandsewingeasier.Italsoreducestanglingandknotting,resultinginanicer,moreprofessionallookingproduct.
BEG INNER
THREADCONDITIONER
MATERIALS4oz(106g)beeswax
doubleboilerorsmallelectricskillet
Nonstickmuffintinorbeeswaxmold
1.Meltthewaxinthedoubleboiler,takingcarenottooverheatthewax.
2.Pourthewaxintothemold.Iusuallyfillthemabout1/2–1"(1.3–2.5cm)deep.Theblockcanbeabitclunkyifthewaxispouredtoodeep.
3.Allowthewaxtocoolcompletelythenpopthewaxoutofthemold.
4.OnelastthingIliketodobeforeusingtheblockofbeeswaxiscutasmallgrooveintotheedgeoftheblockwithawarmbutterknife.Simplyheattheedgeoftheknifebrieflyoveraflameandrunthe
knifealongtheedgeofthewaxblock.Thegroovedoesn’tneedtobeverydeep,butithelpskeepthethreadinplacethefirstcoupletimesitisused.
5.Tousethethreadconditionerforbeading,takethelengthofthreadorstringandlayoneendoverthenotch.Placeyourthumboverthethreadandgentlypullthethreadwiththeotherhand.Runitthroughacouplemoretimes,makingsurethatthewholethreadiswaxed.
6.Next,pinchoneendofthethreadbetweenyourthumbandforefingerandpullthethread,gentlysmoothingit.Dothisacouplemoretimesandthenitisreadytouse.
CHAPTER7BEESWAXARTBeeswaxisagreatmediumforcreatingincrediblydiverseartpieces.TherearetwodistincttechniquesthatIwilltouchoninthissection:batikandencaustic.Thesetwotechniquesprovidefertilegroundforbringingoutthecreativespiritineveryone,andwithafewsafetyprecautions,arealotoffuntodo.Therearesomespecializedtoolsthatmakeiteasiertoachieve,butnoneofthemaretooexotic.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Batik
–Batikart
–Batiknapkinsanddishtowels
–Encausticart
–Encausticcollages
BATIKBatikisanancientartformthatdatesbackatleast2,000years.Itisessentiallyaresisttechnique,whichmeansthatcolorisbeingprotectedfromadditionaldyebybeingcoveredwithwax.Eachcolorbuildsonthesumofthepreviouscolors.Itisanartformthatcantakesyearstoperfect,avisionfortheendproduct,andpatiencetoseethepiecethroughallthestepsneeded.
MuchasIwouldliketocallmyselfanartist,Iamnot.ButIdoliketodoartfulthingsandthisisrightupmyalley.Ilikethatbatikcanbeasintricateorsimplisticastimeandskillwillallow.Thetwoprojectsincludedinthissectionareperfectforbeginnersandtheycreateitemsthatcanbeusedoncecompleted.
Basichardwareandcraft-storetoolsareallthatisrequired,buttherearesomespecializedtoolsthatcanbealotoffuntoplaywith.OnethatIliketouseisatjanting,whichisastylusthatholdsmoltenwaxanddispensesitthroughanarrowtip.Itisheldlikeapenorbutterknife.Theart-supplystoreinmyareahadasetoftjantingtoolsinsmall,medium,andlarge,whichwasperfectsinceIhadnoideawhichsizeIneededtomakemyvisionareality.
BEESWAX/PARAFFINRATIOThewaxisgenerallyablendofbeeswaxandparaffin.Dependingontheratiosofthetwo,differenteffectscanbeachieved.Themoreparaffinthemorethewaxwillcrackleandletsomedyethrough.Personally,Ilovethiseffect,somyblendwilldoabitofthat.Adjusttheproportionofthewaxblendasdesired—moreparaffin,morecrackle;morebeeswax,lesscrackle.
Also,Iencourageyoutolearnfrommymistakeandpurchasenewparaffinwaxforbatik,ratherthanrecyclingusedcandles.Althoughcandlesmayseemliketheyareallparaffin,theymaycontainoilsandotherfillers.Theoilswillnotwashouteasilyandmayleaveapermanentgreasestain,inadditiontomakingthewaxmorepliable,whichiscountertowhytheparaffinisaddedinthefirstplace.
BESTDYETECHNIQUESForbatik,Iliketousespeciallydesignedcold-waterdyesthatdonotrequireheat.Thegrocerystoredyesshouldworkaslongastheyarepreparedaccordingtothedirectionsandthenallowedtocool.Ifthedyebathistoowarm,itwillmeltthewax.Wettingthefabricwithcoldwaterfirstwillallowthefabrictoabsorbthedyemoreevenly.Leaveitinthedyebathuntilthedesiredtinthasbeenachieved.Irecommendusingfabricscrapstotestthedyeingtime.Haveseveralthatcanbepulledoutatregularintervals,givenaquickrinseandtossedinthedryertoseehowthatcolorlooksdry.Oncethedrysampleisthedesiredcolor,removethebatikfromthedyebathandrinsewithcoldwateruntilthewaterisrelativelyclear.Thisisespeciallyimportantwithbatik,sinceany“free”dyeremaininginthefabricmaytinttheareaswherethereiswax.
REMOVINGTHEWAXTherearetwowaysthewaxcanberemoved:boilingitinhotwaterorironingitwithpapertowels.Whendecidingwhichroutetogo,Iwouldsuggestusingthedyedsamplefabrictocheckthedye’scolorfastness.Theeasier,cleanerwaytoremovethewaxisbyputtingthewholepieceinastockpotandboilingit.Thewaxfloatstothetopandcanbeskimmedoffwhenthepotcools.Theothermethodistouseahotironandmeltallthewaxintosomepapertowels.Ifgoingwiththeironingmethod,Iwouldsuggestmultiplelayersofnewspapertoprotectthetablesurface,thenseverallayersofpapertowelingthenthebatikpieceandthenanothercouplelayersofpapertowels.Keepreplacingthepapertowelsuntilallthewaxisremoved.
INTERMED IATE
BATIKNAPKINSForthisproject,Idecidedtouseastamptoapplythewax.Ifoundsomeoldrosettemoldstuckedawayandthoughttheymightworkreallywell,andtheydo!Butitdoesn’thavetobearosettemold.Metalcookiecuttersworkwellasdosomekitchenimplementssuchastheold-fashionedpotatomasher.Theimportantpointstokeepinmind,isthattheyneedtobeabletotaketheheatandtheyneedtobeabletobepickedupandpositionedonthenapkin.Withcookiecutters,tryclippingaclothespintotheedge.Forthisproject,wewillonlyuseonedyebath.
Iwillbeusing60percentbeeswax,40percentparaffinwaxblendforthisproject.Howmuchis
neededwilldependonthesizeoftheelectricskilletandthetoolbeingused.Withmyrosettemolds,Ifoundthatthewaxonlyneededtobe1/2"(1.3cm)deep.
MATERIALScottonnapkins
beeswax
paraffinwax
smallelectricskillet
metalstampofchoice(cookiecutter,rosettemold)
coldwaterdye
dyevat(Iliketouseastainlesssteelstockpot,butaplasticbucketshouldworkaswell)
clotheslineandclothespins
embroideryhooplargeenoughtoholdmost,ifnotall,ofthenapkin
ironandironingboard,optional
stainlesssteelstockpot,optional
1.Topreparethenapkins,soakthenapkinsforanhourorsoinasolutionofwaterwithsomedetergentandwashingsodaadded.Rinsewellanddry.
2.Topreparethewax,addthebeeswaxandparaffintotheelectricskilletandslowlywarmuntilitismelted.Settheskillettemperaturetobetween180°Fand200°F(82°Cand93°C)toensurethatthewaxstaysliquid,butnottoohot.
3.Placethefirstnapkinintheembroideryhoop,centeringtheareawherethewaxresistwillgointheframe.Theembroideryhoopisusedtokeepthefabrictightandtoraiseitupfromthetablesothatthewaxcangoallthewaythroughthefabric.Keepinmindthatifthehoopissmallerthantheintendeddesign,youwillneedtomovethehooptocompletethedesign.Iwouldsuggestapatternthatwillworkwiththesizeembroideryhoopyouareusing.Trappingawaxedareabetweenthehooppartswillprobablyleaveamark.
4.Nowforthedesign,Iliketohaveaconceptinmind,butItendtoleavetheactualdetailsofthe
designtothemoment.Iloveabitofserendipityinmydesigns.Forthisproject,Ihavechosentodoarepeatingpatternwithmyrosettemold.Movethenapkinasclosetothehotwaxaspossibletopreventthestampfromcoolingenroutetothenapkin.Coolwaxdoesn’tpenetratethefabricaswellashotwax.Also,workquickly.Thelongeryoutaketolineupthestamp,themorelikelyitistodripwhereitdoesn’tbelong.Letthestampwarmupinthewaxforaminuteortwo.Especiallywithnapkins,whichtendtobeaslightlythickerfabric,itisimportantthatthewaxbehotandplentiful.Practiceonascrappieceoffabricbeforestartingontheactualnapkins.
