How to Melt Beeswax for Capping for Candles and Lotions
Beeswax makes a wonderful sealing material for lotions and creams, and is good for capping off candles that have been used. Beeswax is a natural wax taken from the comb of honey bees. Beeswax is naturally antimicrobial, and using it as a seal keeps containers sterile. It is important to take precautions when melting beeswax so as not to scorch the wax and or ruin cooking utensils.
Things You'll Need
- 1 lb. pure beeswax
- Empty coffee can
- 2 pots, one larger than the other
- Water
- Wooden spoon
- Lotion or jar candle
- Small funnel
- Small spoon
Instructions
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1
Fill the empty coffee can with the beeswax and place the can in the smaller pot.
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2
Fill the larger pot 1/3 full of water. Place the smaller pot into the larger one. Gradually heat the water over medium heat, continuously stirring with a wooden spoon.
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3
Place the lotion bottle that you want to cap on a flat surface. Place a small funnel inside the lotion bottle. Use a spoon to scoop small amounts of wax a little at a time into the funnel.
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4
Slowly remove the funnel so the wax fills in around the area where it was removed. Allow the wax to cool and harden in the bottle.
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5
Place the jar candle that you want to cap, or fill up, on a flat surface. Hold the funnel over the opening of the jar and pour beeswax over the top of the candle.
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6
Allow the filled candle to cool and harden completely.
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7
As wax shrinks down once it has hardened, fill the wax a second time. Allow the wax to cool and shrink again. Repeat this process until the candle has been capped to the top of the jar.
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8
Let the beeswax completely harden before lighting the candle.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Placing the beeswax in a coffee can protects pots from becoming coated with wax.
Heating water at too high a temperature may scorch the wax.