LavenderSophie · Provence, FR · Honey · Aug 26, 2026
Rendered my cappings today — 800 g of clean wax from one harvest. What does everyone make with theirs?
Extraction done here in Provence and today I finally rendered the cappings from all eight hives: two passes through the solar melter, then a final water-bath melt and filter through a paper towel. Result: 800 g of lovely pale yellow wax and the whole house smells wonderful.
Every year I stockpile these blocks telling myself I'll do something with them. So — what do you actually MAKE? I've done a few candles (the 100% beeswax ones burn beautifully but the wick sizing took three tries). I keep hearing about beeswax food wraps and a basic salve. Recipes or ratios welcome, especially for the wraps — mine came out sticky and I suspect I used too much wax or skipped an ingredient.
#beeswax#cappings#rendering#candles#wraps
▲ 7 votes💬 4 replies
4 replies
InesMel · Aug 26, 2026
Sticky wraps means wax alone — you need the mix. My ratio: 40 g beeswax, 15 g pine rosin, 1 tablespoon jojoba oil per 4–5 cotton squares. The rosin is what makes it cling to a bowl instead of just sitting there, and the oil keeps it from cracking. Brush on, then even it out in a 100°C oven for 2 minutes.
AbejasCarla · Aug 27, 2026
Salve is the easiest win: 1 part wax to 4 parts olive oil, melted together, into small tins. My whole village gets it at Christmas and my hands survive extraction season because of it. For candles — yes, wick sizing is the entire craft. Write down what worked!
IstriaBee · Aug 27, 2026
Don't overlook the boring answer: swap it. My local supplier takes clean rendered wax against foundation at a decent rate. 800 g of cappings wax is premium stuff — cappings are the cleanest wax in the hive, far better than old brood comb renders.
elif_arici · Aug 27, 2026
Second year and I just rendered my first tiny 150 g block, so this thread is perfect timing. LavenderSophie, how do you get it that pale? Mine came out quite orange even from cappings.