NOTE:Iliketousealargefloursacktowelasasamplepiecetotryoutdifferentideas,eitherstamps,orpatternsorbrushtechniques.Oncethefabricisfilledup,Iputthewholethinginadyebathtoseewhatthefinishedeffectwillbe.
5.Onceallthenapkinshavebeenprinted,allowthemtocoolcompletelyandpreparethedyebathaccordingtopackageinstructions.Submergethenapkinsincoldwatertogetthemcompletelywetandplaceallthenapkinsintothedyebathatoncesothatthecolorwillbethesameforallofthem.Alsothrowinacouplesamplescrapsoffabrictousetocheckthecolorperiodically.Oncethecoloristherightdensity,removethenapkinsfromthedyebathandrinsethemincoldwater.Keeprinsinguntilthewaterrunsclear.
6.Gentlysqueezeoutthewaterandhangthenapkins,allowingthemtodrycompletely.
7.Oncedry,ironorboilthenapkinsaccordingtotheinstructionsonpage105toremovethewax.Whendecidingwhichmethodtouse,considerthecolorfastnessofthedye.Fragiledyesareprobablybestironedtoremovethewax.
INTERMED IATE
BATIKDISHTOWELSForthisproject,Idecidedtouseafree-formtechniquethatworkswellforbrushesortjantingtools.Aswiththenapkins,Iwillbeusing60percentbeeswax,40percentparaffinwaxblend.Howmuchisneededwilldependonthesizeoftheelectricskilletandthetoolusedtoapplythewax.Ifabrushwillbeused,thewaxlevelshouldprobablystartoutatabouta1/2"(1.3cm)deep.Touseatjantingtool,thewaxlevelneedstobedeeperinordertobeabletofillthetoolwithwax.
MATERIALSfloursacktowels
beeswax
paraffinwax
smallelectricskillet
cheapbristlebrushortjantingtool
coldwaterdye
dyevat(Iliketouseastainlesssteelstockpot,butaplasticbucketshouldworkaswell)
clotheslineandclothespins
embroideryhoop,largeenoughtoholdpartofthetowel
ironandironingboard,optional
stainlesssteelstockpot,optional
1.Followsteps1through3ofBatikNapkinsonpage106topreparethedishtowel,meltthewax,andplacethedishtowelintheembroideryhoop.
2.Forthisproject,Ihavechosentodoawavylinesmotif.Itiseasytodowithminimaltoolsanddoesn’trequirealotofartistry.Idosuggestthatyouplaceasketchofthemotifnexttothetoweltouseasareferencewhilebrushingonthewax.FormywavylinesprojectIdidn’tneedthisandusedfreeformlines.
3.Thereareafewthingstokeepinmindbeforeactuallyputtingwaxtofabric.•First,thewaxwillbleedabit,sochooseabrushsizethatisslightlysmallerthanthedesiredstrokewidth.•Second,abrushdoesnotholdmuchwax,andthestartofthebrushstrokewillprobablybefatterthantheend.Thiscanbeusedtoanadvantage,butneedstobetakenintoconsiderationwhenplanningthestartandstopoftheline.Thisislessofanissuewithatjantingtool,sinceithasabuilt-inreservoirforwax.•Third,thewaxneedstobehotenough,probablybetween180°Fand200°F(82°Cand93°C)tocreate
awaxlayerthatgoesallthewaythroughthefabric.Assoonasthebrushisremovedfromtheelectricskillet,thewaxwillstarttocoolandatsomepointthewaxwillnolongerpenetratethefabric.Ideally,thishappensafterthewaxonthebrushrunsout.
Placethebrushinthehotwaxforabout15–30seconds,oruntilthebristlesheatupandfindtheirnaturalshape.Paintthewaxontothetowel,movingthehoopifneeded.Oncethedesigniscompleted,letthewaxcoolandpreparethedyebath.
4.Wetthewaxedfabricwithcoldwaterfirstsothatitwillabsorbthedyemoreevenly.Transferthewettoweltothedyebathandsoakituntilthedesiredtinthasbeenachieved.Thenremovethetowelfromthedyebathandrinsewithcoldwateruntilthewaterrunsclear.
5.Hangthetoweluntilitiscompletelydry.Oncedry,itcanbeironedorboiledtoremovethewaxdependingonthepreferredmethodandcolorfastnessofthedye(seepage105fordetailsonwaxremoval).
ENCAUSTICEncausticcomesfromtheGreekwordenkaustikos,whichmeans“toburnin.”Theconcepthasbeenaroundformillionsofyearsanditinvolvespaintingwithhotbeeswax,whichmayormaynothavecoloraddedtoit.Today,artistsaredoingmorethanjustpaintingwithit;beeswaxisbeingusedforcollageandmixedmediaartpiecesourforefathersneverdreamedof.
WhatIloveaboutencausticisitsdiversityofuses.Encausticcanbeusedtocreateboldpieceswithsaturatedcolors;createlight,etherealworks;orspareandmonochromaticpiecesthatcanallbeequallystunningandhighlyindividual.Piecescanbeverydimensionalorcompletelysmooth.Encausticcanalsobeusedtocreatemixedmediapiecesutilizingfoundobjectstocreateone-of-a-kindworksofart.
ENCAUSTICMEDIUMAlthoughonecanbuyencausticmediumandencausticpaintready-to-use,Ihaveincludedthebasicsonhowtomakeithere.Encausticisessentiallyjustbeeswaxandresin,butpigmentmaybeaddedaswell.Theresinincreasesthemeltingtemperatureandaddsluster,hardness,andshineoncethepieceisfullycured.Theaddedresinalsomakesthepaintmorebrittle,whichiswhyIrecommendusinganonflexiblesubstrate,suchaswood,tile,oraspecializedencausticboard,forthisproject.
Althoughitispossibletousetraditionalyellowcappingswax,Istronglyurgetheuseof“white”beeswax.WhenIfirsttriedencaustics,Iusedyellowbeeswax,whichwaswhatIhadonhand.IaddedmypigmentsandthoughtIcouldworkwiththeyellowundertones,butallIendedupwithwasmuddycolorsandverychildish-lookingartwork.Itwasawasteofwaxandpigment!Inowuseonlywhite,bleachedbeeswaxandhavehadamucheasiertimecreatingworksthatIamproudof.
INTERMED IATE
MASTERBATCHThereisartistryeveninthemakingofthemedium.Thedesiredfinishedeffectwilldeterminetheexactratiosofbeeswaxtoresin.Butkeepinmindthatiftoomuchresinisused,themediumwillbecometoobrittleandcouldflakeoff.Ifnotenoughresinisused,thepiecewillbeabitsoftandpronetodustaccumulation.Iliketheproportionof9partsbeeswaxto2partsdamarresin.Otherspreferaratioof10:1.
MATERIALS1lb(450g)“white”beeswax
100gdamarresin
smallelectricskilletwithtemperaturecontrol
spoonorstirstick
breadloafpanwithnonstickcoating
largeknife
1.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet,heatedtothe180°F–200°F(82°C–93°C)range.Oncethewaxismelted,addtheresinandstiruntilalltheresinismeltedandincorporated.Thiswilltakeahalfhourormore,sobepatient.Therewillbesomeimpuritiesintheresinthatwillnotmelt.Ignorethemfornow.
2.Pourthewaxandresinmixtureintotheloafpanandallowthewaxmixturetosolidify.Covertheworksurfacewithalayerofwaxpaper.Oncethewaxishardenoughtoremovefromtheloafmold,butstillslightlywarmtothetouch,invertitoverthewaxpaper.
3.Theimpuritiesthatwereintheresinsunktothebottomandarenowvisible.Usethelargeknifetocutorscrapethemoff.IliketokeepthewaxscrapingsandaddthemtothenextbatchofencausticmediumthatImakesonothinggoestowaste.
NOTE:Damarresincanbepurchasedatartsupplystoreseitherlocallyoronline.
4.Usetheknifetocutthecleanportionofthebeeswax/resinblockintosmallercubesthatareeasiertouseasis,oraretheperfectsizetotossintoatinandmixwithcolor.
