Simple 1:1:1 Beekeeper’s Salve recipe

I love beeswax. I love the smell as it melts and burns, the different colours, how it feels to touch and on the skin.

I love it for its waterproofing qualities and for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. But most of all I just love it because it is pure, it is natural, and I know exactly where it comes from: my very own honeybees. And so, I have ditched all commercial makes of creams, lotions, lip balms and moisturizers. I make and use my own, using beeswax, and it is surprisingly easy. If you have a little bit of beeswax perhaps you would try it too.

The easiest concoction to start with is a 1:1:1 salve, using equal measures of beeswax, shea or cocoa butter and oil. You can then change the proportions the next batch to get the consistency that works best for you. I like my creams quite hard and I find the oily ones too greasy for daily wear. After a long hot soak in the bath though, it is lovely to indulge with a nice smooth cream. So, for my nighttime body cream, I add a bit more oil.

You can choose different oils for their different properties, such as almond oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, olive oil or infused vegetable oils, but make sure to use one that has a reasonably long shelf-life, or at least as long as you think the cream will last before you have used it up.

1. In a wide mouthed squat jar, measure up equal quantities of beeswax and oil of your choice. Measure by weight.
2. Place the jar on a plate in the oven at 70 degrees Celsius.
3. Once the beeswax has melted into the oil, add the cocoa or shea butter and return to the heat. Alternatively, you can melt the wax and oil using a double boiler, add the butter, and pour into a heat proof container.
4. Once melted, remove from the heat and let cool slightly. 
5. If you would like, you can now add a couple of drops of essential oil. Lavender works very well with the wonderful natural scent of beeswax and cocoa.
6. Leave to cool, and then apply to tired hands.

You will soon find new variations of this recipe, and who knows, maybe you too will convert to making your own skincare products!

Make sure to write down any changes that you make so that you can replicate them next time. Be careful when handling hot wax and make sure not to have pets or children with you when you do it. Want to give it a go but don’t have your own bees to make beeswax for you? Don’t worry, mine make plenty so you can get yours here.

Homemade candles, cream, salve, wood polish, lotion bars, beeswax moulds and lip-balm.

If you are interested in exploring further what you can make with beeswax, I highly recommend the book Beeswax Alchemy by Petra Ahnert published in 2015 (ISBN 978-1-59253-979-6).