The Beeswax Workshop: How to Make Your Own Natural Candles, Cosmetics, Cleaners, Soaps, Healing Balms and More
by Chris Dalziel
Ulysses Press, 2021 (312 pages)
I love anything bees, honey and beeswax. When I saw "The Beeswax Workshop", I was immediately interested. This title is an essential resource for anyone looking to embrace a more natural, self-reliant, and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Plus, you can have tons of fun crafting! It is packed with over 100 step-by-step recipes, this book transforms a simple, miraculous substance---beeswax---into a whole load of practical and beautiful household items.
Organized into various categories, it makes it easy to find projects relevant to your needs. Chapters cover home, health, beauty, and even garden applications, all demonstrating the incredible versatility of beeswax. Dalziel, an experienced herbalist and homesteader, shares her extensive knowledge in clear, easy language perfect for beginners and seasoned DIY enthusiasts alike. The inclusion of ingredients lists and equipment needed for each project ensures you can start crafting right away and do so confidently.
Projects range from simple, satisfying crafts like a basic Mason jar candle or furniture polish to more creations such as chamomile sunburn salve, everyday body butter, and rose lip gloss. The book even includes unique ideas like bug repellent and a non-toxic wood sealant, highlighting applications you may never have considered.
I like the book's focus on sustainability and natural ingredients. In an age of mass-produced, chemical-laden products, the author empowers readers to create safe alternatives they can trust for their families. The only draw-back, are the recipe's measurements are volume-based, rather than weight-based. For those working with a large block of hard beeswax instead of pellets, this can require a little bit of guesswork or conversion. I'd also appreciate a few more pictures or illustrations and those would be helpful to DIY-beginners too. Otherwise, it is a nice comprehensive guide.
It's more than just a recipe book, though. It is an inspiring guide to making the most of a sustainable, natural resource. Whether you are a beekeeper with excess wax or just a hobbyist eager to try making your own natural products, this book can give you the confidence to succeed. There's a certain magic to transforming simple ingredients into practical, everyday items. And the fun is just waiting for you to open the pages and find out.
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