INTERMED IATE
MIXINGENCAUSTICPAINTInmanyways,encausticpaintsarelikewatercolorandoilpaints.Whenthereisjustatinybitofpigmentused,theendresultismoreofawash,aswithwatercolors.Ifalotofpigmentisused,theendresultismorelikeoilpaints,creatingsuper-saturatedvibrantcolors.IuseFrenchmineralpigments,whichhavesometransparencyandanicerangeofcolors,butanykindofpowderedartists’pigmentwillwork.
MATERIALSbeeswax/resinblocks
powderedartists’pigmentincolorsofyourchoice
several4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtins
miniloafpan
electricgriddlewithtemperaturecontrol
paintbrush
1.Heattheelectricgriddleto200°F(93°C).Makesurethetemperaturesdoesnotriseabove220°F(104°C),orthewaxmaybegintosmokeanddegrade.
2.SinceImakemyownmediumandIhavealreadycutthebeeswax/resinblocksintomanageablepieces,Ijusttossacoupleofchunksintoaminiloafpanandputthepanonmyhotgriddle.
3.Asthebeeswax/resinblocksmelt,Iaddatouchofartists’pigmenttoa4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtin.
NOTE:IfIammakingsaturated,super-strengthcolors,Iliketomixthemin4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtins,eitherblendingthemwithencausticmediumdirectlyontheelectricgriddleoraddingtheconcentratedcolortoaminiloafpananddilutingitasdesired.
4.ThenIaddpigmenttothemeltedbeeswax/resinandstirwithmybrushuntilitisfullymixed.Ikeepapieceofabsorbentpaperonhandtotestthecolordensity.Itismucheasiertoaddmorepigmentthanitistoincreasethesizeofthecolorbatchbyaddingadditionalencausticmedium.Nowyou’rereadytopaint!
BEG INNER
PAINTINGWITHENCAUSTICSThisisaneasybeginnerprojectthatutilizesthepaintsyoujustmixed.Sincethisisartwork,therearenorulesonwhatcanorcannotbedone,butthereareafewguidelines.
MATERIALSsizedpanel
encausticpaintsintins
naturalbristlebrushes(Ilikeusing1–2"[2.5–5cm]brushesforoverallcoverageandsmallerbrushesformoreintricatework)
butanetorchorheatgun
Josspapersorsilverleaf
burnishingtool
papertowelornylonstocking
electricskilletwithtemperaturecontrol
Kraftpaper
Afterapplyingeachlayerofwax,itmustbefusedtothelayerbelowitusingeitheraheatgunorasmallbutanetorch.Ipreferthelatterformostofmywork.Fusingthewaxisaseasyasquicklymovingthetorchoverthewaxandwatchingitgofrommattetoshiny.That’salltheheatthatisneeded;anymore,andthewaxwillmoveordevelopheatspots.Ittakesabitofpracticetomastertheamountofheatandthemethodology,butitisafairlyeasylearningcurve.
Observepropersafetyprecautions.Makesurethespaceisproperlyventilated.Wearglovestoprotecthandsfromhotwaxandconcentratedpigments.Neverleavetheelectricgriddleoranyotherelectricaltoolspluggedinandunattended.Neverlettheencausticmediumandpaintexceed220°F(104°C).Keepafireextinguisheronhand,justincase.
Makesurethattheencausticmediumorpainthasturnedmattebeforeaddinganotherlayer.Amattefinishmeansithascooledenoughtoapplymorewax.
1.Forthisprojectwewillputdownlotsoftranslucentlayerstogivethepiecedepth.Tostart,pickacolorpaletteofthreecolors.Ichoseturquoisegreen,lavenderblue,andblackcurrantredandImixedjusttheamountneededforthisprojectinmyminiloafpans,addingjustatouchofcolorandpaintingitonmysampleKraftpapertomakesureitwaswhatIwanted—alightwash.
2.Warmthepanelwiththeheatguntomakeit\easiertoapplythewax.Brushtheencausticpaintontothepanelinthethreecolorsselected,coveringthewholepanelfromlefttorightinrandomstripes.(A)Fusethislayerwiththeheatgunortorch.(B)
3.Rotatethepiececlockwise90degreesandpaintsimilarstripesgoingtheotherdirection.Fusetothelayerbelow.
4.Applymultiplelayersontopofthefirstlayers,alwaysturningthepanelclockwise90degreesandfusingwiththeheatgunbeforeaddingthenextlayer.Sincethecolorsaresomewhattranslucent,theycanbelayeredwithgreateffect.Don’tbeafraidtoexperiment.Noticethatwitheachlayerthecolorgetsdarkerandabitmoresaturated.
5.Onceallthelayershavebeenpaintedonandfused,Iaddedasmallsquareofsilvertofloatontop.Itisafun,visuallyinterestingtouchthatyoucanaddusingsilverleaf,butIhavechosentouseJosspapers.Josspapers,whicharemadetobeburntasofferingsinvariousAsianreligiousceremonies,canbefoundatAsiangrocerystoresoronline.Ignorethefactthatsomearesilvercoloredandsomearegold.Allwillyieldasilverresult.
6.TodothetransferusingtheJosspaper,cutoutasquareofsilvertothedesiredsize.Ifthepanelisstillveryhot,allowittocoolabit,butifithasbeensittinglongerthan30minutes,usethetorchtowarmthespotwherethesilverwillgo.Becarefultojustwarmthewax,makingitslightlysticky,notsosoftthatitwillmovearoundwhenapplyingthesilver.Ifusingsilverfoil,noadditionalsizingisneeded,justapplyaccordingtodirections.
7.PlacetheJosspaperpiecefacedownontheartworkandrubwithaburnishingtool.Oncethewholesquarehasbeenburnished,removethebackingpaperbyaddingacoupledropsofwaterandrubbing
thepapergentlywithyourfingertips.Itwillstarttoballupandliftoff.Continueuntilallthepaperhasbeenremoved.
8.Makeonemorepassoverthesilversquarewiththetorchtoremoveanyresidualpaperfibersthatcouldcloudthepiecelater.
9.Setthepieceasidetocoolandcurecompletelyforacoupledaysandthenbuffitwithapapertowelornylonstocking.Standbackandadmire!
INTERMED IATE
ENCAUSTICCOLLAGEForthisproject,Iuseacollectionofprintedpapernapkinsanduncoloredencausticmedium.Therearesomewonderfulgraphicnapkinsouttherethatcaneasilybeturnedintoworksofart.Lookfornapkinswithagoodproportionofwhitespaceandgreatgraphicelements.
MATERIALSencausticpanel
napkinsinavarietyofpatterns
othernaturalelementssuchasleaves,thread,wiremesh
encausticmedium
naturalbristlebrush
electricgriddle
butanetorchorheatgun
nylonstockingorpapertowel
Kraftpaper
1.Topreparethenapkinsforuse,firstremovethebackingpaper.Mostcommerciallyavailablenapkinshaveoneortwolayersofwhitepaperattachedtothegraphicpaperonthefront.Removethoseextrawhitesheets.Aneasywaytodothisistotakeapieceofpainter ’stapeormaskingtapeandstickittothewhitebackingpaperandpull.Thepaperwillrip,butthat’sokay,sinceitwillnotbepartofthisproject.Ifthereisanotherpieceofwhitepaper,removeitthesameway.Now,allthat’sleftisthesuperthin,graphicpaperthatcanbeaddedtoencausticpanels.
2.Inorderforthepapertostick,thepanelneedstobesizedwithseverallayersofencausticmedium.Warmtheencausticmediumandthebrushthatwillbeusedforapplyingthemediuminaminiloafpanontheelectricgriddle.
3.Beforeapplyingthewax,warmthepanelwiththebutanetorchorheatgun.Thencoverthepanelwithmediumusingbrushstrokesthatgofromonesideofthepaneltotheotheruntiltheentirepaneliscovered.Usethetorchtofusethemediumtotheboard.Turnthepiececlockwise90degreesandrepeat,addinganotherlayerandfusingwiththetorch.Keepdoingthisuntilfourorfivelayersarebuiltup.Thepieceshouldberelativelysmooth.(Seephotosatright.)
4.Withnapkinpiecestornorcutintointerestingshapestocaptureallorpartofagraphicelement,begintoplanthearrangementofthepiecesontheboard.Keepinmindthatthewhiteareaswillbealmosttransparentwhenmediumisapplied,soaddingjustacoupleelementswitheachlayerworkswell.Then,asthelayersprogress,theoverlapofpapersbecomesreallyinteresting.Elementsthatgotaddedearlyonwillstarttorecedeintothebackgroundasadditionallayersofwaxareaddedtothetop.Thiscanbeusedtogreateffect.
5.Towardtheend,consideraddingotherelementstothecollage.Most,ifnotall,oftheelementsneedtobeembeddedinwaxtoholdtheminplace.Takecarewhenfusingaroundprotrudingelementsthatarenotcompletelywaxed,suchasdriedleaves,sincetheymightburn.Itisbesttowaxtheelementandthenapplyatleastpartofittotheartboard.
