We raise goats and will have lots of extra milk this year and so were thinking of trying our hands at making goat milk soap. I looked through the archives and saw some of the recipes there. I also have some books on the subject. I also raise bees and end up with several pounds of clean beeswax after extracting the honey. It was suggested to me that I could use the beeswax in the soap as an emulsifier. Beeswax is used in some cosmetics and lotions. It helps seal in moisture on the skin. Has anyone experimented with this or know what percentages to use and when and how to add the wax to the soap mixture?

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), April 04, 2001

Answers

I have not made it myself with beeswax because it is so expensive, but I found a few recipes online for it. I didn't save those sites because it wasn't what I was looking for. Have you tried a search for beeswax, soap? Oh, I have used it in facial cream. I melted it down and mixed a tablespoon of it in with my facial cream recipe. If I find those recipes, I will pass them along. I know this isn't much help, but I thought I would at least tell you that it can be done..according to those recipes. :-)

Cindy

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

Skip- as a rule I always throw in about 2 ounces melted beeswax with my oils ..........Say 2 oz. to.....24oz olive oil, 24oz coconut oil and about 38 oz crisco. 12 oz lye and 28 oz goats milk and or water. What the beeswax does is make a really nice, hard bar that doesn't melt down as fast......Good luck

-- Judy in Md. (trailhppr@msn.com), April 05, 2001.

I've never used beeswax, but I think it would be a great addition - I use it in cosmetics and creams (NEVER used parafin, so it got expensive!), too - and they work great!! Since just about everything to do with bees promotes health in one way or another, why not?! Don't forget a little honey, though - softens, smoothes and moisturizes!!

You wouldn't happen to have any for sale, would you? Beeswax, I mean!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 09, 2001.