How to Infuse Cotton With Beeswax

Ear candling is a method of removing excess ear wax, accumulated fluid in the ear or relieving pressure caused by sinus infections. It requires special "ear candles" or "cones" that are made of cotton or muslin and have been infused with beeswax. The quality of the ear candle relies on the proper application of beeswax onto the cotton and the rolling of the infused fabric into the special ear candle shape. With practice and care, the process of infusing cotton with beeswax can be a safe task that you can do yourself at home.

Things You'll Need

• Unbleached cotton
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Newspapers
• Old saucepan or pot
• Beeswax
• Wooden dowel rod, 3/4 inch in diameter, 12 inches long
• Sharp knife
• Medium-grade sandpaper
• Petroleum jelly
• Clean rag
• Aluminium foil
• Ice pick

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Instructions

• 1

  Lay the unbleached cotton onto a flat work surface. Measure and mark the fabric with a ruler and pencil to make strips of fabric 3/4 inches wide by 16 inches long. Cut the fabric strips with a pair of scissors. One strip of fabric will make one candle. Set your cut fabric strips aside.

• 2

  Cover work area with old newspapers to protect the surface from hot beeswax drips.

• 3

  Place an old saucepan or pot on the stove. Each candle is made from approximately 4 to 6 ounces of beeswax. Place pieces of beeswax into the pot over a low flame. Melt the beeswax but do not allow it to come to a boil.

• 4

  Prepare the dowel rod while the beeswax is melting. Sharpen one end of the dowel rod into a point using a sharp knife. Smooth the rough end with medium-grade sandpaper, then lubricate the sharpened end with petroleum jelly, using a clean rag, to prevent the waxed fabric strips from sticking to the dowel rod.

• 5

  Place the dowel rod across the top of the pot to warm it.

• 6

  Drop a strip of fabric carefully in the melted beeswax and use the wooden dowel to maneuver the fabric in the pot of wax so that it is completely infused with beeswax.

• 7

  Remove the infused cotton strip from the pot of beeswax with the wooden dowel and allow it to cool for a moment for easier and safer handling.

• 8

  Wrap a small amount of the infused cotton around the sharpened end of the wooden dowel. This will form the tip of the candle. Continue wrapping the infused cotton around the wooden dowel. Smooth the fabric as it is being wrapped. Carefully shake any excess wax off. Dip the tip of the candle back into the wax.

• 9

  Remove the candle from the wooden dowel by gently twisting it without changing its shape. Pierce a hole in the tip of the candle with the point of a pencil or an ice pick. Place the finished candle on a piece of aluminum foil to finish setting up.

• 10

  Blow through the open end of the candle; if air can pass through to the tip, the beeswax- infused cotton is made properly.