6.Oncetheworkiscomplete,letitcureforacoupledaysandthenbuffitwithanylonstockingorpapertowel.
CHAPTER8INGREDIENTSGUIDE
BUTTERSCOCOABUTTERINCI:TheobromaCacao(Cocoa)SeedButter
Thisisahardbutterwithameltingtemperatureof100°F(38°C).Ithasarelativelylongshelflifeoftwotofiveyears.ItalsocontainspolyphenolsandphyosterolsandsomeskinsofteningVitaminE.Cocoabutterprovidesanocclusivelayeronourskin.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
MANGOBUTTERINCI:MangiferaIndica(Mango)SeedButter
Thisisamedium-hardbutterwithameltingtemperatureof86°F–98.6°F(30°C–37°C)andaslightsweetscent.Ithasashelflifeoftwotothreeyears.Ithasemollientproperties,highoxidativeability,woundhealing,andregenerativeactivity.
PalmiticAcid25-30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
SHEABUTTERINCI:Butyrospermumparkii(SheaButter)Fruit
Thisisasoftbutterwithameltingtemperatureof97°F–100°F(36°C–38°C).Ithasashelflifeoftwotothreeyears.Sheapenetratesdeepintotheskin,rejuvenatingdamagedcellsandrestoringelasticityandtone.Insoap,ithasalargerthanaverageproportionoffatsthatarenotsaponifiable,meaningthesoapwillactuallyretainsomemoisturizingqualities.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
OILS*APRICOTOILINCI:ApricotKernel(PrunusArmeniaca)Oil
Verysimilartosweetalmondoil,apricotoilisalightweightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Onskinitissoftening,moisturizing,andiseasilyabsorbed.Insoapitcreatesaconditioningstablelather.Itisoftenusedinplaceofsweetalmondoilforthosewithnutallergies.
PalmiticAcid4–7%
StearicAcid1%
OleicAcid58–78%
LinoleicAcid20–34%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.190---.135
*AVOCADOOILINCI:PerseaGratissima(Avocado)Oil
Medium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Avocadooiliseasilyabsorbedintodeeptissue,andwithitswonderfullyemollientproperties,it’sidealformatureskins.Italsohelpstorelievethedrynessanditchingofpsoriasisandeczema,andithelpswithskinregeneration.
PalmiticAcid10%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid75–80%
LinoleicAcid7–10%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.190---.135
CASTOROILINCI:RicinusCommunis(Castor)SeedOil
Oneofthethickestandheaviestoilsavailable,castoroilhasashelflifeoffiveyears.Onskinitisahumectantandhelpstoretainmoisturelevels.Insoapitmakesforasofterbarbutimproveslatherwhenusedinsmallquantities.Canalsomakethesoapabittranslucent.
OleicAcid2–6%
LinoleicAcid2–4%
RicinoleicAcid85%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.180---.128
COCONUTOILINCI:CocosNucifera(Coconut)Oil
Solidattemperaturesbelow76°F(24°C),thisisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofabout2–4years.Onskin,coconutoilcontainssomeverypotentantioxidantsthatcanhelpwithskinaging,and
helprepairdamagecausedbylightandradiation.Itsoftens,moisturizes,andsootheschappedanditchyskin.Insoap,coconutoilcreatesloadsofbigbubbles.Althoughitmakesahardbar,itmeltsveryquicklyinwater,makingitagreatsoapforhardwaterconditions.Itisalsoextremelycleansingandinhighproportion,canbeverydryingtotheskin.
LauricAcid48%
MyristicAcid18%
PalmiticAcid9%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.2660/.181
EMUOILINCI:EmuOil
Thismedium-weightoilhasashelflifeofoneyear.Emuoilhaswonderfulskinsofteningandcellregeneratingpropertiesandisgreatforrestoringtheskin’sbarrierfunction.Thisoilalsohelpsotheringredientsabsorbbetterintotheskin.Althoughitcanbeusedinsoap,Irecommendthatthisoilbereservedfordirectapplications.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.192
*FRACTIONATEDCOCONUTOILINCI:Caprylic/CapricTriglyceride
Thisisanincrediblylightweightoilwithatleasta2-yearshelflife.Sincethisisaportionofcoconutoilonamolecularlevel(fractionatedmeansthatanumberoflongchainfattyacidswereremovedchemically),theresultantmoisturizingoiliseasilyabsorbedbyskinandhair.
CaprylicAcid53–55%
CapricAcid36–47%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.334/.237
GRAPESEEDOILINCI:Vitisvinifera(Grape)SeedOil
Thisisanothergreatlightweightoil.Ithasarelativelyshortshelflifeof6monthsto1year.Onskinitcanhelptoretainmoistureandreduceinflammationanditchiness.Irecommendthatitisusedsparinglyinsoap,sinceithasashortshelflife.
PalmiticAcid7%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid16%
LinoleicAcid72%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.187/.133
JOJOBAOILINCI:SimmondsiaChinensis(Jojoba)SeedOil
Technicallythisisnotanoil,butratheraliquidwaxester.Itislightweightandhasalongshelflifeofatleast2years.Itisgreatforhairandskin,sinceitmixeswithsebumandallowsittobewashedaway.Itisanexcellentemollient.Insoap,jojobaaddsmoisturizingandconditioningpropertiesaswellasextendingtheshelflifeofthesoap.
PalmitoleicAcid2%
StearicAcid%
OleicAcid14–25%
GadoleicAcid37%
ErucicAcid20%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.065/.091
OLIVEOILINCI:OleaEuropaea(Olive)FruitOil
Thisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Itisknownforitsskinmoisturizingandnourishingproperties.Itmakesanextremelygentlesoap,suitableforsensitiveskintypes.Usedbyitselfinsoap,ityieldsalatherthatiscreamyratherthanbubblyandwhilestillfresh,thelathermayactuallyfeelabitslimy.Thatsliminessgoesawayaftera6-monthormorecuretime.
PalmiticAcid10%
StearicAcid3%
OleicAcid55–83%
LinoleicAcid4–21%
LinolenicAcid1%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
*RICEBRANOILINCI:OryzaSativa(Rice)BranOil
Ricebranoilisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeof6monthstooneyear.ItishighinVitaminEandfattyacidsthatmakeskinsoftandimproveelasticity.Italsohelpswithcellregeneration.Insoap,itbehavessimilarlytooliveoil,butIfinditaddssilkinesstothesoapandmakesaslightlyharder,longerlastingbar.
PalmiticAcid16%
StearicAcid2%
OleicAcid42%
LinoleicAcid36%
LinolenicAcid2%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
SAFFLOWEROILINCI:CarthamusTinctorius(Safflower)SeedOil
Thisisalightweightoilthathasa2yearshelflife.Itisanourishingoilthatisgreatforoilyskinandiseasilyabsorbed.Insoap,itismildandmoisturizing.
PalmiticAcid3–6%
StearicAcid1–4%
OleicAcid13–21%
LinoleicAcid73–79%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
SESAMEOILINCI:SesamumIndicum(Sesame)SeedOil
Sesameseedoilisalighter-weightoilwithaaboutoneyearshelflife.Itisfrequentlyusedinmassageproducts,sinceitisdoesn’tstainclothes.Itisalsogoodatmoistureregulation,reducinginflammation,andcellregeneration.Insoap,sesameoilwillbemoisturizingandconditioning.
PalmiticAcid9%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid45%
LinoleicAcid40%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.191
SOYBEANOILINCI:GlycineSoja(Soybean)Oil
Soybeanoilisalightweightoilwithaboutaoneyearshelflife.Itiseasilyabsorbedandcansoothechappedskin.Insoapitismild,moisturizing,andgivesacreamylather.Soybeanoilisalsoreadilyavailableandeconomical.Iprefertouseorganicsoybeanoil,especiallyinmydirectskinapplications.
PalmiticAcid10%
OleicAcid29%
LinoleicAcid53%
LinolenicAcid8%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.134/.188
SUNFLOWEROIL(HIGHOLEIC)INCI:HelianthusAnnuus(Sunflower)SeedOil
Higholeicsunfloweroilisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Onskin,ithasgreatsofteningandanti-inflammatoryproperties.Insoap,itworksnicelywithpalmandoliveoilstogivearich,creamylatherthat’sverymoisturizing.
PalmiticAcid5–7%
StearicAcid3–6%
OleicAcid15–36%
LinoleicAcid61–73%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.136/.191
SWEETALMONDOILINCI:Prunusdulcis(Almond)oil
Thisisalightweightoilwithashelflifeofoneyear.Thisemollientoilsoftensandnourishestheskin,andisoftenusedinmassage.Insoapitcreatesaconditioning,stabilelather.
