This image is the cover for the book Beehive Alchemy

Beehive Alchemy

A comprehensive introduction to making candles, home and body products life from the author of Beeswax Alchemy.

Beehive Alchemy is a continuation of Petra Ahnert’s bestselling Beeswax Alchemy. With this new book, beekeepers (and bee lovers) will learn about the benefits and attributes of beeswax, honey, propolis, and more alongside a full range of projects and techniques to process and harness the amazing gifts of bees. Inside, you’ll find instructions to make Ahnert’s award-winning hand-dipped birthday candles, the classic French dessert canele bordelais, and much more, including:

Alchemy for the BodyLiquid soap with honeyBeard balmOlive and honey lotion

Alchemy of LightTaper candlesTea lightsPillars

Alchemy for the HomeFurniture polishWaxed cotton food wrapsWoodcutter incense

Alchemy in the StudioBeeswax crayonsEncausticBatik

Alchemy in the KitchenCookies and candiesBeveragesFermentations

Whether you keep bees or just love them, Beehive Alchemy will become your go-to comprehensive guide for hive-to-home creations.

Praise for Beeswax Alchemy:

“An excellent introduction and solid technique instruction to make candles, lotions, and soaps with beeswax. . . . The true strength of this book is its instructions for making homemade body products. While similar in coverage to Leeann Coleman and Jayne Barnes’s Honey Crafting, Ahnert’s book provides better body products and more detailed technical instruction. Strongly recommended.” —Library Journal

“This is the book I’ve been waiting for. Excellent instructions. Bountiful information. Beautifully done.” —Kim Flottum, author of The Backyard Beekeeper and editor of Bee Culture magazine

Petra Ahnert

Petra Ahnert is the creative force behind Beehive Alchemy (beehivealchemy.com), an artisan soap, body care, and home goods business. After a serendipitous meeting with a beekeeper at the library in 2002, Petra soon had a couple hives of her own and extra honey to sell. Since that time, she has sought out ways to make good use of the extra wax, too, often replacing items in her home with ones she can create herself. Eventually, these beeswax-based items made their way into the product line-up for Beehive Alchemy and the projects featured in her book, Beeswax Alchemy.

Quarry Books