How to Render Raw Beeswax

Removing old comb from frames prior to setting up hives for a new season is a great way to get usable comb

I have a beehive in my backyard. Three years ago I took a beekeeping class from my local beekeepers club, read a few books on the subject, built my own hive, and started keeping bees. I made it to October before they packed their bags and LEFT. Two years later, we had moved and I decided to try again. This time, I got TWO hives because there is a 50/50 chance your hive will not live through it’s first year for various reasons. Well, BOTH of those hives didn’t make it. That was it. I was done keeping bees. I wasn’t doing something right, and to be honest- it’s very expensive to keep bees and I didn’t feel I had enough time to devote to their care. Instead, I decided I would plant all the pollinator friendly flowers to attract them and feed them. THAT I could do. I decided to leave one of my hives up in my yard because it still contained recourses bees needed and I figured it would help the neighboring bees that wondered over to our yard. Well low and behold, a hive MOVED INTO my hive this summer without me doing ANYTHING. And that hive has been thriving ever since. I have pretty much just left them alone aside from giving them an easily accessible water source and an extra super.

When I opened the hive one sunny day this past summer just to do a quick check, I noticed they were working on kicking out all the old wax comb to build new , fresh comb. I collected this comb and a little more over the summer months to render down into usable form.

I personally prefer to use local beeswax in all of the products I create. However, this isn’t always feasible depending on how much product I’m making and I will order beeswax pellets from Amazon when I am in need. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but I do believe there is something a little more magical about the products I’m creating and using when I know the ingredients came from my own backyard or somewhere local to me. The same principle as “eat local” applies to the products you put on your skin.

The process is pretty easy, really. I like to take old pantyhose or trouser socks and fill it with my raw comb, tying it off at the end. Grab an old pot (you wont be able to use it in food preparation anymore so be sure you use something reserved just for this purpose) and fill it with water. Start to boil your water and add the comb filled sock, the wax will start to melt in the hot water and will seep out of the hose/sock trapping all the debris that is in the comb. Once you feel like all your wax has melted down, remove the sock and turn the burner off. As the wax cools, it will solidify on top of the water. I usually let my pot sit overnight. Once it’s solidified, you’ll be able to break the wax free from around the pot and lift it out of the water. The wax is now ready to use in your skincare products!

I put together a little video on the process if you are more of a visual learner. This is my first video (so forgive any quality issues) and I hope to do more as I make fresh product. I wanted to offer you more support if you are just starting off on this journey of making your own products.

If you haven’t gotten your copy of my book: Forrest + Thyme Apothecary: simple skincare formulas your can make uniquely your own, you can get your paperback + kindle versions here and a PDF version you can print at home here.

I’m including a few links below as additional resources. These are affiliated links and I do get a tiny commission if you purchase using these links, however the prices is the same if you use the links or not.