Beeswax, a remarkable natural substance produced by honeybees that widely utilized in industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and candle-making, comes in different array of colors, each with its own way of production. In this enlightening blog post, we embark on a journey to uncover the differences between white, off-white, and absolute white beeswax.

Yellow Beeswax:

 

References:

• Sanford, M.T.; Dietz, A. (1976). "The fine structure of the wax gland of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)" (PDF). Apidologie. 7 (3): 197–207. doi:10.1051/apido:19760301.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeswax

Off-White Beeswax:

 

References:

• Sanford, M.T.; Dietz, A. (1976). "The fine structure of the wax gland of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)" (PDF). Apidologie. 7 (3): 197–207. doi:10.1051/apido:19760301.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeswax

 

References:

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
• The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: C.Harley "Wax"

When comparing yellow, off-white, and absolute white beeswax, all three undergo a refining process. However, there are differences in the bleaching methods used. Off-white beeswax undergoes a natural bleaching process, while absolute white beeswax is bleached using various chemical agents such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, and others. This chemical bleaching process makes absolute white beeswax less natural compared to yellow and off-white beeswax.

In terms of application, off-white and white beeswax are often preferred for cosmetic purposes, as they provide a lighter and more aesthetically pleasing color. On the other hand, yellow beeswax is commonly used in candle-making due to its natural hue. The choice between the different types of beeswax ultimately depends on the specific purpose or application for which it will be used.