Beeswax Alchemy How to Make Your Own Soap
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Transcript of Beeswax Alchemy How to Make Your Own Soap
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PetraAhnert
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CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTIONTOBEESWAXBriefHistoryofBeeswax
HowBeeswaxIsUsedToday
CHAPTER1THEWAXCandleWax
BeekeepersWax
BroodWax
WhiteWax
InsiderTips
CHAPTER2CANDLEMAKINGRolledCandles
RolledTaperCandles
RolledPillarCandles
Wicking
MoldedCandles
VotiveCandles
MoldedPillarCandles
Hand-DippedCandles
Hand-DippedTaperCandles
Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles
CHAPTER3BALMSANDBARSBasicLipBalm
LipBalmwithButters
LipGloss
SolidBody-CareBars
SolidLotionBar
MassageBar
CuticleBalm
HeelBalm
ChestRub
NonPetroleumJelly
CHAPTER4SALVES,CREAMSANDSCRUBSSalveMasterRecipe
OilHerbalInfusion
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All-PurposeSalve
CrackedSkinSalve
BurnSalve
ItchSoother
RosebudSalve
WoodworkersSalve
IcyJoint&MuscleBalm
EmulsifyingSugarScrub
BeeswaxCream
SolidNaturalPerfumes
SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe
PerfumeEssentialOilBlends
CHAPTER5SOAPSStarterRecipe(Nobeeswaxorhoney)
HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(Coldprocessrecipe)
Honey,Oats,andBeeswaxSoap(Hotprocessrecipe)
CHAPTER6HOMEPRODUCTSBeeswaxOrnaments
BeeswaxDippedLeaves
BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters
BeeswaxLuminaries
CuttingBoardConditioner
SolidWoodPolish
WoodConditionerCream
BeeswaxFurntiurePolish
WaxedFabric
WaterproofSneakers
WaxedCottonSandwichWraps
BeadingandSewing
ThreadConditioner
CHAPTER7BEESWAXARTBatik
Encaustic
CHAPTER8INGREDIENTSGUIDEButters
Oils
Miscellaneous
FattyAcidGlossary
Herbs
EssentialOils
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Resources
Acknowledgments
AbouttheAuthor
Index
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PREFACE
Istartedworkingwithbeeswaxin2003whenmyboyfriendandIgotourfirsthives,butmyloveaffairwithcraftstartedbackwhenIwasachild.IamanonlychildborntoGermanimmigrants.Mymotherlivedanadventurouslifebeforemeetingmydad.ShetrainedasakindergartenteacherinGermanyandspenteightyearslivinginPeru,teachinginaGermanschool.Itwastherewhereshewasinspiredtolearntomakethingsbyhandandfromscratch.BythetimeIcamealong,shehadbecomethequintessentialhousewife—anexcellentcook,accomplishedseamstress,andavidgardener.Latershestudiedweaving,pottery,andlapidaryatthelocalcommunitycollege.Shehadamantrathatstillechoesinmyheadtoday:“Youcanmakethat!”SheusuallyremindedmeofthiswhenIwaseyeingsomethingatthemallthatIwantedtobuywithmyallowanceandusually,underhertutelage,IsucceededinmakingsomethingIlikedevenbetter.
MyfatherwastrainedasamachinistinGermanyandhadtheveryprecisemindthistypeofworkrequired.HespentmostofhislifeworkingasamachinistinGermanyandtheUnitedStates,andlaterasanengineer.Athome,hewas“Mr.fix-it”and“Mr.build-it.”Healwayshadsomesortofprojectthatkepthimoccupied.Whenheandmymomfirstgotmarried,moneywastight,sohebuiltalltheirfurniture—bedandnightstandsinthebedroom,couchandcoffeetableforthelivingroom,andakitchentable.Beingsomewhatofatraditionalist,heencouragedmetospendmyfreetimewithmymother,helpingherwithcooking,cleaning,andgardening,buthewasdoingfarmoreexcitingthingsinthegarageandworkshop.SoIwouldoftenjoinhimtohelpwithhisprojectsandlearnaboutwoodworkingandmechanicalthingssuchaslawnmowersandcars.
Iamdefinitelyaproductofthesetwocharacters!Iremembertakinganinterests-and-careertestgivenbytheguidancecounselorinhighschool.IansweredeachquestionashonestlyasIcouldandthenwaitedforwhatseemedlikeweeksforthetestresults.Theresultscameintheformofanumberwithasupportingpiechartthatmappedthenumbersaroundtheoutside,andeachnumberrepresentedacareerpath.Myresultwas99andIsearchedthepiechartforalongtimebeforeIfinallyfoundit—rightsmackdabinthemiddleofthecircle.Idon’trememberexactlywhattheycalledthatcategory,butIthinkitwas“unclassified”orsomethingequallyobtuse.Iwasfurious!ItwasNOhelpatall!Intheyearssince,Ihavecometolovemy99score,realizingthatitallboilsdowntobalanceanddesire.Basically,IcandowhateverIwanttodo,ifIputmymindtoit.ButtobetrulyhappyatwhatIamdoing,Imustfindthebalancebetweentheanalyticalandthecreative.IttookmefiveyearsofcollegeandsixteenyearsofworkasanengineertorealizeIneededtoincludecreativeoutletsinmylifeaswell.
WhenImetmyboyfriend,Karl,hewaslookingfordirectioninhislife.Ashorttimelater,hemetabeekeeper ’swifeatthelibrary.SheneededhelpprintingoutsomethingandafterKarlhelpedher,hementionedhisfascinationwithbees,andaskedherifherhusbandeverneededhelp.Shechuckledand
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saidthatmostpeoplewereleeryofworkingwithbeessohecouldusuallyuseahand.ThenextweekKarlwashelpinghim,andbytheendoftheseasonhehadastarterhive.Hewashooked!Thenextyearwerampedup,buyingtenmorecolonies,andlearnedthatkeepingthebeesalivewasnotallthateasy!Wedidhavesomesuperyummyhoney,though,andsomeawesomelightyellowbeeswax.
RightaboutthetimethatKarldiscoveredbeekeeping,healsostumbledonmystashofhandmadesoaps.Thesesoapsweretheproductofatwo-yearsoap-makingbinge.Yearsearlier,myfriendLauriehadcalledmeupandaskedifIwantedtolearntomakesoap.Atthetime,Itoldherno—Ihadtoomanyhobbiesalreadyanddidn’tneedtoputmytimeandmoneyintoyetanotherone,butshepersistedandaboutamonthlater,Icalledherupandsaid,“Fine!Youwin.Showmehow.”Iwentshoppingforsuppliesandwescheduledadayforsoapmaking.Togetherwemadetwoorthreebatchesofsoapthatday.“OHMYGOSH!!!”Itoldher,“Thisisthecoolestthingever!”Iwashooked!Aftersheleft,Iwentoutandboughtmoresuppliesandmadeenoughsoaptolastanarmyalifetime!Ihandedthebarsouttofamilyandfriendsandhoardedthemaway.WhenIcouldn’tjustifymakinganymore,Istopped.
Karlquicklydiscoveredthathelikedmyhandmadesoapsmorethancommerciallyavailablesoaps,sowhenwestartedsellingourhoneyatlocalfarmers’markets,wedecidedtosellmysoapsaswell.Ifine-tunedmyrecipeandpeddledthemalongwithourartisanhoneys.Itwasagreatmatch.Withasurplusofbeeswax,Istartedmakingotheritemssuchaslipbalms,solidlotions,andsalves.Encouragedbythesuccessofmyproducts,Icontinuedaddingtomylinewithcreamsandlotions,perfumes,andcandles.Witheachproductaddition,Iacquirednewingredientsandnewknowledge.Ialsolearnedthevalueofexperimentation.FollowingarecipethatcomesoutofabookorofftheInternetcanyieldagoodproduct,butwhatmakesitgood?Havingafirmknowledgeoftheingredientsandwhytheyareintherecipeisextremelyimportant.
NowIhavefoundthatmybusinesssatisfiesmeonalllevels—IusemyanalyticalskillstocreateandexecuterecipesandIusemycreativeskillstodevelopthescentandlookofmyproducts.Allinperfectharmony.
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INTRODUCTIONTOBEESWAXBeeswaxisthemiracleofthebeehive.Thecombisbuiltupfromnothingandservesasahouse,anursery,andafoodpantry.Overthemillennia,beeshavefiguredoutthatbybuildingtheircombsintohexagons,thecombsholdthemostamountofhoneyandrequiretheleastamountofwax.Thecombsalsoserveastheperfectareaforabeetoundergoitsmetamorphosisfromeggtobee.
Sowhatisbeeswax?Inthesimplestterms,itisawaxproducedbyhoneybeesofthegenusApis.Beeswaxconsistsofatleast284differentcompounds,mainlyavarietyoflong-chainalkanes,acids,esters,polyesters,andhydroxyesters,buttheexactcompositionofbeeswaxvarieswithlocation.Ithasaspecificgravityofabout0.95andameltingpointofover140°F(60°C).
Morespecifically,itisawaxthatissecretedfromeightwax-producingglandsontheworkerbee’sabdomen.Thewaxissecretedinthinsheetscalledscales.Thescales,whenfirstsecreted,looksabitlikemicaflakes.Theyareclear,colorless,tasteless,andverybrittle.Beeswaxistypicallyproducedbytheyoungerhousebeeswhentheyarebetweentwelveandtwentydaysold.Asthebeegrowsolderandbeginstocollectpollenandnectar,theseglandsstarttoatrophy,buttheirabilitytoproducebeeswaxdoesn’tdisappearcompletely.Whenbeesswarmtheywillrapidlyproducewaxcomb,sincetheyneedtoquicklycreateaplaceforthequeentolayeggsandsomewheretostorefood.
Toformthebeeswaxintohoneycomb,thebeeswillhanginstringsandaswaxisextrudedfromtheglandsofthewax-producingbeesitispassedbetweenthelegsandmouthsofthebeesthatformthechain,beingchewedandmoldedintoshapealongtheway.Thebeeswillthenusethiswaxtobuildthefamiliarhexagon-shapedhoneycells.Itisduringthisprocessthatthewaxstartstodevelopitscolorandopacity.Dependingonwhatkindofnectarandpollencomeintothehiveandisconsumedbythebees,microscopicbitsofthepollenandnectarremainandgetaddedtothewax.Ittakesabout1,100scalestomakeonegramofwax.
Undertherightconditions—meaningthereisanadequatesupplyoffoodandtheambienttemperaturewithinthehiveisbetween91°Fand97°F(33°Cand36°C)—workerbeescanproducebeeswaxondemand.Theyachievetherighttemperatureoncoolerspringdaysbyclusteringaroundthewax-producingbeeswhentheyarebuildingcomb.
Theproductionofbeeswaxinthehiveisverycostly,however.Ittakesabout8.4pounds(3.8kg)ofhoneytocreate1pound(425g)ofbeeswax.Thishoneycouldbeusedtofeedthenonforagingbeesoritcouldbesavedfortimeswhennectarisinshortsupply.Forthisreason,beeswaxisoftenchewedoffinonespotandplacedwhereitisneeded.Thereusingofoldcombalsocontributestothecolor,sinceitmayhavebeenusedforbroodrearingorhoneystorageandmaycontaincocoonremains,propolis,orpollen.
Mostofthewaxthatiscommerciallyavailableismadefromwhatbeekeeperscall“cappings.”Whenbeesproducehoney,theforagingbeecollectsthenectarandstoresitinoneofhertwostomachs(onestomachisreservedforhoneycollectionandtheotherforpersonaldigestion).Thenectarinthehoneystomachmixeswithenzymesandwhenthebeereturnstothehivesheplacesitintoawaitingcell.Asmorecellsarefilledwithnectar,beesfantheirwingstocreateairflowthroughthehive,whichhelpsdryoutthenectar.Byloweringthemoisturecontentofthenectartolessthan19percent,thebeesareensuringthatthehoneywillnotspoil.Thenthebeessystematicallyworktheirwayacrossframesandacrosshoneyboxes,cappingoffeachcelltopreventadditionalmoistureloss.
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Whenbeekeepersharvestthehoney,theyremovetheframeswithhoneyfromthehiveandbringthemtothehoneyhouseforprocessing.Sinceallthehoneycellshavewaxcapsonthem,justaddingtheframestoahoneyextractorwouldyieldnohoney.Sobeekeepersfirstremovethewaxcapusingeitherahotknifeorsomesortofflail.Thewaxcappingsareaddedtoacappingtankandtheframesareplacedintotheextractortospinoutthehoney.
Whatabeekeeperdoeswiththewaxcappingsdependstoacertaindegreeonhowmanyhiveshehas.Inmostcases,heatisappliedtothecappings,allowingthehoneyandwaxtoliquefyandseparateintotwolayers—honeyonthebottomandwaxonthetop.Afterseveralmorefilteringstoremoveresidualhoneyandmiscellaneousbeeparts,thewaxlooksprettycleanandisgenerallyreadytogo.
Beekeepersalsomeltdownoldhoneyandbroodcombinordertoinstallcleanwaxanddogeneralmaintenanceontheframes.Overtheyears,broodcombwillhaveraisedmultiplecyclesofbeesandthecocoonfromthelarvaestagewillhaveturnedthecombadarkbrown.Also,potentialpathogensmayhavebeenintroducedeitherfromtheenvironmentorfrombeescarryingthepathogenwiththem.Thesepathogenscandecimateahiveratherquickly,whichiswhybeekeepersoftenreplacetheoldbroodcombwithcleanwax.Whilewaxfromcappingsandhoneycombsisfairlypure,thewaxfrombroodcombscontainsawideassortmentof“stuff”whichmayincludecocoonsfrombothbeesandwaxmoths,excrementfrombeelarvae,mites,pollen,propolis,andbeeparts.Allthisextrastuffiscalled“slumgum,”andremovingtheslumgumfromthewaxisamoreinvolvedprocess.Onemethodistoputthebroodcombsintoburlapsacksandthenaddthebagtoahotwaterbath.Themeltedwaxwillflowthroughtheburlapandtheslumgumwillstayinthebag.Beekeepersthenpress
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theburlapsackstoreleasetherestofthetrappedwaxfromtheslumgum.Oncemostofthewaxispressedout,theslumgumisdiscardedandthewaxismoldedinto30–50lb(14–23kg)blocks.Theresultingwaxisusuallysignificantlydarkerthanthecappingswax,rangingfromlightbrowntoalmostblack.Ifthiswaxweretobeusedforsomethingsuchascandles,itwouldgiveoffanunpleasantsmell.Alotofbeekeepersturnthiswaxintobeesupplystoresforcredittoward“clean”waxorwaxthathasalreadybeenturnedintofoundationforinclusionintonewframes.Thebeesupplystoresshipthisdarkwaxtocommercialwaxprocessingoperationsthathavespecializedequipmentwithcarbonfiltersthatremovethecolorfromthewax.Thisprocessisfarbetterthanhowwaxwasfilteredinthepast,whenitwasbleachedusingnoxiouschemicalstoremovethecolor.Mostofthewhitewaxavailabletodayisachievednaturallyusingcarbonfiltersinsteadofchemicals.
Onedrawbacktotheheavilyrefined,highlyfilteredwaxisthatthearomaandcharmofbeeswax(aswellasmanyofitsuniquehealthadvantages)actuallycomefromthenatural“contaminants,”includinghoney,propolis,andpollen.Bleachingoradvancedrefiningofbeeswaxtoremoveitscolorandfragrance,yieldsaproductthatisabitbland.
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BRIEFHISTORYOFBEESWAXTherelationshipbetweenbeesandhumansdatestothehunter–gathererdayswhen,armedwithnothingbutalongstickandalotofresolve,menwouldknockdownhivesfromtreesandrun,returningtothescenetoharvestthehoneywhenitwasdeemedsafe.Later,humansdiscoveredthatusingsmokefromaburningstickhelpedtosubduethebees,makingthejobabiteasier.Theusefulnessofwaxcouldverywellhavebeendiscoveredthen.Althoughsomeofthisisconjectureonmypart,therearecavepaintingsinValenciaSpaindatingbackabout8,000years,thatshowtwopeoplecollectinghoneyandhoneycombfromawildbeehive.Theyusedbasketsandgourdstotransportthehoneycomb,andaseriesofropestoreachthehive.
WeknowmoreabouttheancientEgyptiansandtheirrelationshipwithbeeswax.Theyrecognizedthevalueofbeeswaxinmummificationanduseditfortheembalmingprocess.Theyalsousedthewaxtosealthecoffinandmakeitairtight,furtherpreservingthebody.TheEgyptianspreservedtheirwritingsonpapyrusandoncavewallsusingbeeswax,andthesewritingshaveremainedunchangedformorethan2,000years.Theyevenrecognizedtheimportanceofbeeswaxinhealth,asprescriptionsdatingbackto1550BCcalledforbeeswaxinvariousformulations.Ancientjewelersandartisansutilizedthelostwaxcastingtechnique,whichinvolvessculptinganobjectinbeeswax,coatingtheobjectwithclay,andthenhardeningtheclaywithheat.Theheatmeltedthewax,leavingaclayshellthatwasaperfectreplicaofthebeeswaxsculpture.Moltenmetalwasthenpouredintotheclayshellandallowedtohardenbeforetheclaywasremoved.
Egyptianpriestsalsocreatedthefirstvoodoodolls,usingbeeswaxtocreatefiguresresemblingtheirenemiesbeforerituallydestroyingthem.Egyptiansalsolovedperfumesandwerereputedtohavemadeperfumedunguents,theprecursorstotoday’ssolidperfumes.Theyincorporatedbeeswax,tallow,andvariousaromaticsubstancesinfusedinoil,suchasmyrrh,henna,cinnamon,thyme,sage,anise,rose,andiris.Theunguentsweren’tsoldasperfumes,butratherforamultitudeofmedicaluses.
TheChinesealsorecognizedtheimportanceofbeeswax.About2,000yearsago,oneofChina’smostfamousbooksonmedicine,TheShennongBookofHerbs,praisedbeeswaxforitsbeneficialinfluenceonbloodandenergysystemsandattributedbeeswaxwithbeautyenhancementandantiagingproperties.Beeswaxwasalsorecognizedasanimportantingredientinwoundtreatmentanddietarysupplement.
BeeswaxcandleswerealreadyusedbytheancientEgyptians,ancientGreeks,andinRomeandChina.BeeswaxcandleshavebeenusedinEuropeanchurchessincethebeginningofChristianity.TheRomanCatholicChurchonlyallowedbeeswaxcandlestobeusedinthechurch.Althoughthislawisstillvalidtoday,candlesarenolongerrequiredtobe100percentbeeswax.Bytheeleventhcentury,however,churcheswereusinghugeamountsofcandles.Theywereabletomaintainthenecessaryamountofbeeswaxinpartbyhavingapiariesineverymonasteryandabbey.
InthedaysofMarcoPolo,beeswaxwasabundantandwasoftenusedtopaytributetokings.Butdespiteitsabundance,beeswaxcandleswereonlyinthehandsoftherich;thepoorhadtosufferwithtallowcandles.
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HOWBEESWAXISUSEDTODAYToday,whentechnologyseemstotrumpallelse,itisencouragingtoseethataproductwithsucharichhistoryisjustasvitalinthetwenty-firstcenturyasitwaslongago.
Ourworldischangingandthefutureofthehoneybeeisabigunknown.Betweenclimatechanges,farmingpractices,geneticmodifications,andpesticideuse,thefuturelooksbleak,butthereisagrassrootsmovementtochangethingsforthebetter.Youngpeoplearerediscoveringrurallifeandareturningagriculturalwastelandsbackintoviablefarms.Thesefarmsarerichincropdiversityandtypicallyabidebymoreorganicfarmingpractices.Althoughbeeswaxdoesn’thavenearlytheapplicationsithadyearsago,itstillhasmanygreatuses.Thefollowingarejustafewexamplesofthediversewaysthatbeeswaxisbeingusedtoday.
CANDLESAlthoughthemetalmoldsthathavebeenusedforagesarestillbeingusedtomakebeeswaxcandles,therearealsomodernsiliconemoldsthatmakemoreintricateshapeseasy.
ORNAMENTSAdorningthehousewithdecorativebeeswaxelementsisatraditionthatseemstobecatchingasecondwind,frommoldedshapestowaxedfallleaves,withscentaddedorjustthenaturalbeeswaxsmell.
LIPBALMAlthoughthereareothermoderningredientsthathavebeenusedtofirmuplipbalmandformanocclusivelayer,nothingisbetterthanbeeswaxforkeepinglipssoftandmoisturized.
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COSMETICSBeeswaxplaysahugeroleinthemakingofbeautyandpersonalcareproducts!Thingslikemoisturizer,lotionbars,andevenhomemademascaraallcontainbeeswax,whichhelpsprotectandmoisturizetheskin.Beeswaxisevenusedinhairpomadesanddreadlockwax.
MEDICINALCREAMSANDSALVESBeeswaxhasbeenusedasathickenerandocclusiveformillennia.
FOUNDATIONFORNEWHONEYCOMBINHIVESBeeswaxisgreatforreplacingexistinghivebodyandhoneysuperframeswithcleanwax,givingbeesaheadstart.
WATERPROOFLEATHERCombineequalpartsbeeswax,neatsfootoil,andtallow.Diparagintothemixture,andrubitontoapairofleatherbootsorgloves.
LUBRICANTFORFLY-FISHINGLINESRubalittlebeeswaxonfishinglinetokeepitfromtangling.
LUBRICANTFORFURNITURE,DOORS,ANDWINDOWSUsebeeswaxtolubricatethehingesofdoorsandwindows.
RUSTPREVENTATIVEFORTOOLSTonullifytheeffectsofoxidationcausedbymoistair,simplybrushthetoolswithasolutionof1/3pound(142g)ofbeeswaxmeltedwithonequartofturpentine.Thiscanalsobeusedonbronzeaswell.
WAXFORBOWSTRINGSBeeswaxhelpswaterproof,lubricate,andslickenbowstrings,makingthemeasiertoplay.
FRYINGPANSANDIRONSBeeswaxprotectspansagainstoxidation,helpsintheseasoningprocess,andimprovesnonstickqualityofpansandirons.
SOAPMAKINGBeeswaxhelpstomakeanice,firmbarofsoap.
BEARDANDMUSTACHEWAXBeeswaxisusedincommercialmustachecreams,especiallythoseusedtostiffenorcontrolaman’sbeardormustache.
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GRAFTINGWAXPlantpropagatorsapplygraftingwaxeitherbyitselforincombinationwithgraftingtapeorstringtopreventthesurfacesfromdryingout,tokeepthescionandrootstocksurfacespressedtightlytogetheruntiltheygrowtogether,andtokeepoutwaterandairandtheaccompanyingplantpathogenstheymaycarry,includingbacteriaandfungi.A“cold”graftingwaxcanbemadeoutoffourpartsresin,twopartsbeeswax,andoneparttallow.
CRAYONSMakeyourowncrayonswithbeeswax,soap,andartistpigments.Mixequalpartsgratedsoapandbeeswax.Meltthebeeswaxandgratedsoapinadoubleboilerandstiruntilmeltedandthemixtureissmooth.Colorthemixturewithdryartist’spigment.
SEALINGONJAMSANDJELLIESUsejustlikeparaffintosealthetopsofjamsandjellies.
“LOST-WAX”CASTINGThisisamethodofmetalcastingwhereamoltenmetalispouredintoamoldthathasbeencreatedbymeansofawaxmodel.Oncethemoldismade,thewaxmodelismeltedanddrainedaway.
WOODFILLERFillsmallholesandcrackswithplainortintedbeeswax.
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GLASSETCHINGAmixtureofbeeswaxandresinactasaresistormaskwhenetchingglass.
CANDYINGREDIENTBeeswaxgivesgummybearsandjellybeanstheirrubberyandchewytexture.
CANELÉSDEBORDEAUXTheseFrenchbakeryconfectionswithamahoganybrown,crunchyoutsideandacreamy,gooeyinsidearemoldedinindividualflutedcups,traditionallymadeofcopper.Itisatwotothreedayprocesstomakethem,andbeeswaxisusedasamoldreleaseandispartofthesecrettothecrunchyoutside.Canelésareaconfectionthatcanbemaddeninginitselusivenessandmanyhavegivenupwithouthavingreachedperfection.AlthoughIhaven’tgivenupyet,IamstillafarcryfrommakingwhatIwouldcalltheperfectCanelé!Staytuned.
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CHAPTER1THEWAXMostbeekeepershavealove–haterelationshipwithbeeswax.Whentheyneedit,itisusuallynotthere,oratleastnotintheformneeded,suchasbeeswaxfoundation.Whentheyhaveit,itrequiresquiteabitofprocessingtomakeituseable,soitisoftensetasidetobehandled“later.”Theproductionofwaxalsoremoveshoneyfromthehivefoodstoresinordertofeedwax-producingbees,effectivelyreducingtheamountofhoneyyield,sotomaximizehoneyproduction,beekeeperstrytokeepasmuchcombinthehiveaspossible.Beekeeperstraditionallyprocesstheirwaxeitherduringhoneyextractionorduringthewinterandearlyspringmonthswhenotherbeekeepingmaintenanceiscomplete.
