Making Aromatherapy Beeswax Candles

Bees are insects essential in our lives, providing some of our daily needs. Most people already know that bees produce a massive amount of honey, however people rarely know that we can also obtain non-toxic wax from bees. The wax, called beeswax, is in fact made from honey. Bees collect nectar and pollen to make honey to feed the hive. As they eat honey, their bodies continue to produce wax. In this thematic lesson about ‘Bees and Butterflies’, the facilitators in Begawan’s Learning Centre recognized a need to introduce beeswax as part of the program to teach students of the importance of conserving bees.

On March 9, 2022, the students in Begawan’s Learning Centre made aromatherapy beeswax candles using the wax they extracted from the beehives. This activity aimed to give the students practical skills while learning about products they can create using what nature provides. The ingredients used were beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils. Beeswax was first extracted from the beehives, wrapped in cheesecloth and boiled until it melted completely. Students waited for about 24 hours until the beeswax cooled down, and then began to work on the candles.

The cooled-down beeswax which students obtained was melted once again in a double-boiler. Once melted, students added coconut oil to make the candles last longer and added a few drops of Lavender essential oil as the fragrance. The mixture was then poured into small jars which already had a wick, and after waiting 24 hours patiently, the students could finally light their aromatherapy beeswax candles.

During this activity, the students were watched over by two facilitators to ensure that all was done safely. We want to express our gratitude to each student who participated in this practical lesson. No greater words could express how proud we are of each of the students. Hoping the experiential learning they learn from Begawan is able to boost their self-confidence and knowledge for the future ahead. (Devi Devanthi)