Beeswax Alchemy - by Petra Ahnert (Paperback)

About the Book

The possibilities for beeswax are endless! With Beeswax Alchemy, learn how to extract and purify beeswax to create your own soap, candles, balms, creams, and salves fresh from the hive.

Book Synopsis

Featuring over 40 DIY projects that illustrate how to transform one of the world's most natural ingredients into tangible creations, Beeswax Alchemy is the perfect amalgamation of recipe craft book and beekeepers' guide.

Considered the miracle of the beehive and used by humans for 8,000 years, beeswax remains a vital ingredient to society and is still used as the foundation for many household products in the twenty-first century. Learn from apiarist and entrepreneur Petra Ahnert about the history of beeswax, as well as tips and techniques on how to mold it into beautiful, reusable creations.

An introduction details the different ways in which beeswax has been used throughout history, as well as the products that contain it today. You'll also find an explanation of the different types of beeswax, as well as insider tips on working with beeswax, followed by step-by-step instructions for making candles, balms, salves, creams, scrubs, soaps, ornaments, art, and more out of beeswax (either your own or store-bought). Color photos illustrate the processes and show finished results throughout. Among the useful and beautiful things you'll learn to make out of beeswax:

• Hand-Dipped Birthday Candles
• Lip Balm with Cocoa Butter
• Rosebud Salve
• Solid Natural Perfumes
• Honey, Oats, and Beeswax Soap
• Beeswax Luminaries

Whether you are an expert beekeeper or experimental crafter, Beeswax Alchemy is the best guide for anyone aspiring to make wellness-boosting treasures to keep or gift to friends and family.

Review Quotes

"...a fabulous book with instructions and excellent photos on virtually any product one might wish to make from beeswax. It is so well written I never lost interest and was not tempted to skip around or to hurry to the end. The photos in the book are outstanding and make it even more professional and informative." - Suzanne Finley, Saponifier Magazine

"Beeswax is a wonderful, malleable and beneficial product that has a wide array of possible uses. This attractive book has a lot to offer for the intermediate do-it-yourselfer. In her debut book, businesswoman Ahnert provides an excellent introduction and solid technique instruction to make candles, lotions, and soaps with beeswax. VERDICT The true strength of this book is its instructions for making homemade body products. While similar in coverage to Leeann Coleman and Jayne Barnes's Honey Crafting, Ahnert's book provides better body products and more detailed technical instruction. Strongly recommended." - Library Journal

"This book basically lets you become your own Burts Bees, but better, with clear instructions on how to make candles, soaps, salves and creams out of beeswax and much, much more! Beeswax candles help clean the air, beeswax salves have anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-viral benefits. For people who have allergy problems, beeswax is a "go to" product. Once I started looking into the benefits of beeswax products, it made me realize all the man-made chemicals in those same products bought at a store." - Jeannie Boutelle (The Local Beet blog)

About the Author

Petra Ahnert is the creative force behind Beehive Alchemy (beehivealchemy.com), an artisan soap, body care, and home goods business. After a serendipitous meeting with a beekeeper at the library in 2002, Petra soon had a couple hives of her own and extra honey to sell. Since that time, she has sought out ways to make good use of the extra wax, too, often replacing items in her home with ones she can create herself. Eventually, these beeswax-based items made their way into the product line-up for Beehive Alchemy and the projects featured in her book, Beeswax Alchemy.