Inthischapteryou’lllearn
–Waxvarieties
–Insidertipsforworkingwithwax
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CANDLEWAX
Forthingssuchascandles,especiallypillarcandles,theresidualhoneyinthewaxcausesthewaxtoburnunevenly,cloggingthewick.Thebestwaytogetthelastofthehoneyoutofthewaxistoallowittoclarifyinaheateddoubleboilerorwaxtank.Admittedly,thistaskiseasiertoaccomplishwiththewaxtankthanadoubleboiler,sincethewaxmustremaininaliquidstateforquiteawhileuntilallthehoneyhassettledtothebottom.Iusuallyletminesettleforacoupledays.Thebestwaytodetermineifitisdoneisbycheckingtheclarityofthewax.Whenitisfirstmelted,ithasmurkinesstoit.Asthehoneysettles,thewaxbeginstoclarify.Whenthewaxisclear,filteritthroughacleanpieceoffeltclothandpourintomoldstodividethewaxintouseableportions.Iusuallydoavarietyofdifferentsizes,from1-ounce(28g)ingotsupto10–20pound(4.5–9kg)blocksthatstoreeasily,butarestillsmallenoughtofitintomywaxmelter.ThisensuresthatIhavetherightsizeforwhateverIammaking.Theresultingwaxisstillyellowandretainsthesignaturehoneylikescent,althoughthefilteringmayhavelightenedupthewaxslightly.
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BEEKEEPERSWAX
Myfirstwaxprocessingexperiencewaswhilehelpinganotherbeekeeperwithhishoneyextracting.Hisoperationseemedhugetomeatthetime(hemaintainsaround1,200colonies),butIhavelearnedthatincomparisontoothercommercialoperations,hisisprobablyonthesmallerside.Therearesomecommercialbeekeepingoperationsthatmaintainupwardsof50,000colonies.Thereisverylittledifferencebetweenhowthesetwotypesofbeekeepersdotheirwaxprocessing,exceptthatthelarge-scaleoperationsmayhaveamoreautomatedversionofwhatIexperienced.
Thefirststepintheprocessistoplacethehoneyframesintoamachinethatcutsthecapfromthetopofthehoneycells.Theremovedcappingsarefunneledintoatroughwheretheyarepushedthroughaverycoarsescreenbeforeenteringtheprocessingarea.Theframesaremovedtothehoneyextractor.Thewaxprocessingareamayhaveeitheracentrifugewherethehoneyisflungtotheoutside,renderingthecappingsvirtuallyfreeofhoney,oraheatedchamberwithaseriesofbafflesthatseparatethehoneyfromthewax.
Thewaxthatresultsfromeitheroftheseprocessesisgenerallywherethebeekeepersstop.Itisusuallyareallyniceyellowishwaxwithalovelyhoneylikesmell.However,thereisstillsomehoneyleftinthewax.Itmaynotbeallthatnoticeable,butitisthere.Forsomeapplications,suchaslipbalms,itisnotaproblemtoahaveabitofhoneyinthewax,butforotherapplications,cleanerwaxisneeded.
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BROODWAX
Thisisthewaxthatcomesfrommeltingdownoldbroodcomb.Broodcombisusuallyreplacedonathree-tofive-yearcycle.Afterthehivehasrearedmultiplebatchesofbroodonaframeofwax,thewaxcellskeepgettingsmallerandsmaller,sincethecocoonmaterialremains.Inthewild,MotherNaturehasseentotherenewalofthiscomb,asthewaxmothlarvaelovestoeatthebroodcomb.Themothsarevoraciouseatersandcandecimateaboxofstoredcombsoverthewintermonths,forcingthebeestobuildupthecellwallsagainbeforethequeencanlayeggsintothatspace.Forkeptbees,beekeeperstakeontheroleofthewaxmothlarvaebyremovingtheoldwaxandreplacingitwithfreshwaxfoundation.
Theprocessofrenderingthewaxfromthecocoons,propolis,andotheritemsinthebroodcombisanarduousone.Alltheseadditionalelementsneedtobefilteredoutbeforethewaxitselfcanbecleaned.Todothis,mostbeekeepersputthewaxintoburlapsacks,stackingpressplatesinbetween,andheatthewholeworksuptomeltthewax.Oncethewaxismelted,theplatesarepressedtoreleasewhateverwaxremainsintheslumgumandthenthewaxisstrainedoffthetop.
Thewaxthatcomesfromthisprocessisusuallyreallydark.Althoughalotofthebiggerparticlesofpropolis,cocoon,andslumgumareremovedinthisprocess,themicroscopicbitsstillremain.Overtime,thesebitsactuallytintthewax,soevenfilteringthewaxwillonlylightenitslightly.Althoughitmaynotlookandsmellasniceasyellowcappingswax,itdoeshaveitsfavoredapplications.Itworksreallywellfordarkerwoodfinishes.Thelightwaxcanhavea“glazing”effectovertimethatisdiminishedwhenusingthedarkercoloredwax.Italsoworkswellondarkerleathers.Iuseourdarkwaxtoconditionandpolishmyshoes.Wealsosupplyalocalblacksmithwithsomedarkwax.Heprefersthedarkestwaxwehave,sinceheusesittosealandprotecthiswroughtironpieces.
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WHITEWAX
BeforeIgotintoencausticpainting,Ihadnouseforanythingbesidesyellowwax.Ilovedthecolor,thescent,everything!SowhenIstartedmakingmyfirstbatchofencausticmedium,IusedwhatIhadonhand.IfiguredthatIcouldmaketheyellowcolorpartofmy“signature”look.WRONG!Asidefrommyineptskillsasanencausticartist,itlookedhorrible.Thecolorsweremuddyanddidn’tflowaswellasIhadenvisioned,soIdidsomeresearchon“white”beeswax.MyhopewasthatIwouldbeabletoremovesomeofthecolorfromthewaxmyself.FirstItriedbleachingitinthesun.Thatworks,butonlytoacertaindegree.Sundoeslightenthecolorofthewax,butthepresenceofmicroscopicbitsofpropolis,slumgum,andpossiblyhoneyaddedcolorthatcouldnotbecompletelybleachedbythesun.
Toremovetheinherentcolorantsinthewax,itneedstoundergoadifferentprocessthatmostathomecannotachieve.Inthepast,whitewaxwastreatedchemicallytoseparateoutthepropolisandother“contaminants.”Thisprocessyieldedanice,whitewax,buttracesofsomeofthechemicalsremained.Notgood!Today,mostofthewhitewaxisnottreatedchemically.Itisrunthroughaseriesofsuperfinefiltersthatremovethe“contaminants,”withouttheadditionofharshchemicals.
Thecoloroftheresultantwaxisverylightandasclosetowhiteaspossible,butthereisalsoatranslucencythatisnotavailableintheyellowwaxes.Thistranslucencyiswhatmakesitgreattouseforencaustics.Also,sincealotofthe“contaminants”arewhatgivethewaxnotonlyitssignaturecolorandsmell,butalsoitsmyriadhealthbenefits,whitewaxisnotmypreferenceforuseontheskin.
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INSIDERTIPS
RECIPEUSAGEGUIDE
Allofmyrecipesarewrittenusingpercentages.Theadvantagetodoingthisisthattherecipecanbeeasilyscaledupordown.Thedisadvantageisthatalittlemathisrequiredtoconverttheequationintoausablerecipe.Here’showtodothat.
Examplerecipe:
SheaButter 31%
SweetAlmondOil 31%
Beeswax 31%
FlavorOil 7%
1.Chooseaunitofmeasurewithwhichtowork.Metricunits,suchasgramsormilliliters,workbest,astheyareeasiertomultiply.TheycanbeconvertedbacktoEnglishunitsattheendoftheprocess.Therecipesinthisbookincludegrammeasurementsinadditiontothepercentages.
2.Decidethedesiredsizeofyourbatch.Forthisexamplewewillusea10-ozbatch,whichisequalto283grams.
3.Determinethepercentageofeachportionoftherecipe.Multiplythenumberofthefullbatchbythepercentageforexample,283g×0.31(%)=87.73g.
4.Roundtothedesiredprecision(87.73roundedtothenearestwholenumber=88g).
5.Finalizetherecipe.Usingthesamplerecipe,itnowlookslikethis:
SheaButter 88grams
SweetAlmondOil 88grams
Beeswax 88grams
FlavorOil 20grams
6.Useadigitalkitchenscaleandaplasticdelicontainertomeasureingredients.Remembertozeroouttheweightofthecontainerbeforeweighingingredients.
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SMALLAMOUNTSOFBEESWAX
WhenIneedsmallamountsofbeeswaxforarecipe,itcanbecumbersometobreakachunkofwaxoffalargeblockorgratesomewaxtouse.Beeswaxcanbepurchasedcommerciallyintheformofpastilles,whicharesmallsphericalbeadsofwax.Sincemostofthiswaxisthehighlyprocessed“whitewax,”Iprefertomoldmyownwaxinoneoftwoways.Thegoalistohavewaxthatmeltsquickly(thinpiecesworkwell)andiseasytomeasure(small).
Onemethodistopourthemeltedwaxintoamoldthatistraditionallyusedtoshapechocolate;themoldformsathinblockwithscorelinesthatallowthechocolate—orinourcasethebeeswax—tobebrokenatthescorelines.Thereareapproximatelysixsquarestoanounce(28g),(theyvaryabitindepthandactualbreaklines).Anycombinationofsquaresshouldworkforalmostanyrecipe.Iusethismethodtosaveanyleftoverwaxafterpouringcandles.
Thesecondmethodcallsforpouringthemeltedwaxontoacookiesheet(withsides)thatislinedwithfreezerpaper.Thiswillyieldasheetofwaxthatisvariableinthickness,butcanbebrokenintosmallerchunkseasily.IusethismethodwhenIhavewaxthatIwanttotransformintoflakes.
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USETHEFREEZER
Beeswaxgetsbrittlewhenitisfrozen,makingiteasytobreakoffchunksasneeded.Istoremywaxinblocksthatweigharound35pounds(15.9kg).Althoughgreatforstorage,theseheavyblocksaretoobigtofitintomywaxtank.SinceIusethemostwaxinwinter,andweathergetscoldaroundhere,Iusethegreatoutdoorsasmy“freezer,”butaregularfreezercanbeemployedtodothesamething.
Oncemyblockisfrozen,Iputitinaheavy-dutygarbagebag(Iusetheblackplasticcontractorbags)anddropitonthepavementbehindmyhouse.Usually,itdoesn’ttakemorethanacoupleofdropstocreatesomegood-sizechunksthatareperfectforlargerprojectsortomeltdownandmoldintosmallerchunks.
Thefreezerisalsogreatforhelpingtoreleasecandlesthatarestuckinmetalmolds.Justleavethestubborncandleinthefreezerforahalfhourorso,andwhenthemoldisremovedthecandleshouldslipoutfairlyeasily.
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PROTECTSURFACES
Whenusingbeeswaxforprojectsthatcallforwaxtobeapplied,eitherbybrushingiton,usinganothertypeoftooltoapplyit,ordippingitinwax,makesurethattheworksurfaceisprotected.Itisaloteasiertocleanupasheetofpaperthanitistocleanwaxoffthecountertop.
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CLEANINGUPUTENSILS
Thejoyofanewlymadecandlecanquicklybecomefrustrationwhenfacedwiththetaskofcleaningup.Beeswaxdoesnotcleanupeasilyinthe“traditional”way.Soapandwaterwon’ttouchthewaxunlessitishot,andeventhenitwillonlysmearthewaxaround.Irecommendacquiringafewcontainersthatwillbeusedexclusivelyformeltingbeeswax.Thatway,thereisnocleanupneededandnoleftoverbeeswaxintomorrow’sdinner.Ifabeeswaxcontainerdoesneedtobecleaned,thebestwayIhavefoundistoturnitintoabalmbyaddingabitofoil,whicheffectivelydropsthemeltingtemperature.Thenwashwithhotwaterandsomegrease-dissolvingdishsoap.Tocleanawaxybowl,wipethebowlwithoil(anyoilwilldo)andheatthebowlwithaheatgun(lowheat)orinthemicrowaveifitissafetodoso,andwipewithapapertowel.Repeatuntilthebowlisrelativelycleanandthenwashwithdishsoapandwater.
Forproductssuchasbalmsandcreams,Iliketousenewplasticdelicontainersthatcanbetossedoncetheproductismade.Theyarequiteheatproof,foodgrade,sterile,andcomeinavarietyofsizes.Theyalsomakepouringproductintosmallercontainersrelativelyeasy,sincetheplasticismalleableenoughtopinchintoapourspout.Irealizethatthisnotthemosteco-consciousthingtodoandIreservetheiruseforthingsthatrequiresterility,suchaslotionsandcreams.
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CHAPTER2CANDLEMAKINGAwell-madebeeswaxcandleisabeautifulthing!However,makingawell-madecandleisnotanafternoon’sfun.Thereisalotofmoldingandburntestingthatneedstobedone,beforeperfectionisreached.Ihopethedirectionsandhintsfoundinthischapterwillmakeyourroadtoperfectionshorterandmorefulfillingthanmine.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Rolledcandles
–Moldedcandles
–Hand-dippedcandles
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ROLLEDCANDLESRolledcandlesareagreatstartingpointforcandlemaking,sincetheprocessrequiresveryfewtoolsandthecandlescanbemadeinawiderangeofcolors.Theycanbemadeastapers,pillars,square,orevenassmall,thincandlessuchasbirthdaycandles.
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BEG INNER
ROLLEDTAPERCANDLES
MATERIALS1beeswaxsheet,alsocalledbeeswaxfoundation,8"×16"(20.5cm×40.5cm)
2pieces(9",or23cmeach)ofsquarebraidwicking(2/0isagoodsizetostart,mightbegoodtoalsohave3/0and1/0onhand)
Yield:2tapercandles
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1.Gentlyfoldthebeeswaxsheetinhalf,bendingitbackandforthuntilitbreakstocreatetwo8"(20.5cm)squares.
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2.Laya9"(23cm)pieceofwickalongtherawedgeofthesheet,withoneendofthewickflushwiththesideofthebeeswaxsheetandtheotherextendedout.
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3.Pinchthebeeswaxoverthewick,sothatthewaxismoldedallaroundthewickfromoneendtotheother.
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4.Startrollingthecandle,keepingevenpressureacrossthewidth.Don’tcrushthebeautifulhoneycombpatternonthebeeswaxsheets,butmakesurethecandledoesn’tcomeundone.Ifonesidestartsrollingtighterthantheother,unrollthecandleabitandtryagain.Itmaytakeacoupletriestogetitright.
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5.Oncethecandleisevenlyrolled,gentlypresstheendedgeintothecandletokeepitinplace.
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INTERMED IATE
ROLLEDPILLARCANDLESPillarcandlescanbemadeinavarietyofshapesandsizes.Hereisthebasicinformationneededtoexpandontherolledtapercandle.
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MATERIALS1fullsheetbeeswax
wicking(#2willprobablywork,butalsohave#1and#3onhand)
scissors
Yield:1pillarcandle
1.Gentlyfoldthebeeswaxsheetinhalflengthwise,bendingitbackandforthuntilitbreakstocreatetwo4"×16"(10cm×40.5cm)pieces.
2.Cutthewicktoapproximately5"(10.5cm)andfollowdirectionsforRolledTaperCandlesonpage
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23tosecurethewickandbeginrollingthepillar.
3.Whenyoureachtheendofthefirstsheetofbeeswax,laythesecondsheetagainsttheedgeofthefirstsheetandcontinuerolling.
4.Attheendofthesheet,gentlypresstheendedgeintothecandletokeepitinplace.Thecandleshouldmeasureapproximately2"(5cm)across.Doaburntest(page26)tomakesurethecorrectwicksizewasused.
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VARIATIONSAlthoughbothtaperandpillarcandlesusearectangularorsquarepieceofbeeswaxfoundation,thebeeswaxcanalsobecuttocreateothershapes.
Tomakeacandlewithataperedtop,cutoffawedgepiecefromthetopofthecandle.
Rollingthetrimmedofftriangularpieceofwaxwillresultinaconicalshape.Fortheholidays,IlovetomakeaforestofsmallshortstylizedChristmastreesoutofgreenwaxusingthistechnique.
Arolledcandlecanalsobecompressedintoasquarebyflatteningagainstyourworksurfacethenrotatingthecandleninetydegreesandflatteningthenextside.Continuingrotatingandflatteninguntilthecandlehasanicesquareshape.
NOTE:Thistechniqueworksbetterwithpillarcandlesthantapers.
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WICKINGAlthoughtherearelotsofdifferentkindsofcandlewicking,forbeeswaxIliketousesquarebraidcottonwicking.Thewickactsasapipelinethatcarriesthemeltedwaxintheformofavaportotheflameviacapillaryaction.Somewicksallowlotsoffueltoflowquicklythroughabigpipe,whileotherwickspumpfuelmoreslowlythroughasmallerpipe.Ifyougivetheflametoomuchortoolittlefuel,itwilleitherburnpoorlyorsputterout.Thebalanceoffuelandflowneedstobejustright.
Thenomenclatureofsquarebraidwickingreferstothenumberofbundles,theplyofthewick,andhowtightlyitisbraided.The6/0to1/0rangeofwicks,areconstructedabitdifferentlythanthelargerwicks,butallofthemaresquare,whichhelpstochannelthewaxfumesuptotheflame.Itisimportanttokeepyourwickswell-labeledandseparatedsincesimilarsizeslookidentical.Oftentheonlydifferenceisthetightnessofthebraiding.
Squarebraidwickformsacarboncaponthetopofthewick.Thecarboncapradiatesheatoutwardfromtheflame,whichhelpsmeltwaxthatisfurtherawayfromtheflame.Thewickalsobendsslightlyasitburns,minimizingcarbonbuild-upandmakingforacleanerburn.
THERIGHTSIZEWICKUsethefollowingtesttodeterminetheproperwicksizeandscaleupordownasneeded.Usethistestshouldforallcandles,althoughkeepinmindthatrolledcandlescanbeabitmoreforgiving.Thetestisespeciallyimportantwithmoldedpillarcandles.Dependingonthediameterofthecandle,differentwicksareneededtoprovideenoughflametomeltthewaxwithoutcreatingatorchthatthreatenstoburndownthehouse.
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BASICBURNTESTTESTTHEPROPERWICKSIZEANDSCALEUPORDOWNASNEEDEDFORPILLARORVOTIVECANDLES.
A.Thiswickistoosmall.(Theflameisdrowninginthesmallmeltpool.)B.PerfectC.Thiswickistoolarge.(Theflameistoolarge,resultinginalotofsmoke.)
1.Trimthewicktoalengthof1/4"(6mm).Ifyouaretestingmorethanonewick,makesurethecandlesareclearlylabeled.
2.Placethetestcandlesonaclean,flat,heat-resistantsurfaceabout3"to6"(7.5cmto15cm)apart.Besuretoselectadraft-freespotthatisfullviewofyourworkspace.Donotleavelitcandlesunattended.
3.Lightthecandlesandrecordthetime.Itiscriticaltokeepaneyeonthecandleswhiletheyareburning,especiallywhentestingnewwicks.
4.Iftestingpillarcandles,allowthemtoburnfortwohoursthenrecordthedetailsofthemeltpoolandwickappearance.Ideallythemeltpoolwillachievethedesireddiameterbythispoint.Althoughthereareindividualpreferences,Ilikemymeltpooltoextendalmostouttotheedgeofthecandle,leavingapproximately1/4"–1/2"(6mm–1.3cm)ofwaxaroundtheoutside.Iftheflamehasnotmeltedenoughofameltpool,thewickismostlikelytoosmall.Noteanysootormushroomingonthewick.
5.Allowthecandletoburnforanotherfourhoursandrecordthedetailsofthemeltpoolandwickagainbeforegentlyblowingouttheflame.Atthispointthemeltpoolofawell-wickedcandlewillhaveachievedthedesireddiameterandshouldbeapproximately1/2"(1.3cm)deep.Ifthewickismushrooming,thecandleissooting,orthemeltpoolissubstantiallydeeperthan1/2"(1.3cm),thewickismostlikelytoolarge.
6.Allowthecandletocoolforatleastfivehoursandrepeatsteps3,4,and5untilthecandleis
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completelyburned.Thequalityofburnwillalmostalwayschangeduringtheentireburningofthecandle.Burntheentirecandlebeforedecidingonawick.
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MOLDEDCANDLESAllmoldedcandlesarebasicallymadethesamewayandrequirethesamebasictools,justdifferentmolds.Itisimportanttousethecleanestwaxpossiblewhenmakingmoldedcandles.Impurities,suchasresidualhoney,willaffectthelookandperformanceofthecandle.
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BEG INNER
VOTIVECANDLESVotivecandlesandtealightsaretheworkhorsesofthecandleworld.Votivesareintendedtobeburnedinavotiveholder,notontheirown.Thismeansthatthecandleshouldfitwithintheholderreasonablywellandthecandleshouldbewickedsothatthewaxisliquidallthewaytotheedge.Mostvotivesburnforsixtoeighthours.
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MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
Eco-2pre-tabbedwicks
doubleboilerorwaxmelter
Kraftpaper,newspaper,orbutcherpaper
siliconespray
votivemolds
wickpins,enoughfor10candles
beeswaxpouringpitcher
thermometer
heatgun
feltcloth,optional(enoughtowraparoundeachofthemoldsonce)
Yield:8–10votivecandles
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1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerorawaxmelter.Donotmeltbeeswaxdirectlyonthestovewithoutthewaterbath.WhenIfirststartedmakingcandles,Iusedacleancoffeecantomeltmywax.Periodicallycheckthetemperatureofthewaxtomakesureitisn’tgettingtoohot.
TIP:CoverworksurfacewithKraftpaper,newspaper,orbutcherpaper.Thiswillhelpwithcleanupifsomewaxshouldaccidentallyspill.
2.Whilewaitingforthewaxtomelt,preparethemolds.Ifusingmetalmolds,spraytheinsidewithamoldreleasespray(silicone).Spraythewickpinsaswellandmakesuretheyareproperlyseatedonthebottomofthevotivemold.
3.Oncethewaxiscompletelymelted,usethethermometertocheckthetemperatureofthewax.Iliketopourmycandleswhenthewaxisinthe165°F–170°F(74°C–77°C)range.Ifitishotterthanthat,letitcoolabitbeforepouringintothemolds.
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TIP:Tocreateabeautifulcandlewithasmoothsurfaceandsymmetricalshape,startwithawarmmold.IuseaheatguntowarmthemoldrightbeforeIpourinthehotwaxtoensurethatthewaxdoesn’thardentooquicklyalongtheedgeswhereitcomesincontactwiththemold.Alsobesuretoallowplentyoftimeforthecandletocooldownslowlyinthemold.Whileslowcoolinginthemoldsismoreimportantwithlargerdiametercandles,it’sbesttokeepallcandlesfromcoolingtooquickly,regardlessoftheirsize.Toslowthecoolingprocess,Isuggestwrappingalayeroffeltclotharoundthemoldstoinsulatethem.
4.Warmthevotivemoldswiththeheatgunthenpourthewaxintothemolds.Letthewaxcoolcompletelybeforetryingtoremovefromthemold.Pulluponthewickpinstoremovethecandleandthentapthewickpinagainstasolidsurfacetodislodgeitfromthevotive.
5.Threadapre-tabbedwickuptheholeleftbythewickpin,trimthewick,andletitsitadayortwobeforedoingatestburn.
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INTERMED IATE
MOLDEDPILLARCANDLESPillarcandlesarethelongestburningcandles.Evenshorter3"×4"(7.5cm×10cm)pillarcandleshavebeenknowntoburnforsixtyhoursormore,makingthemwellworththeinvestmentinbeeswax.
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MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
squarebraidwicking(try#3for2"(5cm)diameterand#5for3"(7.5cm)diametermolds)
pillarmolds
siliconemoldreleasespray
high-temperaturemetaltaper(orothersealersuchaswickputty)
beeswaxpouringpitcher
thermometer
heatgun
feltcloth(enoughtowraparoundeachofthemoldsonce)
Yield:2–3smallpillarsor1largepillar
1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerorawaxmelter.Donotmeltbeeswaxdirectlyonthestovewithoutthewaterbath.Checkthetemperatureofthewaxoccasionallytomakesureitisn’tgettingtoohot.
2.Whilewaitingforthewaxtomelt,preparethemolds.Ifusingmetalmolds,spraytheinsidewithasiliconemoldreleasespray.
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3.Mostpillarcandlemoldscomewithaholeatthebottomofthemoldtoinsertthewicking.Ifinditiseasiesttodipapartofmywickinginbeeswaxandletithardenbeforetrimmingthedippedendatanangletomakeiteasiertothreadthewickthroughtheholeandfarenoughintothemoldtoallowmetoretrieveitfromtheopenend.Apairofplierscanhelpwiththisifthemoldisabitdeeperthancanbeeasilyreachedbyhand.
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4.Extendthewickaboutaninch(2.5cm)orsoabovethecandlemold.Useawoodendowel,toothpickorabobbypintoholdthewickinplaceandkeepitcentered.Wrapthewickingaroundthedowelandmakesureitistightinsidethemold,butnotstretchingthewick.You’llalsoneedtosealthespotwherethewickingextendsthroughthebottomofthemold.Thereareanumberofproductsthatcanbeusedforthis.Myfavoriteishigh-temperaturemetaltape,whichisavailableintheheatingsectionofhomeimprovementstores.
