Credits:Biovision-Infonet
The following recipes were popular on a bee product training course of Apiconsult conducted in Somalia. Ingredients are generally available in Kenya. Be innovative where something is missing and experiment with what is at hand. Many bee farmers in Kenya make additional income making and selling simple beeswax based creams which are reputed to have medicinal properties. Add value and make more money from your beekeeping!
1. Candles
There are many possibilities such as dipped, moulded, balloon shell, scented, engraved and herb candles
2. Leather Softener
When old leather such as belts, gloves and shoes become hard. This formula softens leather and makes it waterproof.
- 30g beeswax
- 240g of petroleum jelly
Melt the ingredients in a double pan. Brush the hot mixture onto the leather and allow it to penetrate. If possible place the item in the hot sun to allow the mixture to penetrate the leather. Polish the leather with a cloth to remove excess waterproofing.
3. Wood Dressing
This finish protects floors and outside timber which have not been painted and where paint is not desired.
- 60 g of beeswax
- 1 litre of linseed oil
Melt the beeswax and stir in the oil. Apply the mixture with a brush.
4. Chapped Lip Balm
- 1 Tablespoon of Shredded Beeswax
- 1 Tablespoon of Petroleum Jelly
- 1 Teaspoon of Honey
- 1 Tablespoon of Lanolin
- 3 to 4 Drops of Essential Oil
Melt the wax lanolin and petroleum jelly in a double pan. Add the honey and essential oil. Stir the mixture until it cools.
5. Honey Ointment
- 1 part honey
- 2 parts petroleum jelly
Combine the ingredients. Honey has well documented healing properties.
6. Saddle Soap/ Skin Cream
- 75 g of beeswax
- 120 g of anhydrous lanolin
- 2/3 cup of baby oil
- 3/4 cup of water
- 1 teaspoon of borax (sodium borate, C. P.)
- Fragrant essential oil (optional)
Chemically pure borax is sold in a pharmacy. Lanolin can also be purchased there. In a double pan melt the oil beeswax and lanolin to about 70 degrees centigrade. Melt the borax and water in a separate container to the same temperature. Add the water mixture to the oil mixture while stirring briskly. When white cream forms stir slowly until the mixture cools to 38 degrees centigrade. Pour into small wide mouth jars.
7. Petroleum Jelly
Petrolium Jelly is easy to make and is an ingredient in many other products. Naturalists preferring not to use petrolium products may use a natural oil instead of the mineral oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, corn oil etc to give an “un-petrolium jelly”
- 30 g of beeswax
- 1/2 cup baby or mineral oil
Melt the ingredients in a water bath. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir until it cools.
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