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Cape Cod Recipes
Old & New Soaps & Cleaners & Candles
 Bayberry Candle Wax Bayberry candle wax was discovered by early American colonists who were looking for an alternative to tallow, which gave off tons of soot, air pollutants and a somewhat unpleasant smell. Bayberry candle wax comes from the bayberry shrub which produces very decorative bluish grey tinged berries. There are two types of Bayberry shrubs, the Northern Bayberry (Myrica Pensylvanica) and Southern Bayberry (Myrica cerifera), both which produce the berries. There is no need to
add fragrances or coloration since this wax is naturally aromatic, and
dries to a very nice olive green color. Its only drawback is that it is
quite expensive since it takes anywhere from 3-15 pounds of bayberries
to make 1 lb of wax, depending on growing conditions such as moisture
availablity. Beeswax Beeswax Candle wax
is made from the wax bees use in their hives. Beeswax can be bought in
several forms including flat & honeycomb sheets, blocks, chunks and
pearls. In most cases the sheets can be bought precolored, while the
chunks, blocks and pearls tend to come in their natural color. Beeswax
is naturally aromatic, so it is rare that one would add fragrance. Paraffin Candle
Wax
Paraffin is a
petroleum based candle wax. It tends to be less expensive than other
forms of wax and comes in chunks or powder form. You can buy the wax
precolored or you can buy the wax in a neutral color and add your own
color. This is the most popular type of candle wax used. Soap The manufacture of
soap by the hard-working colonists from wood ashes and waste fats give
testimony to early American self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. Soap,
an easy item for them to obtain, was produced by boiling wood ash lye
and fats together. Soap's desirability and procurement wrote its own
pages in the history of early America. Below we have some old fashioned
recipes. Please be warned lye will cause severe burns if handled
incorrectly. Follow the instructions exactly!
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