TIP:Isometimesuseanothersealercalledwickputty,amalleabledoughthatconformstothebottomofthemoldandsealsthemoldaroundthewick,preventingbeeswaxfromleakingout.
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5.Wrapthemoldswithalayeroffeltclothandconfigurethemclosetogetherwithtallercandlesinthecenterandshortercandlesontheoutsidetomakepouringthewaxintothecandlemoldsquickandefficient.IliketodoadryrunwithmypouringpitchertomakesureIdon’thavetopourthehotwaxfromapointthatistoohighup.
6.Oncethemoldsareprepared,checkonthewax.Thetargettemperatureshouldbeintherangeof165°F–170°F(74°C–77°C).Ifitishotterthanthat,letitcoolabitbeforepouringintothemolds.
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7.Beforepouringthehotwax,makesurethereisenoughwaxinthepouringpitchertofillthemoldcompletely.Ifthecandleispouredinseveralstages,thelinebetweenpourswillbevisible.
Useaheatguntoquicklywarmtheinsideofallthepillarmoldsandimmediatelypourthewaxintothewaitingmolds.Fillthemoldstoabouta1/2"(1.3cm)fromthetop.
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FILLINGCAVITIES:Tocounteractthecavitythatformsaslargerpillarcandlescool,Imakeareliefholeorwidenanexistingholewithanailorpieceoftoothpick,thenIaddsomemeltedwaxtothehole.Itmaynotlooklikemuchofahole,butyoumaybesurprisedbytheamountofwaxneededtofillthespace.Repeatwithmorewaxifnecessarybeforeitcoolscompletely.
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8.Thewaxwillcontractasitcools.Howevenlythewaxcontractsdependsontheambienttemperatureoftheroom.Coolertemperatureswillforcethetopofthecandletoskinoverandbecomeasolidmassbeforetherestofthecandlecancontractsufficiently.Theresultisacavityinsidethecandle.Thebiggerthewaxmass,thelongeritwilltakeforthecandletocoolandthegreaterthepotentialforalargecavity.Thiscanbedangerousifleftasis,sincethewickcanturnintoatorchwhenithitstheopencavity.
9.Allowthecandlestocoolcompletelybeforetryingtounmold.Iliketodothisthefollowingday,especiallyifitisalargerdiametercandle.
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10.Tounmold,firstremovethetapeorwickputtyfromthebottomofthemold.Thenlightlytapthesideofthemoldagainstasoftsurface,rotatingthemoldwhiletapping.Oncethecandleisloosenedfromthemold,tuggentlyonthewickandremovethecandle.Ifitisn’tcooperating,don’tforceit.Putthewholeworksinthefreezerandletitcoolforanhourorso.Thentryagain.Thistrickshouldwork.Trimthewickflushatthebottomandto1/4inch(6mm)atthetop.
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11.Thebottomofthecandlemaybebumpyanduneven.Iuseadedicatedelectricskillettomeltandflattencandlebottoms.Startwiththetemperatureoftheskilletonlowandseeifthewaxwillmelt.Electricskilletsvarybymanufacturer,soabitofexperimentationisnecessary.Iflowdoesn’tmeltthewax,increasethetemperatureuntilitstartstomeltthewaxrelativelyquickly.Placethecandleintheskilletandspinitsothatthehighpointsinthecandlebottombecomemoreevident.Failuretodothiswillresultinaleaningcandlethatwillburnunevenly.Oncethebottomissmoothedoutandeven,letitcoolslightlyandthencleanuptheedgeswithcleanfingers.
12.Nowthehardpart:waitingforthecandletocure.Waitatleastadayortwoforthecandlestocurebeforelightingthem.Thistimeframeallowsthebeeswaxmoleculestoalignandsettledown.Withpillarcandles,aburntestisimperativetomakesurethattherightwicksizeisused.Itsometimestakesfiveormoretriestogetthewickingright,sodon’tgetdiscouraged.Candlesthatarenotburningcorrectlyarenotawaste.Simplymeltthemdownthenexttimeyouaremeltingwax.Thewickisnotreusable.
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HAND-DIPPEDCANDLESHand-dippedcandleshavebeenaroundforever,probablybecausetheyareeasytomake.Aleisurelyafternooncanyieldacoupledozenpassabletapers,especiallyiftheydon’thavetobeperfect.However,iftheperfecttaperisthegoal,thereisabitmorecraftinvolved.Iwillbeginwiththebasicsandthendelveintothedetailsofcreatingbeautifulcandles.
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BEG INNER
HAND-DIPPEDTAPERCANDLESHand-dippedtapercandlesaremadefrompaper-thinsheetsofwaxthatareaddedonelayeratatimebydippingthewickrepeatedlyinhotwax.Mostregulartapercandleshavetwentyormorelayersofwax.
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MATERIALSAtleast5lb(2.1kg)beeswax(approximately5oz[142g]perpairoftapers),includingsomesmallpiecesandwaxflakes
2/0or1/0squarebraidwicking
tallmeltingpotwithdoubleboiler
scissors
nutorbolttouseasweight
paintsticks
THEIMPORTANCEOFTHECONTAINERTomakehanddippedcandles,atallwaxmeltingcontainerisimportant.Thelengthofthefinishedcandleislimitedbythedepthofthewaxinthedippingcontainer.Acoffeecanisgreatcontainertouse,asitcanbefoundaroundthehouse.Theonlydisadvantagetousingacoffeecanisthatitwillprobablyonlyyielda3–4"(7.5–10cm)-longcandle.Tomaketallercandles,lookforataller,narrowmetalcontainer.Anasparaguspotorsomethingsimilarworkswell.Therearereallytalldippingpotsavailablecommercially,andIusedoneearlyon,butIhadaproblemkeepingthewaxhotfromthebottomtothetop.Tomaintainaconstantwaxtemperature,atallouterpotforthewaterbathisalsorequired.Itdoesn’tneedtobeastallasthedippingpot,butitshouldbeabletoholdwatertoaheightofatleasttwo-thirdsthelevelofthewax.
BEFOREYOUBEGINMakesurethereisplentyofwaxonhand.Rememberthateverytimethewickisdippedinthewax,waxisremovedfromthepot.Thismeansthatonceafewcandleshavebeendipped,thewaxleveldropsandcandleswillnotbeastallasthefirstonesmade.Toremedythisproblem,simplyaddmorewax.Iliketokeepsmallpiecesandflatwaxflakesonhandfortheseoccasions.Unlikebigblocksofwax,theymeltquicklyandkeeptheprocessofmakingcandlesmovingsmoothly.
Ifyouaredippingpairs,usethefollowinggeneralformulatocutthewicksintouseablelengths:
(Heightofdesiredfinishedcandle+2"[5cm]lossonthebottom+1"[2.5cm]lossontop+1/2"[1.3cm]forwiggleroom)×2.
Sotomake8"(20.5cm)finished-lengthcandles,cutthewickapproximately23"(58.5cm)long.
Intheaboveformula,Iallowedabitextratotieaweightsuchasawasherornuttothebottomofbothwicks.Thishelpskeepthewickstraightthroughsubsequentdippings,producingabeautiful,straightcandle.
Temperatureofthewaxisveryimportant.Ifthewaxistoohot,thecandlesdon’tbuildupproperlyorbuildupmoreatthetopthanatthebottom.Ifthewaxistoocool,thecandleswilllookbumpyandhaveanexaggeratedconeshape.Itisbesttoplayaroundwithdifferentdippingrhythms.Howthecandleslookwilldependonwaxcomposition,temperatureofthewax,temperatureoftheroom,andindividualstyle.Trydippingslowlyonthewaydownandpullingitbackoutquickly.Thentrytheopposite.Alsotryleavingitatthebottomforanextrasecondortwo.Seehowtheshapeofthecandle
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changeswithacoupleofdips.Experimentationisthekey.
1.Prepareaplacetohangin-processcandleswhiletheycool.Iliketousepaintsticks,astheyarewideenoughtoallowthecandlestohangfarenoughaparttokeepthemfrombumpingintoeachotherandthesticksarelongenoughtoeasilyplacethemacrossaboxorbetweentwochairbacks,allowingthecandlestohangfreely.
2.Primealltaperwicksbydroppingagoodquantityofwickintohotwaxandlettingitabsorbcompletelybeforepullingitbackoutagain.Watchforthebubblesandoncetheystop,waitabitlongerandthenremovethewick.Asitstartstocool,untanglethemassandstarttostraightenitout.
TIPS:Saveallthetrimmings.Thewaxcanbemeltedoffandtheweightsreused.
Beeswaxisveryforgiving.Ifacandledoesn’tturnout,putitbackintothedippingvat.Oncethewaxhasmeltedoffthewicking,retrievethewickingandstartover.
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3.Taketheprimedwickandusetheformulaabovetocuttothedesiredlength.Attachanutornailtotheendofeachendofthewickandbendthewickinhalfsothatbothsidesarethesamelength.
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4.Makingsurethatthewickisasstraightaspossible,holdthewickatthebendanddipthewickintothewax.Thereisnoneedtodothisquickly.Idipthewickforabout3–4seconds—1seconddown,1–2secondsatthebottom,and1secondup.
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5.Beforedoingthesubsequentdippings,Iliketowaituntilthewaxchangescolorslightly,approximately3–4minutes.IfIamdoingmultiples,IhanguponeandmoveontotheothersandbythetimeIhavecompletedoneroundwithallthewicks,thefirstisreadyforroundtwo.
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6.Continuedippinguntilthecandleshavereachedabout75percentofthedesiredthickness.Waxcontractsasitcools,whichmeansthatafreshlydippedcandlemeasuring3/4"(2cm)willprobablybethinnerwhenitiscompletelycooled.Takethisintoaccountwhenmakingthecandles.Waitforthewaxtocoolabitlongerandtakeaverysharpknifeorscissorsandcutthenutofftheendofthewick.
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7.Completeacouplemoredipstofinishthecandleandhanguptocoolcompletely.Ifthedippingvatisonthestovetop,makethelastdipaslightlyhotterone(around180°F[82°C]).Thisproducesasmootherandshiniercandle,enhancingtheoveralllookofthefinishedtaper.
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BEG INNER
HAND-DIPPEDBIRTHDAYCANDLESBirthdaycandlescanbemadeinacoupledifferentways.Sincetheyaresimplyreallythintapercandles,theycanbemadeinthesameway,stoppingwhentheapproximatediameterreaches1/2"(6mm).ButIprefertomakethemlookmorelikethetraditionalbirthdaycandles—squaredoffatthetopandbottom—sothesecandlesaredippedfirsttoalongerlengthandthentrimmedtothedesiredlength.HereishowIdoit.
MATERIALSbeeswax
2/0or3/0wicking
scissors
ruler
Yield:10–15longercandles(5–7"[12.7–17.8cm])or25–30shortercandles(3–4"[7.6–10.1cm])
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1.Cutandprimethewick,stretchingitoutaspertapers,page38.Thereisnoneedtobotherwithaweight,sincethesecandleswillonlybedipped6–8timestotal.
2.Dipthecandles5–6timesandmeasurethediameter.Ifitisclosetothethicknessdesired,dipanothertimeforgoodmeasureandletitcooluntilitjuststartstoturnfromthepastelyellowtothemoregoldcolor,butisstillabitwarmtothetouch.Withscissors,cutthewickjustaboveandbelowthedesiredlengthofthecandle.
3.Tomakethe7"(18cm)candlesshownabove,cutcandlesinto71/2"(19cm)sectionswithasharppairofscissors.
4.Rollthecutsectionsonthetabletopbetweentwosheetsofwaxedpapertostraightenandsmooththeimperfections.Thecandlesalsoneedtocoolabitmorebeforecontinuingtothefinaltrimming.
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5.Measure7"(18cm)fromoneendofthecandleandwithasharpknife,cutintothebeeswaxwhilerollingittocutthewax,butnotthewick.Pullthelittlechunkofwaxoffthewickandthecandleiscompleted.
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CHAPTER3BALMSANDBARSLipbalmisoneofthefirstthingsImadewithourownbeeswaxandforgoodreason.Beeswaxcanhelpprotectthelipsfromtheharmfulraysofthesun,hasapleasantsmell,anditcanhelppreventinfectionsandcoldsores.Inapinchitcanalsobeusedtomoisturizeotherbodypartssuchasroughelbowsorraggedcuticles.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Lipbalmsandgloss
–Solidlotionandmassagebars
–Cuticleandheelbalms
–Chestrub
–Nonpetroleumjelly
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BEG INNER
BASICLIPBALMAlipbalminatubeneedstobestiffenoughtoholditsshapeandshouldnotmeltifkeptinapantspocket,yetwhenappliedtolips,itshouldglideoneasily.Pourthatsamelipbalmintoatin,anditwillprobablybetoostifftobepickedupwithafingerandappliedtothelips.Ipreferlipbalmintubes,andthefollowingrecipeisoneofmyfavorites.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 27g 30.00%
virgincoconutoil 26g 29.60%
sweetalmondoil 26g 29.70%
castoroil 1g 1.00%
lanolin 8g 9.30%
VitaminEoil 0.1g 0.10%
rosemaryoleoresinextract(ROE) 0.1g 0.10%
lip-safeflavoroil 0.2g 0.20%
woodenstirstickorkabobskewer
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:20tubes
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1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weightheingredients.Placethebeeswax,oils,andlanolinintoasmallpotorheat-safebowl.Gentlyheatinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandoilshavemelted.
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2.Oncemelted,removefromthedoubleboilerandaddessentialoilsandVitaminEoil,stirringwithastirstickorwoodenkebabskewertocombine.Whileitisstillhot,pourthemixtureintolipbalmtubes.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipbalmcontainers.
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BEG INNER
LIPBALMWITHBUTTERSHereisalovelyvariationthatincludescocoabutter.Cocoabuttercomesineitherthe“natural”scent,whichsomedescribeassomewhatchocolatelike,ordeodorized.Thereisnodifferencebetweenthetwo,exceptpersonalpreference.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 20g 21.64%
cocoabutter 20g 21.64%
sunfloweroil 45g 48.70%
lanolin 5g 5.41%
VitaminEoil 2g 2.16%
lip-safeflavoroil 12drops 0.44%
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:20tubes
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1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weighingredients.Placethebeeswax,butter,sunfloweroil,andlanolininasmallpotorheat-safebowl.Gentlyheatthemixtureinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandbutterhavemelted.
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2.Oncemelted,removefromthestovetopandaddessentialoilandVitaminEoil.Immediatelypourthemixtureintolipbalmcontainers.
3.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipbalmcontainers.
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BEG INNER
LIPGLOSSLipglossisgenerallyasofterbalmthatisstoredinajarortinratherthanatubeandusuallyhasingredientsthataddabitofshineaswell.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 10g 9.87%
castoroil 20g 19.74%
sweetalmondoil 30g 29.62%
sheabutter 25g 24.68%
cocoabutter 15g 14.81%
lipsafeflavoroil 0.3g 0.30%
knife
digitalscale
doubleboiler
lipglossjarsortins
Yield:Makestwelve1/4oz(7g)jars,orsix1/2oz(15g)tins
1.Coarselychopthebeeswaxorusebeeswaxpastilles.Weightheingredients.Placethebeeswax,butter,andoilsandputintoasmallpotorheat-safebowlandgentlyheatinthetopofadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxandbuttershavemelted.
2.Oncemelted,removefromthestovetopandaddessentialoil.Immediatelypourthemixtureintolipglosscontainers.Allowtocoolcompletelybeforeplacingcapsontothelipglosscontainers.
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SOLIDBODY-CAREBARSMuchlikelipbalms,solidbody-carebarsareverysimpletomake,butitcantakeawhiletoachievejusttherightcombinationofbutters,oils,andwaxforbothpersonalpreferenceandregionalweatherconditions—apersoninthetropics,forexample,maywantacompletelydifferentlotionthansomeoneintheArctic.Experimentationiskey.Myaimwhenmakingasolidlotionbaristofindabalancebetweenemolliencyandskinfeel.Let’sfaceit,solidlotionbarswillleaveskinfeelinggreasierthanaliquidlotion,sincethereisnowatertocutthegreasyfeeling,butwithagoodrecipe,thatgreasinesscanbesignificantlyreduced.
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BEG INNER
SOLIDLOTIONBARSolidlotionbarsareananhydrousblendofbutters,oils,andwaxes,notemulsifiedproductsthatcontainalargepercentageofwater.
Thisblendyieldsabarthatcanbehandledeasilywithoutmakingamess,butmeltsoncontacttosootheandcreateanemollientbarrier.Althoughbutterssuchassheabutterandcocoabutterarewonderfulfortheskin,theydonotdirectlymoisturizetheskin.Themoistureneedstocomefromothersources,suchasthedampnessthatremainsafterhandwashing.Whenthesebuttersarepairedwiththebeeswax,however,theyworktogethertocreateanocclusivebarrierthatsealsinthatmoisture.Variousbuttersalsocontainfattyacidsthathelptonourishtheskin.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 27g 30.20%
virgincoconutoil 6g 6.90%
sweetalmondoil 12g 13.80%
jojobaoil 12g 13.80%
sheabutter 10g 10.50%
cocoabutter 12g 10.50%
mangobutter 5g 5.30%
VitaminEoil 0.1g 0.10%
rosemaryoleoresinextract(ROE) 0.1g 0.10%
scent 0.9g 1.00%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
clearplasticguestsoapmolds.(Theyholdabout1oz(28g)ofbalmeachandthecavitiesaresmallenoughthattheresultingbalmsfiteasilyintoatin.Muffintinscanalsobeusedbyfilling1"(2.5cm)deep.)
2–3oz(57–85g)shallowtins(optional,butanicetouch)
Yield:Makesapproximatelythree1oz(28g)lotionbars
1.Meltbeeswax,coconutoil,sweetalmondoil,andjojobatogetherinadoubleboileronlowtomediumheatuntilthebeeswaxiscompletelyliquefied.Addcocoabutterandmangobutterandmeltuntilliquefiedandthenremovefromheat.
2.Slowlyaddsmallpiecesofsheabuttertothemixtureandallowtomelt.
3.Afterthesheabutterhasmeltedintothemixture,addtheVitaminEoil,ROE,andscentandpourintomolds.
4.Putthemoldswiththelotionintothefreezerforabout15minutesandtheninvertthemoldontoacleanworksurface.Thesolidlotionbarsshouldcomeouteasilywithalighttap.
5.Placeonesolidlotionbarineachofthetins.
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BEG INNER
MASSAGEBARThismassagebarisessentiallyasolidlotionmadewiththeoilsandbuttersthatworkwellformassage.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 56g 25%
cocoabutter 79g 35%
sesameoil 88g 39%
scent 2g 1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
molds(clearplasticsoapmoldsormuffintinsworkwell)
tinswithcovers,largeenoughtoholdeachbar
Yield:Makesfour2oz(57g)bars
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Withmassage,itismoreimportanttohaveenoughslipandadequateworkingtimeratherthanaproductthatdoesn’tfeelgreasyandabsorbsquickly.Iliketouseabutterthatcreatesbothahardbarandabarthatmeltsaroundbodytemperature,sococoabutterisastellarchoice.Moldtheseinnicelargepuckssothattheyareeasytouseandcancoverlargeareas.
1.Heatthebeeswaxwiththesesameoilinadoubleboileroverlowheatuntilmelted,thenaddthecocoabutter.
2.Oncethecocoabutterismelted,addscent,pourintomolds,andchillfor15minutesinthefreezer.
3.Unmoldthebarsontoacleanworksurfaceandplaceeachbarinatinorsomeothercontainertokeepthebarclean.
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BEG INNER
CUTICLEBALMMycuticlestakeabeating,soIliketokeepcuticlebalmstashedthroughoutthehouseandcar,soitisavailabletomewheneverIremembertoapplyit.Thisbalmwillhelptokeepcuticleslookingnicewhileimprovingnailsatthesametime.Ilovetoincludelanolinandlecithininmycuticlebalm.Thesetwoingredientsactasbarriers,preventingnailsfromabsorbingtoomuchwater,andthephospholipidsinthelecithinkeepsthenailflexibleandlesspronetobreakage.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 29g 28%
mangobutter 32g 30%
soybeanoil 21g 20%
lanolin 10.5g 10%
lecithin 10.5g 10%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
lemon5-foldessentialoil 0.3g .33%
pinkgrapefruitessentialoil 0.4g .34%
peppermintessentialoil 0.3g .33%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
20lipbalmtubes
Yield:Twenty1.5oz(42g)tubes
1.Heatthebeeswax,mangobutter,andsoybeanoiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilcompletelymelted.
2.Addthelanolin,lecithin,andVitaminEoil,andwhencompletelymeltedandmixed,addtheessentialoils.
3.Thiswillbeastiffmixturewhencooled,soIliketopouritintolipbalmtubes.Ifmoreofabalmlikeconsistencyisdesired,cutbackthebeeswaxto15percentandaddthedifferencetotheoils.
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BEG INNER
HEELBALMMyheelsareespeciallypronetocracking,andapplyingthisheelbalmconsistentlyoveratwo-weekperiodalwaysdoesthetrick.Thisrecipehasemuoilinit,whichissupposedtopenetrateskinandhelptobringotheringredientsintotheskinaswell.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 29g 20%
sheabutter 51g 35%
coconutoil 36g 25%
emuoil 12g 8%
sweetalmondoil 14.5g 10%
VitaminEoil 1.5g 1%
peppermintessentialoil 0.7g .5%
lemon5-foldessentialoil 0.7g .5%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
delicup
largetwist-uptubes(Ilikeovalminideodoranttubes,but1/2oz[14g]lipbalmtubesworkaswell)
Yield:Five1oz(28g)tubes
1.Heatthebeeswax,sheabutter,andcoconutoiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilcompletelymelted.Removefromheat.
2.Addtheemu,sweetalmond,andVitaminEOil,stirringwithastirsticktoensureitisthoroughlymixedandalltheoilsarecompletelymelted.Letthemixturecoolslightlyandaddtheessentialoils.Stirtoincorporate.
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3.Transferasmallportionofthebalmtothedelicupandreturntheresttothedoubleboilertostaywarm.Pinchthedelicuptoformapourspoutandpourthebalmintoatube.repeatuntilremainingtubesarefilled.Allowtocoolundisturbed.
4.Whenthebalmhascooled,addthecaps.
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BEG INNER
CHESTRUBAlthoughchestrubscanbepurchasedcommercially,mostaremadewithpetrolatum.Myversionisasoftbalmrecipeutilizingessentialoilsthatimproverespiratorycongestion.Forveryyoungchildren,usehalftheamountofessentialoils.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 26g 23%
oliveoil 85g 75%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
eucalyptusessentialoil 0.6g .5%
camphoressentialoil 0.5g .35%
birchessentialoil 0.1g .15%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
4salvecontainers,1-oz(28g)each
Yield:Makesapproximatelyfour1oz(28g)portions
1.Heatthebeeswaxandoliveoilinadoubleboileruntilmelted.
2.RemovefromheatandstirintheVitaminEoilandessentialoils.
3.Pourintosalvecontainers.
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BEG INNER
NONPETROLEUMJELLYNonpetroleumJellyisaproductthatlooksandfeelsalotlikepetroleumjelly,butitismadewithnonpetroleumproducts.Castoroilandbeeswaxhaveasymbioticrelationship.Whenheatedbeeswaxiswhiskedintoheatedcastoroilandwhippedtoajellyconsistency,themixtureprovidesaprotectivebarriertotheskin,holdinginmoistureandhelpingtopreventchappingorirritation.
MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 9g 9%
castoroil 90g 90%
VitaminEoil 1g 1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
pot
Yield:Makes100grams,orapproximatelytwo2oz(57g)jars
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1.Meltthebeeswaxinadoubleboilerandwarmthecastoroilinaseparatepot.
2.AddthecastoroilandVitaminEoiltothemeltedwax,gentlywhippingthemixtureasitcools.Whenfinisheditshouldhaveajellylikeconsistency.
3.Packagejellyintojars.
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CHAPTER4SALVES,CREAMS,ANDSCRUBSSalvesconsistofinfusedoils,beeswax,andattimes,essentialoils.Byusingherbsindifferentcombinations,youcanmakesalvesthatserveavarietyofpurposes.Makingsalvesfromscratchisnothard,butitcantakesometime.Keepinmindthathealingherbsaredelicate,andrequireagentlehand.Iliketotaketheslowmethodofroomtemperatureinfusiontoextractthe“goodstuff”fromtheherbs.Ifeelthisisthekindestandbestwaytoextractthehealingessences.Somepeoplewilluseheattospeeduptheprocess,andwithawatchfuleye,thiscanbedonesuccessfully,butitisveryeasytoscorchtheherbsandnegateanyhealingproperties.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Salves
–Jointandmusclebalm
–Emulsifyingsugarscrub
–Beeswaxcream
–Solidnaturalperfumes
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BEG INNER
SALVEMASTERRECIPESincetheonlythingthatdifferentiatesonesalvefromanotheristheherbused,Iusethisamasterrecipeasabase,andI’veprovidedacoupleoffavoriterecipesthatutilizethatbaserecipe.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 40g 20%
liquidoil,infusedwithherb 158g 78.5%
VitaminEoil 2g 1%
essentialoilblend 1g .5%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
4tins,2oz(56g)each
Yield:Makesenoughtofillapproximatelyfour2oz(56g)tins
1.Heatthebeeswaxandinfusedoilinadoubleboileruntilthebeeswaxiscompletelymelted.Takecarenottogettheoiltoohot,sothatthereisnodamagetotheoil.