PalmiticAcid2–6%
PalmitoleicAcid2%
StearicAcid3%
OleicAcid60–78%
LinoleicAcid10–30%
LinolenicAcid2%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.137/.194
MISCELLANEOUSE-WAXNFINCI:CetearylAlcohol(and)Polysorbate6
E-waxisanall-in-one,easy-to-useemulsifierusedtocombinewaterandoilintoalotionorcream.NFmeansthatitconformstotheNationalFormularyguidelines.
LANOLININCI:Lanolin
Technically,lanolinisawax.Itistheyellow,extremelyviscoussubstancesheepproducethathelpsthemshedwaterfromtheircoats.Mostlanolinisaby-productofwoolprocessing,sinceitneedstoberemovedbeforethewoolcanbedyedorwoven.Forskin,itisawonderfulprotectant,creatingasemi-permeablelayertokeeptheelementsoutandthemoisturein.
LECITHININCI:Lecithin
Derivedfromsoybeans,lecithinisusuallyaddedtoactasanemulsifier,butitalsohelpstoreplenishandrepairtheskin.Itworkswondersonnails.
OPTIPHENINCI:Phenoxyethanol(and)CaprylylGlycol
Optiphenisabroad-spectrum,paraben-freepreservativethatcanbeusedtopreserveemulsifiedproductsthatcontainwater,suchaslotionsandcreams.Thereareotherpreservatives,butthisisoneofmyfavorites.
ROSEMARYOLEORESININCI:RosmarinusOfficinalis(Rosemary)LeafExtract
Rosemaryoleoresin,orROEasitisoftenabbreviated,isaddedtooilsasanantioxidant.Ithelpspreventoilsfromoxidizingandbecomingrancidanditprolongstheshelflifeofaproduct.Thisisnotapreservative.
STEARICACIDINCI:StearicAcid
Stearicacidisoneofmanyfattyacidsthatoccurnaturallyintheplantandanimalworld.Itisacomponentinanimaltallow,cocoabutter,andvegetablefats.Whenit’susedincosmeticproducts,stearicacidprimarilyfulfillstheroleofathickenerorhardener.Stearicacidisthesubstancethathelpsabarofsoapretainitsshape.
T-50(VITAMINE)INCI:TocopherolT-50isanall-natural,blendofmixedtocopherolsandediblevegetableoils.
Itfunctionsasanexcellentantioxidantforoilsorproductsthatcontainoil.Ithelpsdelayoxidationandwillhelptoextendtheshelflifeofoilsandoil-basedproducts.Itworksabitdifferentlythantherosemaryoleoresin,soIoftenuseboth.
FATTYACIDGLOSSARYERUCICACID(C22:1):Erucicacidisusedincosmeticproductsasanemollientbecauseitprovidesaprotectivelayerforskin.
GADOLEICACID(C20:1):GadoleicAcidpreventstransdermalwaterloss.Itservesasanocclusivebarrierwithoutbeingstickyoroverlygreasy.
LINOLEICACID(C18:2):Linoleicacidhelpstoimproveskin’sbarrierfunction,helpstosootheitchydryskin,andactsasananti-inflammatoryandamoistureretainer.
OLEICACID(C18:1):Verymoisturizing,oleicacidhelpsskincellsregeneratequickly.Itisveryeasilyabsorbedbytheskinanditactsasananti-inflammatory.
PALMITICACID(C16):Palmiticacidhelpstoreinforceskinbarrierfunction,andisaverygoodemollient.
PALMITOLEICACID(C16:1):Abuildingblockinourskinthatpreventsburns,wounds,andscratches.Mostactivemicrobialinhumansebum,palmiticacidtreatsdamagedskinandmucousmembranes.
RICINOLEICACID(C18:3,N-9):Onlyfoundincastoroil,ithasanalgesicandanti-inflammatoryeffects.
STEARICACID(C18):Stearicacidhelpsimprovemoistureretention;increaseflexibilityoftheskin,andrepairskindamage.
VITAMINE:Thisvitalvitaminsinksintoourskinandbehavesasanantioxidant.
HERBSARNICA(ARNICAMONTANA)Arnicaisknownforitsnaturalanti-inflammatorypropertiesanditsabilitytoreduceswelling.Arnicasalveisamuscleworkhorse.Itiswonderfulforsprains,strains,andpulledligamentsormuscles!Italsoworksreallywelltohelpbruisedareasheal.
CALENDULABLOSSOMS(CALENDULAOFFICINALIS)Calendulaisanti-inflammatoryandanti-microbial;goodforminorcutsandburns.Promoteshealingbyaidingclotting.
CHAMOMILE,GERMAN(MATRICARIACHAMOMILLA)Containstheflavonoidsapigenin,luteolin,andquercetin,andthevolatileoilsalpha-bisabololandmatricin,whichhelptomakechamomilesanti-inflammatory,antispasmodic,andantioxidant.Itisalsoknownforbeingcalming,soothing,andhealing.
CHAMOMILE,ROMAN(ANTHEMISNOBILIS)SeeGermanChamomile,whichhasaverysimilareffectonskin.
CHICKWEEDLEAF(STELLARIAMEDIA)Greatsootherofitchyandsoreskin.Ithelpstocoolsandrelieveinflamedareas.
COMFREYLEAFANDROOT(SYMPHYTUMOFFICIALIS)Thehighallantoincontentincomfreyisthestarofthisherb.Itencouragestherenewalofskincellsandthestrengtheningofskintissues,andithelpstohealwoundsaswellastoreducethevisibleeffectsofagingbybringingbackelasticitytotheskin.Itisalsoamildastringent,whichmakescomfreygreatforsunburn,ulcers,andsores.Sinceitissopowerful,itshouldnottobeusedoncutsthataredeep,sinceitcantrapinfectionbyhealingthetoplayerofskinfasterthandeeperlayers.
LAVENDER(LAVANDULAANGUSTIFOLIA)Lavenderisasuperstarforburnsandencouragingwoundhealing.Ithasalsobeenfoundtobeeffectiveagainsttheprincipalbacteriainvolvedinacneandisknowntosootheinsectbitesandbeestings.
MARSHMALLOWROOT(ALTHAEAOFFICINALIS)Soothesskinandpromoteswoundhealing.
PLANTAINLEAF(PLANTAGOMAJOR)Astringent,antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,andanti-itch,plantainhasalonghistoryofbeingusedforproblemskin.Itcontainssalicylicacid,whichhelpstoreduceacnebreakouts.Plantainisalsogreatforbeestings.Justpickaleaf,mashitupabit,andapplyasapoulticetothesting.
ROSEMARY(ROSMARINUSOFFICINALIS)Removesexcessoilfromskinwithoutcausingexcessdryness.Ithasregeneratingandstimulatingeffectsthathelptorejuvenateskinandgiveitamoreyouthfulglow.Ithelpstorestoreelasticityandfirmnesstotheskinandencouragesskincellturnoverandrenewal.
SELF-HEAL(PRUNELLAVULGARIS)Withastringent,antibacterial,andantisepticproperties,self-healhelpstoreducepainandpromotehealingofcutsandscrapes.Canevenbeusedonskinrashes.
ST.JOHN’SWORT(HYPERICUMPERFORATUM)Helpstosupportskinelasticity,soothesrednessandirritation,andworkswondersonburns,wounds,insectbites,andotherskinirritations.
THYME(THYMUSVULGARIS)Thyme’snaturalantimicrobial,antibacterial,andanti-inflammatorypropertieshelptoremoveexcessoilanddirtfromporesandreduceacneoutbreaks.Thymecontainspowerfulantioxidantsthatcanhelpprotectskinfromprematureaging.
ESSENTIALOILS(T=topnoteH=heartnoteB=basenote)
BENZOIN(B)
Ithasasweet,warm,vanillalikeodorthatislonglastingandmakesitanexcellentfixative.
BERGAMOT(T,M)
Cold-pressedessentialoilproducedbytherindofabergamotorangefruit.Bergamotessentialoilassistswithstress,tension,SAD,PMS,skinproblems,anxiety,andcoldsandflu.Ontheskin,Bergamotoilhasantisepticandastringentproperties,whichmakeitusefulaftershaving.
BERGAMOTMINT(T)
Sweet,herbaceous,andslightlyfloral,itoffersasmoothmintscent,temperedbyfloral,fruity,notes.Thescentisknowntobecalmingandrelaxing.
