At Primal Exports we work hand in hand with our beekeepers to harvest the wax at the perfect moment. Not causing stress to the hives by removing too early but removing frames that have served their purpose and supported the upcoming brood of young bees. This clears the way for new fresh honeycomb to be created and stimulates the bees into action. Maintaining an effective cycle of high grade wax production and happy honey bees.

Bees Wax

Beeswax, or Cera Alba, is the main ingredient that makes up the honeycomb storage cells within a beehive.
Produced naturally by the worker bees from honey, it starts off crystal clear but becomes opaque as it is chewed and mixed with propolis. Depending on the age of the wax, the types of local flowers available and the amount of pollen and propolis incorporated, the colour ranges from white to brown. An amazing feat of engineering, the wax honeycomb is designed down to the last detail.

To the point where each 5mm, hexagonal cell is angled slightly backwards so that no honey runs out. The shape is as mathematically efficient as it possibly can be; saving space, waste material and weight. 100g of wax can form about 7000 cells, which in turn can hold anywhere from 1.8 – 3.8 kg of honey!

From a chemical perspective the main components of beeswax are esters ( a precursor that reacts with water to produce alcohol) and long chain (30-32 carbons) alcohols. These constituents give rise to the physical properties of wax. Relatively high melting point compared to most other waxes and the ability to soften on contact with body warmth. This all adds up to a very versatile product that can be used for a range of applications from food to pharmaceutical. Some of these include:

There are many benefits in using beeswax for candles instead of the regular paraffin or even soy waxes. Beautiful in colour and scent, cera able candles give off a bright golden glow, with light wavelengths similar to that of sunshine. The aroma oozes of honey and floral nectar.  They are carbon neutral, have more than double the burn time, rarely drip and dont smoke. Hypoallergenic and they emit negative ions into their environment that purifies and cleanses the air and enlivens the body.

Far from suffocating the skin like petroleum jellies and waxes can, beeswax allows the skin to breathe whilst protecting it from the elements. Almost like a Goretex jacket! Because of a higher melting point it remains solid at room temperature creating thicker, more durable balms and lotions. It is a natural source of the anti-oxidant, Vitamin A, which helps to hydrate the skin and protect it from free-radicals that cause aging.

From unsticking drawers to keeping drills and saw sharp for metal work, natural beeswax makes the perfect lubricant. Simply by rubbing the block on the runner, hinge or zip in question the silky qualities of beeswax lubricate the surfaces back to full working order.

As conscious consumerism is on the rise, people are becoming increasingly aware of the effect they have on the planet. So too are solutions to help reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste humans produce. One of these are beeswax food wraps, cotton coated with a thin layer of pure, natural, beeswax is the perfect substitute for plastic wrap. From renewable  sources, they are reusable, biodegradable and antibacterial. Definitely not a new invention beeswax has been used as a protective barrier for foods such as cheese for many, many years.

Blocks of Pure Natural Beeswax of different sizes