2.Removefromheat,andaddVitaminEoilandessentialoils,ifdesired.
3.Stirtomixwellandpourintowaitingcontainers.Ifusingplasticjars,makesurethemixtureisn’ttoohotbeforepouringintojars,astheycandeformwithtoomuchheat.
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BEG INNER
OILHERBALINFUSIONIliketousethe“simplers”methodtoinfusemyoils,meaningthattherecipeisbasedonratios,andmeasurementsarereferredtoas“parts.”Thissimplewayofmeasurementallowstheformulatortomaketherecipeinanyvolumedesired.
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MATERIALSherbsofyourchoice
high-qualityextravirginoliveoil
VitaminEoil
canningjarwithlid
BEFOREYOUBEGINForsalves,useahigh-qualityoil,suchasextravirginoliveoil.Itiswonderfulforskinallonitsownanditismadeevenbetterwiththeadditionofherbs.Otheroilstotryaregrapeseedoil,sweetalmondoil,andapricotseedoil.Foreachofmyrecipes,Iwillsuggestanoil.Whileitisnotnecessarytousethatoil,understandthattheoilwaschosenforwhatitbringstothetable.
Manyherbscanbeusedinoilinfusions.Thecombinationsarelimitedonlybytheimagination.Irecommend,however,thatonlydriedherbsareused.Itisespeciallyimportanttouseherbsthatarecompletelydry,asanymoisturewithintheoilwillspoilthebatch.Ifthematerialsarenotcompletelydry,bacteriawillflourish,resultinginamoldy,unusableproduct.
Fortheactualinfusion,mypreferredvesselisacanningjar.Itisdurable,hasalid,andcomesinavarietyofsizes.
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1.Addherbstothejarandthenpourthechosenoilovertheherbsuntiltheyarecompletelysubmerged,leavingalittleairspaceatthetop,tohelpmixthingswhenthejarisinverted.
2.Coverthejartightlyandplaceinawarmspot.Lettheherbsinfuseforabouttwoweeks,gentlymixingtheblendbycarefullyinvertingthejar.
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3.Forastrongeroil,addafreshbatchofherbsandletinfusefortwomoreweeks.Straintheoil.
4.AddVitaminEoilat1percentoftheoiltoretardrancidityandprolongshelflife.Keepthestrained,infusedoilinacooldarkplaceuntilneeded.
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BEG INNER
ALL-PURPOSESALVEThisismyfavoritesalve.Icallitmybasicfirst-aidsalve.Itworksreallywellatsoothingandhealingminorcutsandscrapes.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usinginfusedliquidoilwiththefollowingingredients.
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MATERIALSHERBS
1partcalendulablossoms
1partlavenderblossoms
1partcomfreyleaf
1partplantainleaf
1partchickweedleaf
OILS
equalpartsoliveandgrapeseed
ESSENTIALOILS
lavenderorlavandin
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BEG INNER
CRACKEDSKINSALVEWhenwinterravagesskin,thissalvecanbeasavior.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
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MATERIALSHERBS
2partscalendulablossoms
1partplantainleaf
1partSt.John’sWort
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOILS
1partpineneedle
1partGermanchamomile
1partlavender
1partteatree
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BEG INNER
BURNSALVEMinorburnscaneasilybetreatedwiththislovelysalve.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
1partcalendulablossoms
1partplantainleaf
1partlavender
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOIL
lavender
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BEG INNER
ITCHSOOTHERItchescomeinmanyforms.Thissalveisgreatforinsectbitesandotherskinconditionsthatcauseitchyskin.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
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MATERIALSHERBS
2partschickweed
2partschamomile
2partscalendulablossoms
1partthyme
1partcomfreyroot
1partmarshmallowroot
OILS
3partsolive
1partcastor
ESSENTIALOILS
3partslavender
3partshelichrysum
1partpeppermint
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BEG INNER
ROSEBUDSALVEInadditiontosmellinggreat,thissalveworkswellformoisturizingelbowsandtamingfly-awayhair.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
MATERIALSHERBS
OrganicRosebuds
OIL
olive
ESSENTIALOIL
roseabsolute
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BEG INNER
WOODWORKER’SSALVEInadditiontohealingskin,thissalvealsohelpstopullwoodormetalsplinterstothesurfaceoftheskin.SimplyfollowthedirectionsfortheSalveMasterRecipeonpage56,usingthefollowingingredients.
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MATERIALSHERBS
2partschickweed
2partsplantain
2partscomfreyleaf
2partsrosemary
pinchbentoniteclay
OIL
oliveoil
ESSENTIALOIL
lavender
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BEG INNER
ICYJOINT&MUSCLEBALMThissoothingbalm,madeupofnaturalvegetableoilsandbeeswax,providesabaseforthecoolingtherapeuticmentholcrystalsandablendoftherapeuticessentialoils.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 30g 25%
cocoabutter 6g 5%
extravirginoliveoil 26g 21.5%
almondoil 22g 18%
castoroil 24g 20%
mentholcrystals 10g 8%
VitaminEoil 0.6g .5%
eucalyptusdivesessentialoil 0.7g .6%
rosemaryessentialoil 1g .8%
camphoressentialoil 0.6g .5%
teatree,Australianessentialoil 0.1g .1%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
woodenstirstick
1-oz(27g)tins
Yield:Four1oz(28g)portions
Irecommendstoringitin1oz(27g)containerssotheycaneasilybetossedintoagymbagorcarriedtothejobsitewheretheycanprovideconvenientandinstantrelieffromnaggingmuscleachesandpain.
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1.Warmalltheoils,mentholcrystals,andbeeswaxinadoubleboileroverlow-mediumheat,stirringuntilallsolidsaremeltedordissolved.
2.Removefromheatandallowtocoolslightly.Addtheremainingingredients.
3.Pourinto1oz(27g)tinsandallowtocoolcompletely.
VARIATIONIfdesired,thisalsoworkswellinlargelipbalmtubes.Additionalbeeswaxmaybeneededtoachievetherightconsistencyforstickapplication.
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INTERMED IATE
EMULSIFYINGSUGARSCRUBIloveagoodscrub.Althoughthereareoil-basedscrubsavailable,Ihonestlyfindthatwithoutanemulsifier,theyleavealayerofoilonmyskinthatIfeelinclinedtoscrapeoff.
Asanalternativetooil-basedscrubs,tryanemulsifiedscrub,whichbasicallyturnsintoalotionwiththeadditionofwaterfromthebathorshower,leavingtheskinmoisturizedbutnotgreasy.
NOTE:Althoughthisrecipedoesnotcontainwater,Ihaveincludedapreservativetopreventbacteriagrowthinthescrub.Sincethescrubisusedaroundwater,thelikelihoodofwaterbeingintroducedisveryhigh.
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MATERIALS
saffloweroil 120g 12%
sweetalmondoil 100g 10%
cocoabutter 60g 6%
mangobutter 60g 6%
E-waxNF 40g 4%
yellowbeeswax 7.5g .75%
scent 7.5g .75%
Optiphen 5g .5%
VitaminEoil 5g .5%
sugar,granulated 595g 59.5%
kitchenscale
doubleboiler
spoon
thermometer
smallmixingbowl
handmixerwithwhiskattachmentorstandmixer
four8oz(227g)jarswithlids
Yield:Approximatelytfour8oz(227g)jars
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1.Weighsaffloweroil,sweetalmondoil,cocoabutter,mangobutter,emulsifyingwax,andbeeswaxandaddtoadoubleboiler.
2.Heatuntileverythingiscompletelymelted,stirringoccasionally.
3.Whenthetemperatureofthemeltedmixturereaches120°F(49°C),addOptiphenpreservative,VitaminEoil,andscentblend.Stir.
4.Transfermixturetoasmallmixingbowlandplaceintherefrigeratortocooltoaround80°F(27°C).
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5.Removeandwhipusingahandmixerwithwhiskattachmentsorstandmixer.Whiskuntilitlookslikepudding.
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6.Addsugarandwhiskuntilwellincorporated.Pourintojarsandallowtosetup.
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ADVANC ED
BEESWAXCREAMI’llbehonest.Iwasveryclosetonotincludinganykindofemulsifiedlotionorcreamusingbeeswax.Why?Becauseitisaverydifficultproducttomakesuccessfullywiththetoolsthatarereadilyavailabletothehomecrafter.Commercialoperationsusefancyhomogenizerstomixtheingredientsatveryspecifictemperatures,achievingaproductthatlooksandfeelsgood,isstable,andwillnotseparateovertime.
Havingsaidthat,thereareproductsthatcanbemadethatutilizebeeswaxasathickener,insteadofrelyingonthebeeswaxtohelpwiththeemulsificationsystem.Thisrecipeforanallaroundbodycreamisagreatstartingpoint.Ithasaniceskinfeel,absorbsquickly,anddoesn’tfeeltoogreasy.Tomakeamorespecializedcream,theoilsandbuttersinPhaseBcanbeswappedouttomakesomethingthatworksfortheapplicationinmind.Ifthesameconsistencyisdesired,trytokeepthepercentageofbuttersandoilsthesame.Donotchangetheproportionofemulsifiertowax.
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MATERIALS
PHASEA
distilledwater 260g 56.5%
honey 9g 2%
PhaseB
E-waxNF 23g 5%
StearicAcid 23g 5%
yellowbeeswax 23g 5%
mangobutter 23g 5%
coconutoil 69g 15%
lanolin 9g 2%
VitaminEoil 14g 3%
PhaseC
Optiphen 5g 1%
scent 2g .5%
2heatproofquartsizecanningjars
doubleboiler
digitalscale
thermometer
immersionblender
four4oz(113g)jarswithlids
bowllargeenoughtouseforcoldwaterbath
Yield:Four4oz(113g)jars
BEFOREYOUBEGINTheheatandholdprocessreferredtointhefollowinginstructionssimplymeansthatyoushouldheatthemixturetothetemperatureindicatedandhold—ormaintain—thattemperatureforthetimeprovided.Thisensuresthatthewaterphaseremainshotenoughforalongenoughtimetokilloffwhateverpathogensmightbeinthewaterandtocompletelymeltparticlesintheoilphase.
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1.Inapan,combinetheingredientslistedinPhaseA.Inaseparatepan,combinethePhaseBingredients.
2.PlacethetwopansintoadoubleboilerandheatandholdbothphaseAandPhaseBinseparatecontainersatatemperatureof158°F(70°C)for20minutes.
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3.PourPhaseBintoPhaseAandcombine,usinganimmersionblenderonhigh.Placethejarinacoldwaterbathtohelpcoolthemixturedownquickly,continuingtoblendonhighuntilthemixturereachesatemperatureof104°F(40°C).
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4.AddphaseC.ContinuemixingonlowuntilphaseChasbeenthoroughlyincorporated,takingcarenottolifttheimmersionblenderup,whichwillincorporateair.Pourintofour4oz(113g)jars.
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SOLIDNATURALPERFUMESIlovecreatingwithessentialoilsandforme,makingperfumesisparticularlyrewardingwhenIamabletoachievesomethingthatisbetterthatthesumofitsparts.
MyfirstexposuretosolidperfumeswaswhenItouredaperfumehouseinGrasse,France.Iwantedtogohomewithsomethingfuntoremindmeofmytrip,soIboughtasix-packofsolidperfumes.TheseperfumesendedupbeingsomeofmyfavoritesouvenirsfromFrance.Ilovethetactileandsensuousnatureofsolidperfumes.WhenIstartedcreatingperfumesmyself,solidperfumeswerefirstonmylist.
Awell-madenaturalperfumestrikestheperfectbalancebetweentopnotes,heartnotes,andbasenotes.Thosewhoareunfamiliarwith100percentnaturalperfumeswillbeamazedatthecomplex“story”eachperfumesrelates.Thetopnotesarethefirstonesto“speak,”andareusuallymostexuberant.Whenthetopnoteshavecalmeddownabit,theheartnoteskickintocontinuetellingthebulkofthestory.Thebasenotesareheardfromlast,butoncetheyarenoticed,therealizationhitsthattheyhavebeenthereallalong.Thebasenotesaretheworkhorsesoftheperfumeandareresponsibleforitsoverallcharacterandstayingpower.Solidperfumesaretobeappliedtopulsepointsand,unliketheirspraycounterparts,areintendedforadiscreetaudience.
Creatingaperfumeisnotaleisurelyafternoon’sactivity.Perfumesneedtimetomarryandmeldandcansometimestakeayearormoretofinishitsmagic.TherecipesIhaveincludedherearebestlefttomarryforacouplemonths,buttheywillbereadytouseinlessthanayear.
Althoughtheseperfumerecipescanbemadeinanoiloralcoholbase,thescentofthenaturalbeeswaxinthisrecipebecomesauniquepartoftheperfumeblend.
Ishouldnotethatthefollowingrecipeswillalsoworkwithfragranceoils.Fragranceoilscanalsobeblended,butkeepinmindthatbynaturetheoilsarealreadyablendofdifferentnotes.Before
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addingfragranceoilstoyourperfumes,besuretocheckthemanufacturer ’srecommendedsafetylevelsforskinapplication.
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BEG INNER
SOLIDPERFUMEBASEBALMRECIPEIliketomakeupalargerquantityofmySolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipeandthenjustwarmtheamountIneedfortheparticularcontainerIamfilling.Thereareendlesspossibilitiesforcontainersforthesesignatureperfumes,fromsmalljarstolocketsthatcanbewornaroundtheneck,releasingscent.Therecipeforthisbaseisharderthanmysalvebase,sincetheideaistopickupjustalittlebitwhenthefingerisrubbedacrossthesurface.
MATERIALS
liquidcarrieroil(jojobaorfractionatedcoconutoil) 60g 60.00%
yellowbeeswax 40g 40.00%
heat-proofglassmeasuringcup
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoon
plasticstoragecontainerwithlid
Yield:Makesenoughtofillapproximately61/2oz(14g)jars
1.Addthecarrieroilandthebeeswaxtoasmall,heat-proofglassmeasuringcupandwarminadoubleboiler,takingcarenottooverheatthemixture.
2.Stirwelltocombineandpourintoastoragecontaineruntilneeded.
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INTERMED IATE
SOLIDPERFUMEMASTERRECIPEIhavewrittentheserecipesinparts.Whenexperimentingwiththeblends,useonlydropsinsteadofpartsandplaceintoasmallbottleorvialforacoupleweekstoallowthescentstomeld.
MATERIALS
solidperfumebase 17g 85%
essentialoilblend 3g 15%
digitalscale
smalldelicup
woodenstirstick
microwave
4–5lipbalmtubesor2–3slidetins
Yield:Makesapproximately4–5lipbalmtubesor2–3slidetins
Thebestwaytotestthescentofaperfumeblendistouseperfumetesterstrips.Caution,sincethisisanundilutedessentialoilblend,donottrythisdirectlyonskin.Iuse140-poundacidfreewatercolorpaperandcutitintothinstripsthatfitintomyessentialoilblendvialorbottle.Dipthestripintotheessentialoilblendandsniffitat5minutes,30minutes,2hours,and5hours.Writedownyourimpressionsoftheperfumeatthevariousintervals.Notethechangesthatthescentundergoesoverthecourseoftime.Lettheperfumemeldforanotherweekandtryagain.
1.Tomakeaperfume,simplycutaportionofthesolidperfumebaseofftheblockwithasharpknife.
2.Addthedesiredamountofsolidperfumebasetothedelicupandmeltinshortspurtsinthemicrowave.Itshouldmelteasilyin20–30seconds.Donotoverheat.
3.Addtheessentialoilblend,stirtoincorporate,andpourintotheperfumecontainer.
4.Letitsitinplaceuntilcool.Addthecapandenjoy.
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INTERMED IATE
PERFUMEESSENTIALOILBLENDSHereareafewgreatblendstotry.Feelfreetotweakandadjustasdesired.Oncetheperfectblendisachievedonthescentstrip,testonskin,sinceeveryperson’sskinchemistryaltersthescentslightly.Totrytheblendonskin,addadropoftheessentialoilblendtoabout10–15dropsofacarrieroilandapplytotheskin.Ihopeyoufindonethatyoulike!
BLEND1
TOPNOTESFennelEO*SweetOrangeEO
2parts5parts
HEARTNOTE Roseabsolute 3parts
BASENOTE MyrrhEO 2parts
BLEND2
TOPNOTESTangerineEOBergamotEOLavenderEO
6parts6parts9parts
HEARTNOTESClarySageEONutmegEOylangylangEO
15parts8parts11parts
BASENOTE patchouliEO 14parts
BLEND3
TOPNOTE LavenderEO 20parts
HEARTNOTE ChamomileEO 2parts
BASENOTE BenzoinEO 1part
BLEND4
TOPNOTE BergamotMintEO 5parts
HEARTNOTESSpruceEOCypressEO
10parts5parts
BASENOTESBenzoinresinCedarwoodEOVetiverEO
3parts4parts3parts
BLEND5
TOPNOTE SweetOrangeEO 4parts
HEARTNOTESCorianderEOJuniperEO
3parts3parts
BASENOTE FrankincenseEO 1part
BLEND6
TOPNOTE BergamotEO 3parts
HEARTNOTES PalmarosaEO 2parts
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RoseAbsolute 2parts
BASENOTE SandalwoodEO 4parts
BLEND7
TOPNOTESBergamotEOLavenderEO
2parts2parts
HEARTNOTE ClarysageEO 2parts
BASENOTESHelichrysumEOVanillaAbsolute
4parts1part
*EssentialOil
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CHAPTER5SOAPSSoap,whichhasbeenaroundforever,isoneoflife’sbasicnecessities.Whiletheactualoriginofsoapisunclear,weknowthatforthepast5,000years,peoplehavebeencombiningalkalinesaltwithfatstomakesoap.TheSumerianscreatedaslurrybycombininganimalandvegetablefatswithashesandboilingthemixture.AncientEgyptianslaterwroteaboutsoaprecipesthatcalledformixturesoffatsandalkalinesalts.TheRomanswereusingbarsoapintheirbathsby200CE.
Themaindifferencebetweenthesoapsweusetodayandwhatpeopleusedwaybackwhenisthatoursoapsarereliablygentleontheskinandconsistentfromonebatchtothenext.Thisisbecausenowweknowaboutthechemicalreactionthattakesplacetocreatesoapandweknowhowtocreatelye—amainingredientinsoap—thatisofaknownpurity,whichensuresresultsthatcanbeeasilypredictedandduplicated.Wealsohavemoderntoolssuchasdigitalscalesandimmersionblendersthathelpwiththetask,buttheessentialshavenotchangedforthepast5,000years.
Inthischapteryou’lllearn
–Soap-makingbasics
–Soap-makingequipment
–Coldandhotprocesses
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FAT+LYE=SOAPWithoutlye,thereisnosoap.Lyeisrequiredtocreatethechemicalreactionthatproducessoap.Whenasoaprecipeiscalculatedcorrectly,nolyeremainsinthefinalproduct.Allthelyeisconvertedtoasalt.
Whyputbeeswaxinsoap?Beeswaxhelpsmakethesoapemollientandcreatesahardbarthatlastslongerintheshower.Thebiggestmistakethatmostbeginnersmakeisaddingtoomuchbeeswax,whichcreatesabarthatfeelsrubberyandabitgummy.Butaddingjustalittlebitofbeeswax,say1to2percentofaddedoils,improvesthebarconsiderably.
Sincebeeswaxisnotanoil,notallofthewaxwillreactwiththelye.Beeswaxcontainsabout50percentunsaponifiables.Unsaponifiablesarethesubstancesinbeeswaxthatdonotreactwiththelye.Theunsaponifiablesmaybesubstancesthathelpdecreasethetracetimeinrecipesusingbeeswax,butarealsoprobablythesubstancesthatmakeasoapnicefortheskin.
Iconsiderusingbeeswaxinsoaptobeanadvancedsoap-makingtechnique.Themainreasonisthatbeeswaxhasameltingtemperatureofatleast145°F(63°C),whilemostsoapsaremadeatatemperaturethatisquiteabitcoolerthanthat,atsay100°F(38°C).Theoilsandlyeneedtobecombinedatahighertemperaturetoensurethatthebeeswaxremainsmelted.Thehighertemperatureswillmakethesoapsaponifymorequickly,whichcouldresultinafailedbatchifyou’renotcareful.
Forbeginningsoapmakers,Ihaveincludedabeeswax-freestarterrecipethatcanbemadeeasilywithoilsfoundatmostgrocerystores.Istronglyurgepeoplewhohavenotmadesoapbeforetomakethestarterrecipefirst—tobecomefamiliarwiththeprocessandgainanunderstandingofthedifferentstagesthesoapgoesthrough.Oncethebasicsoap-makingtechniquesaremastered,thecoldprocessorhotprocesssoaprecipesthatfollowwillbelessdauntingandyou’remorelikelytomakeasuccessfulbatchofsoap.
EachoilusedinsoapmakinghasaSaponificationRatiovalue,alsoknownastheSAPvalue,whichistheamountoflyeneededtoconvertthatoilintosoap.Sinceeachoilhasadifferentvalue,donotmakeanyoilsubstitutionswithoutrecalculatingtheamountoflyeneededfortheoilyouareconsidering.Theamountoflyeneededcanbecalculatedbyhandorusinganonlinecalculator.Irecommendrunningeveryrecipethroughalyecalculator,regardlessofthesource.Therecipecouldhaveinadvertenterrorsliketransposednumbersorincorrectunits.Itisalsonicetohaveapapercopytocheckoffingredientsastheyareaddedandaddnotesonscentorcolor.Usingthelyecalculatoralsoallowsforresizingarecipetofitaparticularmold.Therearefreeweb-basedlyecalculatorsthatwillcalculatetheamountoflyeneededandallowtheusertoprintouttherecipe.Somecalculatorshavepredictivevaluesforhardnessandlatherthatareusefulwhencreatingrecipesfromscratchortweakingrecipestofittheingredientsonhand.
Althoughitispossibletomakeasoapwithjustoneoil,therearereasonsthatmostsoapmakersusemorethanone.Eachoilhasadifferentbreakdownofessentialfattyacidsthatbringdifferentpropertiestothesoap.Coconutoilisreallyhighinlauricacid,yieldingasoapthatmakesloadsofbubbles,willdissolvereallyquickly,andisverycleansing(tooharshformostpeopleifusedinhighproportion).Oliveoil,ontheotherhand,whichisloadedwitholeicacid,makesasoapthathasmoreofacreamylather(thatalmostfeelsslimyifnotproperlyaged),issupergentleontheskinandoncefullycured,ishardasabrick.Mostoftheotheroilswillfallsomewherebetweencoconutandoliveoil.Intheingredientglossary,IhaveincludedprofilesforalltheoilsIuseinthisbookplusacouplemorethatmightmakenicesubstitutions.
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SOAP-MAKINGEQUIPMENTSoap-makingequipmentonlyhasacouplerequirements.First,ifusingmetal,ONLYusestainlesssteel.Thelyewillreactwithothermetals.Second,neveruseglasstomixthelye.Overtime,thelyewillcreateminutecracksandscrapesintheglass,eventuallycausingittoshatter,potentiallyspillinghot,causticlyewaterallovertheplace.
Useadisposablepaperplateorbowltomeasurethedrylye.Thismakesclean-upeasy.Lyecrystalscanhavequiteabitofstaticelectricityandtheindividualbeadscanescape.Takecarewhenmeasuringandgiveallsurfacesaquickwipedownoncethelyeisinwater.
Irecommendusinganimmersionblender(A)tomixthelyewiththeoils.Immersionblendersareavailableatbigboxstoresatreasonablepricesandtheyhelptoensurethatthesoapbatterismixedproperly.Theimmersionblenderhasahighshearbladethatmixesthesoapeasilyandreliably.Ahandwhisk(B)orspooncanalsobeused,butitwilltakequiteabitlonger.
Formixingthesoap,Iliketousestainlesssteelstockpots,bowls(C)orplasticbuckets.Asmall,flat-bottomedmopbucketworksreallywell,sinceitisdurableenoughtowithstandsomewarmertemperaturesandisnottootall,allowingthesoapmakertouseanimmersionblenderorwhiskwithease.Amopbucketalsohasahandle,whichisusefulfortransferringthesoapbattertothemold.
Soapmoldscanbeassimpleasalinedcardboardbox(D)orascomplicatedasanornatesiliconemold,witheverythinginbetween.Therecipesinthisbookaresizedforaregularbreadloafpan(Ilikesilicone,whichdoesn’tneedtobelined),whichyieldsapproximatelyeightbarsofsoap.Forliningsoapmolds,Ipreferfreezerpaper.Linethemoldswiththeshiny,coatedsidefaceup,restingagainstthesoap.Tolineamoldorbox,cuttwopiecesoffreezerpaperandlaythemintheboxinoppositedirections,makinganicecrispcornerwherethebottommeetsthesidesandleavingtheextrafoldedoverthesidesofthebox.Therewillbeaslightgapatthecorners,wherethetwopiecesoffreezerpapermeet,butIhavenotfoundthattobeaproblemaslongasthesoapispouredintothemoldatthepropertime.
