Value added products

Using your bee products to make other goods such as foods, medicines or cosmetics allows you to make more financial profit.

Advice on this important aspect of livelihood creation comes from Bees for Development's partner organisation in Arusha, Tanzania: Njiro Wildlife Research Centre.

MAKING COSMETICS

by Bérje Svensson

It is important to work in a clean room, have a good knowledge of the ingredients and products, a good awareness of hygiene, and a careful approach.

Materials needed

a) Clean beeswax.

b) Food oil for example from coconut, peanut, sesame, or sunflower and/or paraffin oil.

c) Herbal oils such as aloe vera, clove, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary or tea tree.

Alternatively the leaves, bark or flowers of plants used locally as herbal medicines can be extracted cooked in the food oil.

d) Perfume (optional).

e) A heat source (electricity, gas or kerosene).

f) A saucepan for a water bath.

g) A tea pot or kettle for pouring the product into bottles.

h) Small glass or plastic bottles or cups.

Technique

Always use as low a temperature as possible and keep the kettle in a water bath.

Make sure all ingredients are ready before you begin.

1. Start by melting the beeswax.

2. Add the non-volatile food oil and/or paraffin oil.

3. Finally add the herbal oils/extracts andperfume just before bottling.

4. Bottle without dripping or spilling.

5. Put on lids immediately.

6. Label all products carefully.

7. Save samples for reference testing.

8. Market the products with confidence but without exaggeration!

STANDARD RECIPES

Skin ointment

150 g beeswax

0.5 litre food oil

0.3-1.0 ml herbal oi! and/or local medicinal oils

Liniment

150 g beeswax

0.5 litre food oil

Drops of camphor, Japanese peppermint, aloe vera, menthol, eucalyptus, or cajaput oil (to 0.5 ml)

Lipstick

150 g beeswax

250 ml food oil

plus 0.3-1.0 ml herbal oi! and/or medicinal oils

Shampoo

50 g soap

Water (boiled for 20 minutes before measuring out 0.5 litre) plus one teaspoon beeswax, 2 tablespoons honey and 0.5 ml herbal oils or perfume