Classic Beeswax Soap Recipe To Try Out This Season (2025)

If you’ve ever thought about creating your own soap, you’re not alone. With growing awareness about sustainability, more people are turning to natural ingredients for their skincare needs. One popular option is making soap using beeswax, a versatile ingredient that brings numerous benefits to homemade soap. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about crafting a beeswax soap recipe, covering tips, benefits, and step-by-step instructions to get you started on your sustainable soapmaking journey.

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Why Choose a Beeswax Soap Recipe?

Beeswax is a natural, renewable resource that adds a luxurious touch to soap and also provides many skincare benefits. Beeswax is known to moisturize because it makes a protective layer on the skin that holds in moisture without blocking pores. It is also a great sustainable choice for anyone because it breaks down naturally, may be gathered in a ethical way from good beekeepers, in addition to not having bad chemicals like some soaps sold in stores.

On the technical side, beeswax makes soap bars harder, so they last for a longer time and beeswax also assists skin. This is quite helpful to soapmakers of small scale who want to create durable products of outstanding quality that last a long time and that customers cherish. Putting beeswax into soap recipes is a smart choice for the skin and shows respect for nature.

A common question when starting with a beeswax soap recipe is: "How much beeswax to add to soap?" The amount of beeswax you add can significantly affect the texture, hardness, and lather of your soap. Generally, beeswax should make up 1-2% of your total oil weight in a recipe. Adding too much beeswax can result in a soap that’s too hard and difficult to lather, so it's essential to measure carefully.

For example, if your total oil weight in a soap recipe is 1000 grams, you should aim for 10-20 grams of beeswax. This ratio ensures the beeswax will impart its benefits without overpowering the soap’s overall balance. Always remember to melt the beeswax thoroughly and blend it well with the other oils before proceeding with the lye mixture to ensure an even consistency throughout your soap batch.

Benefits of Soap with Beeswax

Soap with beeswax offers a variety of benefits, making it a top choice for natural skincare enthusiasts. For example, beeswax forms a breathable barrier on the skin, locking in moisture and providing protection against irritants without clogging pores. Next to that, it has antibacterial properties that help protect the skin from harmful bacteria, making it an excellent ingredient for sensitive or acne-prone skin. With its soothing properties, beeswax also has the tendency to soften the skin, leaving it feeling smooth.

From the perspective of a soapmaker, the main reason to choose beeswax in a soap is that beeswax contributes to the hardness of the soap, resulting in a bar that lasts longer, even with frequent use. As a natural and raw product, beeswax imparts a mild honey scent and a beautiful golden hue to the soap, enhancing its aesthetic appeal naturally, which is a positive for every soapmaker chasing a more attractive look in their soaps.

How to Make Honey and Beeswax Soap?

Creating a honey and beeswax soap recipe is a fantastic way to harness the nourishing properties of both beeswax and honey. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:

Ingredients:

• 200g Olive Oil
• 150g Coconut Oil
• 100g Shea Butter
• 30g Beeswax
• 50g Honey
• 65g Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
• 170g Distilled Water
• 10 drops Essential Oil (Lavender or any preference)

Instructions:

Before you start, ensure your workspace is clean, well-ventilated, and that you’re equipped with safety gear - gloves, goggles, and long sleeves, as well as a mask for your nose and mouth (since we don't want to inhale any lye fumes).

Once you are all set up, you can start working with the oils. In a double boiler, melt and mix the olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax together until fully liquid. Carefully add the lye to the distilled water (never the other way around) and stir until dissolved. Allow this solution to cool to around 40-45°C. You can put it in a sink filled with water that goes halfway through your solution container, or in an ice bath for a quicker cool-down.

Then, slowly pour the cooled lye solution into the melted oils and beeswax, blending with an immersion blender until it reaches trace (a pudding-like consistency). Gently stir in the honey and essential oils, ensuring everything is well mixed. Pour the mixture into soap molds, tap to remove air bubbles, and cover with a towel to insulate.

Allow the soap to sit for 24-48 hours before unmolding, then cure on a rack for 4-6 weeks before use.

What Makes Soap with Beeswax Special?

A soap with beeswax stands out because of its unique combination of eco-friendly ingredients and skincare benefits. Unlike many commercial soaps that contain synthetic additives, beeswax soap offers a natural alternative that is gentle on the skin and the environment. The inclusion of beeswax not only improves the soap’s longevity but also adds a luxurious feel, making it a preferred choice for those seeking high-quality, handmade products.

Beeswax soap is particularly beneficial for dry or sensitive skin due to its ability to lock in moisture and provide a protective barrier. It’s also great for people looking to reduce their plastic footprint, as beeswax soap can be wrapped in sustainable packaging, reducing the need for plastic soap containers. And an additional bonus is the heavenly scent it has occurring naturally, without the need to add in extra fragrances.

Customising Your Beeswax Soap Recipe

The quality of beeswax can significantly impact the final outcome of your beeswax soap recipe. Beeswax is available in various forms, such as pellets, blocks, and pastilles, and can range in colour from white to deep golden yellow. The colour and scent of beeswax can vary depending on the flowers visited by the bees, so selecting the right type can add a subtle, natural fragrance to your soap.