Adigitalscale(E)isimperativefortheserecipes,asallingredientsaremeasuredingrams.Reasonablypricedscalescanbefoundatanybig-boxstore.Measuresolidingredientsonapieceoffreezerpaperandliquidingredientsinplasticdelicontainers(alwaysremembertozeroouttheweightofthecontainerbeforeaddingingredients).
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PROTECTIVEGEARLyerequiresseveralitemsbeusedforpersonalandenvironmentalsafety.Incrystalform,lyecanbeannoying,butitisrelativelyharmless.Itcandevelopastaticchargethatcausesthelyetoendupfarfromitsoriginalcontainer.Onceithasbeendissolvedinwater,itismuchmorecaustic,butlesslikelytocreateproblemssincetheliquidiseasiertomanipulatesafely.
Clothingshouldbethefirstlevelofprotection.Wearalong-sleeveshirt,longpants,andclosed-toeshoes.Ontopofthat,glovesandgoggleshelpkeepyourhandsandeyesprotectedfromerrantlyecrystalsandfromrawsoapmix.Next,whenthelyeisbeingaddedtowater,thereactiongivesoffsomefumesthatcanbeirritatingandarebetternotbreathedin.Iliketomixthelyeintowateroutsidewherethefumesaren’taproblem,butforthosewhoprefertodothisintheirsoapingspace,Irecommendtheuseofarespirator.Itisnotneededfortherestofthesoap-makingprocess.
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INTERMED IATE
STARTERRECIPE(NOBEESWAXORHONEY)
MATERIALS
oliveoil(Ipreferpomacegrade) 312g 36.7%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 227g 26.7%
Crisco(“palm”recipe,seenote) 283g 33.3%
castoroil 28g 3.3%
distilledwater 323g
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 117g
fragrance(ifdesired) .43g
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73)
liquidmeasuringcup
stockpotormicrowave-safecontainer
stainlesssteelstockpotorflat-bottomedmopbucket
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
largeplasticcookingspoon
chef’sknife
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpaper(ifloafpanisnotsilicone)
pieceofcardboard,cuttothesizeoftheloafpan
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
BEFOREYOUBEGINThefirstthingIliketodowhenImakesoapistogatherallmyingredientstogetherandputthemonmytableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.Idothisfortworeasons.First,IcanchecktomakesurethatIhaveenoughofallmyingredientstoactuallymakethesoap.It’sbettertorealizethatthereisnocastoroilbeforemakingsoap,ratherthanrightinthemiddleofsoapmaking.Secondly,Icangrabtheoilsinorderandcheckthemoffonmyprintedrecipe.IthelpstoensurethatImeasureoutthecorrectamounts.
NOTE:IspecificallycallforCriscoinsteadofgenericvegetableshortening,sinceCrisco’sSaponificationRatio(SAP)isknownbythelyecalculatorsandtheproportionsofoilsinthevegetableshorteningblendmaybedifferentwithotherbrands.Also,Criscochangedtheirformulaseveralyearsbackandversioncommonlyfoundonstoreshelvesismadewithpalmoil.ChecktheingredientslistingontheCriscopackagetomakesureitincludespalmoil.
1.Alwaysmakethelyesolutionfirst,asitrequirescoolingtime.Measurethelyeintoadisposable
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paperbowlandsetaside.
2.Measureoutthecorrectamountofdistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer.Placethecontaineronahighheat-resistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stirwithaplasticcookingspoonuntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Setthelyemixtureasidetocool.
3.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
4.Heatallthesolidoilsinastockpotonthestovetoporinthemicrowaveinaheat-safecontainer.Oncemelted,pourtheoilsintothemixingcontainer,eitherastockpotoraflat-bottomedmopbucket.Addtheliquidoilsandstirtomix.
5.Checkthetemperaturesofthelyeandtheoils.Ideally,bothshouldbearound100°F(38°C).Ifthetemperaturesarehigher,letitcooldownabitmore.
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6.Tomakethesoap,pourthelyewaterintotheoilsandmixwiththeimmersionblender(A).Noticehowthemixturechangesfromtransparenttomilky.Continuemixinguntilthesoapreachesastagecalled“trace.”Youwillknowthatyouareatthetracestagewhenyoupulltheimmersionblenderoutofthesoapmixtureanditleavesavisibletrailinthetopofthesoap(B).Iliketotakemysoaptoamediumtoheavytrace,whichisalmosttheconsistencyofasoftpudding.Dependingonthetemperatureoftheoilandlyeandthespeedoftheimmersionblender,theactualmixingportionshouldnottakethatlong,maybefivetotenminutes.
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7.Ifthisisyourfirsttimemakingsoap,Irecommendnotaddinganycolororscent.Butoncetherecipeismorefamiliar,thiswouldbethetimetoaddthoseingredients.
8.Pourthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold.Scrapeoutthesoappotandtapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupletimestomakesuretherearenoairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandcoverthemoldwithapieceofcardboardtoholdinsomeoftheheat.
NOTE:Whenusinghoney,beeswax,oranykindofmilk,thoseingredientscancausethesoaptogethotterthannormalanditmaynotbenecessarytocoverthemold.
9.Allowthesoaptositforseveralhours.Sincesoapmakingisanexothermicchemicalreaction,thesoapwillheatupinthenextcouplehoursandgofromwhatlookslikeanicecreamysoapintosomethingresemblingpetroleumjellyanditwillbeHOT.That’swhatiscalledthe“gel”phase.While
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it’snotcompletelynecessaryforabatchofsoaptogothroughgel,Ithinkitmakesforabetter,moreconsistentendproduct.
10.Afterabouttwenty-fourhours,thesoapshouldbecool,relativelyhard,andreadytounmoldandslice.Ifitstillseemsabitsoft,leaveitinthemoldabitlongerandcheckitagainafteranotherdayorso.Onceitseemshardenough,usethechef’sknifetocutthesoapintoindividualbars,keepinginmindthatthereisstillquiteabitofwaterinthesoapthatwillevaporateovertime,causingthebartoshrinkabit.Setthecutbarsonsomefreezerpaperwithabitofairspacebetweenthemandsetthemsomewhereoutofthewaytodryandcure.Curetimeisatleastonemonth.
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ADVANC ED
HONEYANDBEESWAXSOAP(COLDPROCESSRECIPE)Oncethebasicrecipehasbeenmastered,itistimetoaddsomegoodiessuchasbeeswaxandhoney.Thebeeswaxwillmakeaharderbarandthehoneywillboostlatherandprovidesomemoisturizingbenefits.
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MATERIALS
oliveoil 358g 44.8%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 225g 28.1%
palmoil 177g 22.2%
castoroil 32g 4.0%
beeswax 7.2g 0.9%
distilledwater 276g 9oz
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 111g
honey 1tbsp
fragrance(ifdesired) 2tbsp
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipmentp73)
largeplasticspoonorhighheatspatula
stainlesssteelpotormicrowave-safecontainerforoils
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpapertolinemold
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
1.Gatheralltheingredientstogetherandarrangethemonthetableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.
2.Alwaysmakethelyesolutionfirst,asitrequirescoolingtime.Measurethelyeintoadisposablepaperbowlandsetaside.
3.Measureout5oz(140g)ofdistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73).Placethecontaineronheatresistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stiruntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Setthelyemixtureasidetocool.
4.Inamicrowave-safecontainer,addthehoneytotheremaining4oz(115g)ofwaterandstirtoincorporate.Microwaveforacoupleofsecondsatatimeuntilthehoneyiscompletelydissolved.Setaside.
5.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
6.Heatallofthesolidoilsandbeeswaxinastainlesssteelpotonthestovetoporinamicrowave-safecontainerinthemicrowave.Oncemelted,pourthemeltedsolidoilsintothemixingcontainerandaddtheliquidoils,stirringwelltoensureitisallmixed.
7.Checkthetemperatureofboththelyeandtheoils.Tokeepthebeeswaxfromhardening,theidealtemperatureoftheoilswillneedtobearound120°F(49°C).Thegoalistohavethelyerightaroundthattemperatureaswell.
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8.Addthereservedhoneywatertothelyewater.Itwillprobablyturncolors;mineusuallyturnssomesortofpinkishhue.That’snormal.
9.Pourthelyewaterintotheoilsandmixwiththeimmersionblender.Onceitisemulsified,butnotyetattrace,addthefragranceifdesired.Keepmixinguntilitgetsto“trace.”Forthissoap,Irecommendmixinguntilitisalighttomediumtrace.Oncetraceisachieved,workquicklytogetthesoapintothemold,asitmaysolidifyquickly.
10.Pourthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold,takingcaretoscrapeallofthesoapresidueoutofthepot.Tapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupleoftimestoremoveanyairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandcoverthemoldwithapieceofcardboardtoholdinsomeoftheheat.
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NOTE:Whenusinghoney,beeswax,oranykindofmilk,theseingredientscancausethesoaptogethotterthannormalanditmaynotbenecessarytocoverthemold.
11.Afterabouttwenty-fourhours,thesoapshouldbecool,relativelyhard,andreadytounmoldandslice.Ifitstillseemsabitsoft,leaveitinthemoldandcheckitagainafteranotherdayorso.Oncethesoapseemshardenough,cutitintoindividualbars.Placethecutbarsonfreezerpaperwithspacebetweenthemandsetasideforaboutamonthtodryandcure,rotatingthemoccasionallysothatallsidesdryevenly.
12.Iliketostoremysoapsinacooldryplaceuntilneeded.Astheyage,theywillcontinuetolosewater,makingthemlongerlastingintheshowerandmoremild,sooldersoapsareagoodthingtohavearound.Iftheyaretobegivenasgifts,apapercigarband,paperbox,ormuslinbagarebestforpackaging,sincetheyallowthesoaptobreathe.
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ADVANC ED
HONEY,OATS,ANDBEESWAXSOAP(HOTPROCESSRECIPE)Hotprocesssoapissoapthatiscookedthroughthesaponificationstage.Iliketouseaslowcookerwitha“warm”settingforthisrecipe.Makesurethatthereisplentyofroom,approximatelydoublethesizeofthesoapvolume,sinceitmay“fluffup”abitduringcooking.A5–6quart(5–6L)slowcookershouldbeagoodsize.Thisrecipealsohassomeoatsforsoothingandscrubbiness.Iliketorunminethroughacoffeegrinderorfoodprocessorfirsttochoptheoatsintosmallerpieces.
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MATERIALS
oliveoil 370g 44.8%
coconutoil(76°F[24°C]) 232g 28.1%
palmoil 183g 22.2%
castoroil 33g 4.0%
beeswax 7.5g 0.9%
distilledwater 285g 10oz
lye(NaOH—sodiumhydroxide) 115g
honey 1tbsp
oats 4tbsp
fragrance(ifdesired) 2tbsp
disposablepaperbowl
containerforlye(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73)
largeplasticspoonorhighheatspatula
slowcooker
stainlesssteelwhiskorimmersionblender
digitalscale
mold(siliconebreadloafpanpreferred,butanymoldwilldo)
freezerpapertolinemold(ifnotasiliconemold)
Yield:Approximatelyeight4oz(113g)bars
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1.Gatheralltheingredientstogetherandarrangethemonthetableintheorderinwhichtheyappearintherecipe.
2.Preparethemold,liningwithfreezerpaperwiththeshinysidefaceup.
3.Measurethelyeintoadisposablepaperbowlandsetaside.
4.Measureoutthedistilledwaterandpourintothelye-safecontainer(seeSoap-MakingEquipment,page73).Placethecontaineronheat-resistantsurfaceandaddthedrylyecrystalstothewater(nevertheotherwayaround).Stiruntilallthelyeiscompletelydissolved.Withhotprocess,thereisnoneedtowaituntilthelyeandtheoilsarethesametemperature.
5.Melttheoilsintheslowcookeronlow.Oncetheyarecompletelymelted,addthelyemixtureandblendwiththeimmersionblender.Keepblendinguntilitgetsto“trace.”
6.Withtheheatonlow,continuetostiroccasionallyusingthewhiskasthesoapgoesthroughvariousstages.Earlyon,itmayseparate.Lateronitmaybubbleupandthreatentoboilover.Ifthathappens,turnofftheheattemporarilyandwhiskalittlehardertodeflatethebubbles.Onceithassettleddownagain,putitbackontheheatandcontinuethecookingprocess.Onceitisatastagewhereitresemblespetroleumjelly,whichusuallytakesabout30–40minutesofcookingtime,itisalmostdone.Becarefulnottoovercookthesoap.Takeittojustthepetroleumjellystageandthenremovefromheat.
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7.Addthehoney,oats,andfragrance,ifdesired,andstirwellbeforetransferringthesoapbatterintothepreparedmold.Tapthesoapmoldonthecounteracoupletimestomakesuretherearenoairpockets.Smoothoutthetopandsetasidetocool.
8.Whencompletelycool,cutthesoapintoindividualbars.Placethebarsonfreezerpaperwithspacebetweenthemandsetthemasidetodryforatleasttwoweeks.Althoughwiththehotprocesssoapstheyarefullysaponifiedanduseable,thereisstillextrawaterinthebarsthatshouldbeallowedtoevaporate.
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CHAPTER6HOMEPRODUCTSBeeswaxproductsareagreatadditiontothehomeaswell,rangingfromdecorativetocompletelyuseful.EversinceMandiscoveredbeeswax,hehasbeenusingittomakehislifebetter.Hediscoveredthatwaxmadesurfacesmorewaterresistantandmoredurableanditcouldbemoldedintoavarietyofshapes.Itmadewoodniceandsmoothandsealeditfromtheelements.Itconditionedleather,makingitmorewaterresistantandsupple.Itstrengthenedthreadandstring,soitemsmadewithitlastedlonger.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Ornaments
–Dippedleaves
–Luminaries
–Conditionersandpolishes
–Waxedfabric
–Waterproofsneakers
–Waxedcottonsandwichwraps
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BEG INNER
BEESWAXORNAMENTSBeeswaxornamentsareagreatwaytoscentandbeautifyanyroom,especiallyduringtheholidays.Theyareeasytomakeandlastalongtime.
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MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
fragranceoil(ifdesired)
stringorribbonforhanging(6’[1.8m]cutinto8–10"[20.5–25.5cm]lengths)
pouringpitcher
doubleboiler
thermometer
candymolds
siliconemoldrelease(ifusingmetalmolds)
toothpick
Yield:10–12ornaments
1.Ifyouareusingmetalcandymolds,spraythemwithsiliconemoldrelease.
2.Meltthebeeswaxinthepouringpitcherusingthedoubleboiler.Oncethewaxismelted,checkthetemperature.Ifit’shotterthan170°F(77°C),letitcoolto170°F(77°C).Addthefragranceintheamountsuggestedbythemanufacturer,stirtoincorporate,andpourintothecandymolds.
NOTE:Othermoldscanbeused,suchassiliconemuffinmolds,whichnowcomeinavarietyofseasonalshapes.Thoseworkwell,butIwouldsuggestnotfillingthemalltheway.Halfwayismorethanenough.
3.Takeeach8–10inch(20.5–25.5cm)lengthofstringandfolditinhalf.Oneendwillbeembeddedintothewax.IlikeputtingtheloopedendintothewaxsoIcantietheornamentontotreebranchesorotherlocations,buteitherendwillwork.
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4.Oncethewaxbeginstoskinoveronthemoldside(butnotontop),addthestring,pushingitintopositionwithatoothpicktoembeditinthewax.Makesurethestringiscenteredandcompletelysurroundedbywax,notjustsittingontopofit.
5.Allowtocoolinthemold.Onceitiscompletelysolid,invertthemoldonthetabletopandtapgentlytorelease.Ifanyornamentssticktothemolds,placethemoldinthefreezerfor5–10minutesandtryagain.
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6.Cleanuptheornamentsonthebacksidebywarmingabutterknifeoveraflameandusingittomeltawaytheroughedges.
7.Hangtheornamentsandenjoy.Iftheornamentsgetdusty,wipethemdownwithrubbingalcoholandasofttoothbrush.Allowtodry.Torevivethescent,warmtheornamentslightlywithablowdryer.
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BEG INNER
BEESWAXDIPPEDLEAVESIlovefall.HereinWisconsinweusuallyhaveaverycolorfulfallthatisalwaysmorefleetingthanIwouldlike.Thisprojectisaperfectwaytopreservesomeofthatfallcolortoenjoyyearround.Forthissmallinvestmentinbeeswax,youcanmakeatree’sworthofleaves,ifyoudesire.
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MATERIALS1lb(425g)beeswax
driedleaves(colorful,pliableleavesworkbest)
fragrance(ifdesired)
smallelectricskillet
waxedpaperorfreezerpaper
1.Firstpreparetheleaves.Sortthroughalltheleavesandselectthebestonesforthisproject.Theyneedtobedry,soputtheminawarmoven(about200°F[93°C]foraboutahalfhour)todryifnecessary.
2.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet,takingcarenottooverheatthewax.Oncethewaxismelted,addthefragranceintheamountsuggestedbythemanufacturerandstirtoincorporate.Thewaxlevelshouldbehighenoughtoeasilyimmersetheleavesintothehotwax.
3.Workingwithoneleafatatime,holdontothestemanddiptheleafintothehotwax.Useawoodenchopstickortoothpicktopushtheentireleafunderthewax.Removeandsetasideonthewaxedpapertocool.
4.Placethefinishedleavesinadecorativebowlorstringthemonafishinglinetocreateagarland.
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BEG INNER
BEESWAXPINECONEFIRESTARTERSStartafireinstylewiththesepineconefirestarters.Theyarestylishenoughtobeautifyaspaceandfilltheroomwithlight,pleasantscent.Theyrequirequiteabitofwaxbutitdoesn’thavetobethesuperhigh-qualitywaxusedincandlemaking.
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MATERIALS2lbs(850g)beeswaxforpinecones(lowergradewaxisfinehere)
5lbs(2.3kg)beeswaxfordippingcontainer
12pinecones(seenote)
candlewicking(Iprefersquarebraid2/0cottonwicking)
fragranceoressentialoil,optional
doubleboiler
thermometer
woodenstirstick
freezerpaper
Yield:Approximately12medium-sizepinecones
1.Inthedoubleboiler,heatthewaxtoapproximately190–200°F(88–93°C).
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2.Whilethewaxisheating,tiean8–10"(20.5–25.5cm)pieceofwickingaroundthepineconeclosetothetop,leavingalongtailandcuttingtheotherendclosetotheknot.Threadthelongendup,closetothemiddleofthepineconeatthetop.Thiswillultimatelybethewickforlightingthepinecone,butit’salsousefulfordippingtheconeintothewax.Prepareallthepineconesthesamewayandsetaside.
3.Oncethewaxishotenough,addthescent,ifdesired,andgiveitaquickstirtomix.Holdingthepineconebythewick,dipitintothewaxandleaveitthereuntilallthebubblesstopcomingup—probablyabout10secondsorso.Theideaistogetathincoatingonthepinecone.Whenitfirstgoesintothewax,itwillbecoldandmorewaxwilladhere,butasitwarmsupsomeofthewaxwillmeltoffagain.Atthispoint,pulltheconeoutofthewaxandsetitonthefreezerpapertocool.Continuewiththeremainingpinecones.
4.Touse,simplylightthewickandplaceinthefire.Enjoy!
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NOTE:Pineconesthataren’tcompletelydrymayexplodeoncetheyareinthefire,sotobesafe,makesurethatthepineconesarecompletelydry.Iliketoplacethemonabakingsheetand“bake”themforanhourorsoatthelowestovensetting.Iftheovendoesn’tgoreallow(minegoesdownto150°F[65°C]whichisperfect),heattheovenonthelowestsettingandthenturnitoffandaddthepinecones.Leavethemintheovenuntilcool.Nowtheyarereadytobemadeintofirestarters.
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BEG INNER
BEESWAXLUMINARIESTheselittlegemsaretheperfectwaytocreatemoodlightinginsideorinoutdoorentertainingspaces—andtheymakeuseofhandmadebeeswaxtealightsorvotivecandles.Thisisafunprojecttodowitholderchildren.
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MATERIALS1lb(425g)ormorebeeswaxforluminaries
5lbs(23kg)fordippingcontainer
doubleboilerforwax
balloons(highqualityroundonesworkbest)
coldwater
Yield:3–6luminaries
1.Meltthebeeswaxinthedoubleboiler.Useacontainerthatislargeenoughtobeabletofittheballoonsinwithatleastalittlewiggleroom.
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2.Fillaballoonwithcoldwater,payingattentiontotheshapethatthewatercreatesasitfillstheballoon.Oncethedesiredshapeisattained,tieofftheballoon.Makesurethattheballoonisnotstretchedtoomuchoritmayburstwhenitcomesincontactwiththehotwax.Whendeterminingthesizeandshapeofthevotive,alsoconsidertheheatthatwillbegivenoffbythecandle.Itisbettertomaketheluminaryslightlylargerthanneededratherthanriskinghavingitmeltbecauseitwasmadetoosmall.
3.Holdingtheballoonbythetie-offknot,dipitpartofthewayintothemeltedbeeswaxandpullitbackout.Settheballoonlightlyonatabletocreateaflatspotonthebottomthatwillhelptokeeptheluminarystable.Thecoldwaterintheballoonwillhardenthewaxquicklybuttheshapeestablishedearlyonwilldeterminethefinalshape,soworkfast.
4.Diptheballoonandsetitonthetabletohardenseveralmoretimesuntiltheluminaryhasthedesiredthickness.Iliketodominefivetosixtimes.Experimentwithdippingtheballoonata
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differentangleeachtime,keepinginmindthatthosevariationswillshowoncethereisacandleinside.
5.Drainthewateroutoftheballoonbyeitherundoingtheknotorbypoppingtheballoon.Theballoonwillpeelrightoffthewax.Ifdesired,theluminarycanbeleftlikethis.However,Iliketocleanuptheluminaryabitmorebyusingmyhotplatetomeltaflatareaonthebottomandsmoothingouttheedges.Simplyturntheluminaryupsidedownandlightlyrunitstopedgealongthesurfaceofthehotplate.Addabeeswaxtealightandenjoytheambience.
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BEG INNER
CUTTINGBOARDCONDITIONERWoodencookingtoolssuchascuttingboards,woodenspoons,androllingpinsneedoccasionalcare,andsincetheywillbeincontactwithfood,it’snecessarytouseafoodgradeproduct.Iliketouseafood-grademineraloil,sinceIknowthatitwilllastindefinitelyanddoesnotgetgummyovertime.Forcuttingboardsthatseealotofuse,walnutoilisanoptionaswell.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 70g 20.6%
food-grademineraloil 270g 79.4%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarortinwithlid
Yield:5oz
1.Heatthebeeswaxandmineraloiltogetherinadoubleboileruntilmelted.Mixwellandpourintowide-mouthjars.
2.Touse,simplyscoopoutsomeoftheconditionerwitharagoryourfingersandrubitalloverthewood.Letitsitovernightandbuffitwithasoftcloththenextmorning.
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BEG INNER
SOLIDWOODPOLISHKeepwoodlookingbeautifulwiththisage-oldrecipe.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 75g 33.33%
boiledlinseedoil 75g 33.33%
turpentine 75g 33.33%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarortinwithlid
Yield:Approximately8fluidounces(235ml)
Combineallthreeingredientsinadoubleboiler,stirringoccasionally.Whenitisallmelted,transfertoawide-mouthjarortinandallowtocool.
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BEG INNER
WOODCONDITIONERCREAMThisrecipeisperfectfornourishingthewood.Itcleansandprotectsinonestep.
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MATERIALS
yellowbeeswax 150g 71.5%
turpentine 60g 28.5%
doubleboiler
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarwithlid
Yield:Approximately8fluidounces(235ml)
1.Heatthewaxinadoubleboileruntilmeltedandremovefromheat.
2.Stirintheturpentine.Mixwellandpourintoawide-mouthjar.
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BEG INNER
BEESWAXFURNITUREPOLISHBeeswaxfurniturepolishisconsideredtheultimateinwoodcaredueinlargeparttothesoft,satinshineitgivestothewood.Thetouchofcarnaubawaxinthispolishresultsinaharder,shinierfinish.
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MATERIALS
beeswax,yellow 43g 10%
carnaubawax 10g 2.4
turpentine 372g 87.6%
doubleboiler
digitalscale
spoonorstirstick
wide-mouthjarsorbottleswithlids
Yield:Makesapproximately16fluidounces(475ml)
1.Meltthewaxesinadoubleboiler.
2.Removefromheatandstirintheturpentine.
3.Onceitiscompletelymixed,pourintowide-mouthjars.
4.Applythepolishwithacleanclothandrubinsmallcircles.Turntheclothasitbecomesdirty.Allowthepolishtodry,thenbuffwithacleancloth.Ifmorethanonecoatisdesired,waittwodaysbetweenapplications.
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BEG INNER
WAXEDFABRICApplyingbeeswaxtofabrichaslongbeenamethodofwater-proofingsomethingthatnormallyisanythingbutwaterproof.
Almostanysmooth,natural-fiberfabriccanbemademorewaterresistantbyapplyingalayerofbeeswax,butsomefabrics,suchascorduroy,justdon’tlendthemselvesasreadilytothisprocess.Canvas,twill,muslin,andnumerousotherfabricsworkreallywellandcanbeturnedintoamultitudeofuseful,environmentallyfriendlytools.
