Beeswax

[Wessam]

Is there any benefit of adding beeswax to CP soap? if so what is the best way to use it?

 

[dixiedragon]

I like it at 5%. IMO, it makes a very hard bar. I also love the color it adds. Some people say it decreases lather. I always use mine with honey, which maybe balances it out? I've never noticed a decrease in lather. You will have to soap hotter b/c beeswax will solidify at a higher temperature than most oils.

 

[Wessam]

I like it at 5%. IMO, it makes a very hard bar. I also love the color it adds. Some people say it decreases lather. I always use mine with honey, which maybe balances it out? I've never noticed a decrease in lather. You will have to soap hotter b/c beeswax will solidify at a higher temperature than most oils.

Thank you Dexiedragon... so i understand it does not work for CP soap... it also does not add too much value to the soap the is equevilant to its cost?

 

[Seawolfe]

You can use it in CP soap, you just have to have the oils warmer than usual to keep the beeswax melted. I've used it at around 2% and it helped to make a nice hard bar. Whether or not its worth it for your purposes is up to you.

 

[dixiedragon]

Thank you Dexiedragon... so i understand it does not work for CP soap... it also does not add too much value to the soap the is equevilant to its cost?

I think that's a matter of opinion. I like to make a soap with honey and beeswax and scent it with Honey Beeswax FO. I have beeswax on hand anyway to make lip balm, and I buy it in 10 pound amounts from Columbus foods. So, to me, it's worth it. But it may not be worth it to you.

 

[reinbeau]

I think it's very worth it. Just soap warmer than usual - no fancy stuff, really. I do like a nice honey beeswax soap.

 

[MorpheusPA]

As a substitute, I use fully hydrogenated soybean oil (soy wax). It adds the same hardness at low percentages, without the cost.

What soy wax doesn't add is the unique color and scent of beeswax, but I find a good gold color and beeswax/honey FO can get you around that one...

 

[LBussy]

Lee sighs, and places another order.

 

[reinbeau]

I have hives, so I have all the beeswax I need

 

[not_ally]

I have been thinking of using beeswax b/c my brother-in-law keeps bees so I have access to lots of it. But for some reason (probably read it somewhere and it got stuck in my head), thought it was harder to soap w/it, faster tracing, etc. Not true?

 

[Seawolfe]

The few times I've used it, it's been well behaved, just soap warm and don't plan crazy swirl action.

 

[LBussy]

I have been thinking of using beeswax b/c my brother-in-law keeps bees so I have access to lots of it. But for some reason (probably read it somewhere and it got stuck in my head), thought it was harder to soap w/it, faster tracing, etc. Not true?

I would assume some folks would say that because it definitely needs melted down. The melting point is not high, ~145°F. I imagine it might be like using SA where cool utensils can make it "look like" it traced too quick. I think Lindy shared a tip where she pre-heats the end of the SB to prevent that. Once I started doing that I've had less issues with SA and I assume I would do the same with beeswax.

I wonder though if saponification occurs. it's made of fatty-acid esters and sometimes these do saponify and sometimes they do not. Knowing that might give us some idea of when and how to introduce it most optimally.

 

[reinbeau]

I have been thinking of using beeswax b/c my brother-in-law keeps bees so I have access to lots of it. But for some reason (probably read it somewhere and it got stuck in my head), thought it was harder to soap w/it, faster tracing, etc. Not true?

Beeswax helps to seal moisture into your skin, and I think it adds a nice quality to the feeling of the soap, however, don't use too much. I keep it to about 3% ppo. You do have to soap warm. What I do is have the stickblender going as I add it into my warm oils, and blend it right in. You might see some threads of it, but they'll melt into the soap during saponification, especially if you gel the soap. No fancy swirls, as mentioned. I have a little crockpot dedicated to melting beeswax, I never clean it out, just melt for the next batch.

 

[not_ally]

I'm going to try this, Ann, with some bubble wrap lining the mold to give it some added texture. I bought a bunch of honey related soap stuff for my BIL (he is the best one in the world, more like my actual brother), but he just likes "regular soap". Curmudgeonly, lovable, beekeepers are the best, regardless of their occasional mis-choices in soap

 

[KristaY]

I have hives, so I have all the beeswax I need

I laughed my rear off at this Ann! My first thought was you actually had hives, the skin condition. So I'm thinking beeswax must have some magical quality that heals this type of problem. Honestly, it probably does but my blondness just pops out at the oddest moments....

 

[nframe]

Lee sighs, and places another order.

I know how you feel...