Have you heard of beeswax sheets? If you’re not a beekeeper, you may not even be aware that there is such a thing. But if you’re interested in making homemade candles, you’ll want to read on.
Sheets of beeswax are manufactured by melting the wax, filtering out impurities, and rolling the wax through a press. The resulting sheets are embossed with a honeycomb pattern, and for very good reason.
Beekeepers use these sheets in their bee hives. For this use the sheets are called foundation. The bees build honeycomb upon the foundation, following the pattern embossed into the sheets.
Using the foundation as, well, the ‘foundation’ of a honeycomb gives the comb extra strength.
And it also helps assure that the bees build the comb straight and even so that the beekeeper will be able to easily remove it from the hive to harvest the honey.
No Easier Method of Making Candles…
Even if you’re not a beekeeper, you can put beeswax sheets to an entirely different use: making candles.
You just roll the sheet of beeswax around a wick, and violà – you have a homemade candle made of pure beeswax! Easy and fun!
Beekeepers, of course, use the wax only in its natural form for foundation. Here is a link to my favorite natural candle making kit.
But for making candles, you can buy sheets in a rainbow’s array of different colors. Here is a link to my favorite color beewax candle kit.
If you’re buying colored sheets, be aware that some (not all) retailers may sell colored sheets made of beeswax AND paraffin.
Might not be a big deal to you, but if you want pure beeswax, just be careful about what you buy.
(Most of the links on this page are to products that are 100% pure beeswax.)
How To Make Your Own Beeswax Sheet Candle Videos
Here are some great step by step videos I found on DIY candle making with beeswax sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are beeswax sheets?
Beeswax sheets are thin sheets of beeswax that are used in a variety of ways. They can be used as a food wrap, to make candles, or to create a variety of other beeswax products. Beeswax is a natural product that is made by bees. It is made up of a variety of compounds, including wax esters, fatty acids, and other organic materials.
Beeswax Food Wrap Sheets
This is a different type of sheet then discussed on this page but I get a lot of questions about them. When used as a food wrap, the beeswax sheet is placed over food and then wrapped tightly with string or another material to keep the food fresh.
The beeswax creates a barrier that prevents air and moisture from reaching the food, which helps to keep it fresh for a longer period of time.
Are there any precautions you need to take when using beeswax sheets?
When using beeswax sheets, there are a few precautions you need to take. First, make sure the sheets are clean and free of debris.
Second, be sure to wear gloves when handling the sheets, as they can be quite sticky.
Third, be careful not to heat the sheets too much, as they can melt and become difficult to work with. Finally, always store the sheets in a cool, dry place.