Howbesttoapplythewaxisdeterminedbytheobjectyou’dliketowaterproof.Ifyouarestartingwithaflatfabric,thebestwayistosoakthefabricinbeeswaxandthenremovingtheexcess.Thisprocessensuresthatthewaxpenetratesthefibersandcreatesafilmkeepingwaterout.Whenworkingwithobjectsthatarealreadymade,suchascanvassneakers,thewaxwillneedtobeappliedtothe
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finisheditem.
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BEG INNER
WATERPROOFSNEAKERSImaginesloshingthroughwaterpuddlesinsneakersandnotgettingwetfeet.Soundsgreat,right?Well,Ican’tpromisethattheendresultwillyieldcompletelydryfeet,buttheywillbesignificantlydrier.Unlikeplasticrainshoes,thebeeswaxstillallowsfeettobreathe,andyou’lllookalotmorestylish!
Thistechniquecanbeemployedforanythingalreadymade,notjustsneakers.
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MATERIALS8oz(212.5g)beeswax
pairofcanvassneakers
2tallkitchengarbagebags
newspaper
papertowels
smallelectricskillet
cheap2"(5cm)naturalbristlebrush
heatgun
1.Stuffeachofthetwokitchengarbagebagswithafewsheetsofnewspaperthenstuffthegarbagebagsinsidetheshoes.Theplasticwillkeepwhateverwaxseepsthroughfromstickingtothepaperinsidetheshoe.Thepaperistheretohelptheshoekeepthepropershape.
2.Heattheelectricskillettoaround200°F(93°C)andaddthebeeswax.Whencompletelymelted,dipthepaintbrushinthewaxandletitwarmupforabout30seconds.
3.Paintthehotwaxontoallcanvaspartsoftheshoe,makingsurethatthecriticalareas,suchastheinterfaceofthesoletothetop,isthoroughlysoaked.Settheshoeasideandrepeattheprocesswiththeothershoe.
4.Pullthebagsoutoftheshoesandallowtheshoestocoolabit.
5.Tocleanoffsomeoftheexcesswax,stuffabigwadofpapertowelingintheshoeanduseaheatguntowarmthesloppysectionfromtheoutside.Thewaxwillquicklymeltandappeartowickaway.Movethepapertowelingtoanotherareaoftheshoethatneedsworkandrepeatthesameprocess,replacingthepapertowelsasneeded.
6.Lettheshoecoolandcheckforanymissedspots.Touchupthemissedsectionsandtryontheshoes.Theywillfeelabitstifferuntilthewaxsoftensupabit.Torejuvenatethewaxcoating,hititquicklywithaheatgun.Overtimethewaterproofingmaywearoffandrequireanotherapplication.Thistimeonlyalittlewaxwillbeneeded,butfollowthesameprocessasbefore.
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BEG INNER
WAXEDCOTTONSANDWICHWRAPSThesewrapsareperfectinthiseco-consciousworldwelivein.Theyaresimplicityatitsfinest.Theykeepasandwichfresh,keepalltheingredientsinplaceandcanserveasaplacemat/platewheneatingthesandwich.Howgreatisthat!Inasmallersizetheycanalsobeusedasareplacementforplasticwrap.Justwarmthewrapandmoldaroundthetopofthejarorbowl.
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MATERIALS3/4yard(68.6cm)ofmedium-weightcottonfabric(Iliketousetwillfabricforthis)
1lb(425g)beeswax
electricskillet
tongs
papertowels
heatgun
Yield:Approximately8wraps
1.Measurethewidthofthefabric.Manytimescottonfabricwillcomeina45"(114.5cm)width.Othertimesitwillbe60"(152.5cm)ormore.Myidealsizeforsandwichwrapsisa12"(30.5cm)square,butIwigglethosedimensionsabittousethefullwidthofthefabric.Sometimesthatmeansmakingthem11"×12"(28cm×30.5cm).Noworries;thesandwichwillstillfit.
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2.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet.Onceitismelted,laythewrapinthehotwaxandwaitforthebubblestodisappear,abouttenseconds.
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3.Usingthetongs,pullthefabricoutofthewaxandletasmuchofthewaxdripoffaspossible.Asthewaxcools,trytostraightenoutthefabricsothatitsnotstucktogetherweirdly.Therewillstillbequiteabitofwaxonthefabric.Setitasidefornowandrepeatwithanothertwoorthreepiecesoffabric.
4.Toremovesomeoftheexcesswaxfromthefabricpieces,placetwoorthreelayersofpapertowelsonaprotectedsurfaceandthenlayanunwaxedsquareoffabriconthepapertowelswithawaxedpieceoffabricontopofit.Usingtheheatgun,startatonecornerandmeltthewaxuntilit“disappears”(seepsintothelayerbelow),dabbingwithballeduppapertowelstosoakupanyexcesswax.
5.Continuerunningtheheatgunovertherestofthetopfabricpiece.Liftoffthetoppieceandchecktoseehowthoroughlythelowerpieceisnowwaxed.Mosttimesitjustneedsalittletouchuptomakesureitisallevenlywaxed.Setthesetwoasideandrepeatwiththeremainingwraps.
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6.Whilethewrapsarestillwarm,makesurethattheyarecompletelysquare.Ifnot,gentlytugatthecornerstopullthembackintoshape.Oncethewrapsarecooltheyarereadytouse,butwillbequitestiff.Astheyareusedtheywillsoftenupandbecomemoremalleable.
7.Toclean,wipedownwithadampcloth.Ifneeded,washwrapsincoolwaterbyhand.
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BEADINGANDSEWINGThethreadorstringusedinjewelryorotherbeadingprojectsneedstobethinenoughtogothroughtheholeoftinybeadsandstrongenoughtowithstandalltheabusethewearerwillputitthrough.Thesamegoesforsewing.Beeswaxhelpsstrengthenandconditionthethread.Itpreventsfrayingandmakesbeadingandsewingeasier.Italsoreducestanglingandknotting,resultinginanicer,moreprofessionallookingproduct.
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BEG INNER
THREADCONDITIONER
MATERIALS4oz(106g)beeswax
doubleboilerorsmallelectricskillet
Nonstickmuffintinorbeeswaxmold
1.Meltthewaxinthedoubleboiler,takingcarenottooverheatthewax.
2.Pourthewaxintothemold.Iusuallyfillthemabout1/2–1"(1.3–2.5cm)deep.Theblockcanbeabitclunkyifthewaxispouredtoodeep.
3.Allowthewaxtocoolcompletelythenpopthewaxoutofthemold.
4.OnelastthingIliketodobeforeusingtheblockofbeeswaxiscutasmallgrooveintotheedgeoftheblockwithawarmbutterknife.Simplyheattheedgeoftheknifebrieflyoveraflameandrunthe
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knifealongtheedgeofthewaxblock.Thegroovedoesn’tneedtobeverydeep,butithelpskeepthethreadinplacethefirstcoupletimesitisused.
5.Tousethethreadconditionerforbeading,takethelengthofthreadorstringandlayoneendoverthenotch.Placeyourthumboverthethreadandgentlypullthethreadwiththeotherhand.Runitthroughacouplemoretimes,makingsurethatthewholethreadiswaxed.
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6.Next,pinchoneendofthethreadbetweenyourthumbandforefingerandpullthethread,gentlysmoothingit.Dothisacouplemoretimesandthenitisreadytouse.
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CHAPTER7BEESWAXARTBeeswaxisagreatmediumforcreatingincrediblydiverseartpieces.TherearetwodistincttechniquesthatIwilltouchoninthissection:batikandencaustic.Thesetwotechniquesprovidefertilegroundforbringingoutthecreativespiritineveryone,andwithafewsafetyprecautions,arealotoffuntodo.Therearesomespecializedtoolsthatmakeiteasiertoachieve,butnoneofthemaretooexotic.
Inthischapteryou’lllearnhowtomake
–Batik
–Batikart
–Batiknapkinsanddishtowels
–Encausticart
–Encausticcollages
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BATIKBatikisanancientartformthatdatesbackatleast2,000years.Itisessentiallyaresisttechnique,whichmeansthatcolorisbeingprotectedfromadditionaldyebybeingcoveredwithwax.Eachcolorbuildsonthesumofthepreviouscolors.Itisanartformthatcantakesyearstoperfect,avisionfortheendproduct,andpatiencetoseethepiecethroughallthestepsneeded.
MuchasIwouldliketocallmyselfanartist,Iamnot.ButIdoliketodoartfulthingsandthisisrightupmyalley.Ilikethatbatikcanbeasintricateorsimplisticastimeandskillwillallow.Thetwoprojectsincludedinthissectionareperfectforbeginnersandtheycreateitemsthatcanbeusedoncecompleted.
Basichardwareandcraft-storetoolsareallthatisrequired,buttherearesomespecializedtoolsthatcanbealotoffuntoplaywith.OnethatIliketouseisatjanting,whichisastylusthatholdsmoltenwaxanddispensesitthroughanarrowtip.Itisheldlikeapenorbutterknife.Theart-supplystoreinmyareahadasetoftjantingtoolsinsmall,medium,andlarge,whichwasperfectsinceIhadnoideawhichsizeIneededtomakemyvisionareality.
BEESWAX/PARAFFINRATIOThewaxisgenerallyablendofbeeswaxandparaffin.Dependingontheratiosofthetwo,differenteffectscanbeachieved.Themoreparaffinthemorethewaxwillcrackleandletsomedyethrough.Personally,Ilovethiseffect,somyblendwilldoabitofthat.Adjusttheproportionofthewaxblendasdesired—moreparaffin,morecrackle;morebeeswax,lesscrackle.
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Also,Iencourageyoutolearnfrommymistakeandpurchasenewparaffinwaxforbatik,ratherthanrecyclingusedcandles.Althoughcandlesmayseemliketheyareallparaffin,theymaycontainoilsandotherfillers.Theoilswillnotwashouteasilyandmayleaveapermanentgreasestain,inadditiontomakingthewaxmorepliable,whichiscountertowhytheparaffinisaddedinthefirstplace.
BESTDYETECHNIQUESForbatik,Iliketousespeciallydesignedcold-waterdyesthatdonotrequireheat.Thegrocerystoredyesshouldworkaslongastheyarepreparedaccordingtothedirectionsandthenallowedtocool.Ifthedyebathistoowarm,itwillmeltthewax.Wettingthefabricwithcoldwaterfirstwillallowthefabrictoabsorbthedyemoreevenly.Leaveitinthedyebathuntilthedesiredtinthasbeenachieved.Irecommendusingfabricscrapstotestthedyeingtime.Haveseveralthatcanbepulledoutatregularintervals,givenaquickrinseandtossedinthedryertoseehowthatcolorlooksdry.Oncethedrysampleisthedesiredcolor,removethebatikfromthedyebathandrinsewithcoldwateruntilthewaterisrelativelyclear.Thisisespeciallyimportantwithbatik,sinceany“free”dyeremaininginthefabricmaytinttheareaswherethereiswax.
REMOVINGTHEWAXTherearetwowaysthewaxcanberemoved:boilingitinhotwaterorironingitwithpapertowels.Whendecidingwhichroutetogo,Iwouldsuggestusingthedyedsamplefabrictocheckthedye’scolorfastness.Theeasier,cleanerwaytoremovethewaxisbyputtingthewholepieceinastockpotandboilingit.Thewaxfloatstothetopandcanbeskimmedoffwhenthepotcools.Theothermethodistouseahotironandmeltallthewaxintosomepapertowels.Ifgoingwiththeironingmethod,Iwouldsuggestmultiplelayersofnewspapertoprotectthetablesurface,thenseverallayersofpapertowelingthenthebatikpieceandthenanothercouplelayersofpapertowels.Keepreplacingthepapertowelsuntilallthewaxisremoved.
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INTERMED IATE
BATIKNAPKINSForthisproject,Idecidedtouseastamptoapplythewax.Ifoundsomeoldrosettemoldstuckedawayandthoughttheymightworkreallywell,andtheydo!Butitdoesn’thavetobearosettemold.Metalcookiecuttersworkwellasdosomekitchenimplementssuchastheold-fashionedpotatomasher.Theimportantpointstokeepinmind,isthattheyneedtobeabletotaketheheatandtheyneedtobeabletobepickedupandpositionedonthenapkin.Withcookiecutters,tryclippingaclothespintotheedge.Forthisproject,wewillonlyuseonedyebath.
Iwillbeusing60percentbeeswax,40percentparaffinwaxblendforthisproject.Howmuchis
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neededwilldependonthesizeoftheelectricskilletandthetoolbeingused.Withmyrosettemolds,Ifoundthatthewaxonlyneededtobe1/2"(1.3cm)deep.
MATERIALScottonnapkins
beeswax
paraffinwax
smallelectricskillet
metalstampofchoice(cookiecutter,rosettemold)
coldwaterdye
dyevat(Iliketouseastainlesssteelstockpot,butaplasticbucketshouldworkaswell)
clotheslineandclothespins
embroideryhooplargeenoughtoholdmost,ifnotall,ofthenapkin
ironandironingboard,optional
stainlesssteelstockpot,optional
1.Topreparethenapkins,soakthenapkinsforanhourorsoinasolutionofwaterwithsomedetergentandwashingsodaadded.Rinsewellanddry.
2.Topreparethewax,addthebeeswaxandparaffintotheelectricskilletandslowlywarmuntilitismelted.Settheskillettemperaturetobetween180°Fand200°F(82°Cand93°C)toensurethatthewaxstaysliquid,butnottoohot.
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3.Placethefirstnapkinintheembroideryhoop,centeringtheareawherethewaxresistwillgointheframe.Theembroideryhoopisusedtokeepthefabrictightandtoraiseitupfromthetablesothatthewaxcangoallthewaythroughthefabric.Keepinmindthatifthehoopissmallerthantheintendeddesign,youwillneedtomovethehooptocompletethedesign.Iwouldsuggestapatternthatwillworkwiththesizeembroideryhoopyouareusing.Trappingawaxedareabetweenthehooppartswillprobablyleaveamark.
4.Nowforthedesign,Iliketohaveaconceptinmind,butItendtoleavetheactualdetailsofthe
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designtothemoment.Iloveabitofserendipityinmydesigns.Forthisproject,Ihavechosentodoarepeatingpatternwithmyrosettemold.Movethenapkinasclosetothehotwaxaspossibletopreventthestampfromcoolingenroutetothenapkin.Coolwaxdoesn’tpenetratethefabricaswellashotwax.Also,workquickly.Thelongeryoutaketolineupthestamp,themorelikelyitistodripwhereitdoesn’tbelong.Letthestampwarmupinthewaxforaminuteortwo.Especiallywithnapkins,whichtendtobeaslightlythickerfabric,itisimportantthatthewaxbehotandplentiful.Practiceonascrappieceoffabricbeforestartingontheactualnapkins.
NOTE:Iliketousealargefloursacktowelasasamplepiecetotryoutdifferentideas,eitherstamps,orpatternsorbrushtechniques.Oncethefabricisfilledup,Iputthewholethinginadyebathtoseewhatthefinishedeffectwillbe.
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5.Onceallthenapkinshavebeenprinted,allowthemtocoolcompletelyandpreparethedyebathaccordingtopackageinstructions.Submergethenapkinsincoldwatertogetthemcompletelywetandplaceallthenapkinsintothedyebathatoncesothatthecolorwillbethesameforallofthem.Alsothrowinacouplesamplescrapsoffabrictousetocheckthecolorperiodically.Oncethecoloristherightdensity,removethenapkinsfromthedyebathandrinsethemincoldwater.Keeprinsinguntilthewaterrunsclear.
6.Gentlysqueezeoutthewaterandhangthenapkins,allowingthemtodrycompletely.
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7.Oncedry,ironorboilthenapkinsaccordingtotheinstructionsonpage105toremovethewax.Whendecidingwhichmethodtouse,considerthecolorfastnessofthedye.Fragiledyesareprobablybestironedtoremovethewax.
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INTERMED IATE
BATIKDISHTOWELSForthisproject,Idecidedtouseafree-formtechniquethatworkswellforbrushesortjantingtools.Aswiththenapkins,Iwillbeusing60percentbeeswax,40percentparaffinwaxblend.Howmuchisneededwilldependonthesizeoftheelectricskilletandthetoolusedtoapplythewax.Ifabrushwillbeused,thewaxlevelshouldprobablystartoutatabouta1/2"(1.3cm)deep.Touseatjantingtool,thewaxlevelneedstobedeeperinordertobeabletofillthetoolwithwax.
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MATERIALSfloursacktowels
beeswax
paraffinwax
smallelectricskillet
cheapbristlebrushortjantingtool
coldwaterdye
dyevat(Iliketouseastainlesssteelstockpot,butaplasticbucketshouldworkaswell)
clotheslineandclothespins
embroideryhoop,largeenoughtoholdpartofthetowel
ironandironingboard,optional
stainlesssteelstockpot,optional
1.Followsteps1through3ofBatikNapkinsonpage106topreparethedishtowel,meltthewax,andplacethedishtowelintheembroideryhoop.
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2.Forthisproject,Ihavechosentodoawavylinesmotif.Itiseasytodowithminimaltoolsanddoesn’trequirealotofartistry.Idosuggestthatyouplaceasketchofthemotifnexttothetoweltouseasareferencewhilebrushingonthewax.FormywavylinesprojectIdidn’tneedthisandusedfreeformlines.
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3.Thereareafewthingstokeepinmindbeforeactuallyputtingwaxtofabric.•First,thewaxwillbleedabit,sochooseabrushsizethatisslightlysmallerthanthedesiredstrokewidth.•Second,abrushdoesnotholdmuchwax,andthestartofthebrushstrokewillprobablybefatterthantheend.Thiscanbeusedtoanadvantage,butneedstobetakenintoconsiderationwhenplanningthestartandstopoftheline.Thisislessofanissuewithatjantingtool,sinceithasabuilt-inreservoirforwax.•Third,thewaxneedstobehotenough,probablybetween180°Fand200°F(82°Cand93°C)tocreate
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awaxlayerthatgoesallthewaythroughthefabric.Assoonasthebrushisremovedfromtheelectricskillet,thewaxwillstarttocoolandatsomepointthewaxwillnolongerpenetratethefabric.Ideally,thishappensafterthewaxonthebrushrunsout.
Placethebrushinthehotwaxforabout15–30seconds,oruntilthebristlesheatupandfindtheirnaturalshape.Paintthewaxontothetowel,movingthehoopifneeded.Oncethedesigniscompleted,letthewaxcoolandpreparethedyebath.
4.Wetthewaxedfabricwithcoldwaterfirstsothatitwillabsorbthedyemoreevenly.Transferthewettoweltothedyebathandsoakituntilthedesiredtinthasbeenachieved.Thenremovethetowelfromthedyebathandrinsewithcoldwateruntilthewaterrunsclear.
5.Hangthetoweluntilitiscompletelydry.Oncedry,itcanbeironedorboiledtoremovethewaxdependingonthepreferredmethodandcolorfastnessofthedye(seepage105fordetailsonwaxremoval).
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ENCAUSTICEncausticcomesfromtheGreekwordenkaustikos,whichmeans“toburnin.”Theconcepthasbeenaroundformillionsofyearsanditinvolvespaintingwithhotbeeswax,whichmayormaynothavecoloraddedtoit.Today,artistsaredoingmorethanjustpaintingwithit;beeswaxisbeingusedforcollageandmixedmediaartpiecesourforefathersneverdreamedof.
WhatIloveaboutencausticisitsdiversityofuses.Encausticcanbeusedtocreateboldpieceswithsaturatedcolors;createlight,etherealworks;orspareandmonochromaticpiecesthatcanallbeequallystunningandhighlyindividual.Piecescanbeverydimensionalorcompletelysmooth.Encausticcanalsobeusedtocreatemixedmediapiecesutilizingfoundobjectstocreateone-of-a-kindworksofart.
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ENCAUSTICMEDIUMAlthoughonecanbuyencausticmediumandencausticpaintready-to-use,Ihaveincludedthebasicsonhowtomakeithere.Encausticisessentiallyjustbeeswaxandresin,butpigmentmaybeaddedaswell.Theresinincreasesthemeltingtemperatureandaddsluster,hardness,andshineoncethepieceisfullycured.Theaddedresinalsomakesthepaintmorebrittle,whichiswhyIrecommendusinganonflexiblesubstrate,suchaswood,tile,oraspecializedencausticboard,forthisproject.
Althoughitispossibletousetraditionalyellowcappingswax,Istronglyurgetheuseof“white”beeswax.WhenIfirsttriedencaustics,Iusedyellowbeeswax,whichwaswhatIhadonhand.IaddedmypigmentsandthoughtIcouldworkwiththeyellowundertones,butallIendedupwithwasmuddycolorsandverychildish-lookingartwork.Itwasawasteofwaxandpigment!Inowuseonlywhite,bleachedbeeswaxandhavehadamucheasiertimecreatingworksthatIamproudof.
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INTERMED IATE
MASTERBATCHThereisartistryeveninthemakingofthemedium.Thedesiredfinishedeffectwilldeterminetheexactratiosofbeeswaxtoresin.Butkeepinmindthatiftoomuchresinisused,themediumwillbecometoobrittleandcouldflakeoff.Ifnotenoughresinisused,thepiecewillbeabitsoftandpronetodustaccumulation.Iliketheproportionof9partsbeeswaxto2partsdamarresin.Otherspreferaratioof10:1.
MATERIALS1lb(450g)“white”beeswax
100gdamarresin
smallelectricskilletwithtemperaturecontrol
spoonorstirstick
breadloafpanwithnonstickcoating
largeknife
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1.Meltthebeeswaxintheelectricskillet,heatedtothe180°F–200°F(82°C–93°C)range.Oncethewaxismelted,addtheresinandstiruntilalltheresinismeltedandincorporated.Thiswilltakeahalfhourormore,sobepatient.Therewillbesomeimpuritiesintheresinthatwillnotmelt.Ignorethemfornow.
2.Pourthewaxandresinmixtureintotheloafpanandallowthewaxmixturetosolidify.Covertheworksurfacewithalayerofwaxpaper.Oncethewaxishardenoughtoremovefromtheloafmold,butstillslightlywarmtothetouch,invertitoverthewaxpaper.
3.Theimpuritiesthatwereintheresinsunktothebottomandarenowvisible.Usethelargeknifetocutorscrapethemoff.IliketokeepthewaxscrapingsandaddthemtothenextbatchofencausticmediumthatImakesonothinggoestowaste.
NOTE:Damarresincanbepurchasedatartsupplystoreseitherlocallyoronline.
4.Usetheknifetocutthecleanportionofthebeeswax/resinblockintosmallercubesthatareeasiertouseasis,oraretheperfectsizetotossintoatinandmixwithcolor.
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INTERMED IATE
MIXINGENCAUSTICPAINTInmanyways,encausticpaintsarelikewatercolorandoilpaints.Whenthereisjustatinybitofpigmentused,theendresultismoreofawash,aswithwatercolors.Ifalotofpigmentisused,theendresultismorelikeoilpaints,creatingsuper-saturatedvibrantcolors.IuseFrenchmineralpigments,whichhavesometransparencyandanicerangeofcolors,butanykindofpowderedartists’pigmentwillwork.
MATERIALSbeeswax/resinblocks
powderedartists’pigmentincolorsofyourchoice
several4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtins
miniloafpan
electricgriddlewithtemperaturecontrol
paintbrush
1.Heattheelectricgriddleto200°F(93°C).Makesurethetemperaturesdoesnotriseabove220°F(104°C),orthewaxmaybegintosmokeanddegrade.
2.SinceImakemyownmediumandIhavealreadycutthebeeswax/resinblocksintomanageablepieces,Ijusttossacoupleofchunksintoaminiloafpanandputthepanonmyhotgriddle.
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3.Asthebeeswax/resinblocksmelt,Iaddatouchofartists’pigmenttoa4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtin.
NOTE:IfIammakingsaturated,super-strengthcolors,Iliketomixthemin4oz(113g)flat-bottomedtins,eitherblendingthemwithencausticmediumdirectlyontheelectricgriddleoraddingtheconcentratedcolortoaminiloafpananddilutingitasdesired.
4.ThenIaddpigmenttothemeltedbeeswax/resinandstirwithmybrushuntilitisfullymixed.Ikeepapieceofabsorbentpaperonhandtotestthecolordensity.Itismucheasiertoaddmorepigmentthanitistoincreasethesizeofthecolorbatchbyaddingadditionalencausticmedium.Nowyou’rereadytopaint!
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BEG INNER
PAINTINGWITHENCAUSTICSThisisaneasybeginnerprojectthatutilizesthepaintsyoujustmixed.Sincethisisartwork,therearenorulesonwhatcanorcannotbedone,butthereareafewguidelines.
MATERIALSsizedpanel
encausticpaintsintins
naturalbristlebrushes(Ilikeusing1–2"[2.5–5cm]brushesforoverallcoverageandsmallerbrushesformoreintricatework)
butanetorchorheatgun
Josspapersorsilverleaf
burnishingtool
papertowelornylonstocking
electricskilletwithtemperaturecontrol
Kraftpaper
Afterapplyingeachlayerofwax,itmustbefusedtothelayerbelowitusingeitheraheatgunorasmallbutanetorch.Ipreferthelatterformostofmywork.Fusingthewaxisaseasyasquicklymovingthetorchoverthewaxandwatchingitgofrommattetoshiny.That’salltheheatthatisneeded;anymore,andthewaxwillmoveordevelopheatspots.Ittakesabitofpracticetomastertheamountofheatandthemethodology,butitisafairlyeasylearningcurve.
