Honeycomb made of beeswax stores honey.
Although both honey and beeswax are obtained from the honeycomb made by honeybees, they have very different uses. Beeswax is produced by the glands of female honeybees and is used to build the cells of honeycomb. Honeybees collect nectar from flowers that is then regurgitated by the bees into the honeycomb cells to form honey. While both honey and beeswax are edible, beeswax is more commonly used in other products and is not often consumed.
Sweetening
Honey is most commonly used as a liquid sweetener. It is often used as a natural replacement for sugar because it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream without digesting, according to Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and Extension Consortium. To replace sugar with honey in a recipe, reduce liquid used in the recipe by one-quarter cup for every cup of honey used. It can be mixed into hot drinks, used in glazes, desserts and in salad dressing. Some alcoholic liqueurs also include honey.
Moisturizer
Mixing two tablespoons of honey with a half-cup of ground oatmeal and a splash of water creates a soothing facial mask. Remove after 30 minutes with a damp washcloth. It can also be used as a body moisturizer by mixing a half-cup of honey with one cup of cold water and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, according Kristie Leong M.D. Add moisture to dry hair by mixing equal parts honey and olive oil and applying to split ends. Rinse out after 20 minutes.
Candles
Candles made of beeswax are popular because they have a higher melting point than other paraffin waxes. This means they remain straight at higher temperatures and they burn for a significantly longer time, says Stefan Bogdanov, author of The Beeswax Book. Beeswax candles are made by different methods including rolling, pouring and pressing the beeswax.
Preservation
Solutions that include beeswax are commonly used to preserve bronze, leather and wood. Dissolving one-third of a pound of beeswax in one quart of pine turpentine and brushing it over bronze will help preserve it. A heated mixture of six parts beeswax, eight parts tallow and eight parts neatsfoot oil will condition and waterproof smooth leather. Four parts beeswax, two parts turpentine and one part orange oil will polish and protect wood surfaces, according to Bogdanov.
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