I made the most out of a catastrophe. During an inspection of my top bar hive. 3 very large combs fell off due to the heat. I stuck them in a Tupperware and didn’t touch it until November when I realized I had a real treasure! It took a few hours, as the rendering of the wax can take some time. But the more you melt and strain, the lighter the color and the “cleaner” the wax became. I was able to make about 20 small lip balm containers as gifts for family and friends, and I bought little bee stickers to go on top. I’m going to do the same this year, but everyone will also be getting a jar of honey!
Julie Blick’s Lip Balm Recipe
Ingredients:
· 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles or (beeswax block, grated)
· 1/4 cup shea butter
· 1 tbsp coconut oil
· 40 drops peppermint essential oils* (about 1/2 tsp)
· Empty lip balm tubes
Instructions:
1. In a double boiler, or a heat-safe bowl nestled on top of a pot of simmering water over medium low heat, combine beeswax pastilles, shea butter, and coconut oil.
2. Heat for about 10 minutes until the mixture is completely melted.
3. Remove from heat and stir in peppermint essential oils.
4. Pour the mixture into a glass cup or a measuring cup with a spout.
5. Carefully pour into the empty lip balm tubes and fill them up to the top.
6. Let them cool for 30 minutes before putting on the cap.
Notes:
If you don’t like the peppermint flavor, you can use other essential oils like grapefruit or lavender. Avoid them altogether if you prefer unscented!