BIRCH(H)
Sweet,sharp,minty,fresh,camphoraceousaroma,itisdistilledfromthebark.Ithaspowerfulpainrelieving,anti-inflammatory,andantispasmodicproperties,whichmakesitgreatforuseonthejointsandmuscles.Exercisecautionwhenusingitthough,asbirchoilcansometimesirritatetheskin.Itshouldalwaysbeusedcarefullyandinthecorrectdilution.
CAMPHOR(T)
Anexcellentoilforinsectcontrolandpainmanagement.Itshighcamphorcontentalsomakesagreatclearingoilinskincare.
CEDARWOOD,ATLAS(H)
Cedarwoodissteamdistilledfromthewood.Itissoft,smooth,andgrounding.anduplifting,yetcalming.Thefragranceisdelicateandsweetwithawoodyundertone.Itisknownforitsdetoxinguses,whereitoffersagentlestimulatingeffect,andthebreakdownandeliminationoftoxins,includingfattybuildup,asincellulite.Itisalsoeffectiveonsoremusclesandjoints,anditisanupperandlowerrespiratorydecongestant.
CHAMOMILE,GERMAN(H)
Ontheskin,itisamiracleworkerandcalmsred,dry,andirritatedskin,aswellascalmingskinallergies,suchaseczema,psoriasisandallotherflakyskinproblems.Itisalsoagreattissueregenerator.Chamomilehasthehighestcontentofchamazulene,whichmakesitveryanti-inflammatory.Itsscenthasawarm,somewhatsweet,herbaceousnotethatblendswellwithmostfloweroils,mostofthecitrusoils,andalloftheotherherbaloils.
CLARYSAGE(B)
Clarysageessentialoilassistswithmusclepains,anxiety,stress,nervoustension,insomnia,menstrualproblems,andPMS.Ontheskin,clarysagecanhelprestorelostskintone.Thescentisfreshandherbaceous,withgrassynotesthatdrydownintoambernotes,duetohighsclareolcompounds.
CORIANDER(T)
Corianderessentialoilcanhelpassistthedigestivesystem,easerheumatismandarthritispainandmuscularspasm,whiledetoxifyingthebody.
CYPRESS(H)
Thisisagrounding,centering,essentialoil,well-knownforhelpingonetogetemotionalbalanceandmentalclarity.Onskinitcanhelpwithsluggishlymphaticconditionsandcirculatorytreatmentstoeliminatetoxinsfromthesystem.Thescentisveryevergreenwithsomeherbaceousnotes.
EUCALYPTUS(T)
Thisoilisanintenselyclean,refreshing,andupliftingoil.Itiscommonlyusedtotreatupperrespiratoryconditions.Itisalsoagreatchoiceformusclepain.
FENNEL(T)
Fennelessentialoilhasasweet,earthy,aniselikearoma.Itisagoodskintonicandcanbebeneficialfordull,andtiredskin.Itcanalsohelpwithpuffyareas(i.e.,eyesandthighs),asithelpstoreducewaterretention.
FRANKINCENSE(B)
Thisoilisusedtorejuvenateskinandencourageskincellgrowth.Itisalsoeffectiveinhealingsoresandwounds,andhelpstoreducescarringandskininflammation.Frankincensesoothesandcalmsthemind.Thescentisfreshandearthy,reminiscentofincenseandhasaslightsweetnessthatisbothwarmanddeep.Inperfumeryitcanbeapowerfulbridgenotetotiethecomponentstogetherandpreventindividualnotesfromstandingout.
GRAPEFRUIT,PINK(T)
Thisoilhastheabilitytoflushfluidsoutoftissues,makingitagreatchoiceforcelluliteandfluidretentionproblems.Itisalsoagreatchoiceforcongested,oily,skinwhereitcanhelpbalanceandcleansetheskinwithoutcausingtheskintooverreactandcreatemoreoil.Itsscentisfreshandtart,withsmoothcitrusnotes.
HELICHRYSUM(B)
Thisoilisknownforitissuperiorantihematomaandscarhealingbenefits.Itisapowerfulcirculationenhancerandskinregenerator,anditisgreatforthetreatmentofbruisesandpoorcirculation.Thescentiswarm,herbaceous,andslightlysweet.
JUNIPERBERRY(T)
Thisoilhasdiureticeffectsthathelpalleviatefluidretention.Ithasdisinfectantandpurifyingactionsandisoftencombinedwithwhitesageforspiritualclearingandcleansing.Italsoimprovescirculationandcanhelpwithmuscleaches,sinceithelpseliminatelacticacidbuildupattheheartofpainandinflammation.Thescentisfreshandupliftingwithwoodynotes.
LAVANDIN(H)
Ahybridfromtruelavenderandspikelavender.Verysimilartolavender,butsmellisabitmorecamphorus.
LAVENDER(H)
Asanessentialoilitsoothesthespirit,relievesinsomnia,andrelievesmuscularspasms.LavenderAbsolutestimulatesthegrowthofnewskincellsandtonestheskin.Itisamusthaveinthefirstaidkitandisoneofthefewoilsthatcanbeapplied“neat”(directlytotheskinwithoutdilution).
LEMON(T)
Thisoilhasanupliftingandrefreshingeffectaswellasrelievingsomeanxietyandstress.Onskin,ithelpswithcleansingandkeepingoilyskinundercontrol.Thescentisbrightandfresh.
MENTHOLCRYSTALS(T)
Mentholcrystalsareanorganiccompoundobtainedfrompeppermintorothermintoils.Itissolidatroomtemperatureandmeltsslightlyabove.Mentholisusedforitslocalanestheticandcounterirritantqualities.
MYRRH(B)
ThisoiloftencombinedwithFrankincenseformeditationandreflection.Onskinitisnurturingtomatureanddryskin,andofferssometighteningandsmoothingproperties.Thescentisdeep,earthy,andslightlybalsamic.
NUTMEG(T)
Thisoilhasasharp,spicy,andrathermuskyaroma.Ithasbeenshowntobeagoodanti-inflammatorythatissuccessfulinrelievingpain,especiallymuscularachesandpain,aswellasrheumatism.
ORANGE,SWEET(T)
Thisoil’sgentle,clarifyingnaturecheerstheheartandbrightensthemood.Itisagreatchoiceforoilyandcongestedskinwhereitcanhelpremoveexcessoilwithoutoverdrying.Itisalsoapopularoilforcleaningproducts.
PALMAROSA(B)
Thisoiliswell-knownforitsuseasanantiviral,duetoitishighgeraniolcontent.Geraniolisoneofthemostpowerfulofnature’santivirals.Onskin,itisgreatforsensitiveandantiagingblends.Thescentissweet,warm,slightlygreen,andbitroselike.Itisaniceadditiontoanyfloralblends.
PATCHOULI,DARK(B)
Thisoilhasaverycalmingeffectonemotions.Workswellondryskinandhair.Inscentblendsithelpsgivetheblendsomestayingpower.
PEPPERMINT(T)
Thisoilhasasoothingeffectonthenervoussystembyrelievingtensionandirritation.Itworkswellasadecongestant,helpingtoopenupcompletelyblockedsinuses.Greatheadachereliever.
PINENEEDLE(H)
Thisoilhasantimicrobialanddecongestingbenefits.Italsohelpsrelieveachesandpainsassociatedwithmuscletension.Thescentiswoody,butwithdepthandsweetness.
ROSEABSOLUTE(H)
Thisabsolutehasexcellentemollientandhydratingproperties,helpingtheskinstaysoftandproperlymoisturized.Itisalsoastimulatingoil,whichisgreatforfightingagingandmaintainingasoft,dewy,andyouthfulcomplexion.
ROSEMARY(T)
Thisoilisgreatfordetoxing,energy,aswellasanytreatmentproductsgearedtowardpainrelief.Thescentisherbaceousandwoodyandblendswellwithotherconifersandthemints.
SANDALWOOD(B)
Thisoilisknownforitssupportiveeffectontissue,beingeffectivefordry,chapped,crackedskin,rashes,andacne.Thescentissweetandwoodywithwarmandrichnotes.Italsohasadefinitemuskynote.
SPRUCE(T)
Thisoilhasdetoxingcapabilities,workingtoeliminatelacticacidbuildupintissue,whichisattheheartofaching,sore,muscles.Thescenthasaconiferousnoteandisclean,sweet,andslightlygreen.
TANGERINE(T)
Thisoilhasanupliftingandrefreshingeffectaswellasrelievingsomeanxietyandstress.Onskin,ithelpswithcleansingandkeepingoilyskinundercontrol.Thescentisbright,fresh,andsweet,andgivesblendsalift.
TEATREE(H)
Thisoilisanotheroneforthefirstaidkit.Itisoneofthemostactiveantisepticoilsavailable.Itsoothesinsectbites,calmsinflammation,actsasanimmunesystemstimulant,andisaneffectivebroadantimicrobialagentagainstbacteria,mold,andfungus.
