By Börje Svensson
It is important to work in a clean room, have a good knowledge of the ingredients and products, a good awareness of hygiene, and a careful approach.
Materials needed
a) Clean beeswax.
b) Food oil for example from coconut, peanut, sesame, or sunflower and/or paraffin wax.
c) Herbal oils such as aloe vera, clove, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary or tea tree. Alternatively the leaves of plants used locally as herbal medicines can be cooked in the food oil.
d) Perfume (optional).
e) A heat source (electricity, gas or kerosene).
f) A saucepan for a water bath.
g) A teapot or kettle for pouring the product into bottles.
h) Small plastic bottles or cups.
Technique
Always use as low a temperature as possible and keep the kettle in a water bath. Make sure all ingredients are ready before you begin.
1. Start by melting the beeswax.
2. Add the non-volatile food oil and/or paraffin wax.
3. Finally add the herbal oils and perfume just before bottling.
4. Bottle without dripping or spilling.
5. Put on lids immediately.
6. Label all products carefully.
7. Save samples for testing.
8. Market the products with confidence but without exaggeration!
Standard recipes
Skin ointment
150 g beeswax
0.5 litre food oil
0.3-1 ml herbal oil and/or local medicinal oils
Liniment
150 g beeswax
0.5 litre food oil and a few drops of camphor, Japanese peppermint, aloe vera, menthol, eucalyptus, or cajaput oil
Cosmetic cream
170 g beeswax
30 g anoline (Vaseline)
0.5 litre food oil
plus 50 g honey perfumed with herbal oils
White cream
Melt together 180 g beeswax and 100 g paraffin wax
Add 100 g aloe vera, 300 ml pure water, and 10 g borax (emulsifier)
Lipstick
150 g beeswax
250 ml food oil
plus 50 g honey perfumed with herbal oils
Mascara / eyebrow liner
150 g beeswax
0.5 litre food oil
Colouring
Shampoo
50 g soap
Water (boiled for 20 minutes before measuring out 1 litre)
plus 2 teaspoons beeswax, 4 tablespoons honey and 0.5 ml herbal oils or perfume
Shoe polish
50 g beeswax
45 g pitch (black)
60 g food oil
40 g iron sulphate
0.5 ml thyme oil
Furniture polish
200 g beeswax
100 g turpentine
50 g food oil
[Bees for Development Journal #60]