Beehive Alchemy: Projects and Recipes Using Honey, Beeswax, Propolis, and Pollen to Make Soap, Candles, Creams, Salves, and More

From crayons to cough drops, cookies to candles, Beehive Alchemy offers a comprehensive introduction to incorporating the miracle of bees into everyday life.

Beehive Alchemy is a continuation of Petra Ahnert's best-selling Beeswax Alchemy. With this new book, beekeepers (and bee lovers) will learn about the benefits and attributes of beeswax, honey, propolis, and more alongside a full range of projects and techniques to process and harness the amazing gifts of bees. Inside, you'll find instructions to make Ahnert's award-winning hand-dipped birthday candles, the classic French dessert canele bordelais, and much more, including:

Alchemy for the Body

• Liquid soap with honey
• Beard balm
• Olive and honey lotion

Alchemy of Light

• Taper candles
• Tea lights
• Pillars

Alchemy for the Home

• Furniture polish
• Waxed cotton food wraps
• Woodcutter incense

Alchemy in the Studio

• Beeswax crayons
• Encaustic
• Batik

Alchemy in the Kitchen

• Cookies and candies
• Beverages
• Fermentations

Whether you keep bees or just love them, Beehive Alchemy will become your go-to comprehensive guide for hive-to-home creations.


About the Author

Petra Ahnert is the creative force behind Beehive Alchemy (beehivealchemy.com), an artisan soap, body care, and home goods business. After a serendipitous meeting with a beekeeper at the library in 2002, Petra soon had a couple hives of her own and extra honey to sell. Since that time, she has sought out ways to make good use of the extra wax, too, often replacing items in her home with ones she can create herself. Eventually, these beeswax-based items made their way into the product line-up for Beehive Alchemy and the projects featured in her book, Beeswax Alchemy.