VANILLACO2(B)
Thisisthecarbondioxideextractofthevanillabean.Vanillahasfewactualtherapeuticbenefits,butisimportantforitsfragrance.Itiscalming,soothing,anditworkswellinromanticandaphrodisiacblends.Thescentissmooth,sweet,andexotic.
VETIVER(B)
Thisoiliswell-knownforhavingacalmingeffectonthepsyche.Itisagreatchoiceforanyblendsgearedtowardmentalhealthordepression.Onskinitisgreatformature,damaged,anddryskin.Thescentisdeepandearthywithjustatouchofsweetness.Inperfumeryitisapowerfulscentfixative.
YLANGYLANG(H)
Thisoilisknownasarelaxationaidthatreducesstressandtension.Ontheskin,ylangylangoilhasasoothingeffectanditisoftenusedtoevenoutover-dryaswellasoverlyoilyskinbybalancingthesecretionofsebum.Itsdeepandexoticscenthasadefinitesweetnessandsmoothness,makingitpopularinperfumes.
RESOURCESThisisalistofsuppliersIuseinmyownbusinessandrecommend.Youwillnoticethattherearemanycompaniesthatarelistedundermultiplecategories.Ihavechosentolistsuppliersthiswaytohelpyoueasilyfindtheingredientforwhichyouarelooking.Manyofthesupplierslistedalsocarryitemsfromothercategoriesincludedherethatmaybeverygood,butsinceIhavenotusedthem,Icannotrecommendthem.
BEESWAXBEEHIVEALCHEMYwww.beehivealchemy.com2115N56thStMilwaukee,WI53208414-403-1993
DADANT&SONSwww.dadant.com51South2ndHamilton,IL62341888-922-1293
LYE(SODIUMHYDROXIDE)AAACHEMICALSwww.aaa-chemicals.com226TEXASCITYWYELaMarque,TX77568409-908-0070
BOYERCORPORATIONwww.boyercorporation.comP.O.Box10LaGrange,IL60525800-323-3040
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BASEOILSANDBUTTERSCOLUMBUSFOODS/SOAPERSCHOICEwww.soaperschoice.com30E.OaktonStreetDesPlaines,IL60018
800-322-6457Ext:8930
BRAMBLEBERRYwww.brambleberry.com2138HumboldtSt.,Bellingham,WA98225360-734-8278
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
CAMDEN-GREYESSENTIALOILS,INCwww.camdengrey.com3567NW82AvenueDoral,FL33122305-500-9630
NEWDIRECTIONSAROMATICSwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com6781ColumbusRoadMississauga,Ontario,L5T2G9Canada800-246-7817
ESSENTIALOILSANDFRAGRANCEOILSAROMAHAVEN/RUSTICESCENTUALS,LLChttp://rusticescentuals.com1050CanaanRoadRoebuck,SC29376814-217-7113
NEWDIRECTIONSAROMATICSwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com6781ColumbusRoadMississauga,Ontario,L5T2G9Canada1-800-246-7817
WHITELOTUSAROMATICSwww.whitelotusaromatics.com941E.SnowlineDr.PortAngeles,WA98362360-452-9516
CAMDEN-GREYESSENTIALOILS,INCwww.camdengrey.com3567NW82AvenueDoral,FL33122US305-500-9630
CONTAINERSANDPACKAGINGSKSBOTTLES&PACKAGING,INCwww.sks-bottle.com26007thAvenueBuilding60WestWatervliet,NY12189518-880-6980
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BOTTLESANDMOREwww.bottlesandmore.com4523SunsetOaksDr.Paradise,CA95969530-872-2745
HERBSANDBOTANICALSMONTEREYBAYSPICECOwww.herbco.com241WalkerSt.,Watsonville,CA95076831-426-2808
ROCKYMOUNTAINSPICECOwww.rockymountainspice.com3850NomeSt.,Denver,CO80239303-308-8066
MOUNTAINROSEHERBSwww.mountainroseherbs.comP.O.Box50220Eugene,OR97405800-879-3337
SPECIALTYCOSMETICINGREDIENTSTHEHERBARIEATSTONEYHILLFARM,INC.www.theherbarie.comProsperity,SC29127803-364-9979
LOTIONCRAFTERwww.lotioncrafter.com532PointLawrenceRoadOlga,WA98279360-376-8008
INGREDIENTSTODIEFORwww.ingredientstodiefor.com5103-ACommercialParkDr.Austin,TX78724512-535-2711
MAJESTICMOUNTAINSAGEwww.thesage.com2490South1350WestNibley,UT84321435-755-0863
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BRAMBLEBERRYwww.brambleberry.com2138HumboldtSt.,Bellingham,WA98225360-734-8278
INTERNATIONALSUPPLIERSVOYAGEURSOAPANDCANDLECO.www.voyageursoapandcandle.com#14-19257EnterpriseWaySurrey,BCV3S6J8800-758-7773
GRACEFRUITwww.gracefruit.com146GlasgowRoad
Longcroft,Stirlingshire,FK41QL,UKTelephone:01324841353
THESOAPKITCHENwww.thesoapkitchen.co.ukTheSoapKitchenPlus(shop),11aSouthStreet,Torrington,Devon,EX388AA,UKTel:01805622221
SIDNEYESSENTIALOILCOMPANYwww.seoc.com.au11BurrowsRoadSouth,St.Peters,NSW2044Australia
NEWDIRECTIONSAUSTRALIAwww.newdirections.com.au47CarringtonRd.Marrickville,Sydney,NSW2204Australia
KOSMETISCHEROHSTOFFEhttp://www.kosmetische-rohstoffe.deKaiHabermannAmGrenzberg3463654BüdingenGermany
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IwouldliketothankmyboyfriendKarlfordiscoveringhispassionforbeesandforfindingmystashofhandmadesoapsallthoseyearsago.ItwasthiscombinationofeventsthatledtobuildingBeehiveAlchemyintothebusinessitistoday.IwouldalsoliketothankMarthaStewart,who’sAmericanMadeprojectservedasajumping-offpointformanyoftheopportunitiesthatIhavehadtheprivilegetoparticipatein,inthelastyear,thewritingofthisbookbeingoneofthem.Lastly,theteamatQuarryBooksarealsodeservingofahugeThankYouforunderstandingmyneedforflexibilitytostilloperatebothmysoapandbeekeepingbusinesseswhilewritingthisbook.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
PETRAAHNERTistheownerandcreativeforcebehindBeehiveAlchemy.Shehasbeenmakingsoapsandbody-careproductsforclosetotwodecades,althoughtheuseofhoney,beeswaxandotherbee-relatedproductsonlycameintothepictureaftersheandherboyfrienddiscoveredbeekeepingin2004andanewbusinesswasborn.Shenowsellsherwaresonline(www.beehivealchemy.com)andatregionalcraftshowsandfarmers’markets.ShelivesinMilwaukee,Wisconsin,andkeepsbeesscatteredthroughoutsouthwestWisconsin.