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Observepropersafetyprecautions.Makesurethespaceisproperlyventilated.Wearglovestoprotecthandsfromhotwaxandconcentratedpigments.Neverleavetheelectricgriddleoranyotherelectricaltoolspluggedinandunattended.Neverlettheencausticmediumandpaintexceed220°F(104°C).Keepafireextinguisheronhand,justincase.
Makesurethattheencausticmediumorpainthasturnedmattebeforeaddinganotherlayer.Amattefinishmeansithascooledenoughtoapplymorewax.
1.Forthisprojectwewillputdownlotsoftranslucentlayerstogivethepiecedepth.Tostart,pickacolorpaletteofthreecolors.Ichoseturquoisegreen,lavenderblue,andblackcurrantredandImixedjusttheamountneededforthisprojectinmyminiloafpans,addingjustatouchofcolorandpaintingitonmysampleKraftpapertomakesureitwaswhatIwanted—alightwash.
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2.Warmthepanelwiththeheatguntomakeit\easiertoapplythewax.Brushtheencausticpaintontothepanelinthethreecolorsselected,coveringthewholepanelfromlefttorightinrandomstripes.(A)Fusethislayerwiththeheatgunortorch.(B)
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3.Rotatethepiececlockwise90degreesandpaintsimilarstripesgoingtheotherdirection.Fusetothelayerbelow.
4.Applymultiplelayersontopofthefirstlayers,alwaysturningthepanelclockwise90degreesandfusingwiththeheatgunbeforeaddingthenextlayer.Sincethecolorsaresomewhattranslucent,theycanbelayeredwithgreateffect.Don’tbeafraidtoexperiment.Noticethatwitheachlayerthecolorgetsdarkerandabitmoresaturated.
5.Onceallthelayershavebeenpaintedonandfused,Iaddedasmallsquareofsilvertofloatontop.Itisafun,visuallyinterestingtouchthatyoucanaddusingsilverleaf,butIhavechosentouseJosspapers.Josspapers,whicharemadetobeburntasofferingsinvariousAsianreligiousceremonies,canbefoundatAsiangrocerystoresoronline.Ignorethefactthatsomearesilvercoloredandsomearegold.Allwillyieldasilverresult.
6.TodothetransferusingtheJosspaper,cutoutasquareofsilvertothedesiredsize.Ifthepanelisstillveryhot,allowittocoolabit,butifithasbeensittinglongerthan30minutes,usethetorchtowarmthespotwherethesilverwillgo.Becarefultojustwarmthewax,makingitslightlysticky,notsosoftthatitwillmovearoundwhenapplyingthesilver.Ifusingsilverfoil,noadditionalsizingisneeded,justapplyaccordingtodirections.
7.PlacetheJosspaperpiecefacedownontheartworkandrubwithaburnishingtool.Oncethewholesquarehasbeenburnished,removethebackingpaperbyaddingacoupledropsofwaterandrubbing
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thepapergentlywithyourfingertips.Itwillstarttoballupandliftoff.Continueuntilallthepaperhasbeenremoved.
8.Makeonemorepassoverthesilversquarewiththetorchtoremoveanyresidualpaperfibersthatcouldcloudthepiecelater.
9.Setthepieceasidetocoolandcurecompletelyforacoupledaysandthenbuffitwithapapertowelornylonstocking.Standbackandadmire!
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INTERMED IATE
ENCAUSTICCOLLAGEForthisproject,Iuseacollectionofprintedpapernapkinsanduncoloredencausticmedium.Therearesomewonderfulgraphicnapkinsouttherethatcaneasilybeturnedintoworksofart.Lookfornapkinswithagoodproportionofwhitespaceandgreatgraphicelements.
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MATERIALSencausticpanel
napkinsinavarietyofpatterns
othernaturalelementssuchasleaves,thread,wiremesh
encausticmedium
naturalbristlebrush
electricgriddle
butanetorchorheatgun
nylonstockingorpapertowel
Kraftpaper
1.Topreparethenapkinsforuse,firstremovethebackingpaper.Mostcommerciallyavailablenapkinshaveoneortwolayersofwhitepaperattachedtothegraphicpaperonthefront.Removethoseextrawhitesheets.Aneasywaytodothisistotakeapieceofpainter ’stapeormaskingtapeandstickittothewhitebackingpaperandpull.Thepaperwillrip,butthat’sokay,sinceitwillnotbepartofthisproject.Ifthereisanotherpieceofwhitepaper,removeitthesameway.Now,allthat’sleftisthesuperthin,graphicpaperthatcanbeaddedtoencausticpanels.
2.Inorderforthepapertostick,thepanelneedstobesizedwithseverallayersofencausticmedium.Warmtheencausticmediumandthebrushthatwillbeusedforapplyingthemediuminaminiloafpanontheelectricgriddle.
3.Beforeapplyingthewax,warmthepanelwiththebutanetorchorheatgun.Thencoverthepanelwithmediumusingbrushstrokesthatgofromonesideofthepaneltotheotheruntiltheentirepaneliscovered.Usethetorchtofusethemediumtotheboard.Turnthepiececlockwise90degreesandrepeat,addinganotherlayerandfusingwiththetorch.Keepdoingthisuntilfourorfivelayersarebuiltup.Thepieceshouldberelativelysmooth.(Seephotosatright.)
4.Withnapkinpiecestornorcutintointerestingshapestocaptureallorpartofagraphicelement,begintoplanthearrangementofthepiecesontheboard.Keepinmindthatthewhiteareaswillbealmosttransparentwhenmediumisapplied,soaddingjustacoupleelementswitheachlayerworkswell.Then,asthelayersprogress,theoverlapofpapersbecomesreallyinteresting.Elementsthatgotaddedearlyonwillstarttorecedeintothebackgroundasadditionallayersofwaxareaddedtothetop.Thiscanbeusedtogreateffect.
5.Towardtheend,consideraddingotherelementstothecollage.Most,ifnotall,oftheelementsneedtobeembeddedinwaxtoholdtheminplace.Takecarewhenfusingaroundprotrudingelementsthatarenotcompletelywaxed,suchasdriedleaves,sincetheymightburn.Itisbesttowaxtheelementandthenapplyatleastpartofittotheartboard.
6.Oncetheworkiscomplete,letitcureforacoupledaysandthenbuffitwithanylonstockingorpapertowel.
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CHAPTER8INGREDIENTSGUIDE
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BUTTERSCOCOABUTTERINCI:TheobromaCacao(Cocoa)SeedButter
Thisisahardbutterwithameltingtemperatureof100°F(38°C).Ithasarelativelylongshelflifeoftwotofiveyears.ItalsocontainspolyphenolsandphyosterolsandsomeskinsofteningVitaminE.Cocoabutterprovidesanocclusivelayeronourskin.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
MANGOBUTTERINCI:MangiferaIndica(Mango)SeedButter
Thisisamedium-hardbutterwithameltingtemperatureof86°F–98.6°F(30°C–37°C)andaslightsweetscent.Ithasashelflifeoftwotothreeyears.Ithasemollientproperties,highoxidativeability,woundhealing,andregenerativeactivity.
PalmiticAcid25-30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
SHEABUTTERINCI:Butyrospermumparkii(SheaButter)Fruit
Thisisasoftbutterwithameltingtemperatureof97°F–100°F(36°C–38°C).Ithasashelflifeoftwotothreeyears.Sheapenetratesdeepintotheskin,rejuvenatingdamagedcellsandrestoringelasticityandtone.Insoap,ithasalargerthanaverageproportionoffatsthatarenotsaponifiable,meaningthesoapwillactuallyretainsomemoisturizingqualities.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
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OILS*APRICOTOILINCI:ApricotKernel(PrunusArmeniaca)Oil
Verysimilartosweetalmondoil,apricotoilisalightweightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Onskinitissoftening,moisturizing,andiseasilyabsorbed.Insoapitcreatesaconditioningstablelather.Itisoftenusedinplaceofsweetalmondoilforthosewithnutallergies.
PalmiticAcid4–7%
StearicAcid1%
OleicAcid58–78%
LinoleicAcid20–34%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.190---.135
*AVOCADOOILINCI:PerseaGratissima(Avocado)Oil
Medium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Avocadooiliseasilyabsorbedintodeeptissue,andwithitswonderfullyemollientproperties,it’sidealformatureskins.Italsohelpstorelievethedrynessanditchingofpsoriasisandeczema,andithelpswithskinregeneration.
PalmiticAcid10%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid75–80%
LinoleicAcid7–10%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.190---.135
CASTOROILINCI:RicinusCommunis(Castor)SeedOil
Oneofthethickestandheaviestoilsavailable,castoroilhasashelflifeoffiveyears.Onskinitisahumectantandhelpstoretainmoisturelevels.Insoapitmakesforasofterbarbutimproveslatherwhenusedinsmallquantities.Canalsomakethesoapabittranslucent.
OleicAcid2–6%
LinoleicAcid2–4%
RicinoleicAcid85%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.180---.128
COCONUTOILINCI:CocosNucifera(Coconut)Oil
Solidattemperaturesbelow76°F(24°C),thisisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofabout2–4years.Onskin,coconutoilcontainssomeverypotentantioxidantsthatcanhelpwithskinaging,and
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helprepairdamagecausedbylightandradiation.Itsoftens,moisturizes,andsootheschappedanditchyskin.Insoap,coconutoilcreatesloadsofbigbubbles.Althoughitmakesahardbar,itmeltsveryquicklyinwater,makingitagreatsoapforhardwaterconditions.Itisalsoextremelycleansingandinhighproportion,canbeverydryingtotheskin.
LauricAcid48%
MyristicAcid18%
PalmiticAcid9%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.2660/.181
EMUOILINCI:EmuOil
Thismedium-weightoilhasashelflifeofoneyear.Emuoilhaswonderfulskinsofteningandcellregeneratingpropertiesandisgreatforrestoringtheskin’sbarrierfunction.Thisoilalsohelpsotheringredientsabsorbbetterintotheskin.Althoughitcanbeusedinsoap,Irecommendthatthisoilbereservedfordirectapplications.
PalmiticAcid25–30%
StearicAcid31–35%
OleicAcid34–36%
LinoleicAcid3%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.192
*FRACTIONATEDCOCONUTOILINCI:Caprylic/CapricTriglyceride
Thisisanincrediblylightweightoilwithatleasta2-yearshelflife.Sincethisisaportionofcoconutoilonamolecularlevel(fractionatedmeansthatanumberoflongchainfattyacidswereremovedchemically),theresultantmoisturizingoiliseasilyabsorbedbyskinandhair.
CaprylicAcid53–55%
CapricAcid36–47%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.334/.237
GRAPESEEDOILINCI:Vitisvinifera(Grape)SeedOil
Thisisanothergreatlightweightoil.Ithasarelativelyshortshelflifeof6monthsto1year.Onskinitcanhelptoretainmoistureandreduceinflammationanditchiness.Irecommendthatitisusedsparinglyinsoap,sinceithasashortshelflife.
PalmiticAcid7%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid16%
LinoleicAcid72%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.187/.133
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JOJOBAOILINCI:SimmondsiaChinensis(Jojoba)SeedOil
Technicallythisisnotanoil,butratheraliquidwaxester.Itislightweightandhasalongshelflifeofatleast2years.Itisgreatforhairandskin,sinceitmixeswithsebumandallowsittobewashedaway.Itisanexcellentemollient.Insoap,jojobaaddsmoisturizingandconditioningpropertiesaswellasextendingtheshelflifeofthesoap.
PalmitoleicAcid2%
StearicAcid%
OleicAcid14–25%
GadoleicAcid37%
ErucicAcid20%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.065/.091
OLIVEOILINCI:OleaEuropaea(Olive)FruitOil
Thisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Itisknownforitsskinmoisturizingandnourishingproperties.Itmakesanextremelygentlesoap,suitableforsensitiveskintypes.Usedbyitselfinsoap,ityieldsalatherthatiscreamyratherthanbubblyandwhilestillfresh,thelathermayactuallyfeelabitslimy.Thatsliminessgoesawayaftera6-monthormorecuretime.
PalmiticAcid10%
StearicAcid3%
OleicAcid55–83%
LinoleicAcid4–21%
LinolenicAcid1%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
*RICEBRANOILINCI:OryzaSativa(Rice)BranOil
Ricebranoilisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeof6monthstooneyear.ItishighinVitaminEandfattyacidsthatmakeskinsoftandimproveelasticity.Italsohelpswithcellregeneration.Insoap,itbehavessimilarlytooliveoil,butIfinditaddssilkinesstothesoapandmakesaslightlyharder,longerlastingbar.
PalmiticAcid16%
StearicAcid2%
OleicAcid42%
LinoleicAcid36%
LinolenicAcid2%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
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SAFFLOWEROILINCI:CarthamusTinctorius(Safflower)SeedOil
Thisisalightweightoilthathasa2yearshelflife.Itisanourishingoilthatisgreatforoilyskinandiseasilyabsorbed.Insoap,itismildandmoisturizing.
PalmiticAcid3–6%
StearicAcid1–4%
OleicAcid13–21%
LinoleicAcid73–79%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.190
SESAMEOILINCI:SesamumIndicum(Sesame)SeedOil
Sesameseedoilisalighter-weightoilwithaaboutoneyearshelflife.Itisfrequentlyusedinmassageproducts,sinceitisdoesn’tstainclothes.Itisalsogoodatmoistureregulation,reducinginflammation,andcellregeneration.Insoap,sesameoilwillbemoisturizingandconditioning.
PalmiticAcid9%
StearicAcid4%
OleicAcid45%
LinoleicAcid40%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.135/.191
SOYBEANOILINCI:GlycineSoja(Soybean)Oil
Soybeanoilisalightweightoilwithaboutaoneyearshelflife.Itiseasilyabsorbedandcansoothechappedskin.Insoapitismild,moisturizing,andgivesacreamylather.Soybeanoilisalsoreadilyavailableandeconomical.Iprefertouseorganicsoybeanoil,especiallyinmydirectskinapplications.
PalmiticAcid10%
OleicAcid29%
LinoleicAcid53%
LinolenicAcid8%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.134/.188
SUNFLOWEROIL(HIGHOLEIC)INCI:HelianthusAnnuus(Sunflower)SeedOil
Higholeicsunfloweroilisamedium-weightoilwithashelflifeofaboutoneyear.Onskin,ithasgreatsofteningandanti-inflammatoryproperties.Insoap,itworksnicelywithpalmandoliveoilstogivearich,creamylatherthat’sverymoisturizing.
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PalmiticAcid5–7%
StearicAcid3–6%
OleicAcid15–36%
LinoleicAcid61–73%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.136/.191
SWEETALMONDOILINCI:Prunusdulcis(Almond)oil
Thisisalightweightoilwithashelflifeofoneyear.Thisemollientoilsoftensandnourishestheskin,andisoftenusedinmassage.Insoapitcreatesaconditioning,stabilelather.
PalmiticAcid2–6%
PalmitoleicAcid2%
StearicAcid3%
OleicAcid60–78%
LinoleicAcid10–30%
LinolenicAcid2%
SAPVALUEKOH/NaOH:.137/.194
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MISCELLANEOUSE-WAXNFINCI:CetearylAlcohol(and)Polysorbate6
E-waxisanall-in-one,easy-to-useemulsifierusedtocombinewaterandoilintoalotionorcream.NFmeansthatitconformstotheNationalFormularyguidelines.
LANOLININCI:Lanolin
Technically,lanolinisawax.Itistheyellow,extremelyviscoussubstancesheepproducethathelpsthemshedwaterfromtheircoats.Mostlanolinisaby-productofwoolprocessing,sinceitneedstoberemovedbeforethewoolcanbedyedorwoven.Forskin,itisawonderfulprotectant,creatingasemi-permeablelayertokeeptheelementsoutandthemoisturein.
LECITHININCI:Lecithin
Derivedfromsoybeans,lecithinisusuallyaddedtoactasanemulsifier,butitalsohelpstoreplenishandrepairtheskin.Itworkswondersonnails.
OPTIPHENINCI:Phenoxyethanol(and)CaprylylGlycol
Optiphenisabroad-spectrum,paraben-freepreservativethatcanbeusedtopreserveemulsifiedproductsthatcontainwater,suchaslotionsandcreams.Thereareotherpreservatives,butthisisoneofmyfavorites.
ROSEMARYOLEORESININCI:RosmarinusOfficinalis(Rosemary)LeafExtract
Rosemaryoleoresin,orROEasitisoftenabbreviated,isaddedtooilsasanantioxidant.Ithelpspreventoilsfromoxidizingandbecomingrancidanditprolongstheshelflifeofaproduct.Thisisnotapreservative.
STEARICACIDINCI:StearicAcid
Stearicacidisoneofmanyfattyacidsthatoccurnaturallyintheplantandanimalworld.Itisacomponentinanimaltallow,cocoabutter,andvegetablefats.Whenit’susedincosmeticproducts,stearicacidprimarilyfulfillstheroleofathickenerorhardener.Stearicacidisthesubstancethathelpsabarofsoapretainitsshape.
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T-50(VITAMINE)INCI:TocopherolT-50isanall-natural,blendofmixedtocopherolsandediblevegetableoils.
Itfunctionsasanexcellentantioxidantforoilsorproductsthatcontainoil.Ithelpsdelayoxidationandwillhelptoextendtheshelflifeofoilsandoil-basedproducts.Itworksabitdifferentlythantherosemaryoleoresin,soIoftenuseboth.
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FATTYACIDGLOSSARYERUCICACID(C22:1):Erucicacidisusedincosmeticproductsasanemollientbecauseitprovidesaprotectivelayerforskin.
GADOLEICACID(C20:1):GadoleicAcidpreventstransdermalwaterloss.Itservesasanocclusivebarrierwithoutbeingstickyoroverlygreasy.
LINOLEICACID(C18:2):Linoleicacidhelpstoimproveskin’sbarrierfunction,helpstosootheitchydryskin,andactsasananti-inflammatoryandamoistureretainer.
OLEICACID(C18:1):Verymoisturizing,oleicacidhelpsskincellsregeneratequickly.Itisveryeasilyabsorbedbytheskinanditactsasananti-inflammatory.
PALMITICACID(C16):Palmiticacidhelpstoreinforceskinbarrierfunction,andisaverygoodemollient.
PALMITOLEICACID(C16:1):Abuildingblockinourskinthatpreventsburns,wounds,andscratches.Mostactivemicrobialinhumansebum,palmiticacidtreatsdamagedskinandmucousmembranes.
RICINOLEICACID(C18:3,N-9):Onlyfoundincastoroil,ithasanalgesicandanti-inflammatoryeffects.
STEARICACID(C18):Stearicacidhelpsimprovemoistureretention;increaseflexibilityoftheskin,andrepairskindamage.
VITAMINE:Thisvitalvitaminsinksintoourskinandbehavesasanantioxidant.
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HERBSARNICA(ARNICAMONTANA)Arnicaisknownforitsnaturalanti-inflammatorypropertiesanditsabilitytoreduceswelling.Arnicasalveisamuscleworkhorse.Itiswonderfulforsprains,strains,andpulledligamentsormuscles!Italsoworksreallywelltohelpbruisedareasheal.
CALENDULABLOSSOMS(CALENDULAOFFICINALIS)Calendulaisanti-inflammatoryandanti-microbial;goodforminorcutsandburns.Promoteshealingbyaidingclotting.
CHAMOMILE,GERMAN(MATRICARIACHAMOMILLA)Containstheflavonoidsapigenin,luteolin,andquercetin,andthevolatileoilsalpha-bisabololandmatricin,whichhelptomakechamomilesanti-inflammatory,antispasmodic,andantioxidant.Itisalsoknownforbeingcalming,soothing,andhealing.
CHAMOMILE,ROMAN(ANTHEMISNOBILIS)SeeGermanChamomile,whichhasaverysimilareffectonskin.
CHICKWEEDLEAF(STELLARIAMEDIA)Greatsootherofitchyandsoreskin.Ithelpstocoolsandrelieveinflamedareas.
COMFREYLEAFANDROOT(SYMPHYTUMOFFICIALIS)Thehighallantoincontentincomfreyisthestarofthisherb.Itencouragestherenewalofskincellsandthestrengtheningofskintissues,andithelpstohealwoundsaswellastoreducethevisibleeffectsofagingbybringingbackelasticitytotheskin.Itisalsoamildastringent,whichmakescomfreygreatforsunburn,ulcers,andsores.Sinceitissopowerful,itshouldnottobeusedoncutsthataredeep,sinceitcantrapinfectionbyhealingthetoplayerofskinfasterthandeeperlayers.
LAVENDER(LAVANDULAANGUSTIFOLIA)Lavenderisasuperstarforburnsandencouragingwoundhealing.Ithasalsobeenfoundtobeeffectiveagainsttheprincipalbacteriainvolvedinacneandisknowntosootheinsectbitesandbeestings.
MARSHMALLOWROOT(ALTHAEAOFFICINALIS)Soothesskinandpromoteswoundhealing.
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PLANTAINLEAF(PLANTAGOMAJOR)Astringent,antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,andanti-itch,plantainhasalonghistoryofbeingusedforproblemskin.Itcontainssalicylicacid,whichhelpstoreduceacnebreakouts.Plantainisalsogreatforbeestings.Justpickaleaf,mashitupabit,andapplyasapoulticetothesting.
ROSEMARY(ROSMARINUSOFFICINALIS)Removesexcessoilfromskinwithoutcausingexcessdryness.Ithasregeneratingandstimulatingeffectsthathelptorejuvenateskinandgiveitamoreyouthfulglow.Ithelpstorestoreelasticityandfirmnesstotheskinandencouragesskincellturnoverandrenewal.
SELF-HEAL(PRUNELLAVULGARIS)Withastringent,antibacterial,andantisepticproperties,self-healhelpstoreducepainandpromotehealingofcutsandscrapes.Canevenbeusedonskinrashes.
ST.JOHN’SWORT(HYPERICUMPERFORATUM)Helpstosupportskinelasticity,soothesrednessandirritation,andworkswondersonburns,wounds,insectbites,andotherskinirritations.
THYME(THYMUSVULGARIS)Thyme’snaturalantimicrobial,antibacterial,andanti-inflammatorypropertieshelptoremoveexcessoilanddirtfromporesandreduceacneoutbreaks.Thymecontainspowerfulantioxidantsthatcanhelpprotectskinfromprematureaging.
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ESSENTIALOILS(T=topnoteH=heartnoteB=basenote)
BENZOIN(B)
Ithasasweet,warm,vanillalikeodorthatislonglastingandmakesitanexcellentfixative.
BERGAMOT(T,M)
Cold-pressedessentialoilproducedbytherindofabergamotorangefruit.Bergamotessentialoilassistswithstress,tension,SAD,PMS,skinproblems,anxiety,andcoldsandflu.Ontheskin,Bergamotoilhasantisepticandastringentproperties,whichmakeitusefulaftershaving.
BERGAMOTMINT(T)
Sweet,herbaceous,andslightlyfloral,itoffersasmoothmintscent,temperedbyfloral,fruity,notes.Thescentisknowntobecalmingandrelaxing.
BIRCH(H)
Sweet,sharp,minty,fresh,camphoraceousaroma,itisdistilledfromthebark.Ithaspowerfulpainrelieving,anti-inflammatory,andantispasmodicproperties,whichmakesitgreatforuseonthejointsandmuscles.Exercisecautionwhenusingitthough,asbirchoilcansometimesirritatetheskin.Itshouldalwaysbeusedcarefullyandinthecorrectdilution.
CAMPHOR(T)
Anexcellentoilforinsectcontrolandpainmanagement.Itshighcamphorcontentalsomakesagreatclearingoilinskincare.
CEDARWOOD,ATLAS(H)
Cedarwoodissteamdistilledfromthewood.Itissoft,smooth,andgrounding.anduplifting,yetcalming.Thefragranceisdelicateandsweetwithawoodyundertone.Itisknownforitsdetoxinguses,whereitoffersagentlestimulatingeffect,andthebreakdownandeliminationoftoxins,includingfattybuildup,asincellulite.Itisalsoeffectiveonsoremusclesandjoints,anditisanupperandlowerrespiratorydecongestant.
CHAMOMILE,GERMAN(H)
Ontheskin,itisamiracleworkerandcalmsred,dry,andirritatedskin,aswellascalmingskinallergies,suchaseczema,psoriasisandallotherflakyskinproblems.Itisalsoagreattissueregenerator.Chamomilehasthehighestcontentofchamazulene,whichmakesitveryanti-inflammatory.Itsscenthasawarm,somewhatsweet,herbaceousnotethatblendswellwithmostfloweroils,mostofthecitrusoils,andalloftheotherherbaloils.
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CLARYSAGE(B)
Clarysageessentialoilassistswithmusclepains,anxiety,stress,nervoustension,insomnia,menstrualproblems,andPMS.Ontheskin,clarysagecanhelprestorelostskintone.Thescentisfreshandherbaceous,withgrassynotesthatdrydownintoambernotes,duetohighsclareolcompounds.
CORIANDER(T)
Corianderessentialoilcanhelpassistthedigestivesystem,easerheumatismandarthritispainandmuscularspasm,whiledetoxifyingthebody.
