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.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

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

1. Fill the empty coffee can with the beeswax and place the can in the smaller pot.

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.

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.

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.

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.

6. Allow the filled candle to cool and harden completely.

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.

8. Let the beeswax completely harden before lighting the candle.

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.

References

• Beeswax Information
• Cooperative Extension, University of Delaware: Information About Beeswax