The key difference between white and yellow beeswax is that white beeswax turns into white after going through a pressure-filtration process, whereas yellow beeswax is yellow in color because it is less processed or has a more natural state.
Beeswax is one of the most common ingredients we can find in many skincare products because of the trend going on in the world for organic products and the use of natural ingredients. There are two types of beeswax known as white and yellow beeswax.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is White Beeswax
3. What is Yellow Beeswax
4. White vs Yellow Beeswax in Tabular Form
5. Summary – White vs Yellow Beeswax
What is White Beeswax?
White beeswax is a pure, unbleached form of beeswax that has been pressure-filtered. However, it is still natural and organic to some extent. White beeswax also comes from the same type of beeswax as yellow beeswax. This unique ivory color in white beeswax is due to the pressure-filtration process. It filters out the impurities as well as debris, which also removes the yellow color and gives the beeswax a white color.
Beeswax can also be white because it goes through a natural bleaching process in which it is exposed to thin layers of air. Here, it is completely refined to a point in which there is no longer a natural yellowish appearance that we can see in typical beeswax. However, it does not mean that this form of beeswax is “not natural” because this refining process does not involve any chemicals and bleaching processes.
However, there can be some types of beeswax that are not completely natural. For example, beeswax that is manufactured using questionable methods. Therefore, it is important to make sure that we get the white beeswax from a reputed store or company with a good brand.
Since white beeswax has a pure color, it is often a choice for cosmetic productions and soaps. This is because manufacturers tend to add colors to such products to make them attractive.
What is Yellow Beeswax?
Yellow beeswax is the naturally occurring, common type of beeswax. It is often called the natural state of beeswax. This is because honeycombs or honey that we know is yellowish to brown in color. Therefore, it is easy to understand why yellow beeswax is often considered the more natural type of beeswax.
However, this type of beeswax has undergone some sort of refinement and treatment. When yellow beeswax is processed, it undergoes heat treatment, and it can be filtered thereafter to remove any debris that is coming from the natural state of the honey. It is also refined to make sure all the impurities are removed.
When the appearance of yellow beeswax is yellowish to a golden brown, it is usually considered high-quality beeswax. This is because this appearance indicates how it was refined and treated properly; the exposure of beeswax to high temperatures can actually make it have a brownish color.
Furthermore, this type of beeswax is ideal for the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps, and candles. It is often the top choice for making candles because it allows the natural color of the beeswax to become prominent. We can still use it for cosmetic production if we do not mind the natural color standing out.
What is the Difference Between White and Yellow Beeswax?
Beeswax is an important ingredient in many industrial products such as cosmetics, soap, candles, etc. There are two major types of beeswax; they are white and yellow beeswax. The key difference between white and yellow beeswax is that white beeswax turns into white color after going through a pressure-filtration process, whereas yellow beeswax comes in yellow color because it is a less processed or more natural state.
The below infographic presents the differences between white and yellow beeswax in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – White vs Yellow Beeswax
White beeswax is a pure, unbleached form of beeswax that has been pressure-filtered, while yellow beeswax is the naturally occurring, common type of beeswax. The key difference between white and yellow beeswax is the origin of this color. White beeswax turns into white color after going through a pressure-filtration process, whereas yellow beeswax is yellow in color because it is in a less processed or more natural state.
Reference:
1. “Beeswax: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “White Beeswax Candles” (CC0) via Pxhere
2. “Melting beeswax” By Simon A. Eugster – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia