Natural Beeswax Christmas Tree Ornaments
Natural and Fragrant, Beeswax Makes the Best Decorations
Nov 14, 2009
With its golden beauty and natural, non-toxic honey fragrance, beeswax is the perfect medium for making Christmas ornaments with the look and feel of Christmas country decorations.
Natural Beeswax Ornaments and Candle Christmas Decorations
Beeswax is an extremely hard wax and therefore has a very high melt point. Pure beeswax Christmas tree ornaments do not melt, soften or lose their shape. When warm, however, they do impart a light and lovely natural honey fragrance about the room.
The very old and traditional way of using lit candles to decorate the tree is not recommended due to fire hazard. Pure beeswax candles placed about the room will complement the ornaments on the tree and can be lit during Christmas celebrations safely.
Beeswax Supplies
Because wax is highly flammable it must always be melted in a double boiler. To make beeswax ornaments, you will need:
- Bulk beeswax
- Double boiler
- Wooden spoon
- Candy thermometer
- Soap molds, candle molds, molds made from metal or plastic
- Wire core candle wick (or strong twine, such as hemp)
- Liquid soap
- Ornament hooks.
Obtain beeswax from candle making suppliers and apiaries. Dadant and Son is an American company with various locations that offers high quality, clean beeswax in both natural golden and bleached white. They do mail order.
Wire core wick, such as zinc core, is especially strong and will hang the ornament securely. Hemp twine also works well.
A small amount of natural, liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's) acts as a mold release.
Keep all beeswax supplies separate from food preparation supplies.
Beeswax Candle and Ornament Molds
Plastic soap and candy molds work well as beeswax ornament molds. They come in various shapes and sizes and are available in craft supply stores, bakery supply shops, and soap and candle supply companies. Look for molds with a holiday theme.
Choose plastic or metal molds and objects to use as molds. Glass and china are breakable and unsafe.
Making Beeswax Ornaments
- Use a double boiler for melting beeswax. Stir occasionally with wooden spoon. Bring temperature up to 180 degrees F.
- Rub small amount of liquid soap on the inside of the ornament molds. (Do not overdo this step or there will be pockets of soap on the ornament faces.)
- Carefully pour hot beeswax into molds.
- Take a couple of inches or wick or twine and tie a knot to make a circle. Place the knotted end into top of the beeswax ornament. This create a loop by which the ornament will later hang.
- Allow ornament to cool for a few hours or overnight.
If the ornaments do not pop easily out of the molds, place them in the freezer for 15 minutes and try again.
Attach small Christmas tree ornament hooks to the wick or twine to make hanging on the tree easy.
Care for Beeswax Ornaments
Beeswax ornaments are not high-maintenance, but uncoated beeswax develops natural bloom. Bloom is nothing more than a mild white discoloration on the beeswax that develops slowly over time. It is completely non-toxic and should simply be buffed away with a soft cloth. If desired, check for bloom every week or two.
The way to prevent bloom is to coat the beeswax with a varnish. There is a specially formulated beeswax varnish for candles; ornaments can be coated with any artists' matte or glossy varnish.
Beeswax Ornament Decoration
If desired, beeswax ornaments can be painted. Use tubes of artist acrylic paint. These paints are water based, non-toxic, and adhere to the beeswax. Do not dilute the paint prior to use.
If varnish is desired, paint the ornaments first then varnish when dry.
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