There are different suppliers of beeswax in the market, making it difficult to identify fake beeswax. Beeswax is a natural by-product of honey production with a sweet and appealing honey-scented smell. It is free from paraffin and release negative ions that help in purifying the air.
Imported beeswax usually contains paraffin and other toxic additives that can be harmful to one’s health as well as the environment. Further, they smell like baby powder or plastic, unlike pure beeswax. To ensure you get the pure form of beeswax, we use only organic beeswax sourced from beekeepers. Organic beeswax is adulteration-free and has a low carbon footprint.
Now, the question arises that how can you identify fake beeswax. Though there are various laboratory methods by which you can judge its purity, here are some simple features that can help you to differentiate between fake and pure beeswax easily.
Fake or adulterated beeswax usually comes in form of pellets and have a plastic feel to it due to mixed paraffin and other additives, the scent and colour is artificially added.
1. Color and Scent
Freshly extracted beeswax is slightly white in color, which gradually changes into yellow because of the presence of pollen. Though the color of beeswax may depend on factors such as newness of comb, nectar source flower species, the extraction process, and storage method, the color of beeswax may vary from light yellow to dark brown. If you find the beeswax shiny and transparent, it is sure that beeswax may have foreign additives such as paraffin, ozokerite, or other toxic additives.
Pure beeswax has a sweet, appealing, and faint honey scent. If you smell something like prairies grasses or wildflowers, it’s because bees must have been pollinating on them. But if you feel the smell is of plastic or some chemical, it means beeswax is of low quality or has been cut with paraffin. So, the easy test to identify if beeswax is pure or fake is that if it smells like crayon, it has paraffin and thus is definitely fake and impure.
IS WHITE BEESWAX NATURAL?
White beeswax is the most processed form of beeswax and is commonly mixed with other additives and toxic substances. Many commercial suppliers of white beeswax use chemical bleaches and filters to achieve the desired color and texture. However, these processes can strip the wax of its natural beneficial properties and leave behind harmful residues.
The only way to ensure that white beeswax is pure is by bleaching natural beeswax in the sun. This method involves melting natural beeswax and allowing it to cool and solidify in the sun, where it is naturally bleached by UV rays.
Natural beeswax bleaching in the sun by Casa Viviana
This process preserves the natural properties of the wax and avoids the use of harmful chemicals, resulting in a high-quality, pure white beeswax that is safe to use in cosmetics and personal care products.
2. Feel
If you come across pure beeswax, you will find it hard when it’s cold and soft yet pliable when it’s warm. The surface of “fake” beeswax is smooth, shiny, sticky, and greasy because of the presence of paraffin. Pure beeswax would be free from excess waxiness and flakiness. It will leave a honey scent on your hand when you touch it.
3. Texture
Since beeswax contains natural oils, it has a different texture from other wax present in the market. To check the texture, break the beeswax and look the way it crumbles. If you find that it is breaking smoothly, it implies that it has been cut by additives.
5. Ask your supplier directly
You can ask the beeswax supplier directly about the source of the raw beeswax. The supplier should be able to tell you about the cleaning and filtering process if the beeswax is claimed to be pure, cosmetic or organic. You should check their awareness about the standards of beekeeping practices. Also, ask if the beeswax is “cut” with additives like paraffin. You can try a sample of beeswax before making a final purchasing decision.
