How to Add Color to Beeswax

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 3, 2020

Beeswax is an all-natural substance that can be used to make candles, cosmetics, and molds. If you want, you can easily add color to beeswax creations by melting beeswax with dye. This can be an exciting project to keep you occupied for an afternoon. With a little time and effort, you can make beautiful beeswax creations.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Adding Color to Beeswax Candles

1
Choose crayons in your desired color. Beeswax candles can easily be dyed with crayons. Any type of crayon you can find at a supermarket, department store, or craft store should be fine. The color of the crayon will be the color of your wax, so choose the colors you want.^{[1]
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- You can also add two different types of crayons to your wax to create your own colors. If you want a very soft pink, for example, use both a white and pink crayon.
2
Measure your wax and crayons with a scale. Use a scale to weigh your beeswax and crayons. Use .5 of an ounce of crayon for every ounce of beeswax.^{[2]
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3
Melt the wax and dye. Add your beeswax and crayons to a glass jar. Place your jar in a pot of hot water. Leave the beeswax in the water until it melts. If necessary, you can place the pot over the stove to melt the beeswax.^{[3]
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4
Make molded or dipped candles. You can make either dipped or molded candles with your beeswax. Molded candles tend to be shorter and take more time than dipped candles, which are longer and skinnier.^{[4]
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- To make molded candles, simply pour your melted beeswax into a mold in your chosen shape. Add a wick to the tip of the candle and set the mold aside until the beeswax hardens.
- To make dip candles, tie a fishing weight to the end of a candle wick. Dip the weight into the melted beeswax. Give the wick a few moments cool before dipping it again. Repeat this process until your candles are as thick as you want them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Herbs and Spices

1
Select the right herbs to get your desired colors. Herbs can be used to add color, as well as a pleasant odor, to wax. A variety of herbs are commonly used in wax dyes that produce a range of colors.^{[5]
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- Sunflower seeds give off a purple hue.
- If you want something more blueish, go with elder.
- Dandelions tend to give off a red color.
- You can also mix and match herbs of different colors to produce a shade you want. Experiment a little to find the right shade.
2
Choose your spices. Cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, parsnip, saffron, paprika, and turmeric add color and a scent to beeswax. Spices tend to produce earthy shades, like greens and golden yellows. As with herbs, you can mix and match spices to create your desired color or scent.^{[6]
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3
Infuse your wax with your herbs and spices. Heat your beeswax over the stove until it melts. Remove it form the heat and place the herbs or spices in a coffee filter or muslin cloth. Steep the coffee filter or cloth in the wax for a few hours.^{[7]
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4
Remove the cloth or coffee filter after a few hours. There is no precise amount of time to leave the cloth in, but most of the time your wax should be colored in a few hours. If your wax is not as colorful as you want it, let the herbs or spices steep for a bit longer.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Coloring Beeswax Lipstick

1
Choose your oils. To make beeswax lipstick, beeswax should be mixed with butter and oil. The oil you choose affects how your product turns out, so select your oil carefully.^{[9]
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- Cocoa butter is a good choice as its inexpensive. It also helps add strength to lip balm, making it easier to mold.
- Liquid oils, like castor and soybean oil, tend to make a shinier lip gloss.
2
Melt your oil, beeswax, and butter. Measure out 30 grams of beeswax, 26 grams of butter, and 44 grams of oil. Place them in a saucepan and heat them over the stove until they melt.^{[10]
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- You can leave the beeswax mixture alone while it melts, but make sure to check it periodically.
3
Prepare your colors. Lip safe micas can be purchased online or at a craft store. Mix these together using the kit the micas come with while your beeswax melts. Place your colors in plastic bags and mix them until they form a paint-like liquid.^{[11]
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4
Adjust your colors. Take a q-tip and a piece of scrap paper. Test your color by dipping the q-tip in the colors and then making marks with your colors on the scrap paper. Mix small amounts of black or white micas into your colors to lighten and darken them to your liking. Black will make your colors darker while white will make them lighter.^{[12]
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5
Mix in your colors. Once the wax is melted and you have the colors you want, you can color your beeswax. Use 5 to 10% of your mica color blend to your beeswax base. For example, 10 grams of beeswax would require about .5 grams of mica. Stir in the mica using a spoon.^{[13]
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6
Add your beeswax to molds. Once your color is mixed in, pour your beeswax mixture into tubes. You can buy tubes for lip gloss online or at a craft store. Fill each tube to the brim with the beeswax mixture. Then, set the tubes aside for a few hours to allow your colorful lip balm to harden.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

So can I just use food coloring? Would it be safe?

Community Answer

It would be difficult, as most food coloring is water based. Oil (wax) and water do not mix.
Question

Where can I get candle wicks?

Community Answer

You can get candle wicks at just about any craft store and maybe some Walmarts.

Warnings

It's important to protect your clothing, counter tops, and floors when melting beeswax.

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If you will be using your beeswax for cosmetic purposes, you may want to look for organic or pharmaceutical-grade beeswax to avoid pesticides that may have been introduced into the bee hives.

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