INDEXAadvancedprojectsBeeswaxCream,64–65HoneyandBeeswaxSoap,76–77Honey,Oats,andBeeswaxSoap,78–79
All-PurposeSalve,58apricotoil,overview,121arnica,overview,126artBatik,104–109Encaustic,110–117
avocadooil,overview,121
BbalmsBasicLipBalm,44ChestRub,53CuticleBalm,50disposablecontainersfor,19HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipBalmwithButters,45SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
BasicLipBalm,44BatikBatikDishTowels,108–109BatikNapkins,106–107beeswax/paraffinratio,105dyetechniques,105waxremoval,105
BeadingandSewing,100–101BeeswaxCream,64–65BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87beginnerprojectsAll-PurposeSalve,58BasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85
BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87BurnSalve,59ChestRub,52CrackedSkinSalve,58CuticleBalm,50CuttingBoardConditioner,90EncausticPainting,114–115Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61ItchSoother,59LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46MassageBar,49NonpetroleumJelly,53OilHerbalInfusion,57RolledTaperCandles,23RosebudSalve,60SalveMasterRecipe,56SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67SolidWoodPolish,91ThreadConditioner,101VotiveCandles,29–30WaterproofSneakers,96–97WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabric,94–95WoodConditionerCream,92Woodworker ’sSalve,60
benzoinoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
bergamotmintoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
bergamotoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
birchoil
ChestRub,52overview,128
bleachedwax,9,17,111broodwax,17BurnSalve,59
CcalendulablossomsAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59overview,126
camphoroilChestRub,52IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,128
candies,13candlesburntests,27flatteningbottomsof,35Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39historyof,10MoldedPillarCandles,31–35molds,11,19,28–35RolledPillarCandles,24–25RolledTaperCandles,23RomanCatholicChurchand,10siliconemolds,11VotiveCandles,29–30waxfor,16wicks,26,27,32
CanelésdeBordeaux,13cappings,8,9,16,26castoroilBasicLipBalm,44HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipGloss,46NonpetroleumJelly,53overview,121
ricinoleicacid,125SoapStarterRecipe,74–75
cedarwoodatlasoil,overview,128chamomileCrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59overview,126
chamomileoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
ChestRub,52chickweedleafAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
Chineseculture,10clarysageoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
clean-up,19,30cocoabutterEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61lauricacidand,72LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46MassageBar,49overview,120SolidLotionBar,48stearicacidand,124
coconutoilBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65fractionatedcoconutoiland,122HeelBalm,51HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79overview,122SoapStarterRecipe,74–75SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
comfreyleafandrootAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
Woodworker ’sSalve,60commercialbeekeeping,16corianderoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
CrackedSkinSalve,58crayons,13creamsBeeswaxCream,64–65disposablecontainersfor,19WoodConditionerCream,92
Crisco,74CuticleBalm,50CuttingBoardConditioner,90cypressoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
EEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63emuoilHeelBalm,51overview,122
Encausticscollage,116–117masterbatch,112mixing,113paintingwith,114–115resinand,111waxfor,17,111
erucicacidjojobaoiland,122overview,125
eucalyptusoilChestRub,52IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,129
e-waxBeeswaxCream,64–65EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,124
Ffennel
overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
filteredwax,9,16fractionatedcoconutoiloverview,122SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
frankincenseoverview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ggadoleicacidjojobaoil,122overview,125
Germanchamomile,overview,126GermanchamomileoilCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,128
glassetching,13graftingwax,13grapefruitoilCuticleBalm,50overview,129
grapeseedoilAll-PurposeSalve,58OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,122
Hhand-dippedcandlescontainersfor,37Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39
HeelBalm,51helichrysumoilItchSoother,59overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
homeproductsBeadingandSewing,100–101BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83
BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87CuttingBoardConditioner,90SolidWoodPolish,91ThreadConditioner,101WaterproofSneakers,96–97WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabrics,94–95WoodConditionerCream,92
HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79
IIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61intermediateprojectsBasicBurnTest,27BatikDishTowels,108–109BatikNapkins,106–107EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63EncausticCollage,116–117EncausticMasterBatch,112EncausticPaintMixing,113MoldedPillarCandles,31–35PerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69RolledPillarCandles,24–25SoapStarterRecipe,74–75SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe,68
ItchSoother,59
Jjojobaoiloverview,122SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
juniperberryoil,overview,129
LlanolinBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65CuticleBalm,50LipBalmwithButters,45overview,124
lavandinoilAll-PurposeSalve,58
overview,129lavenderAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
lavenderoilAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59lavandinoiland,129overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69Woodworker ’sSalve,60
leather,waterproofing,12lecithinCuticleBalm,50overview,124
lemonoilCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51overview,129
linoleicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121castoroiland,121cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123overview,125
lipbalmsBasicLipBalm,44LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46
“lost-wax”casting,13
lye,72,73,74
MmangobutterBeeswaxCream,64–65CuticleBalm,50EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,120SolidLotionBar,48
marshmallowrootItchSoother,59overview,127
MassageBar,49mentholcrystalsIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,129peppermintoiland,129
moldedcandlesMoldedPillarCandles,31–35VotiveCandles,29–30
myrrhoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
NNonpetroleumJelly,53nutmegoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ooleicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121castoroiland,121cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122jojobaoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122overview,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123
sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
OilHerbalInfusion,57oliveoilAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59ChestRub,52CrackedSkinSalve,58HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61ItchSoother,59OilHerbalInfusion,57oleicacidand,122overview,122palmiticacidand,122RosebudSalve,60SoapStarterRecipe,74–75Woodworker ’sSalve,60
optiphenBeeswaxCream,64–65EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,124
orangeoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ppalmarosaoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
palmiticacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121cocoabutterand,120coconutoiland,122emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122
overview,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
palmitoleicacidjojobaoiland,122overview,125sweetalmondoiland,123
pastilles,18patchoulioiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
pathogens,9peppermintoilCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51ItchSoother,59mentholcrystalsand,129overview,130
percentages,18PerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69pillarcandlescavitycorrection,34curing,35flatteningbottomsof,35foundations,26MoldedPillarCandles,31–35testing,27unmolding,34–35wicking,26
pineneedleoilCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,130
plantainleafAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58overview,127Woodworker ’sSalve,60
Rricebranoil,overview,123ricinoleicacidcastoroiland,121overview,125
rolledcandlesRolledPillarCandles,24–25RolledTaperCandles,23squaring,26wicking,26
Romanchamomile.SeeGermanchamomile.roseabsoluteoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69RosebudSalve,60
rosemaryoverview,127Woodworker ’sSalve,60
rosemaryoilIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,130
rosemaryoleoresinBasicLipBalm,44overview,124SolidLotionBar,48
rustprevention,12
SsaffloweroilEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,123
salvesAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59RosebudSalve,60SalveMasterRecipe,56Woodworker ’sSalve,60
sandalwoodoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
SaponificationRatio(SAP),72,74
self-heal,overview,127sesameoilMassageBar,49overview,123
sheabutterHeelBalm,51LipGloss,46overview,120SolidLotionBar,48
slumgum,9,17soapsCriscoand,74curing,75,77,79equipmentfor,73gelphase,75HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79lye,72,73,74,77molds,73,75,77,79protectivegear,73SaponificationRatio(SAP),72,74StarterRecipe,74–75tracestage,75
solidbody-carebarsCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51MassageBar,49SolidLotionBar,48
SolidNaturalPerfumesPerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe,68
SolidWoodPolish,91soybeanoilCuticleBalm,50overview,123
spruceoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
stearicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121BeeswaxCream,64–65
cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122jojobaoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122overview,124,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
St.John’swortCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,127
sunfloweroilLipBalmwithButters,45overview,123
sweetalmondoilapricotoiland,121BasicLipBalm,44EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63HeelBalm,51LipGloss,46OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,123SolidLotionBar,48
sweetorangeoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
TT-50,overview,124tangerineoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
teatreeoilCrackedSkinSalve,58IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,130
ThreadConditioner,101thyme
ItchSoother,59overview,127
VvanillaCO2oil,overview,130vetiveroiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
vitaminEBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65ChestRub,52CuticleBalm,50EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipBalmwithButters,45NonpetroleumJelly,53OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,125SalveMasterRecipe,56SolidLotionBar,48
VotiveCandles,29–30
WWaterproofSneakers,96–97waxancientEgyptiansand,10beesand,8bleachedwax,9broodwax,17candlewax,16cappings,8,9,16Chinesecultureand,10cleaningup,19compoundsin,8creationof,8filtering,9,16,17freezing,19honeyand,8,9,16honeycombs,8hunter-gatherersand,10meltingpointof,8,19modernusesof,11–13
moldsizes,18pastilles,18pathogensand,9processing,16protectingsurfacesfrom,19RomanCatholicChurchand,10scales,8slumgum,9,17specificgravityof,8temperaturesand,8whitewax,17
WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabrics,94–95whitewax,17wicking,26,27,32WoodConditionerCream,92Woodworker ’sSalve,60
Yylangylangoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
DEDICATIONThisbookisdedicatedtothebeesandthewarriorswhoseetotheirprotection;andtomyparents,whoinstilledinmealoveandcuriosityofcreatureslargeandsmall.
©2015QuarryBooks
FirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericain2015byQuarryBooks,amemberofQuartoPublishingGroupUSAInc.100CummingsCenterSuite406-LBeverly,Massachusetts01915-6101Telephone:(978)282-9590Fax:(978)283-2742www.quarrybooks.comVisitwww.Craftside.netforabehind-the-scenespeekatourcraftyworld!
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformwithoutwrittenpermissionofthecopyrightowners.Allimagesinthisbookhavebeenreproducedwiththeknowledgeandpriorconsentoftheartistsconcerned,andnoresponsibilityisacceptedbytheproducer,publisher,orprinterforanyinfringementofcopyrightorotherwise,arisingfromthecontentsofthispublication.Everyefforthasbeenmadetoensurethatcreditsaccuratelycomplywithinformationsupplied.Weapologizeforanyinaccuraciesthatmayhaveoccurredandwillresolveinaccurateormissinginformationinasubsequentreprintingofthebook.
Digitaleditionpublishedin2015
Digitaledition:978-1-62788-160-9Softcoveredition:978-1-59253-979-6
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataavailable
Design:BurgeAgencyPhotography:DanBishopPhotography