For a more natural and authentic touch, unrefined beeswax is often preferred in soapmaking. Unrefined beeswax retains its natural honey aroma and golden colour, which can enhance the visual and sensory appeal of your soap. However, if you are looking for a beeswax soap recipe that requires a more neutral appearance or if you plan to use vibrant colourants, refined white beeswax might be a better choice.

Regardless of the type, always ensure that your beeswax is sourced from ethical and sustainable beekeepers to align with your eco-friendly soapmaking goals. As beekeepers, we also collect and produce our own beeswax combs, so feel free to message me if you are interested in buying locally (we are located in the Netherlands).

Customising with Natural Additives

One of the best aspects of creating your own beeswax soap recipe is the ability to include a variety of natural additives that cater to different skin types and preferences. Additives like oatmeal, dried herbs, clays, and botanical extracts can be incorporated to enhance the soap’s exfoliating properties, colour, or overall skincare benefits.

For instance, adding oatmeal to your beeswax soap recipe can provide gentle exfoliation and is especially beneficial for sensitive or dry skin. Dried herbs like lavender, chamomile, or calendula can be used not only for their calming effects but also for their aesthetic appeal when sprinkled on top of soap bars. Clays such as kaolin or bentonite can introduce a smooth texture and detoxifying properties, making your beeswax soap recipe suitable for oily or acne-prone skin.

If you’re looking to add natural colour to your soap, consider using ingredients like turmeric for a warm golden hue, spirulina for a green tint, or activated charcoal for a striking black soap. These additives not only offer visual diversity but also bring their own unique skincare benefits, further enhancing the value of your customised beeswax soap.

Incorporating Essential Oils for Fragrance and Benefits

Fragrance is a key element in any soap, and by crafting your own beeswax soap recipe, you can select essential oils that not only smell delightful but also offer specific skincare benefits. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint are popular choices that can complement the subtle, natural scent of beeswax. Each essential oil comes with its own set of therapeutic properties—lavender is known for its calming effects, tea tree for its antibacterial qualities, and eucalyptus for its invigorating aroma.

When adding essential oils to your beeswax soap recipe, it’s important to measure carefully and adhere to safe usage rates, as some oils can cause skin irritation in high concentrations. Typically, adding 1-2% of essential oils relative to the total weight of your oils is a good guideline to follow. Always consider the preferences and sensitivities of the intended users of your soap, particularly if you’re making soap for people with allergies or specific skin conditions.

Experimenting with Different Oils and Butters

The beauty of crafting your own beeswax soap recipe lies in the endless possibilities of experimenting with various oils and butters to achieve the perfect balance of hardness, lather, and moisturising properties. While common oils like olive, coconut, and palm oil are staple ingredients in many soap recipes, other luxurious oils such as argan, jojoba, or sweet almond oil can elevate the quality of your soap.

Butters like shea, cocoa, and mango butter can be incorporated into your beeswax soap recipe to enhance its moisturising capabilities and add a creamy texture to the lather. These ingredients are particularly beneficial for making a soap that is extra nourishing and suitable for dry or mature skin. The key is to find a balance that complements the beeswax without overshadowing its unique characteristics.

Where to Source Beeswax and Ingredients in Europe?

Finding quality ingredients is key to a successful beeswax soap recipe. For those based in the UK and Europe, several reputable suppliers offer sustainably sourced beeswax and other soapmaking ingredients:

The Soap Kitchen (UK) offers a wide range of sustainably sourced beeswax pellets and soapmaking oils.

Manske (Germany) is a European supplier known for their high-quality, ethical raw materials including beeswax.

Bramble Berry (EU Delivery Available) is known for a wide variety of soapmaking supplies, including organic and fair-trade ingredients. However, the delivery costs are adding up, so it only makes sense to order from there if you are buying ingredients in bulk.

When sourcing beeswax, look for suppliers that support ethical beekeeping practices, which ensure the beeswax is harvested in a way that does not harm bee populations. This not only supports sustainable production but also contributes to the overall health of the environment. If you want to make sure your beeswax is ethically harvested and delivered to you, and you are located in Europe, message me - we are beekeeping in the Netherlands and only use sustainable practices when doing so.

Tips for Making the Perfect Beeswax Soap Recipe

Beeswax is a tricky one to handle if you are new to soapmaking, but it shouldn't scare you away. When I made my first beeswax soap with honey, I had just 2 soaps under my belt already, so I was also quite a newbie at that point, but my soap turned out amazing and was loved by everyone who got the chance to try it. With these extra tips, you will be able to successfully bring beeswax to a finished soap product that you can enjoy for years to come!

Because beeswax has a high melting point, it’s essential to keep an eye on the temperature to prevent it from cooling too quickly and clumping in the mixture. That's something that can escalate quite quickly so be cautious and don't get distracted while working with the beeswax and the batter after. Otherwise, this can also lead to overheating which will affect the soap's beneficial properties and alter the final texture of your soap. Aim for a gentle, steady melt.

If you are into additives, consider adding natural colourants like turmeric or spirulina for a splash of colour, or oatmeal for a gentle exfoliating effect. Too bright colours tend to be unstable sometimes and clump into the batter or discolour due to overheating.

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to tweak the ratios slightly based on your preferences or the specific qualities you’re looking for in a soap. Just make you sure you run your recipe by the soapcalc before you get started, in order to avoid unpleasant results.

This article provided you with a beeswax soap recipe that you can try out when making your next DIY homemade soap. The article was last updated in February 2025.