CYPRESS(H)
Thisisagrounding,centering,essentialoil,well-knownforhelpingonetogetemotionalbalanceandmentalclarity.Onskinitcanhelpwithsluggishlymphaticconditionsandcirculatorytreatmentstoeliminatetoxinsfromthesystem.Thescentisveryevergreenwithsomeherbaceousnotes.
EUCALYPTUS(T)
Thisoilisanintenselyclean,refreshing,andupliftingoil.Itiscommonlyusedtotreatupperrespiratoryconditions.Itisalsoagreatchoiceformusclepain.
FENNEL(T)
Fennelessentialoilhasasweet,earthy,aniselikearoma.Itisagoodskintonicandcanbebeneficialfordull,andtiredskin.Itcanalsohelpwithpuffyareas(i.e.,eyesandthighs),asithelpstoreducewaterretention.
FRANKINCENSE(B)
Thisoilisusedtorejuvenateskinandencourageskincellgrowth.Itisalsoeffectiveinhealingsoresandwounds,andhelpstoreducescarringandskininflammation.Frankincensesoothesandcalmsthemind.Thescentisfreshandearthy,reminiscentofincenseandhasaslightsweetnessthatisbothwarmanddeep.Inperfumeryitcanbeapowerfulbridgenotetotiethecomponentstogetherandpreventindividualnotesfromstandingout.
GRAPEFRUIT,PINK(T)
Thisoilhastheabilitytoflushfluidsoutoftissues,makingitagreatchoiceforcelluliteandfluidretentionproblems.Itisalsoagreatchoiceforcongested,oily,skinwhereitcanhelpbalanceandcleansetheskinwithoutcausingtheskintooverreactandcreatemoreoil.Itsscentisfreshandtart,withsmoothcitrusnotes.
HELICHRYSUM(B)
Thisoilisknownforitissuperiorantihematomaandscarhealingbenefits.Itisapowerfulcirculationenhancerandskinregenerator,anditisgreatforthetreatmentofbruisesandpoorcirculation.Thescentiswarm,herbaceous,andslightlysweet.
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JUNIPERBERRY(T)
Thisoilhasdiureticeffectsthathelpalleviatefluidretention.Ithasdisinfectantandpurifyingactionsandisoftencombinedwithwhitesageforspiritualclearingandcleansing.Italsoimprovescirculationandcanhelpwithmuscleaches,sinceithelpseliminatelacticacidbuildupattheheartofpainandinflammation.Thescentisfreshandupliftingwithwoodynotes.
LAVANDIN(H)
Ahybridfromtruelavenderandspikelavender.Verysimilartolavender,butsmellisabitmorecamphorus.
LAVENDER(H)
Asanessentialoilitsoothesthespirit,relievesinsomnia,andrelievesmuscularspasms.LavenderAbsolutestimulatesthegrowthofnewskincellsandtonestheskin.Itisamusthaveinthefirstaidkitandisoneofthefewoilsthatcanbeapplied“neat”(directlytotheskinwithoutdilution).
LEMON(T)
Thisoilhasanupliftingandrefreshingeffectaswellasrelievingsomeanxietyandstress.Onskin,ithelpswithcleansingandkeepingoilyskinundercontrol.Thescentisbrightandfresh.
MENTHOLCRYSTALS(T)
Mentholcrystalsareanorganiccompoundobtainedfrompeppermintorothermintoils.Itissolidatroomtemperatureandmeltsslightlyabove.Mentholisusedforitslocalanestheticandcounterirritantqualities.
MYRRH(B)
ThisoiloftencombinedwithFrankincenseformeditationandreflection.Onskinitisnurturingtomatureanddryskin,andofferssometighteningandsmoothingproperties.Thescentisdeep,earthy,andslightlybalsamic.
NUTMEG(T)
Thisoilhasasharp,spicy,andrathermuskyaroma.Ithasbeenshowntobeagoodanti-inflammatorythatissuccessfulinrelievingpain,especiallymuscularachesandpain,aswellasrheumatism.
ORANGE,SWEET(T)
Thisoil’sgentle,clarifyingnaturecheerstheheartandbrightensthemood.Itisagreatchoiceforoilyandcongestedskinwhereitcanhelpremoveexcessoilwithoutoverdrying.Itisalsoapopularoilforcleaningproducts.
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PALMAROSA(B)
Thisoiliswell-knownforitsuseasanantiviral,duetoitishighgeraniolcontent.Geraniolisoneofthemostpowerfulofnature’santivirals.Onskin,itisgreatforsensitiveandantiagingblends.Thescentissweet,warm,slightlygreen,andbitroselike.Itisaniceadditiontoanyfloralblends.
PATCHOULI,DARK(B)
Thisoilhasaverycalmingeffectonemotions.Workswellondryskinandhair.Inscentblendsithelpsgivetheblendsomestayingpower.
PEPPERMINT(T)
Thisoilhasasoothingeffectonthenervoussystembyrelievingtensionandirritation.Itworkswellasadecongestant,helpingtoopenupcompletelyblockedsinuses.Greatheadachereliever.
PINENEEDLE(H)
Thisoilhasantimicrobialanddecongestingbenefits.Italsohelpsrelieveachesandpainsassociatedwithmuscletension.Thescentiswoody,butwithdepthandsweetness.
ROSEABSOLUTE(H)
Thisabsolutehasexcellentemollientandhydratingproperties,helpingtheskinstaysoftandproperlymoisturized.Itisalsoastimulatingoil,whichisgreatforfightingagingandmaintainingasoft,dewy,andyouthfulcomplexion.
ROSEMARY(T)
Thisoilisgreatfordetoxing,energy,aswellasanytreatmentproductsgearedtowardpainrelief.Thescentisherbaceousandwoodyandblendswellwithotherconifersandthemints.
SANDALWOOD(B)
Thisoilisknownforitssupportiveeffectontissue,beingeffectivefordry,chapped,crackedskin,rashes,andacne.Thescentissweetandwoodywithwarmandrichnotes.Italsohasadefinitemuskynote.
SPRUCE(T)
Thisoilhasdetoxingcapabilities,workingtoeliminatelacticacidbuildupintissue,whichisattheheartofaching,sore,muscles.Thescenthasaconiferousnoteandisclean,sweet,andslightlygreen.
TANGERINE(T)
Thisoilhasanupliftingandrefreshingeffectaswellasrelievingsomeanxietyandstress.Onskin,ithelpswithcleansingandkeepingoilyskinundercontrol.Thescentisbright,fresh,andsweet,andgivesblendsalift.
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TEATREE(H)
Thisoilisanotheroneforthefirstaidkit.Itisoneofthemostactiveantisepticoilsavailable.Itsoothesinsectbites,calmsinflammation,actsasanimmunesystemstimulant,andisaneffectivebroadantimicrobialagentagainstbacteria,mold,andfungus.
VANILLACO2(B)
Thisisthecarbondioxideextractofthevanillabean.Vanillahasfewactualtherapeuticbenefits,butisimportantforitsfragrance.Itiscalming,soothing,anditworkswellinromanticandaphrodisiacblends.Thescentissmooth,sweet,andexotic.
VETIVER(B)
Thisoiliswell-knownforhavingacalmingeffectonthepsyche.Itisagreatchoiceforanyblendsgearedtowardmentalhealthordepression.Onskinitisgreatformature,damaged,anddryskin.Thescentisdeepandearthywithjustatouchofsweetness.Inperfumeryitisapowerfulscentfixative.
YLANGYLANG(H)
Thisoilisknownasarelaxationaidthatreducesstressandtension.Ontheskin,ylangylangoilhasasoothingeffectanditisoftenusedtoevenoutover-dryaswellasoverlyoilyskinbybalancingthesecretionofsebum.Itsdeepandexoticscenthasadefinitesweetnessandsmoothness,makingitpopularinperfumes.
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RESOURCESThisisalistofsuppliersIuseinmyownbusinessandrecommend.Youwillnoticethattherearemanycompaniesthatarelistedundermultiplecategories.Ihavechosentolistsuppliersthiswaytohelpyoueasilyfindtheingredientforwhichyouarelooking.Manyofthesupplierslistedalsocarryitemsfromothercategoriesincludedherethatmaybeverygood,butsinceIhavenotusedthem,Icannotrecommendthem.
BEESWAXBEEHIVEALCHEMYwww.beehivealchemy.com2115N56thStMilwaukee,WI53208414-403-1993
DADANT&SONSwww.dadant.com51South2ndHamilton,IL62341888-922-1293
LYE(SODIUMHYDROXIDE)AAACHEMICALSwww.aaa-chemicals.com226TEXASCITYWYELaMarque,TX77568409-908-0070
BOYERCORPORATIONwww.boyercorporation.comP.O.Box10LaGrange,IL60525800-323-3040
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BASEOILSANDBUTTERSCOLUMBUSFOODS/SOAPERSCHOICEwww.soaperschoice.com30E.OaktonStreetDesPlaines,IL60018
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800-322-6457Ext:8930
BRAMBLEBERRYwww.brambleberry.com2138HumboldtSt.,Bellingham,WA98225360-734-8278
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
CAMDEN-GREYESSENTIALOILS,INCwww.camdengrey.com3567NW82AvenueDoral,FL33122305-500-9630
NEWDIRECTIONSAROMATICSwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com6781ColumbusRoadMississauga,Ontario,L5T2G9Canada800-246-7817
ESSENTIALOILSANDFRAGRANCEOILSAROMAHAVEN/RUSTICESCENTUALS,LLChttp://rusticescentuals.com1050CanaanRoadRoebuck,SC29376814-217-7113
NEWDIRECTIONSAROMATICSwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com6781ColumbusRoadMississauga,Ontario,L5T2G9Canada1-800-246-7817
WHITELOTUSAROMATICSwww.whitelotusaromatics.com941E.SnowlineDr.PortAngeles,WA98362360-452-9516
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CAMDEN-GREYESSENTIALOILS,INCwww.camdengrey.com3567NW82AvenueDoral,FL33122US305-500-9630
CONTAINERSANDPACKAGINGSKSBOTTLES&PACKAGING,INCwww.sks-bottle.com26007thAvenueBuilding60WestWatervliet,NY12189518-880-6980
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BOTTLESANDMOREwww.bottlesandmore.com4523SunsetOaksDr.Paradise,CA95969530-872-2745
HERBSANDBOTANICALSMONTEREYBAYSPICECOwww.herbco.com241WalkerSt.,Watsonville,CA95076831-426-2808
ROCKYMOUNTAINSPICECOwww.rockymountainspice.com3850NomeSt.,Denver,CO80239303-308-8066
MOUNTAINROSEHERBSwww.mountainroseherbs.comP.O.Box50220Eugene,OR97405800-879-3337
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SPECIALTYCOSMETICINGREDIENTSTHEHERBARIEATSTONEYHILLFARM,INC.www.theherbarie.comProsperity,SC29127803-364-9979
LOTIONCRAFTERwww.lotioncrafter.com532PointLawrenceRoadOlga,WA98279360-376-8008
INGREDIENTSTODIEFORwww.ingredientstodiefor.com5103-ACommercialParkDr.Austin,TX78724512-535-2711
MAJESTICMOUNTAINSAGEwww.thesage.com2490South1350WestNibley,UT84321435-755-0863
WHOLESALESUPPLIESPLUSwww.wholesalesuppliesplus.com10035BroadviewRd.BroadviewHeights,OH44147800-359-0944
BRAMBLEBERRYwww.brambleberry.com2138HumboldtSt.,Bellingham,WA98225360-734-8278
INTERNATIONALSUPPLIERSVOYAGEURSOAPANDCANDLECO.www.voyageursoapandcandle.com#14-19257EnterpriseWaySurrey,BCV3S6J8800-758-7773
GRACEFRUITwww.gracefruit.com146GlasgowRoad
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Longcroft,Stirlingshire,FK41QL,UKTelephone:01324841353
THESOAPKITCHENwww.thesoapkitchen.co.ukTheSoapKitchenPlus(shop),11aSouthStreet,Torrington,Devon,EX388AA,UKTel:01805622221
SIDNEYESSENTIALOILCOMPANYwww.seoc.com.au11BurrowsRoadSouth,St.Peters,NSW2044Australia
NEWDIRECTIONSAUSTRALIAwww.newdirections.com.au47CarringtonRd.Marrickville,Sydney,NSW2204Australia
KOSMETISCHEROHSTOFFEhttp://www.kosmetische-rohstoffe.deKaiHabermannAmGrenzberg3463654BüdingenGermany
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IwouldliketothankmyboyfriendKarlfordiscoveringhispassionforbeesandforfindingmystashofhandmadesoapsallthoseyearsago.ItwasthiscombinationofeventsthatledtobuildingBeehiveAlchemyintothebusinessitistoday.IwouldalsoliketothankMarthaStewart,who’sAmericanMadeprojectservedasajumping-offpointformanyoftheopportunitiesthatIhavehadtheprivilegetoparticipatein,inthelastyear,thewritingofthisbookbeingoneofthem.Lastly,theteamatQuarryBooksarealsodeservingofahugeThankYouforunderstandingmyneedforflexibilitytostilloperatebothmysoapandbeekeepingbusinesseswhilewritingthisbook.
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ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
PETRAAHNERTistheownerandcreativeforcebehindBeehiveAlchemy.Shehasbeenmakingsoapsandbody-careproductsforclosetotwodecades,althoughtheuseofhoney,beeswaxandotherbee-relatedproductsonlycameintothepictureaftersheandherboyfrienddiscoveredbeekeepingin2004andanewbusinesswasborn.Shenowsellsherwaresonline(www.beehivealchemy.com)andatregionalcraftshowsandfarmers’markets.ShelivesinMilwaukee,Wisconsin,andkeepsbeesscatteredthroughoutsouthwestWisconsin.
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INDEXAadvancedprojectsBeeswaxCream,64–65HoneyandBeeswaxSoap,76–77Honey,Oats,andBeeswaxSoap,78–79
All-PurposeSalve,58apricotoil,overview,121arnica,overview,126artBatik,104–109Encaustic,110–117
avocadooil,overview,121
BbalmsBasicLipBalm,44ChestRub,53CuticleBalm,50disposablecontainersfor,19HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipBalmwithButters,45SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
BasicLipBalm,44BatikBatikDishTowels,108–109BatikNapkins,106–107beeswax/paraffinratio,105dyetechniques,105waxremoval,105
BeadingandSewing,100–101BeeswaxCream,64–65BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87beginnerprojectsAll-PurposeSalve,58BasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85
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BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87BurnSalve,59ChestRub,52CrackedSkinSalve,58CuticleBalm,50CuttingBoardConditioner,90EncausticPainting,114–115Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61ItchSoother,59LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46MassageBar,49NonpetroleumJelly,53OilHerbalInfusion,57RolledTaperCandles,23RosebudSalve,60SalveMasterRecipe,56SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67SolidWoodPolish,91ThreadConditioner,101VotiveCandles,29–30WaterproofSneakers,96–97WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabric,94–95WoodConditionerCream,92Woodworker ’sSalve,60
benzoinoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
bergamotmintoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
bergamotoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
birchoil
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ChestRub,52overview,128
bleachedwax,9,17,111broodwax,17BurnSalve,59
CcalendulablossomsAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59overview,126
camphoroilChestRub,52IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,128
candies,13candlesburntests,27flatteningbottomsof,35Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39historyof,10MoldedPillarCandles,31–35molds,11,19,28–35RolledPillarCandles,24–25RolledTaperCandles,23RomanCatholicChurchand,10siliconemolds,11VotiveCandles,29–30waxfor,16wicks,26,27,32
CanelésdeBordeaux,13cappings,8,9,16,26castoroilBasicLipBalm,44HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipGloss,46NonpetroleumJelly,53overview,121
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ricinoleicacid,125SoapStarterRecipe,74–75
cedarwoodatlasoil,overview,128chamomileCrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59overview,126
chamomileoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
ChestRub,52chickweedleafAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
Chineseculture,10clarysageoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
clean-up,19,30cocoabutterEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61lauricacidand,72LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46MassageBar,49overview,120SolidLotionBar,48stearicacidand,124
coconutoilBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65fractionatedcoconutoiland,122HeelBalm,51HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79overview,122SoapStarterRecipe,74–75SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
comfreyleafandrootAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
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Woodworker ’sSalve,60commercialbeekeeping,16corianderoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
CrackedSkinSalve,58crayons,13creamsBeeswaxCream,64–65disposablecontainersfor,19WoodConditionerCream,92
Crisco,74CuticleBalm,50CuttingBoardConditioner,90cypressoiloverview,128perfumeessentialoilblends,69
EEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63emuoilHeelBalm,51overview,122
Encausticscollage,116–117masterbatch,112mixing,113paintingwith,114–115resinand,111waxfor,17,111
erucicacidjojobaoiland,122overview,125
eucalyptusoilChestRub,52IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,129
e-waxBeeswaxCream,64–65EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,124
Ffennel
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overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
filteredwax,9,16fractionatedcoconutoiloverview,122SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
frankincenseoverview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ggadoleicacidjojobaoil,122overview,125
Germanchamomile,overview,126GermanchamomileoilCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,128
glassetching,13graftingwax,13grapefruitoilCuticleBalm,50overview,129
grapeseedoilAll-PurposeSalve,58OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,122
Hhand-dippedcandlescontainersfor,37Hand-DippedBirthdayCandles,40–41Hand-DippedTaperCandles,37–39
HeelBalm,51helichrysumoilItchSoother,59overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69
homeproductsBeadingandSewing,100–101BeeswaxDippedLeaves,84–85BeeswaxFurniturePolish,93BeeswaxLuminaries,88–89BeeswaxOrnaments,82–83
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BeeswaxPineconeFirestarters,86–87CuttingBoardConditioner,90SolidWoodPolish,91ThreadConditioner,101WaterproofSneakers,96–97WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabrics,94–95WoodConditionerCream,92
HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79
IIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61intermediateprojectsBasicBurnTest,27BatikDishTowels,108–109BatikNapkins,106–107EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63EncausticCollage,116–117EncausticMasterBatch,112EncausticPaintMixing,113MoldedPillarCandles,31–35PerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69RolledPillarCandles,24–25SoapStarterRecipe,74–75SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe,68
ItchSoother,59
Jjojobaoiloverview,122SolidLotionBar,48SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67
juniperberryoil,overview,129
LlanolinBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65CuticleBalm,50LipBalmwithButters,45overview,124
lavandinoilAll-PurposeSalve,58
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overview,129lavenderAll-PurposeSalve,58overview,126
lavenderoilAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59lavandinoiland,129overview,129perfumeessentialoilblends,69Woodworker ’sSalve,60
leather,waterproofing,12lecithinCuticleBalm,50overview,124
lemonoilCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51overview,129
linoleicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121castoroiland,121cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123overview,125
lipbalmsBasicLipBalm,44LipBalmwithButters,45LipGloss,46
“lost-wax”casting,13
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lye,72,73,74
MmangobutterBeeswaxCream,64–65CuticleBalm,50EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,120SolidLotionBar,48
marshmallowrootItchSoother,59overview,127
MassageBar,49mentholcrystalsIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,129peppermintoiland,129
moldedcandlesMoldedPillarCandles,31–35VotiveCandles,29–30
myrrhoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
NNonpetroleumJelly,53nutmegoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ooleicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121castoroiland,121cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122jojobaoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122overview,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123
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sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
OilHerbalInfusion,57oliveoilAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59ChestRub,52CrackedSkinSalve,58HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61ItchSoother,59OilHerbalInfusion,57oleicacidand,122overview,122palmiticacidand,122RosebudSalve,60SoapStarterRecipe,74–75Woodworker ’sSalve,60
optiphenBeeswaxCream,64–65EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,124
orangeoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
Ppalmarosaoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
palmiticacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121cocoabutterand,120coconutoiland,122emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122
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overview,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120soybeanoiland,123sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
palmitoleicacidjojobaoiland,122overview,125sweetalmondoiland,123
pastilles,18patchoulioiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
pathogens,9peppermintoilCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51ItchSoother,59mentholcrystalsand,129overview,130
percentages,18PerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69pillarcandlescavitycorrection,34curing,35flatteningbottomsof,35foundations,26MoldedPillarCandles,31–35testing,27unmolding,34–35wicking,26
pineneedleoilCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,130
plantainleafAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58overview,127Woodworker ’sSalve,60
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Rricebranoil,overview,123ricinoleicacidcastoroiland,121overview,125
rolledcandlesRolledPillarCandles,24–25RolledTaperCandles,23squaring,26wicking,26
Romanchamomile.SeeGermanchamomile.roseabsoluteoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69RosebudSalve,60
rosemaryoverview,127Woodworker ’sSalve,60
rosemaryoilIcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,130
rosemaryoleoresinBasicLipBalm,44overview,124SolidLotionBar,48
rustprevention,12
SsaffloweroilEmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63overview,123
salvesAll-PurposeSalve,58BurnSalve,59CrackedSkinSalve,58ItchSoother,59RosebudSalve,60SalveMasterRecipe,56Woodworker ’sSalve,60
sandalwoodoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
SaponificationRatio(SAP),72,74
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self-heal,overview,127sesameoilMassageBar,49overview,123
sheabutterHeelBalm,51LipGloss,46overview,120SolidLotionBar,48
slumgum,9,17soapsCriscoand,74curing,75,77,79equipmentfor,73gelphase,75HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(ColdProcessRecipe),76–77HoneyandBeeswaxSoap(HotProcessRecipe),78–79lye,72,73,74,77molds,73,75,77,79protectivegear,73SaponificationRatio(SAP),72,74StarterRecipe,74–75tracestage,75
solidbody-carebarsCuticleBalm,50HeelBalm,51MassageBar,49SolidLotionBar,48
SolidNaturalPerfumesPerfumeEssentialOilBlends,69SolidPerfumeBaseBalmRecipe,67SolidPerfumeMasterRecipe,68
SolidWoodPolish,91soybeanoilCuticleBalm,50overview,123
spruceoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
stearicacidapricotoiland,121avocadooiland,121BeeswaxCream,64–65
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cocoabutterand,120emuoiland,122grapeseedoiland,122jojobaoiland,122mangobutterand,120oliveoiland,122overview,124,125ricebranoiland,123saffloweroiland,123sesameoiland,123sheabutterand,120sunfloweroiland,123sweetalmondoiland,123
St.John’swortCrackedSkinSalve,58overview,127
sunfloweroilLipBalmwithButters,45overview,123
sweetalmondoilapricotoiland,121BasicLipBalm,44EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63HeelBalm,51LipGloss,46OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,123SolidLotionBar,48
sweetorangeoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
TT-50,overview,124tangerineoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
teatreeoilCrackedSkinSalve,58IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61overview,130
ThreadConditioner,101thyme
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ItchSoother,59overview,127
VvanillaCO2oil,overview,130vetiveroiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
vitaminEBasicLipBalm,44BeeswaxCream,64–65ChestRub,52CuticleBalm,50EmulsifyingSugarScrub,62–63HeelBalm,51IcyJoint&MuscleBalm,61LipBalmwithButters,45NonpetroleumJelly,53OilHerbalInfusion,57overview,125SalveMasterRecipe,56SolidLotionBar,48
VotiveCandles,29–30
WWaterproofSneakers,96–97waxancientEgyptiansand,10beesand,8bleachedwax,9broodwax,17candlewax,16cappings,8,9,16Chinesecultureand,10cleaningup,19compoundsin,8creationof,8filtering,9,16,17freezing,19honeyand,8,9,16honeycombs,8hunter-gatherersand,10meltingpointof,8,19modernusesof,11–13
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moldsizes,18pastilles,18pathogensand,9processing,16protectingsurfacesfrom,19RomanCatholicChurchand,10scales,8slumgum,9,17specificgravityof,8temperaturesand,8whitewax,17
WaxedCottonSandwichWraps,98–99WaxedFabrics,94–95whitewax,17wicking,26,27,32WoodConditionerCream,92Woodworker ’sSalve,60
Yylangylangoiloverview,130perfumeessentialoilblends,69
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DEDICATIONThisbookisdedicatedtothebeesandthewarriorswhoseetotheirprotection;andtomyparents,whoinstilledinmealoveandcuriosityofcreatureslargeandsmall.
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©2015QuarryBooks
FirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericain2015byQuarryBooks,amemberofQuartoPublishingGroupUSAInc.100CummingsCenterSuite406-LBeverly,Massachusetts01915-6101Telephone:(978)282-9590Fax:(978)283-2742www.quarrybooks.comVisitwww.Craftside.netforabehind-the-scenespeekatourcraftyworld!
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformwithoutwrittenpermissionofthecopyrightowners.Allimagesinthisbookhavebeenreproducedwiththeknowledgeandpriorconsentoftheartistsconcerned,andnoresponsibilityisacceptedbytheproducer,publisher,orprinterforanyinfringementofcopyrightorotherwise,arisingfromthecontentsofthispublication.Everyefforthasbeenmadetoensurethatcreditsaccuratelycomplywithinformationsupplied.Weapologizeforanyinaccuraciesthatmayhaveoccurredandwillresolveinaccurateormissinginformationinasubsequentreprintingofthebook.
Digitaleditionpublishedin2015
Digitaledition:978-1-62788-160-9Softcoveredition:978-1-59253-979-6
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataavailable
Design:BurgeAgencyPhotography:DanBishopPhotography